"Heart of Stone, Heart of Gold "

**Chapter 4: Revelations and Bonds**

Xander stormed out of his brother's house, his anger simmering beneath the surface. The cool night air did little to calm his racing thoughts. He needed to get a grip before he spoke to Thalia.

Turning back towards the house, he called out to his brother, Asher, who stood in the doorway watching him. "Asher, tell Thalia to come out in ten minutes. We need to talk."

Asher nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. Xander continued walking, his mind rehearsing the words he would say. This conversation was crucial, and he couldn't afford to let his emotions get the best of him.

Xander found a secluded spot in the woods, away from prying eyes and ears. He leaned against a tree, closing his eyes and taking deep breaths to steady himself. The rustling leaves and distant hoots of owls provided a soothing backdrop, but his mind was still a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions.

After what felt like an eternity, he heard the soft crunch of footsteps approaching. Xander opened his eyes to see Thalia making her way towards him, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern.

"Xander, what's going on?" she asked, her voice gentle yet filled with worry.

He took a deep breath, knowing that there was no turning back now. "Thalia, there are things you need to know about me—about who I really am."

With a steady yet firm breath, he began to tell her how he was born with a supernatural ability—something that she had only heard about in movies, something that wasn't supposed to be real.

Thalia's eyes widened, a mixture of disbelief and intrigue washing over her face. "What do you mean? What kind of ability?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Xander looked her straight in the eyes, his gaze unwavering. "I can transform into a wolf. It's a part of who I am, and it's something I've had to keep hidden my entire life."

Xander Blackthorn, the next heir to the Blackstone Pack, shared the details with Thalia. He explained how his brother Asher, whom she had just met, is the alpha of their pack. Their parents, the true Alpha and Luna, tragically passed away in the last war with the Darkmoon pack. With his brother being the eldest, he naturally became the next in line to lead the pack. Thalia listened intently, absorbing the weight of Xander's words and the responsibilities that lay on his shoulders.

He takes a pause and waits momentarily for everything to digest for her, but the only question she could come out with was, "Why me? Why am I finding out about all of this?"

Xander sighed, understanding her confusion. "Thalia, there's something special about you. From the moment I met you, I felt a connection—a bond that's hard to explain. I trust you, and I believe you have a role to play in what's to come. You deserve to know the truth."

"There's also something else. You know how everyone has a partner, call it their other half if you will. These certain souls are intertwined together, and I'm not talking about how everyone says, "Oh, I found the one." No, I mean your soulmate, where you are connected mentally, physically, and emotionally, like you are tethered to one another for life by destiny and fate. In my world, we call that a mate. You see, our wolf inside us has this phenomenal sense when it discovers who it's supposed to be. It's kind of like a detector of sorts. Once it's found their person, they are internally bonded for eternity."

Thalia's eyes widened as she processed his words. "Are you saying...?" she began, her voice trailing off as the realization started to dawn on her.

Xander nodded, his gaze intense and unwavering. "Yes, Thalia. You are my mate. My wolf recognized you the moment we met. That's why I had to tell you everything. You deserve to know the truth about who I am and what we are meant to be."

Xander's words swarmed around Thalia. She didn't understand—how could she be bonded for eternity to someone she hardly knows? How is this possible? She's not a part of this world; they are two completely different people. As Thalia pondered this, an anxiety attack started to form. She began to hyperventilate, her heart pounding, and she couldn't breathe. The view around her started to spin erratically, everything going dark as she passed out and fell to the ground. Thalia yelled, "Xander!"

Xander rushed to her side, his heart racing with concern. "Thalia, breathe," he urged, his voice calm but firm. "Focus on my voice. You're safe. I'm here with you." He gently lifted her, cradling her head and trying to steady her breathing. "Just breathe, Thalia. Everything's going to be alright."

For his voice is the last thing she heard as she completely faded out. Xander held her close, his worry growing with each passing second. He couldn't bear the thought of losing her, not now, not ever. As he looked down at her unconscious form, he whispered, "I promise I will protect you, Thalia. No matter what."