The night deepened, shrouding the forest in darkness, with only the occasional rustle of leaves and distant calls of wildlife breaking the silence. Inside the tent, Bella lay sandwiched between Ethan and Asher, lulled by the warmth and soft sounds of their breathing. For a while, she had found peace, a temporary respite from the secrets she carried and the inner conflicts of the day. But a strange feeling stirred her from her rest.
The air seemed heavier, charged, as though some ancient energy had awakened in the forest. Bella shifted in her sleeping bag, her heart racing as she opened her eyes. She felt Ethan’s arm draped loosely over her waist, while Asher lay close, his hand resting near her shoulder. But something was different—a faint, almost primal energy emanated from them both.
Bella’s breath caught as she noticed a change in their eyes. Ethan’s usual mischievous gaze had been replaced by something deeper, darker, his eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. And Asher’s intense blue eyes, typically calm and calculated, seemed to shimmer with a fierce, primal focus. She instinctively knew this wasn’t Ethan and Asher as she knew them. It was something else—something she couldn’t fully comprehend.
“Mate…” a low, resonant voice murmured, sending chills down her spine.
It was Ethan—or at least, his body. His voice sounded different, raw and deep, filled with a possessive undertone that unnerved her. She tried to shift away, but Asher’s hand gently but firmly held her in place.
“Yes, she is… but something is wrong,” Asher’s voice replied, though it too carried a strange, otherworldly timbre, his words coming out slowly, as if each syllable held a weight beyond their meaning.
Bella’s mind raced. She wanted to believe this was some dream, but everything felt too real. She could feel the warmth of their bodies, the firmness of their hands holding her in place. Panic flickered inside her.
“What… what’s going on?” she stammered, voice barely a whisper.
Ethan—or rather, the wolf in control—tilted his head, studying her with an intensity that bordered on suspicion. “Why can’t we feel you? Where is your wolf?” he demanded, his tone a strange mixture of frustration and confusion.
Bella’s heart pounded. Her instincts screamed to break away, to hide, but she forced herself to keep calm, to remind herself that she had to protect her secret. “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she replied, her voice shaking. “I’m just… Ben. I don’t know anything about wolves or… mates.”
The two wolves exchanged a glance, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and doubt. “We can sense it,” Asher’s wolf murmured, his gaze piercing through her. “You are ours. Yet, there is no wolf. Why are you hiding from us?”
Bella swallowed, fighting the rising panic. “You’re mistaken. I’m just an ordinary person,” she insisted, hoping to sound convincing. “There’s no wolf in me. I’m just… Ben.”
Ethan’s wolf leaned closer, his gaze sharp and searching. “Ordinary?” he echoed, the faintest hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. “Our instincts do not lie, little one. We can feel the bond, but something blocks it. You’re… hidden. Why?”
She could feel her heart hammering against her ribs. Their wolves were far more perceptive than their human counterparts, and she knew she was walking a thin line. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she replied, a trace of defiance in her voice. “There’s no bond. There’s no wolf. You’re both… you’re both just confused.”
Asher’s wolf gave a low growl, a sound more protective than threatening. “We’re not confused. There’s something unusual about you, something our humans have yet to realize.” He tilted his head, studying her as if he could see through her every defense.
Ethan’s wolf reached out, brushing his fingers along her cheek in a gesture that felt both comforting and unnerving. “It doesn’t matter,” he murmured, his voice softer. “You belong to us, even if you’re different. Even if your wolf is… silent.”
Bella froze, feeling trapped. There was a possessive energy radiating from both of them that was unlike anything she had experienced before. She could sense their protectiveness, but it was laced with an unyielding desire to understand her, to claim what they believed was theirs. She knew she had to keep denying it; she couldn’t afford to let them catch even a glimpse of the truth.
“You’re both… wrong,” she whispered, voice barely audible. “I’m just Ben. I’m not hiding anything.”
For a moment, the wolves merely observed her, the weight of their gaze pressing down on her like an unspoken challenge. She could feel the primal connection they spoke of, a strange and inexplicable pull that she had no control over. And while their human sides were unaware, their wolves seemed to sense every ounce of her hidden truth.
Asher’s wolf sighed, his expression softening ever so slightly. “Perhaps you don’t realize it yet, but the connection is there. We feel it.” He looked at her almost sadly, as if he could sense her fear. “One day, you’ll understand.”
Ethan’s wolf gave a faint smile, his usual playfulness dimmed by the weight of his wolf’s instincts. “When the time comes, you won’t be able to deny it, Ben—or whoever you truly are.”
Their words lingered in the air, and Bella felt as though they had etched themselves into her heart, a reminder of what lay ahead. She forced herself to breathe steadily, to stay calm even as her mind swirled with panic and confusion.
But before she could respond, something in their eyes shifted. The faint glow faded, and their expressions softened, the intense focus replaced by sleepiness as their human sides took control once more.
Ethan blinked, looking slightly disoriented. “Ben? What are you doing awake?” he murmured, his voice slurred with sleep.
“Yeah,” Asher added, yawning. “Go back to sleep. We’ve got a long day tomorrow.”
Bella managed a nod, her heart still racing as she lay back down between them. She felt the residual tension lingering in the air, her mind racing with the memory of their wolves’ words.
As Ethan and Asher’s breathing returned to the steady rhythm of sleep, Bella lay awake, staring into the darkness. She knew that this was only the beginning of her journey, that the truth she hid would one day have to come to light. But for now, she could only hold on to her secret, hoping it would be enough to keep her safe—at least, for one more night.
