Chapter 4: Crossing Realms
Mia and Kaian rode into the mountains, and the forest changed around them. The air grew thick with power, and trees towered above. Mia felt something ancient and aware, like the forest was watching her. As they climbed higher, the trees grew taller, and the air grew colder. They finally reached the top of a mountain and saw a beautiful valley below. In the center of the valley was a stronghold, built into the side of a cliff. "This is the Hollow," Kaian said. "It's the heart of the Northern Pack, our home and my kingdom." As they descended, the air thickened with unfamiliar scents. Wolves ran freely, and warriors trained in the courtyards. Everyone stopped to stare at Mia, and she felt their curiosity and suspicion.
A young warrior, Rain, stepped forward and asked Kaian, "Why did you bring her here?" Kaian's response was firm. "She is my mate," he said. "Speak against her, and you speak against me."
Mia felt a sense of relief, but she also knew that she had a lot to learn about this new world. Kaian showed her to her chambers, a beautiful room with a balcony overlooking the valley. "This is your home," he said. "If you choose it." As Kaian left her alone, Mia felt a strange presence in the room. She heard a voice whispering in her mind, and she saw a vision of Kaian in danger. Mia felt scared and alone, but she knew that she had to be strong. She was determined to make the most of her new life and to prove herself to the wolves.
The vision she saw was intense and frightening. Kaian was in danger, and she felt a sense of urgency. She knew that she had to do something, but she didn't know what.
Mia took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. She knew that she would face challenges in this new world, but she was ready to face them head-on. In another part of the Hollow, Kaian stood before a group of important wolves. They were discussing his decision to bring a human, Mia, into their midst. The High Seer, Mira, spoke up. "You bring a human into the line of succession?" she said. "What does that mean for our pack?" Kaian stood firm. "The bond has chosen her," he said. "And I won't ignore it."
One of the elders, Laron, growled. "The bond hasn't chosen a human in over a thousand years. What does that say about you, Kaian?"
Kaian's response was sharp. "It says the world is changing, and the bond doesn't care about our pride."
Mira's voice was calm, but her words were a warning. "You're risking everything, Kaian. The old blood will challenge your rule, and if word spreads to the southern packs..."
Kaian interrupted her. "They're already moving against us. Human or not, the threat was always coming."
A low, rumbling voice spoke up from the shadows. "She will divide us," it said. Karn, an ancient beta, stepped forward. "She will awaken the prophecy, and blood will follow."
Kaian met Karn's gaze without flinching. "Then let it come," he said. Meanwhile, in Mia's chambers, a young servant girl brought her food and a warning. "Be careful," she said. "Not all wolves want a queen who bleeds like a human."
Mia felt a sense of unease, but the girl's words were also a comfort. Maybe, just maybe, there were some wolves who would accept her for who she was.
Mia couldn't sleep after the vision and the servant girl's warning. She wandered the castle halls alone, wrapped in a cloak. Some wolves watched her from the shadows, their eyes sharp and knowing. She ignored them and kept walking.
She found a door slightly ajar and pushed it open. Inside was a vast circular chamber with murals and carved stone. Kaian stood at its center, surrounded by images of wars and thrones.
"You shouldn't be here," he said softly. Mia replied, "You didn't come back." Kaian explained that if he had returned, he wouldn't have left again.
Mia looked at the murals, which depicted wars and a human woman bound to a wolf by a silver thread. "What is this?" she asked. Kaian said it was the first mating bond between a human and a wolf.
The image fascinated Mia, and she asked what happened to the woman. Kaian said the stories varied, but some believed her death started the wars between the packs.
Mia realized that she might be connected to this story. Kaian said she might be a queen or a weapon. The weight of his words settled heavily between them.
Mia asked Kaian about his bloodline and why it mattered so much. He said he was the last of the Karn bloodline, a direct descendant of the First Alpha. This made him a target, and he was exhausted from the pressure.
Kaian told Mia that the danger wasn't just because she was human, but because of who he was. If others couldn't control him, they would destroy him, and if they couldn't destroy him, they would come for her.
Mia felt a sense of urgency and fear. She didn't want to be part of a prophecy, but Kaian said it was too late. She was already part of it.