Kara's POV
Kara grabbed Dante's hand just as Zane lunged forward.
"Wait!" she shouted at Zane, who skidded to a stop, dirt flying under his paws. The huge black wolf growled, his blue eyes burning with anger.
"He saved me," Kara explained quickly. "I almost fell into the river."
Zane's growl deepened. He didn't believe her—or didn't care.
Dante stepped forward, placing himself between Kara and the wolf. "I mean no harm to your pack, Alpha," he said quietly, though his hand tightened around Kara's. "I found her by the river. She was in danger."
Zane's massive form blurred and changed. In seconds, a man stood where the wolf had been. His eyes still blazed with fury.
"Get away from her," he told Dante.
Kara felt Dante's grip loosen. A wave of fear washed over her. She couldn't let him leave—not yet. He knew something about her, something important.
"No," she said strongly, surprising even herself. "He's coming back to the mansion with us."
Zane's eyes widened in shock. No one challenged the Alpha like that.
"I need to talk to him," Kara added, trying to sound calm. "He knows things about... about my mother."
This wasn't totally a lie. Dante had shown her the collar with the Changeling mark—a mark he claimed had belonged to her mother.
Zane's jaw clenched. "Fine. But he leaves at dawn." He turned and stalked away, clearly expecting them to follow.
As they walked back to the house, Kara whispered to Dante, "Why did you help me?"
"I told you," he answered softly. "We're the same, you and I."
"And what exactly are we?"
Dante glanced at Zane's back, then leaned closer to Kara. "Not here. There are too many wolf ears around."
The mansion lights emerged through the trees. Kara could see people gathered on the porch—pack members worried about their Alpha's sudden exit during dinner.
"How did you find me in the forest?" Kara asked.
"I've been watching you," Dante revealed. "Since you returned to the pack."
Kara stopped walking. "Why?"
"Because I knew what you were. I could feel it." His silver eyes glowed softly in the darkness. "Just like I could sense those voices calling you to the river."
"What were they?"
"Forest spirits. They feed on pain and misunderstanding." Dante's face darkened. "They almost got you to jump."
A chill ran down Kara's spine. Had she really been about to throw herself into the river? The same river that had taken Sasha?
They reached the mansion's back door. Zane turned to face them.
"You," he pointed at Dante, "will stay in the guest room. Away from Kara's room."
"Of course," Dante agreed, his voice smooth and polite. But Kara could see a hint of amusement in his eyes.
Inside, everyone stared as they entered the dining hall. Dinner had clearly been stopped by Kara's dramatic exit and Zane's pursuit. Lena sat at the table, her face a mask of fake worry that didn't reach her cold eyes.
"Kara, thank goodness you're safe," she said sweetly. "We were so worried."
Caden rushed to Kara's side. "Are you okay? Who's this?" He glared at Dante.
"A friend," Kara said simply. She didn't feel like explaining more.
"Everyone, continue your meal," Zane ordered. "The excitement is over."
But the excitement wasn't over—not really. As Kara walked through the dining hall, she noticed Dante scanning the faces of the pack members, as if looking for someone. His eyes stopped on Lena for a moment too long.
Did they know each other?
A servant showed Dante to the guest room while Zane pulled Kara into his office.
"What were you thinking?" he asked once the door closed behind them. "Running off like that? And bringing a stranger back to our home?"
"You humiliated me in front of everyone," Kara shot back. "What did you expect me to do? Stay and watch you and Lena celebrate your love?"
Zane winced slightly at her words. Good. Let him feel bad.
"He's dangerous," Zane said, lowering his voice. "I can sense it."
"He saved my life."
"Did he? Or did he put you in danger first?" Zane stepped closer. "What were you doing by the river, Kara? The same river where—"
"Where Sasha died?" Kara finished for him. "Maybe I was trying to understand what happened that day. Maybe I'm tired of carrying the blame."
Something flashed in Zane's eyes—was it pain? Fear?
"Stay away from him," Zane warned. "And stay away from that river."
"Why? What are you afraid I'll find?"
Zane didn't answer. Instead, he walked to the door and held it open. "Get some rest. We'll talk more tomorrow."
It wasn't an idea. It was an order.
Back in her room, Kara couldn't sleep. Her mind raced with questions. About Dante. About being a Changeling. About Sasha and the river.
A soft knock at her patio door made her jump. She pulled back the curtain to find Dante standing outside.
"How did you—" she began as she opened the door.
"Climbing isn't hard when you have certain abilities," he smiled. "May I come in?"
Kara paused, then stepped aside.
"I know you have questions," Dante said. "I'm here to answer them."
"Start with this." She crossed her arms. "How do you know about my mother's necklace?"
"Because I knew your real mother," Dante answered. "Not the wolf who raised you, but the woman who gave birth to you."
Kara's heart beat. "She was a Changeling?"
"Yes. And so powerful that the pack feared her." Dante sat on the edge of her bed. "They couldn't kill her, so they made a deal instead."
"What kind of deal?"
"Her life for yours. She would leave and never return, and in exchange, you would be raised as one of their own."
"But why? Why would they want me?"
"Because of a prophecy," Dante said. "One that said the Alpha's daughter would bring great power to the pack. They needed an Alpha's daughter, and their own had died in childbirth."
Kara felt like the room was spinning. "So they took me? And claimed I was theirs?"
"Yes. And they sent their dead baby to your mother to bury."
Tears filled Kara's eyes. "So I'm not even a Blackwood?"
"No. Your real name is Kara Moonhaven."
The name felt strange but somehow right.
"And Sasha?" Kara asked. "Was she really my sister?"
Something changed in Dante's face. "No. But there's more to her story than you know."
Before he could continue, a sound from the hallway made them both freeze. Footsteps approached Kara's door.
"Hide," she whispered quickly.
Dante slipped into her closet just as the door opened. Lena stood in the doorway, a strange smile on her face.
"Talking to yourself, dear?" she asked, looking around the room suspiciously.
"What do you want, Lena?"
"Just checking on you. Zane's worried." Lena took a step closer, sniffing the air. "Strange. I smell someone else in here."
Kara's heart raced. "It's probably just the servants who cleaned earlier."
"Hmm." Lena didn't seem convinced. "Well, I just wanted to tell you that your friend Dante isn't who he says he is."
"What do you mean?" "Ask him about the fire that killed the Moonhaven family ten years ago." Lena's smile turned nasty. "Ask him what he was doing that night."
She turned to leave, then looked back. "Oh, and one more thing. Zane wants to see you both at sunrise. I think he's finally realized who your friend really is."
The door closed behind her. Dante stepped out from the closet, his face pale.
"What was she talking about?" Kara demanded. "What fire? And who are you really?"
Dante's silver eyes had lost their glow. "I need to leave. Now."
"Not until you tell me the truth!"
He grabbed her shoulders. "Listen to me, Kara. You're in danger here. We both are. Lena knows who I am, which means she knows who you are too."
"And who are you?" Kara asked, suddenly afraid of the answer.
"I'm the one who started the fire," he whispered. "The fire that was supposed to kill you."