Part A: Chapter 10

The library was huge and it was a wonder how I hadn’t found it all this long. Then again, it was underground so it made sense why I didn’t know that Carmichael estate had such a luxurious and large looking library just below ground.

Ivan kept pointing out some books that I should definitely read when I got the chance that would impress Aidan but every time he mentioned his name, I would flinch. I was thankful Ivan was in front of me otherwise he would have noticed and made an issue of it or would have told Aidan when he got back. All the things I didn’t want to concern myself with.

I still wasn’t sure why I had let him drag me here in the first place. Sure, the library was beautiful and there was so much about lycans that I still didn’t know about like this prophecy but this was a bad time. I was supposed to be planning my exit from this place and begin my search for my family or anything from my past life and I didn’t have time to go looking at prophecies that may or may not concern me.

“Couldn’t this have waited?” I asked with a sigh and I continued to follow after him, not really caring about matching his pace. “I mean, we have a lot of time and why suddenly bring it up now?”

Ivan turned around long enough to wink at me before he turned back in front. “There’s no better time like the present,” he said. “And besides, if I had offered to take you here when Aidan was around you would have said no and he would have had my arse handed to me for trying to flirt with you.”

“But we both know you aren’t flirting with me. Honestly, he’s got a temper.”

Ivan chuckled as he slowed his pace so that we were now walking side by side. “Don’t let anyone hear you speak ill of the Alpha, he may be gone but the walls have ears and rules are meant to be followed. No one is the exception, not even him or his family,” he said quietly as he leaned closer so that I was the only one who could hear. “But, he really does have a temper and growing up with him was no easy task, trust me.”

He straightened back up and kept walking, his hands in his pockets with a carefree bounce in his step. “Don’t worry much about it, I just figured you would be lonely with the Alpha gone and whatnot and thought I could continue showing you around the place and getting you familiar with a lot of the lycan history.”

I wanted to turn back and run away when I still had a chance but there was a part of me that was glad that Ivan wanted to spend time with me when Aidan clearly didn’t want to. I took a deep breath, if I was going to spend more time here, then the least I could do was be prepared for whatever it was. And the prophecy sounded like a good place to start. It would give me information that I needed to know before I left this place and went into hiding where Aidan and his people would never find me.

“All right then, show me this prophecy you have been talking about and let’s see just how much of it is real and what is fake,” I said, walking a little faster now because I was hyped to get this over and done with.

My plans for escaping were going to be made right under Ivan’s nose as he explained things to me.

“Someone finally seems excited about it, I was wondering what was wrong,” he said with a laugh as he led us to a large door inside the library and then turned to face me. “This place is off limits but it just so happens to be your lucky day because I made plans for you to be let in. Feast your eyes on the secret Carmichael library that is told in stories but none has ever seen it except a few.” He did a ridiculous bow as he opened the door and I stepped through.

I was in awe as I took the place in. This place was much more beautiful than the other parts we had come through. It looked old but well maintained with books lining every inch of the wall, from floor to ceiling and long ladders hanging by the shelves for the books that were on the highest level which I couldn’t see from my place.

“Wow,” I breathed, spinning around to take every inch of this place and pushing away the pang of sadness that washed over me at the thought that I would never see this again. I had to embrace everything now.

“I know right, the first time I saw this place I was dumbstruck with just how amazing it is,” Ivan said walking over next to me. “If you think this is cool, then wait until you see Aidan's private training quarters, that place is ridiculous. Even their summer homes and hideout spots are insane.”

“Aidan has a summer home, or course,” I shook my head in utter disbelief. Just how rich was this pack anyway?

“Aidan has a lot more things he keeps private, not even his father and sister know of them except for Carter and I.”

I continued to turn in circles until my head started spinning and I finally stopped. “What does Aidan do? I remember him telling me he's a CEO or whatever of Carmichael Enterprise but never really what the company is all about. Mind sharing?”

Ivan rocked back and forth on the sores of his heel. “I don’t know, he might not be happy that I told you, much less brought you here.” He was acting cagey and it truly made me wonder just what exactly they were selling.

“Please, I promise not to mention a word.”

“Fine,” Ivan sighed, “you cracked me but I’ll tell you after I show you the book where the prophecy is.” He didn’t wait for me to say anything as he took a hold of my hand and pulled in further into the library and only stopped when we were standing in front of a large old leather book that was placed inside a glass case that was locked. “This is it.”
I looked at the book and almost facepalmed myself. Of course it was going to be on display. “How do we read it?”

Ivan turned and smirked, “don’t worry, I have that already covered.” He pulled out a key-card and pressed it against the glass until the thing clinked and clunked before the glass split open and the stand the book was on extended up then he picked it up gently. “Ta-da,” he mused and began walking to the nearest table.

Ivan placed the book down and gestured for me to take the seat next to him. “Would you do the honours of opening it?” he still had the goofy smile on his face and I couldn’t help but smile in return.

“Okay,” I opened the book and was surprised at just how heavy the cover was and shot Ivan an incredulous look which he just shrugged as if it was nothing. “Now what?”

“Now, little lycan, we read.” Ivan flipped through the pages effortlessly and then stopped on a page where a gray lycan stared back at us with the bluest eyes I have ever seen. “This is rumoured to be the very first Lycan Alpha who led his people away from the slaughter they faced from the hands of the humans and is considered the very first child of the Goddess. However, one of his subordinates wasn’t happy when he found his mate and thought he was choosing his mate over his pack and decided to plan for him to be killed by his own mate.”

“Wow.”

“Seeing her most priced child die, the Goddess cursed all lycans who descended from the traitorous lycan. However, she decreed that only the true Alpha’s bloodline would be able to free every lycan from the curse she had bestowed on them.” Ivan read and then sighed before continuing. “For all who sought to ruin her name and honour, all will perish after the last of the ten signs have passed.”

“I don’t know what to say,” I breathed.

Ivan smiled and placed his hand on top of mine. “No one ever does and the signs have already begun. The same fate that the traitorous lycan faced will soon befall us.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The end may be nearer than the elders anticipated,” Ivan said and closed the book. Then he did the last thing I ever thought he would do, he kissed me.