Chapter 3. Looming Catastrophe

Loveth walked through the front door, a smile still plastered on her face. Her parents looked up from their evening routine, surprised by her unusual demeanor.

"Hey, sweetie! How was your day?" her mother asked, setting aside her book.

Loveth twirled into the room, her backpack bouncing behind her. "It was amazing, Mom! I can't even begin to tell you."

Her father raised an eyebrow.

"Try us."

Loveth giggled, taking a seat at the dinner table.

"Okay, so I was sitting in the cafeteria, and I met this guy...and we talked for hours. It was like we knew each other forever!"

Her mother's eyes lit up.

"That sounds wonderful! What's his name?"

Loveth hesitated, not wanting to reveal too much.

"Uh, it's not important. The point is, we had an amazing conversation, and I feel like I've found someone who really gets me."

Her father exchanged a skeptical glance with her mother.

"That's great, Loveth, but you're not exactly the most...social person. What's gotten into you?"

Loveth shrugged, trying to downplay her excitement.

"I guess I just needed a change of scenery or something. But trust me, Mom, Dad, this was different. I feel like my whole world has shifted."

Her mother approached her, a gentle smile on her face.

"I'm glad to see you so happy, Loveth. But remember, it's okay to be cautious. You don't know this person's intentions or anything about their life."

Loveth nodded, feeling a pang of guilt for hiding the truth.

"I know, Mom. I'll be careful."

As they finished dinner and began clearing the table, Loveth's mind wandered back to Maximus. She couldn't wait to see him again, to continue their conversation and explore this strange connection they shared. Little did she know, her life was about to take a dramatic turn, one that would challenge everything she thought she knew about herself and the world around her.

*

Loveth lay on her bed, lost in thought, replaying her conversation with Maximus in her mind. Her father's gentle tap on her shoulder broke her reverie.

"Hey, kiddo, can we talk?" he asked, his voice low and serious.

Loveth sat up, her heart racing slightly.

"What's up, Dad?"

Her father hesitated, his eyes scanning the room as if ensuring they were alone.

"I need to tell you something. About the person you met today."

Loveth's mind raced. How did her father know about Maximus?

"What do you mean?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

Her father's expression turned grave.

"I got a sniff of him, Loveth. He's a werewolf."

Loveth's eyes widened, her heart skipping a beat.

"What? How did you...?"

Her father held up a hand.

"It's not important how I know. What matters is that you stay away from him."

Loveth felt a surge of defiance.

"Why? He's not a bad person, Dad."

Her father's face softened.

"I know that, sweetie. But we can't afford to get involved with...those kinds of people. Same kind of people in Lorea, where life is already hard enough."

Loveth nodded reluctantly, knowing her father was right. But in her mind, she was still thinking about Maximus, wondering what it would be like to see him again.

"I understand, Dad," she said finally.

"I'll stay away from him."

Her father's eyes searched hers, as if seeking reassurance.

"Good. I don't want your mother to worry, okay? Let's keep this between us."

Loveth nodded, feeling a pang of guilt for hiding the truth from her mother. But she knew her father was only trying to protect her, and she couldn't blame him for that.

As her father left her room, Loveth lay back on her bed, her mind still racing with thoughts of Maximus. She knew she should forget about him, but she couldn't shake the feeling that their connection was something special, something worth fighting for.

*

Golden White stood in the grand hall of the rented chateau, his eyes fixed on the old man with a godly aura.

"What news do you bring, Oracle?" he asked, his voice low and urgent.

The old man's eyes gleamed with a knowing light.

"I bring terrible news my old friend, Marcus seeks to open the Everlong gates, Golden. He aims to unleash a demon capable of hunting down Maximus and killing him once and for all."

Golden's expression turned grave.

"The Everlong gates? But that's madness! The consequences would be catastrophic. The beings beyond the Everlong gates are more advanced and ruthless than us, not to mention they are filled with greed. They are even Celestials residing beyond the Everlong gates! It will be the end of our world!"

The old man nodded solemnly.

"I know, Golden. But Marcus is desperate and reckless. He'll stop at nothing to eliminate his brother and claim the Alpha position."

Golden's fists clenched.

"We can't let that happen. What can we do to stop him? This is no longer concerning the Alpha position, right now the entire world is at stake, if we do nothing.. we all perish, there's no doubt about it!"

The old man placed a hand on Golden's shoulder.

"You must keep Maximus safe, Golden. At all costs. The fate of your pack and the entire supernatural world depends on it. I will do my best to delay the opening of the gates, perhaps stop it if I can. But in the meantime, you must keep Maximus safe."

Golden's eyes narrowed.

"I won't fail, Oracle. I promise."

The old man smiled, his eyes shining with approval.

"I know you won't, Golden. You've always been loyal and true. But be warned: the road ahead will be treacherous. You'll need all your strength and cunning to protect Maximus. And rally yourself some allies if you can, there's no more time."

Golden nodded, his jaw set in determination.

"I'm ready for whatever comes our way. We'll face it together, Maximus and I. No one will lay a finger on him except I'm dead."

The old man nodded, his aura fading as he vanished into thin air. Golden stood alone in the hall, his mind racing with the weight of the task ahead. He knew he had to be vigilant, to anticipate Marcus' every move. The fate of the pack and Maximus' life depended on it.