Chapter 9
1227 Words
By the time evening arrived, the entire packhouse felt tense.
Rowan could feel it everywhere.
In the quiet conversations that stopped when they walked into a room.
In the sideways glances from wolves who used to ignore them completely.
And especially in the way Matthew hadn’t let them out of his sight all day.
Rowan sat at the long dining table, barely touching the food on their plate.
Across from them, Matthew leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, watching the room like a hawk.
But every few moments…
His silver eyes flicked back to Rowan.
Checking.
Always checking.
Rowan’s heart did a strange little flip every time.
They didn’t understand why.
This morning Matthew had nearly killed someone for touching them.
That should have been terrifying.
Instead it made Rowan feel… safe.
Which was confusing.
Very confusing.
The doors of the packhouse suddenly opened.
Cold air rushed inside.
And with it came a familiar voice.
“Well, this looks cozy.”
Rowan didn’t even have to turn around.
Damien.
The room shifted instantly.
Several wolves stiffened as Damien walked inside, completely relaxed, like the tension didn’t affect him at all.
His golden eyes scanned the room lazily.
Then landed on Rowan.
And his mouth curved into a slow smile.
Matthew noticed.
Rowan noticed Matthew noticing.
The air between the two Alphas practically crackled.
Damien walked over and sat beside Rowan without asking.
Rowan froze.
“Good evening,” Damien said smoothly.
Rowan swallowed.
“Hi.”
Matthew’s chair scraped loudly across the floor.
He stood.
“Damien.”
Damien leaned back casually.
“Yes?”
Matthew’s voice dropped into a warning growl.
“You’re in my packhouse.”
Damien lifted one eyebrow.
“And?”
Matthew stepped closer to the table.
The space between the Alphas filled with heavy, territorial tension.
“And you’re sitting very close to Rowan.”
Damien looked down at the small distance between himself and Rowan.
Then he leaned just slightly closer.
Rowan’s breath caught.
“Is this better?” Damien asked innocently.
Matthew’s eyes flashed silver.
Rowan quickly scooted their chair back.
“I think I’m done eating.”
They stood abruptly and hurried out of the hall before the situation exploded.
---
The hallway outside was quiet.
Rowan exhaled slowly.
Their heart was racing.
Why did everything feel so intense whenever those two were in the same room?
Footsteps echoed behind them.
Rowan turned.
Matthew.
He stopped a few steps away, his expression still tense.
“Did he bother you?”
Rowan shook their head quickly.
“No.”
Matthew didn’t look convinced.
Rowan hesitated before asking softly,
“Why do you hate him so much?”
Matthew looked slightly surprised by the question.
“I don’t hate him.”
Rowan raised an eyebrow.
Matthew sighed.
“…I don’t trust him.”
“Why?”
Matthew leaned against the wall, thinking.
“Damien plays games,” he said finally.
“He pushes people just to see how they react.”
Rowan thought about Damien’s teasing smile.
“That sounds accurate.”
Matthew huffed quietly.
Then his gaze softened slightly.
“But he’s not wrong about one thing.”
Rowan frowned.
“What?”
Matthew hesitated.
Then stepped closer.
Close enough that Rowan could feel the warmth radiating from him.
“You shouldn’t be alone right now.”
Rowan’s voice came out quieter than intended.
“I’ve been alone my entire life.”
Matthew’s jaw tightened slightly.
“That was before.”
Rowan looked up at him.
“Before what?”
Matthew’s silver eyes held theirs.
“Before I noticed you.”
Rowan’s breath caught.
The words hung between them.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Matthew seemed to realize what he’d just said.
He looked away slightly.
But he didn’t step back.
The hallway suddenly felt much smaller.
Rowan could hear Matthew’s steady breathing.
Could see the tension in his shoulders.
Could feel the strange warmth spreading through their chest again.
And without thinking…
Rowan reached out.
Their fingers brushed Matthew’s wrist.
The reaction was immediate.
Matthew inhaled sharply.
His wolf surged to the surface — but instead of aggression, the familiar calm washed over him.
His shoulders relaxed.
The tension drained from his posture.
Rowan pulled their hand back quickly.
“Sorry.”
Matthew shook his head.
“Don’t apologize.”
His voice had gone deeper.
Rougher.
He looked down at Rowan again.
Something intense flickered in his eyes.
Something Rowan couldn’t quite name.
Footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Both of them turned.
Damien stood there, watching.
And he looked very amused.
“Well,” Damien said slowly.
“This is interesting.”
Rowan stepped back immediately.
Matthew straightened.
Damien walked closer, golden eyes glinting with curiosity.
“You two look very comfortable.”
Matthew crossed his arms.
“What do you want?”
Damien ignored him completely.
Instead, he stopped in front of Rowan.
Very close.
Rowan’s pulse jumped again.
Damien tilted his head slightly.
“Your scent changed.”
Rowan blinked.
“What?”
Damien leaned closer, inhaling subtly.
Matthew’s wolf growled instantly.
Damien smirked.
“Relax, Matthew.”
Then he looked at Rowan again.
“You’re reacting to him.”
Rowan frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Damien’s smile turned slow and knowing.
“It means the bond between you two is getting stronger.”
Rowan’s heart skipped.
“Bond?”
Matthew’s voice was sharp.
“Damien.”
But Damien continued calmly.
“You felt it earlier, didn’t you?” he asked Rowan.
“When you touched him.”
Rowan hesitated.
“…yes.”
Damien nodded like he expected that.
Matthew’s jaw tightened.
“What about when you touched me?” Damien added.
Rowan remembered the moment in the dining hall.
The way Damien’s wolf had calmed instantly.
Rowan nodded slowly.
Damien’s smile widened slightly.
“Well.”
Rowan suddenly felt nervous.
“‘Well’ what?”
Damien glanced between them.
Then said the words very casually.
“I think our quiet little Rowan might have two Alpha bonds forming.”
The hallway went completely silent.
Rowan stared at him.
“That’s not possible.”
Matthew didn’t say anything.
But the tension in his shoulders returned immediately.
Damien shrugged lightly.
“It’s rare.”
Rowan’s voice shook slightly.
“How rare?”
Damien met their eyes.
“Almost unheard of.”
Rowan’s stomach flipped.
Matthew stepped forward again.
“Enough.”
Damien raised his hands in surrender.
“Just pointing out the obvious.”
Rowan looked between them.
Two Alphas.
Both watching them.
Both reacting to them.
Both dangerously close.
Rowan’s voice came out small.
“What am I supposed to do?”
Matthew answered immediately.
“Stay close to me.”
Damien chuckled.
“Oh, I’m definitely not letting that happen without a fight.”
Rowan sighed softly.
This was becoming a disaster.
But Damien suddenly grew more serious.
“There’s something else you should know.”
Matthew’s eyes narrowed.
“What?”
Damien’s expression darkened slightly.
“I caught another scent outside the territory tonight.”
Rowan felt a chill.
“What kind of scent?”
Damien looked directly at them.
“Rogue wolves.”
Matthew’s wolf surged instantly.
“And they’re not just passing through,” Damien added quietly.
Rowan’s stomach dropped.
“How do you know?”
Damien’s golden eyes hardened.
“Because they were asking about a wolf who can calm Alphas.”
- Writer
