Chapter 6
1453 Words
No one to trust.
Our gazes met, and for a brief second, the world went still. Silence filled the hallway.
I jerked away from his arms immediately, stumbling backward until my back nearly hit the wall, struggling to steady myself.
“Careful… careful,” he whispered. His voice was so calm it sent a gentle breeze of comfort through me.
“What are you doing here?” he murmured.
“You’re not supposed to be here…”
There was concern in his tone —real concern, like I was endangering my life just by standing there. But I was too startled to speak.
I only stared at him, tears slipping down my cheeks, my hands trembling. My face felt pale, as if I’d just seen a ghost.
He took my hand and pulled me along, guiding me gently as we made our way outside, moving quietly to avoid being detected.
Why was I so shocked by his sudden kindness?
Why did he feel… warm? Safe?
No. No.
Everyone is a liar.
Everyone is against me.
There is no one I can trust.
No one.
Not even him.
I pulled myself out of his grip and wiped my eyes with the back of my hand.
“Thank you, Alpha,” I whispered, my voice breaking and I turned to leave.
“Don’t go…”
His voice stopped me—soft, desperate, nothing like the powerful Alpha I had heard about.
I stopped.
Nothing he wanted to say could hurt more than what I had heard.
I had been used by the man I trusted like a second father… all the love and kindness he showed me was a facade
Hot tears slid down before I could stop them. The pain cut through my chest like a blade.
“Please,” he said behind me, his voice low, heavy. “Let me stay with you. Let me carry some of this pain with you.”
I let out a small laugh—broken, bitter.
“Share my pain? You?”
I turned to look at him. “That’s funny. That’s really, really funny.”
He flinched, but didn’t move away.
“I don’t understand,” I whispered. “Why is all of this happening to me?”
My voice shook as anger rose again.
“You want me to trust you? Lean on you? So you can finish what you couldn’t finish before?”
His brows pulled together sharply. “What? What are you talking about…?”
“Stay away from me,” I shouted, stepping back. “Stay very far away from me!”
“Nyla…wait!” he said, reaching out.
I stopped breathing.
Nyla.
He said my real name.
The world around me faded. My legs trembled beneath me.
He knows.
He knows who I am.
I swallowed hard and held my clothes tightly to stop them from shaking.
“I’m Ann. Not Nyla,” I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. “You’ve mistaken me for someone else.”
His expression didn’t change. His gaze didn't leave mine.
“Nyla…” he repeated, softer this time, almost like a plea.
“Ann!” I cut him off, my voice cracking again. “I’m Ann!”
He didn’t argue.
He didn’t raise his voice.
He just stood there—strong, silent, eyes burning with something deep… something protective… something that made my heart tremble because it wasn’t anger.
It was pain.
He looked like my denial physically hurt him.
Like my pain was stabbing him too.
“Ann…” he tried again, softer this time, “is there someone that can stay with you? I don’t want you to be alone.”
“Why do you care?” I shot back immediately. “I thought you wanted me dead too.”
His jaw tightened. His eyes flashed with— anger, worry, regret. Like he was fighting with himself.
“I can take care of myself,” I continued, folding my arms like a shield. “I’ve suffered worse and survived. I don’t need your care.”
My voice cracked. “S…so stay away from me. You’re just like everyone else. No…you’re worse. Worse!”
I turned and began walking to my room, each step heavier than the last.
I let the tears fall. I couldn’t hold them anymore.
The pain was too much.
My heart ached like it had shattered into a thousand pieces.
I couldn’t breathe.
My knees buckled, and I collapsed to the floor, clutching my chest as the air refused to enter my lungs.
I needed air… lots of it.
“Here you are, Alpha Rowan has been looking for you,” Nuella’s voice came softly.
I lifted my head, but I couldn’t see through the blur in my eyes. My fingers fumbled against my cheeks as I tried to wipe my face, every movement weak and devastated like strength had been drained out of me.
“And why are you on the floor?” she asked, rushing to help me up.
Our eyes met, and her expression softened immediately.
“Ann… are you okay? You look like you’ve been crying.”
“I…I’m fine.”
The words came out broken, like they dragged pain with them.
“Where is Alpha Rowan?”
“He’s in his study.” she replied.
“Can you go on your own?”
I nodded. “Yes… thank you.”
I forced a small smile, weak and fake, then walked away.
Every step felt like walking through thick water.
My mind was empty and loud at the same time.
Everything hurt—the air, my heartbeat, my thoughts.
I didn’t know what would happen next. I just moved forward like a ghost heading toward its coffin.
When I reached the study, I knocked once and pushed the door open, hands trembling.
“Good morning, Alphas,” I whispered, keeping my head low so they wouldn’t see the redness in my eyes.
“There you are…” Alpha Derick's voice was too warm, too welcoming like poison hidden in honey.
He walked toward me with his arms open, as if he expected me to run into them.
My stomach twisted with disgust. This man… this man was worse than the devil.
Before Derick could touch me, Alpha Rowan stepped forward.
His voice was soft, almost careful, but there was something in his eyes… a regret he couldn't hide.
“Ann,” he said quietly, “go and pack your bags.”
I lifted my head, confused.
“You’ll be going to the Nightbane Pack.”
His voice was gentle, calm… but his jaw was tight, like he was forcing the words out against his will.
“Think of it as a small vacation,” he continued softly.
“A chance to see a new place.”
I froze.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
Shivers ran down my spine.
My palms grew wet.
My heart started throbbing so loudly it felt like it was shaking my whole chest.
Before I could form a word, the door swung open
Alpha Darius walked in.
His presence alone shifted the air—heavy and commanding, impossible to ignore.
“Why,” he asked slowly, eyes hard, “would she go to the Nightbane pack… when she should be going to the Crescent moon pack?”
Derick blinked. “S-Sorry?”
“You heard me.”
Before Derick could speak again, Alpha Rowan stepped forward. “She’s under my care. I decide where she goes and where she doesn’t.”
Darius’ gaze snapped to him—cold, sharp, dangerous.
“No,” Darius said quietly, “you don’t.”
Rowan stiffened. “What?”
Rowan stepped forward, jaw tight, eyes burning.
“Who do you think you are,” Rowan snapped, “barging in here and giving orders about her? She’s under my care. I decide what happens to her, not you.”
A heavy silence dropped.
Darius didn’t flinch.
He didn’t blink.
He didn’t even bother to look offended.
Instead, he tilted his head slightly, almost amused, his power rolling through the room like a dark wave.
His voice was calm — too calm.
Are you finished?”
Rowan’s breath caught, but Darius continued, his tone very cold.
“You don’t decide anything about her.”
He took a single step closer, and the air in the room tightened.
“You don’t speak for her.”
His eyes sharpened. “And you don’t speak for me.”
His dominance filled the space, swallowing every other presence.
“Because the only one with any right over her…” Darius said slowly, deliberately, letting each word sink into the room, “is me.”
“Her mate.”
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