HIDDEN HOWL

Chapter seven: A Warm Welcome

TRINITY

The sharp clang of metal echoed through the grand marble halls as the palace guards led me toward the towering iron gates. My breath hitched with every step, the cold air biting my skin.

This was it—the end of my time within the palace walls.

I have never felt more relieved.

Right?

It had to be relief because I could not stand anymore of this madness. So why did I feel as though I was being torn from an essential part of me? My fingers clenched tightly around the thin fabric of my cloak, trying to stave off the gnawing unease. ..

I didn’t dare look back. Not at the gilded chandeliers, not at the intricate tapestries, and certainly not at the jaw dropping alpha triplets.

Nadir had left shortly after Alpha Nader. He gave no clue to where he was going, he just stormed out angrily. I suppose he was taking this newfound bound harder than the others.

After he had left, Luna Mira had made it clear that I was no longer of any use and had the guards take me away.

And away I was taken.

The guards flanked me on either side, their expressions unreadable beneath their helmets. Their silent presence felt heavier than the air, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone or something was watching me. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled as we reached the gates.

“Open it,” one guard barked.

The gates groaned, protesting their release as they creaked open, revealing the dark forest beyond. Freedom—or so I thought.

A low, measured voice cut through the tense air. “Stop.”

I froze, my heart hammering in my chest. I knew that voice. Everyone did. It was calm, calculated, yet carried an unmistakable edge of authority.

The voice of Xerxes Vale.

Slowly, I turned, and there he was. Why was it suddenly so hard to breathe? What was this excitement and thrill swirling within me?

This was not my first time coming face to face with Xerxes. I did several times while we were younger and I have never felt this way until this night.

I have never felt more… alive.

More liberated.

Xerxes stood at the top of the steps, his dark eyes locked onto mine. He looked every bit the ruler he was—his sharp features carved in shadows, his presence suffocating yet mesmerizing. He descended the steps with a predator’s grace, his black attire billowing behind him like a storm cloud.

“Trinity,” he said, his voice soft but laced with warning. “I hope you are not planning to leave pack territory. If you do then you will be severely punished.”

My eyebrows shot to the top of my head from his words. “Well, hello to you too,” I muttered and his eyes snapped to mine.

“What was that?” he asked and my lips slammed shut.

“Nothing.”

He grunted. “I hope I have made myself clear? You are not to leave pack territory until one month has passed.”

I am not going to lie, the thought of running away tonight had come to mind.

Why on earth would I stay in this hell hole for an entire month? I only planned on staying here a few days, not a month.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “A month?” I managed to croak.

He stepped closer, the air growing colder around him. “Yes, a month,” he confirmed, his tone unyielding. “If you dare to defy this order, you will be hunted down. Do you understand?”

God, I am going to go insane here.

The weight of his words pressed down on me like a boulder. I wanted to scream, to argue, but my voice betrayed me. All I could do was nod—shakily, weakly.

“Good.” Xerxes’s lips curled into a semblance of a smirk, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He stepped back, his gaze lingering on me for a moment longer before turning to the guards. “Escort her to the boundary.”

Without another word, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving me trembling in his wake.

And a silent desire for his touch.

---

By the time I reached my aunt’s house, the sun had dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in deep purples and blues. The familiar scent of cedar and rosemary greeted me as I knocked on the weathered door. It swung open almost immediately, and Aunt Lila’s warm, smiling face appeared.

“Trinity!” she exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug. “Oh, my dear girl, it’s been too long!”

Her enthusiasm was a stark contrast to the dark thoughts swirling in my mind. “Hi, Aunt Lila,” I mumbled, managing a faint smile.

She ushered me inside, her excitement radiating as she chatted about how much I’d grown, how she’d missed me, and how wonderful it was to have me back. But not everyone shared her sentiment.

Amara, Maia, and Selene stood at the edge of the living room, their expressions ranging from mild disinterest to outright disdain.

“Great,” Amara said dryly, folding her arms. “She’s back.”

“Just what we needed,” Maia muttered, her tone laced with sarcasm.

Selene didn’t say anything, but the look she gave me could have cut glass.

I tried not to let their reactions get to me, but the knot in my stomach tightened. I’d barely set foot in the house, and already I felt like an outsider.

“Girls, behave,” Aunt Lila scolded, her cheerful tone dropping slightly. She turned to me with a reassuring smile. “You’re family, Trinity. You’re always welcome here.”

I nodded, forcing another smile, but inside, I couldn’t help but wonder: how long could I endure this place? A month under Xerxes’s shadow, a month under this roof—would I survive it? Or would I crumble under the weight of it all?

I most certainly won't.

My cousins hated me with everything in them. They saw what happened at the ceremony today, but they are not aware why. If they did find out I would be killed whether I leave the pack territory or not. But one thing about me is,

I'd rather die on the run than in my sleep.

I have to get out of here.

Tonight.