Awakening The Silver Wolf

okay

Asher’s room was at the end of the corridor past the last guard post.

I walked slowly, stopping twice to talk myself out of turning back.

He is probably asleep. I told myself. I will just check and leave. That's what I convinced myself.

Luna said nothing. She had been unusually quiet since the corridor incident and I wasn't sure if that was better or worse.

I reached his door and no sounds from inside.

I pushed it open slowly, just enough to slip through.

The room was dim, only the soft glow of moonlight coming through the partly open window. Asher was in bed, eyes closed and breathing steady but shallow in a way that didn't sit right with me.

He looked different like this.

Without the steady eyes and the calm authority and the patience that never seemed to run out.

He looked like a normal man.

I stood there longer than I planned.

Something about seeing him like this made Kiara's words come back with more weight.

“ Watch my brother fade away.”

I pressed my lips together and looked away.

I had no right to feel this much about it. I had told him I was leaving. I had made my position clear every chance I got.

And yet here I was standing in his room in the dark because I couldn't sit still knowing something was wrong.

I stayed until his breathing evened out completely and until the tight line between his brows relaxed and he looked less like someone fighting something and more like someone resting.

Then he stirred, his head turning slightly toward where I was standing.

I moved before I could think about it.

I stepped out the door, pulling it shut behind me without a sound.

I exhaled in relief, turned around and then froze.

Three people were standing in the corridor.

Leon. Kiara.

And her.

The woman from this morning stood slightly ahead of the other two, arms folded, eyes on me with an expression that told me she had been waiting for exactly this.

"There she is." She said, loud enough to carry.

I looked past her and realized with a sinking feeling that we were not alone. Pack members had gathered at the end of the corridor, drawn by whatever commotion had started before I stepped out.

"I saw her sneak in there." The woman continued, turning slightly to address the small crowd. "She has been in the Alpha's room."

Murmurs rippled through the gathering.

"Reina…” Leon started.

"The Alpha falls ill this morning and suddenly she is sneaking into his room?" Reina's voice rose. "After a night walk nobody asked about? How convenient."

"That is enough." Kiara said sharply.

"Is it?" Reina turned to face her. "We know nothing about this woman. She showed up on our borders half dead. No pack and no name anyone can verify." She looked back at me. "For all we know she is a spy.

Maybe she was sent here deliberately to get close to the Alpha." She pressed.

Listening to her words, they sounded ridiculous and far fetched.

The murmurs grew louder however.

Something hot and familiar crawled up my chest.

I had been here before. Standing in the middle of a crowd while someone painted me as the villain. Waiting for someone to believe the lie because it was easier than the truth.

"She was trying to harm him." Reina pressed. "How did the Alpha fall sick the very morning after spending time alone with her?"

I opened my mouth.

"One more word." Kiara stepped forward, her voice dropping to something that made the corridor go very quiet. "One more word and I promise you will regret it."

Reina held her ground.

"I am only saying what everyone is thinking." She argued.

"No." Kiara said. "You are saying what you want everyone to think. There is a difference." She looked at the gathered pack members then back at Reina. "Bella is a guest of this pack under my brother's protection. Anyone who has a problem with that has a problem with him."

Silence is what followed.

Reina's eyes cut to me one last time.

Then she turned and walked away.

The crowd dispersed slowly, taking their murmurs with them.

Leon let out a breath.

Kiara turned to me.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

I looked down the corridor where Reina had disappeared.

“ I am fine.” I replied.

“ What were you doing at the Alpha’s room? You were supposed to be resting.”