The Curse of the Red Wolf

Chapter Four

I dried my hands on the kitchen towel after finishing the dinner dishes, letting out a quiet sigh as I stepped away from the sink.

The voices coming from the living room were soft at first, distant enough that I couldn't make out the words clearly. I assumed Anya and Tala were still talking.

I barely paid attention as I walked out of the kitchen—

And walked straight into him.

My entire body froze.

Chayton.

What is he doing here?

He stood on the opposite side of the room. The warm light from the living room cast soft shadows across his face, making his eyes seem even more intense than they had been at the training grounds.

My heart slammed violently against my chest.

No. No. No.

Before anyone noticed, I stepped backward, retreating so fast I nearly stumbled over my own feet. I ducked behind the corner near the hallway wall, pressing myself against it, heart slamming.

Please tell me he didn't see me.

My chest tightened painfully as I stayed hidden, listening carefully to the conversation from the living room.

"Thank you for welcoming us into the pack," Anya said warmly. "You're actually our first visitor since we moved here. We're still trying to settle in and learn our way around everything."

"There's nothing to worry about," Chayton replied calmly. "People will come around eventually once they get used to seeing you here."

Hearing his voice did something to my chest I couldn't name.

Tala laughed softly. The sweetness in her voice made me frown.

"You're too kind," she said gently.

"I mean what I say," Chayton continued. "Also, you fought well during training today. Your form is good."

A small gasp escaped Tala. "Oh — Goddess."

Even without seeing her face, I knew she was blushing.

"Really?" she asked softly.

"Yes," he answered simply.

I rolled my eyes from my hiding place.

Then suddenly—

"You can come out now."

Every thought in my head vanished instantly.

My breathing stopped.

What?

"You don't have to keep hiding behind the wall," Chayton added calmly.

Panic flooded through me so fast it made my stomach twist.

He saw me.

Tala spoke up beside him.

"Who are you talking about?" she asked quickly. "There's no one there."

There was a sharpness beneath her sweet tone now.

"I saw her walk in and disappear the moment she noticed me," Chayton replied.

Then—

"Come out, Odina."

My heart nearly stopped.

He knows my name?

Slowly, I stepped out from behind the wall, wishing the ground would open up and swallow me whole.

I kept my eyes lowered as I awkwardly tightened my fingers around the kitchen towel still hanging from my hand.

"H-Hello," I murmured quietly.

Anya smiled gently, trying to ease the tension.

"This is my second daughter, Odina."

Chayton's gaze remained fixed on me in a way that made me feel strangely exposed.

"I didn't see you at training today," he said.

I swallowed hard.

Before I could even think of an answer, Tala cut in.

"My poor sister cannot train," she said dramatically. "She's sick."

I flinched slightly at the way she said it.

Chayton frowned.

"Sick?"

"She's always been weak," Tala continued carelessly. "Training would make her health decline faster."

"Tala," Anya warned softly.

I kept my gaze down, but I felt the shift in Tala's silence beside him.

"There's no such thing as a sick wolf," Chayton said.

My fingers tightened around the towel.

"But I truly am sick," I said quietly, finally forcing myself to look at him. "I can't handle training."

For a moment, he simply stared at me.

Something unreadable passed through his eyes, almost like disbelief.

Then he spoke.

"I want to see you at the training grounds tomorrow morning."

My eyes went wide.

What?

Beside him, Tala stiffened.

Anya looked alarmed. "Please Chayton, she really cannot—"

"It's an order," he interrupted firmly.

The room instantly fell silent.

"I'm not accepting excuses," he continued. "Every wolf in this pack trains. I'll decide for myself what she can or cannot handle."

Terror crept into my chest.

He didn't understand.

If I pushed my body too far, I would die.

"Tomorrow morning," he repeated.

Then, without waiting for another objection, he turned toward the door.

"Goodnight."

And just like that, he left.

The moment the door shut behind him, the warmth disappeared from the room completely.

Tala slowly turned toward me.

The expression on her face made my stomach drop.

Pure fury.

She looked at me like she wanted to tear me apart.

"Well," she said coldly. "Are you happy now?"