Accused
1165 Words
Katie trudged quietly behind Jerome, her hand still clasped in his firm grip as they made their way back to the pack house.
Her neck ached from where the rogue’s knife had pressed, and her legs felt like they might buckle at any moment.
The forest around them was eerily quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze, but the calm only heightened her unease.
Every step brought her closer to a fate she wasn’t sure she could face.
The rogue's chilling words still echoed in her mind: "She's the key. Bring me the half-fire, or this one dies."
She swallowed hard, her throat dry and scratchy. What did it mean? And why did Jerome’s expression turn so cold at the mention of it?
Jerome remained silent, his jaw tight, his grip unrelenting.
Katie risked a glance at him, but his face was unreadable, the usual smirk nowhere in sight. Instead, he radiated an icy tension that made her shiver.
As they neared the pack house, the hum of voices drifted toward them, growing louder with each step.
The moment they stepped inside, the sound ceased abruptly.
All eyes turned to them, and the air grew heavy with accusation and disdain.
“There she is,” someone muttered from the back of the crowd.
Katie felt her stomach churn as the pack's stares bore into her.
She wanted to shrink away, but Jerome’s firm hold kept her rooted in place.
Her gaze dropped to the floor as whispers turned into sharp, biting words.
“Why is she still alive?” a loud voice snapped, cutting through the silence like a blade.
Katie flinched, and her eyes shot up to meet the fiery gaze of Rihanna.
The omega stood at the center of the crowd, her arms crossed, and her expression brimming with contempt.
Her dark hair was tied back neatly, and her sharp features only added to the venom in her voice.
“It’s because of her,” Rihanna continued, her voice growing louder. “That rogue attack… all of it! She’s cursed!
She’s brought nothing but bad luck to this pack ever since she arrived!”
A wave of murmurs spread through the room, and Katie’s breath hitched.
She shook her head, wanting to scream, to defend herself, but no words came.
“That’s enough,” Jerome’s deep voice sliced through the chaos, silencing the crowd in an instant.
Katie’s eyes darted to him, startled by the commanding authority in his tone.
He let go of her hand and stepped forward, his presence radiating dominance.
The crowd parted slightly under his intense gaze.
“Rihanna,” Jerome said coolly, his voice sharp enough to make the omega stiffen. “If you have something to say, say it to me.”
Rihanna hesitated, her defiance faltering under his piercing stare.
“With all due respect, Alpha, you know I’m right,” she said, her voice losing some of its edge.
“She’s a liability. The rogues came because of her. If she stays here, we’re all at risk.”
A ripple of agreement passed through the room, but Jerome’s expression remained icy.
“Do you think I’m weak, Rihanna?” he asked, his tone deceptively calm.
Rihanna blinked, taken aback. “Of course not, Alpha—”
“Then why do you assume I’d allow a liability to remain in my pack?” he interrupted, his voice growing colder.
“Katie isn’t cursed. She isn’t bad luck. And she isn’t the reason for the rogue attack.”
The room fell silent again, the weight of Jerome’s words hanging heavily in the air.
Katie stared at him in shock, her heart pounding in her chest.
Why was he defending her? After everything, why did he care?
“But Alpha—” Rihanna began, but Jerome cut her off with a sharp glare.
“This conversation is over,” he said firmly. “Anyone who disagrees can take it up with me directly.”
No one moved. No one spoke. The tension was suffocating.
Jerome turned to Marcus, who stood silently at the edge of the room.
“Get everyone back to their duties,” he ordered before glancing at Katie. “And make sure she sees the healer.”
Katie hesitated, but Marcus stepped forward, his expression unreadable as he gestured for her to follow.
She cast one last glance at Jerome, but he had already turned away, his attention elsewhere.
The healer’s room smelled of dried herbs and earthy oils, a stark contrast to the hostility Katie had just escaped.
An older woman named Sage greeted her with a warm but knowing smile.
Her silver hair was tied back in a loose braid, and her gentle hands worked quickly to examine Katie’s neck and arms.
“You’re lucky he got to you in time,” Sage murmured as she applied a cooling salve to the shallow cut on Katie’s neck.
Katie winced but said nothing. The events of the day were still too fresh, too raw.
“Jerome doesn’t often intervene like that,” Sage continued, her tone thoughtful. “He must see something in you.”
Katie’s head snapped up, her eyes wide. “What do you mean?”
Sage chuckled softly, shaking her head. “Don’t mind me, child. I’m just an old woman with too much time to think.”
Before Katie could press further, the door burst open, and Rihanna stormed in, her anger palpable.
“You,” Rihanna hissed, her glare locking onto Katie. “What lies did you tell Alpha Jerome to get him on your side?”
Katie’s stomach twisted. “I didn’t tell him anything.”
“Liar,” Rihanna spat, stepping closer. “You must’ve done something. How else would someone like you get the Alpha’s protection?”
“Leave her be, Rihanna,” Sage said sternly, stepping between them. “She’s been through enough.”
Rihanna scoffed. “You’re defending her now too? Unbelievable.”
Katie clenched her fists, anger bubbling to the surface. “I don’t need Jerome’s protection,” she said, her voice trembling but firm.
“And I don’t need any other person's protection either.”
Rihanna’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, it looked like she might lash out.
But then she smirked, the cruelty in her expression making Katie’s skin crawl.
“You’re playing a dangerous game, Katie,” Rihanna said softly. “And I hope you lose.”
With that, she turned and left, slamming the door behind her.
Katie let out a shaky breath, her hands still clenched at her sides.
“You’re stronger than you look,” Sage said quietly, offering her a small smile.
“But strength alone won’t be enough in this pack. Be careful, child.”
Katie nodded, her resolve hardening.
She didn’t know what Jerome’s intentions were, but she couldn’t rely on him to always save her.
If she wanted to survive, she’d have to do it on her own.
- Writer
