something is off 17
676 Words
Chapter 17
Grill's POV
The ceremony had gone better than I expected. The pack had accepted me as their Alpha without hesitation, and most of them had already welcomed Ava with open arms. I could still see how nervous she'd been standing beside me, but she'd handled herself well.
She was stronger than she gave herself credit for.
As everyone celebrated, I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. My Lycan stirred uneasily. “Something is off.”
"I know," I answered him silently.
I glanced around the crowd, watching everyone laugh and drink. Warriors were talking among themselves while children chased each other through the courtyard. Everything looked normal. Too normal. My eyes landed on Catherine. She had already disappeared.
"Where'd she go?" I muttered.
Chris walked over with a bottle of beer in his hand. "Who?"
"Catherine."
He shrugged.,"She left a few minutes ago."
I nodded but kept watching the direction she'd gone. "I don't trust her."
Chris sighed.,"I don't either. Ever since she got here, something has felt... off."
I folded my arms across my chest. "Have a couple of warriors keep an eye on her cabin."
"You think she's dangerous?"
"I don't know yet."
"But until I do... I want eyes on her."
Chris gave a quick nod. "I'll handle it."
As he walked away, Ava slipped her hand into mine. "You okay?"
I smiled at her. "I am now."
She rolled her eyes playfully. "You keep looking around like you're expecting someone to attack."
"I've been an Alpha long enough to know when my instincts are trying to tell me something."
She squeezed my hand. "I'll be careful."
I leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I know you will."
The celebration lasted well into the evening. Eventually the pack began heading home, leaving only a handful of warriors cleaning up the tables and decorations. Ava yawned beside me.
"Tired?"
She nodded. "It's been a long day."
"It has."
I wrapped my arm around her waist as we walked toward the pack house.,Halfway there she stopped.
"Can we take a walk first?"
I smiled. "I was hoping you'd ask."
Instead of going inside, we followed the trail that circled the lake behind the pack house. The moon reflected across the calm water while crickets filled the night with their song. For the first time in weeks… Everything felt peaceful. Ava leaned against my shoulder.
"This place is beautiful."
"It wasn't always."
She looked up at me. "What do you mean?"
"When Jax gave me this pack, there wasn't much here. Most of these homes had to be rebuilt after the war."
She frowned. "The war must have been awful."
"It was."
I looked out across the lake. "I lost people I considered family."
She gently reached for my hand. "I'm sorry."
I squeezed her fingers. "I promised myself I'd build something better afterward."
"You already have." I looked at her.
"What makes you say that?"
She smiled softly. "Because everyone here looks happy."
Her words settled deep inside me.,Maybe… Just maybe… I really had built something worth protecting. Without thinking, I cupped her face.
"You know..."
"What?"
"I meant every word I said today."
She blushed. "I know."
"I don't."
She looked confused.
"I don't think you understand just how much you already mean to me."
Tears gathered in her eyes. "You barely know me."
"I know enough.","I know you're kind." "I know you're brave."
"I know you've survived things that would've broken most people."
"And every day I spend with you..." "I want another."
She threw her arms around my neck, burying her face against my chest. I held her tightly. Neither of us spoke. We simply stood beneath the moon, letting the silence say everything words couldn't.
Neither of us noticed the pair of glowing eyes watching us from the tree line.
Hidden in the darkness… Someone smiled, "So..." A deep voice whispered.
"That's the new Alpha and his little mate." The stranger stepped back into the shadows. "It won't be long now." Then he disappeared into the night.
- Writer
