Valentine’s Vow: Alpha’s Mate

Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Secrets Unraveled

I stand frozen in place, my hand still on the doorknob, my heart pounding. Kieran’s words echo in my mind, relentless. “Amon isn’t the hero you think he is, Clara. He’s hiding things from you. Things that could get you killed.”

I try to shake off the fear clinging to my chest. I don’t want to believe him. I don’t want to believe that the man I’ve let myself get close to could be dangerous. But the doubt gnaws at me, digging into the cracks in my resolve.

“Things that could get you killed.” What if he’s right? What if Amon really is hiding something?

I close the door slowly, leaning against it as the weight of the situation settles over me. My phone buzzes in my pocket, interrupting the silence. I pull it out quickly, my hands shaking. The screen lights up with Amon’s name.

I breathe a sigh of relief, but a flicker of unease still lingers. What if something’s wrong? Why hasn’t he explained himself fully? I swipe to answer the call.

“Clara,” Amon’s voice is low, tense. “Where are you?”

“I’m at home,” I reply, my voice almost sounding too calm for how frantic I feel inside. “What happened? Is everything okay?”

“I’ll explain everything later,” he says, his tone sharp. “But you need to be careful. Kieran isn’t the only one who knows about us now.”

My stomach tightens. “What do you mean?”

“I just found out that there’s a rogue wolf targeting you. Someone from my pack is leaking information.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. “Wait. What? Are you saying someone in your pack wants to hurt me?”

“I’m not sure who it is yet, but I’m handling it. Just stay inside. Don’t trust anyone.”

I feel a chill run down my spine, and my grip on the phone tightens. “Amon, I don’t know if I can trust you anymore. Everything’s been so... secretive. You haven’t told me the full truth.”

There’s a long pause on the other end, and when he speaks again, his voice is softer. “I know. I should have told you everything from the start. But the truth is, I never wanted to pull you into this world. Into my world. I didn’t want you to get hurt.”

I bite my lip, trying to process his words. “Then why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you just walk away?”

“Because I’m falling for you, Clara,” he admits, and the rawness in his voice sends a shock through me. “I didn’t want to lose you, but I didn’t know how to make you understand. How to keep you safe.”

His words hang in the air, heavy and charged. I can feel my heart racing, my emotions all tangled. I didn’t want to lose you. The sincerity in his voice makes me want to believe him. But the fear that has been bubbling inside me since Kieran left gnaws at me. There’s so much I don’t know about Amon, about his world, and now... now there’s someone out there hunting me.

“I don’t know what to think anymore,” I confess, my voice breaking.

“I know,” Amon says quietly. “But please, trust me now. Lock the doors. Don’t let anyone in unless it’s me.”

“I... I’ll try.” The words feel heavy in my mouth. How do you trust someone when everything about them seems like a lie?

“Clara, please.” His voice is pleading now, and I can hear the raw emotion behind it. “I’m doing everything I can to protect you.”

“I’m scared, Amon,” I admit. The words come out before I can stop them. I feel so lost. “I don’t know who I can trust anymore.”

There’s a pause, and then he speaks again, softer this time. “I know. But I’m going to keep you safe, I promise. Just stay where you are, okay? Please?”

“I will,” I say, though a part of me wonders if staying put is the right choice. The fear inside me says I need to leave, but the part of me that’s drawn to Amon, the part that believes in him, says I need to stay.

After the call ends, I sit on the couch, my mind swirling with questions. I glance around my apartment, noticing how quiet it feels now. The warmth of the day outside has faded, replaced by a chill in the air. I double-check the locks on the windows, pull the curtains closed, and make sure everything feels secure.

Time drags on. The shadows in the room seem to grow longer with each passing minute. I keep looking at my phone, waiting for some sign from Amon, some word of reassurance. But the screen remains dark, and the silence is oppressive.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoes from the hallway outside. My heart leaps into my throat, and I quickly move to the peephole. I don’t know what I’m expecting, but it certainly isn’t the man standing on the other side.

It’s Kieran. Again.

He’s leaning against the doorframe, looking impossibly calm, almost casual. When he sees me peeking through the hole, his lips curl into a smile, one that sends a shiver down my spine.

“Clara, we need to talk,” he says, his voice smooth, like he’s been here before. Like he owns the place.

“I’m not letting you in,” I say, my voice sharp. “You’ve already said enough.”

“Oh, come on,” he says, not even sounding remotely concerned. “Don’t be like that. I’m just here to make sure you understand the full picture.”

“I don’t need to hear any more from you,” I snap. “You’ve already lied to me. You don’t get to walk in here and act like you’re some sort of savior.”

Kieran’s eyes flicker, and for a brief moment, I see something darker in them, a flash of frustration. But it disappears quickly, replaced by that same cocky smile. “I get it, Clara. You’re angry. But I’m trying to help you. I’m not the enemy here. Amon is.”

I cross my arms, feeling my pulse quicken. “Amon isn’t the problem here. You are.”

His smile falters for just a second, but then he shrugs. “You’ll come around. Eventually, you’ll see the truth.”

I don’t trust him. Not for a second. But I can’t help the unease that creeps up my spine. I don’t know what’s going on anymore. Amon’s world is darker and more dangerous than I ever imagined, and now there’s Kieran, acting like he knows all the answers.

I take a step back from the door, my mind racing. I’ve got to make a choice. I can’t keep running in circles like this. Something has to give.

And then, as if on cue, the phone rings again.

This time, it’s not Amon’s name on the screen. It’s a private number.

I hesitate, a mix of fear and curiosity twisting in my stomach. Should I answer it? I glance at the door again, then back at my phone. Finally, I take a deep breath and swipe to answer.

“Hello?”

The voice on the other end is low, almost unrecognizable. “Clara. You don’t know me, but I know you. And I know what’s coming.”

I freeze, my heart skipping a beat. “Who is this?”

“It’s not important who I am,” the voice says. “What matters is that you’re in danger. You need to leave now.”

The line goes dead before I can respond.

I drop the phone, my breath coming in short, shallow bursts. Who was that? And why did they sound so certain about my danger?

I look at the door again. Kieran is still standing there, watching me, waiting for a response.

I know one thing for sure: I’m not safe here. And if I’m going to survive whatever this is, I need to find out the truth about Amon, about Kieran, and about everything that’s happening before it’s too late.