Chapter 11
861 Words
I couldn’t sleep no matter how hard I tried. Even with Devon’s warmth beside me, my heart kept pounding like it wanted to tear through my chest. Every time I closed my eyes, all I saw were the she-wolves’ snarling faces, the way their eyes glowed with hate like they had been waiting for me all along.
I turned on my side slowly, not wanting to wake Devon, but he was already watching me. His golden eyes caught mine in the faint light from the window.
“You’re still awake,” he said softly.
I bit my lip. “I can’t stop thinking about them.”
Devon reached for my hand, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. “No one will hurt you while I’m here. You believe me, don’t you?”
I wanted to believe him. I really did. But something about the way Scar had looked at me earlier—like he was certain I didn’t belong—kept crawling into my mind.
“What if Scar’s right?” I whispered. “What if I bring trouble to your pack?”
His expression hardened, his jaw tightening the way it did when he was annoyed. “Scar isn’t always right. He sees enemies everywhere, even in shadows. You’re my mate, Addy. That’s not trouble. That’s fate.”
My chest ached hearing him say that. For a moment, I forgot about everything else.
But then, a howl tore through the night. Loud. Urgent.
Devon sat up instantly, his muscles tense. I froze, clutching the blanket to my chest.
“Stay here,” he ordered, his voice low but firm. “Don’t move until I come back.”
“Devon—”
“I mean it, Addy.” He kissed my forehead quickly before grabbing his shirt and running out.
The room felt colder without him. The silence that followed pressed down on me until I couldn’t breathe. My legs shook as I stood, pacing the floor. I told myself I would obey him, but the longer he stayed away, the more restless I became.
I moved to the window and peeked outside. Warriors were gathering in the courtyard, their bodies tense, their eyes scanning the trees at the border. I could hear growls carried by the wind. Something was happening, and it wasn’t just a drill.
Before I could pull away, the door creaked open behind me. I jumped, my heart slamming into my ribs.
It wasn’t Devon.
It was Scar.
He stepped inside slowly, shutting the door behind him. His eyes fixed on me like a predator cornering prey.
“You just can’t stay put, can you?” His voice was sharp, carrying no kindness.
I backed away until my legs hit the bed. “Devon told me to stay here. I haven’t gone anywhere.”
Scar’s lip curled. “You think I don’t see what you’re doing? Always watching, always waiting for the right moment to betray us.”
“That’s not true!” My voice shook even though I tried to sound strong.
He stepped closer. “Do you know what that howl meant? Rogues are circling the territory. And you show up here out of nowhere, claiming to be Devon’s mate, but you bring danger with you. Doesn’t that sound convenient?”
My breath caught. Was that why the wolves had been growling earlier? Because of me?
“I didn’t call them,” I whispered.
Scar leaned down, his eyes burning into mine. “Maybe not with words. But rogues can smell weakness, and you reek of it.”
Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “Devon trusts me. That’s enough.”
Scar’s jaw tightened. For a second, I thought he would lash out. But instead, he straightened, his gaze cold.
“We’ll see how long his trust lasts,” he said, and then he walked out, leaving the door wide open behind him.
I sank onto the bed, trembling. My whole body felt like it was on fire and ice at the same time. Scar’s words dug into my chest like claws. Could he be right? Was I the reason rogues kept showing up?
The minutes crawled by until Devon returned. His shirt was torn at the shoulder, a line of blood trailing down his arm. I shot up instantly, rushing to him.
“You’re hurt!”
“It’s nothing,” he said, brushing me off gently. But I could see the way his muscles tensed, the strain in his eyes.
“What happened?” I asked.
“Scouts caught two rogues at the border. They were testing our defenses.” His eyes darkened. “They’ll be back.”
Fear wrapped around my throat. “Devon… what if it’s because of me?”
His hands caught my face firmly, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Don’t ever say that again. You hear me? None of this is your fault. You’re mine, Addy. The Moon Goddess doesn’t make mistakes.”
His certainty warmed me, but in the corner of my mind, Scar’s voice echoed like a shadow.
And I couldn’t shake the feeling that the worst was yet to come.
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