Rejected and Claimed by his Best Friend, Book 1

Chapter 35: Threads of Trust (Alice’s POV)

The fire crackled in the hearth, its warmth a stark contrast to the chill in my bones. I sat cross-legged on the couch, staring at the flames as if they could offer me answers. The weight of the quiet safe house pressed on me, suffocating in its stillness. I hadn’t realized how much I’d gotten used to the noise — the shouting, the tension, the clashing of wolves’ emotions — until it was gone. Now, all I had was my own heart thumping in my chest.

*Winter, are you okay?* I asked in my mind.

I felt the familiar pull of her presence, strong and grounding. *I’m fine, Alice. You don’t have to worry about me. We’re safe here.*

I nodded, though the anxiety gnawing at me wouldn’t go away. I wasn’t used to being safe. I wasn’t used to quiet.

Another knock on the door startled me from my thoughts, louder this time. I hadn’t expected anyone else. Remi had been the only one to check on me since we got here.

I stood and moved to the door, my feet dragging, a growing unease twisting in my stomach. When I opened it, I found Remi standing on the other side again, but this time his stance was different — more alert. His eyes were scanning the woods around the cabin, a tension in his jaw that hadn’t been there before.

"What’s wrong?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Stay inside," he said, his tone sharp. "Lock the door. I’ll be back in a minute."

Before I could respond, he was gone, disappearing into the night. My heart picked up its pace as I hurriedly shut and locked the door, the sound of it echoing in the stillness of the house.

*What’s going on?* I asked Winter, my thoughts racing.

*Something’s wrong,* Winter responded, her voice low and full of unease. *I feel it too.*

I paced the room, my mind spinning with questions. What was happening? Why hadn’t Remi told me more? He was always so careful, so protective. But this time, there was no explanation, no reassurance.

Minutes felt like hours as I waited, the silence stretching and warping around me. I could barely hear my own breathing over the pounding of my heart.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps on the porch. The door handle rattled, and I instinctively flinched, my eyes wide. It was Remi.

He stepped inside, his expression grim. I couldn’t even begin to read the look in his eyes.

"What happened?" I demanded, stepping forward, my voice laced with worry.

Remi took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "There was a scent — someone’s been tracking you."

I froze. "What? Who?"

He met my gaze, his jaw clenched tightly. "I’m not sure yet. I’ve ordered the pack to do a sweep. We’ll figure it out. But you need to stay here, Alice."

The look in his eyes, the protectiveness in them, sent a chill down my spine. I didn’t want to be a burden, but I also didn’t want to be left alone. The fear that I’d once buried so deep inside me began to resurface, creeping up my spine and settling like a weight on my chest.

"What if I’m not safe here anymore?" I whispered, my voice trembling.

Remi reached out, cupping my cheek with his strong hand, his thumb brushing away the tear I hadn’t even realized had fallen. "You’re safe, Alice," he said, his voice calm but firm. "You’ll always be safe with me. I won’t let anyone hurt you."

There was a moment of silence between us, just the sound of our breathing filling the space. I wanted to believe him, to feel the truth of his words deep in my bones. But that cold, gnawing feeling in my gut wouldn’t go away.

*It’s okay,* Winter reassured me. *He’s right. We’ll stay strong, Alice.*

I nodded, feeling Winter’s comforting presence within me. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to keep me steady.

"Remi..." I began, my voice hesitant. "I don’t want to be a burden. I want to help. If someone’s out there, if they’re after me, I need to do something."

Remi’s eyes softened, but his grip on my cheek tightened, as if to remind me of his presence, his protection. "You’ve been through enough. You don’t need to do anything right now except stay safe."

I swallowed hard, his words settling over me like a blanket, but they didn’t quite reach the fear lodged deep in my heart. I nodded, but my mind was already racing.

As Remi left the room to continue the sweep of the property, I found myself once again staring at the door. The sense of being hunted, of being watched, never seemed to go away. And the worst part was, I knew it wasn’t just a feeling. Something was coming.

*Winter, stay with me,* I thought, my heart pounding in my chest.

*Always, Alice. We’re not alone anymore.*

But deep down, I knew that wasn’t the kind of reassurance I was hoping for. Because even with Remi by my side, there were still enemies lurking in the shadows. And soon, they’d make themselves known.

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