His Twisted Claim

Chapter five

The walk back to the herb garden felt longer than usual.

My boot dragging against the soil, the scent of Ivy's expensive, suffocating perfume still burning the back of my throat.

Fiancée.

The word refused to leave me alone.

He isn't supposed to have a fiancée.

I placed a palm over my beating heart. I hope what I was feeling was anger not jealousy.

Where did she even come from?

“You look like you're plotting a murder.”

I snapped out of my thoughts, my eyes focusing on Rowan.

He was leaning against one of the fences, with a half eaten apple in his hand.

The afternoon sun flexing on that sharp jaw of his, making him seem more relaxed than most here.

“I'm not in the mood, Rowan,” I muttered, pushing past him.

I dropped to my knees, burying my hands back in the dirt. I needed to feel the soil, something to distract me before my mind goes spiraling again.

“Hey.” Rowan tossed his apple aside, dropping to his knees beside me.

His once playful tone had vanished, “what happened up there? Alpha Devric didn't…” He trailed off, his eyes scanning my face for something.

“He questioned me,” I said, not removing my focus from these stubborn roots, “just the usual paranoia. Wants to know where I'm from, nothing out of the ordinary.”

“And? what did you tell him?”

“Sovereign pack.”

Rowan let out a low whistle. “We both know that's a lie. They don't let anyone in or out. It's a good shield though.”

He reached out, his fingers brushing against my cheek as he wiped away a smudge of mud that I didn't even know was there.

“But that's not what has you looking like you've seen a ghost. Your hands are shaking.”

I froze. He was perceptive, I hated that.

It's not like I could tell him the truth.

“I met Ivy,” I whispered. That was the last thing I thought I'd say.

Rowan's hand dropped. His expression darkened, a rare flicker of distaste crossing his face.

Of course, he knows her.

Who wouldn't know Alpha Devric's fiancée except me.

“Ah. Ivy, the high and mighty. I was hoping she'd stay in the eastern capital a bit longer.”

There was an obvious dislike in his voice.

“Why do you call her that?”

“She'd become the Luna of this pack pretty soon. It's a political arrangement. Her father controls the silver mines. Devric needs the resources.” Rowan sighed, leaning closer until his shoulder rested against mine.

“She acts like she controls the whole North, expecting everyone to answer to her. Pisses me off." I could tell he's had an encounter with her, and it definitely wasn't good.

“Hmm, I see.”

From the second floor window of the Alpha's wing, with the sun reflecting against the glass, the figure standing opposite it couldn't be hidden.

I didn't need to look up to know who was standing there.

I could already feel it.

He was watching us.

I could have sworn I felt the heat of his gaze burning against my neck.

Rowan definitely felt it too.

He straightened his posture, like he was suddenly aware of his environment.

“Get back to work you,” a sharp elderly voice cut through the tension.

Martha was standing at the entrance of the garden, her hands crossed.

“The head healer needs those roots washed and dried before sundown. Stop flirting with the warriors and move your feet.”

Rowan gave me a reassuring wink before standing up. “Duty calls. Don't miss me too much,” he said loud enough for Martha to hear.

The rest of the afternoon passed quickly.

By the time noon came, my fingers were swollen, covered in blisters.

I carried the heavy wooden crate of washed herbs towards the main house, my muscles grinding in pain.

The corridors were now quiet. Just the shadow of the moon and crickets.

As I rounded the corner near the storage, a hand shot out from nowhere, grabbing me by the shoulder, pulling me into the shadows.

I gasped, dropping the crate.

A few herbs scattered across the stone floor.

“Quite. It's just me,” a voice rushed out.

My heart hammered against my chest as I looked up into the face of Kieran.

The war captain looked uncharacteristic.

His hair was messy, his voice rugged, and his usual posture had disappeared.

“What the hell, Kieran? What are you doing?” I tried freeing myself from his grip.

“Sorry for my manner of approach. I just needed to talk to you,” he whispered, his eyes frantically scanning my face.

There was an intense emotion in his gaze, something like… guilt, mixed with an emotion that felt too deep for someone who had only known me for a couple days.

Or was I imagining things?

“You're hurting me,” I lied, wanting him to let go of me.

He immediately released my shoulder, stepping back.

“I'm sorry. I.. I just… Celina, you need to be careful. Seeing you in Devric's office today, that close to him, it set off alarms. You don't understand the kind of danger you're putting yourself in by being here.”

I narrowed my eyes, studying him carefully.

Celina. He called me by my name, not stray.

“I'm just a girl working in the herb garden, Kieran,” I said softly, observing him, “what danger could I possibly be in?”

“You aren't just a girl, and you know it,” he snapped, his voice cracking.

He took a deep breath, steadying himself.

He stepped closer to me, whatever space existing between us had vanished.

This was getting uncomfortable.

“You think you're hiding it, but the way you look at him like you want to kill him and grieve him at once, it's drawing his wolf right to you. People will figure it out before he does, and it won't end well.”

My heart took a leap into my stomach.

Did he know about the mate bond?

He isn't supposed to know that.

How come? This can't be good.

“Why do you care?” I demanded, my anger rising up. “You're the war captain. Your loyalty is to your Alpha. Why not carry the information to him? Why warn a stranger?” This wasn't making sense.

Kieran closed his eyes for a brief second, his jaw moving.

When he opened them, there was something I couldn't quite place, “because I can't let it happen again,” he whispered, the word slipping out of his mouth.

Before I could press him on what he meant, a heavy, slow footstep echoed down the corridor.

Kieran froze, the color drained from his face.

Without altering another word, he snuck back into the shadows of the cellar stairs, disappearing just as the figure came to view.

It was Devric.

He stopped a few feet from where I stood, his gaze instantly dropping to the scattered herbs on the floor. After a while, his gaze traced back to me.

His eyes flicked to the dark corner where Kieran had just been standing, his nostrils flared as he caught the lingering scent of his war captain.

A dangerous, animal like growl vibrated in Devric's chest, so vile it sent shivers down my spine.

“What are you doing here with Kieran?” Devric asked, his voice dangerously calm as he walked into my space, pinning me against the cold wall.