Chapter 29: New Bonds

Chapter 29: New Bonds
The infirmary was quiet—too quiet. The kind of silence that lingered before a storm or just after a scream. I had just finished checking on Eva, running a final scan to make sure her vitals were normal. She was healing—miraculously fast, actually—but her aura felt… bruised. Not physically, spiritually. Like she’d been crushed and folded over and over by betrayal.

I packed up my instruments when the door creaked open. Two scents wafted in before the footsteps did—lilac with a strange bitterness and orange zest with something spoiled beneath. Kiara and Myra.

Of course.

I didn’t even turn around. “Unless you brought food or an apology, you can stand right there,” I said curtly.

Kiara’s voice cut through the sterile air. “We were just checking on the patient. You know, as concerned members of the pack.”

I rolled my eyes and turned slowly, my arms crossed. “Concerned? About Eva? That’s rich coming from the same two who’ve been whispering behind every closed door.”

Myra stepped forward, her expression the perfect mask of sweetness laced with venom. “Amelia, you know I’d never wish Eva harm. But Trent is my brother. You and I both know his judgment gets clouded when he falls too deep. It’s your job—our job—to protect him from making mistakes.”

I stared at her, long and hard, before walking over and leaning against the counter. “You think Eva is a mistake?”

Kiara smiled, lips tight and cold. “She’s not one of us. She doesn’t understand the ways of a Luna. And frankly, she’s a little… fragile.”

“Fragile?” I repeated, raising a brow. “You both clearly haven’t seen the rage that burns behind that girl’s eyes. She’s survived more than most warriors in this pack. And Trent sees that. He sees her.”

Myra exhaled like I was a toddler who didn’t understand the stakes. “You forget, Amelia. Blood ties matter. I’m his sister. I’ve known him since birth. You and I—we’re family.”

A laugh escaped me before I could stop it. “Family? Myra, please. We were family when you didn’t align yourself with people trying to destroy Trent’s peace. You think he doesn’t see your games?”

Kiara stepped closer now, that smirk back on her face. “You’re so high and mighty for someone who doesn’t even have a mate. Maybe if you did, you’d understand how Luna duties work.”

That stung. For a second. But I didn’t let it show. I raised my chin and stepped right into her space, smirking like I was about to carve her name into the wall of foolish regrets.

“You’re right,” I said, my voice cool and steady. “I don’t have a mate. Which means I don’t have anyone tying me down, no one diluting my loyalty. I stand where I want, with whom I want. And right now? I stand with Eva.”

That wiped the smug off Kiara’s face.

Myra’s lip curled. “You’re making a mistake.”

“No, Myra. You are,” I replied sharply. “Keep pushing, and you won’t just lose Trent—you’ll lose whatever shred of grace you have left in this pack.”

A faint shuffle behind me drew my attention. I turned slowly, and there, standing just outside the curtain, was Eva.

Her face was pale, her hand trembling slightly around the curtain’s edge, but her eyes—those damn eyes—were locked on me with something raw and unreadable.

“Eva…” I started, stepping toward her.

She straightened her spine, like a warrior facing judgment. “I heard everything.”

My heart dropped, but she gave a weak smile. “Thank you… for defending me.”

I relaxed. “Always.”

Kiara and Myra looked like they’d swallowed nails. Myra opened her mouth to spin another tale, but I cut her off.

“Out. Both of you.”

Kiara scoffed. “You’re not Alpha—”

“No, but Trent put me in charge of this infirmary. Which makes this my territory. You don’t want to test me on that.”

They stormed out, faces tight with restrained fury.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind them, I turned back to Eva.

“You okay?” I asked.

She nodded. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”

“I’m glad you did.”

She stepped further in, her voice softer now. “I didn’t realize you felt that way.”

“You thought I didn’t have your back?”

Eva hesitated. “I guess… after everything I’ve been through, it’s hard to believe someone might actually choose me. Without strings.”

I swallowed hard. “Then believe this: You don’t owe me anything. But I’m on your side, Eva. I see the pain you hide behind your silence. And the strength. You’re not alone in this anymore.”

Her eyes glistened. “We’re friends?”

I smiled. “Hell yeah, we are.”

She laughed, a watery sound that made something twist in my chest. I gestured for her to sit, and she did. There was still a shadow in her gaze, but some of the weight seemed to have lifted.

Then I remembered. “Speaking of being friends—have you started preparing for the Gathering?”

Her expression blanked. “The what?”

I blinked. “Wait. No one told you?”

“Told me what?”

“The Gathering. It’s the annual assembly of all regional Alphas and their Lunas. This year, it’s being hosted right here. In our pack. In two weeks or less.”

Her face went ghost-white.

I reached out and grabbed her hand. “Hey, don’t freak out. It’s a lot, yeah, but I’ll help you.”

“Amelia… I’ve never been to anything like that. I don’t even know how to act in front of multiple Alphas. I’ve never worn a ball gown or held a wine glass or—”

I squeezed her hand. “You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be real. Trent will be by your side. And so will I.”

She hesitated. “What if I mess it up?”

I grinned. “Then we mess it up together, and we make it look good.”

She chuckled weakly. “You’re dangerous.”

“And you’re tougher than you think.”

For the first time in a long while, I saw a flicker of peace settle in Eva’s shoulders. She exhaled slowly, as if letting go of years of chains one breath at a time.

I didn’t say anything more. Just sat with her, holding space for whatever she needed. The Gathering would come, and the vipers in this pack would keep slithering. But for tonight?

Tonight, she wasn’t alone.

And neither was I.