Chapter 20 Attack

Chapter 20 Attack
NYLA’S POV

I sat by the window in the music room, letting the cool air settle on my skin. Things around here were still painfully tense. Axel insisted it wasn’t safe for me to be outside, so I’d been stuck in the house, trying to cling to whatever little sanity I had left.

It wasn’t that I hated being indoors — I actually liked it — but right now the garden felt like the place my mind needed most.

Soft music drifted through the room as I exhaled slowly, trying to calm my nerves.

But my mind wouldn’t let me rest. The thought of being the Luna still terrifies me. I knew, deep down, that I was not fit for it. I’d thought and overthought everything expected of me, everything I needed to be… yet it all felt impossible.

It isn’t me. I am not as strong as the others, and I have no capabilities to fight back. If anything, I am soft and weak. 

My thoughts came to a halt when I heard movement behind me. My head snapped back, looking around. I could see a figure, but I couldn’t tell who it was.

"Stephanie?" I called out, narrowing my eyes to see further, but I still couldn’t see clearly. The hallway was too dark.

She didn’t respond or move. I didn’t bother saying anything else until suddenly she— or rather someone— stepped closer, and I realized it wasn’t Stephanie. It was someone else.

"Who are you?" I asked.

The person walked in. It was a man— muscular, with a mask on his face, so I couldn’t tell who he was.

"I’m the new guard here," He replied as he walked into the room.

"Oh, Axel told me about the new security. But why do you have a mask on?" I asked.

"Allergy," He replied, taking another step closer.

What he said didn’t make any sense to me, but I didn’t question him. I just kept my gaze on him as he took small steps, talking to me.
"I hope I didn’t scare you. I was asked to protect you from a distance…"

I didn’t respond. Something felt off about him and the way he spoke.

When he was just a few feet away, I noticed something wrong.

He didn’t have the pack badge on his shirt.

"Are you not part of the pack?" I asked, looking at him.

"I am," He replied, taking another step closer.

"Then how come you don’t have the badge?" I asked.

He didn’t respond, but his silence told me everything I needed to know. I stood up and took a step back as he kept approaching. Then I hit the chair. He didn’t stop walking. He kept coming.

"I think you should go back outside. Axel will be here anytime soon, and he won’t like to see you here," I said, hoping it would scare him off, but it didn’t.

"Then I guess I have to do the work fast."
He grabbed my hand.

I screamed, and he instantly pushed me to the ground. Before I could stand up, he dragged my leg. I screamed again, and he punched me.

"Shut the fuck up!" He yelled, kicking me.

He pulled me toward him, covered my mouth with his other hand, and dragged me up. I winced, twisted— tried everything to get out of his grip, but I couldn’t. He was too strong. Way too powerful.

"Settle down, otherwise I’ll fucking kill you!" He growled, looking deep into my eyes.

Still, I tried to tug away, but I couldn’t.

I stomped on his foot hard. He looked at me, and out of anger tightened his grip around my wrist.

"You fucking bitch!"

"How dare you think—" He growled, slapping me.

Blood poured from my mouth as I hit the ground.

Just as he reached to hurt me again, Axel suddenly emerged into the room. His eyes went from the man to me. His hands curled into fists as he stomped toward him.

"You attacked the wrong woman," Axel growled.

AXEL’S POV

My wolf hadn’t settled all day. I tried to ignore it, thinking my mood was just shifting again, but then the unease sharpened into something else — danger.

I left the meeting room immediately and headed straight for the music room. I knew she’d be there. And just as I feared… she was in danger.

Nyla was on the floor, bleeding.

My chest tightened. Fury took over.

I helped her to her feet first, making sure she could stand, then turned toward the man. Fear twisted in his eyes.

Good.

He stepped backward as I approached, then suddenly bolted, throwing himself through the window. I didn’t chase him. The guards could do that.

"Someone get me water," I barked. Feet scrambled in response.

When I turned back, Nyla collapsed into my arms. Her tears soaked through my shirt as she clung to me like she needed to anchor herself to something real. And God, it broke me.

I held her close, rubbing her back, letting her cry as long as she needed. Minutes passed before she finally pulled away.

A guard returned with the water. I handed it to Nyla and nodded for Stephanie to take her upstairs and care for her.

Once she was gone, Karim approached.

"Did you get him?" I asked.

"He escaped, Alpha."

"There were five of you," I snapped. "Five. And he was alone."

"I know. He was too fast. We’re sorry."

Something wasn’t adding up.

"Find out how he got inside and where he ran to."

"Yes, Alpha."

"And understand this—if anything like this happens again, you’re gone."

I went straight to the room. Nyla was curled on the bed, changed, looking a little calmer. Stephanie slipped out when I entered.

I sat beside her. "How are you feeling?"

She exhaled shakily. "I don’t know. Scared."

"You don’t need to be. He’s gone. He won’t get back inside."

"Did you arrest him?"

I wished I could tell her yes.

I shook my head. "He escaped. But Karim is tracking him. We’ll find him."

"Okay… thank you."

I gave a faint smile. "Everything’s going to be alright. I promise." I kissed her forehead gently. When I started to pull away, her eyes stayed on mine — searching, wanting.

Before I could think, I leaned in and kissed her.

She kissed me back, soft but desperate, like she needed that moment just as much as I did. Her lips fit against mine perfectly.

Then she pulled away. 

Reality hit me hard. I just kissed Nyla! 

"I’ll be right back," I muttered, standing quickly.

She nodded, and I left the room before I did something even more reckless.

I didn’t know what had come over me… but it had to stop.