Chapter 23 Don’t take me back
Auren's pov
Voices wake me, and I realize I’d fallen asleep thinking about Alpha Dravik’s sudden anger. I strain to listen to the conversation behind the door, but I can’t catch a word……no wolf senses, no advantage.
Dammit.
The door swings open, and Alpha Dravik enters, closing the door on whoever was in the hallway.
“Auren, we are returning to Silverveil tonight.”
My stomach drops like I’ve swallowed lead. He’s sending me back, he has finally realized I’m useless and too much of a bother.
No. No. No. No.
I close my eyes shut and squeeze the blanket tighter, feeling like a child who’s done everything wrong.
I should have tried harder……scrubbed the floors, thrown myself at him, anything but sit here acting like some inexperienced virgin. A man like him obviously doesn’t waste time on a woman unwilling to give herself to him.
“Hey… hey, calm down,” I feel his hand on my chin. “I’m not taking you back, alright? You’re not coming with us—just yet.”
I squeeze my eyes shut harder, unwilling to believe him. If not today, it’s only a matter of time before he changes his mind and takes me back.
“I… I will try harder,” the words slip out, pleading.
I might not know what my future here will lead to, but it’s definitely better than what awaits me in my pack
“Open your eyes and look at me.”
I do, blinking against the light, and see him fully for the first time in what feels like days.
“We,” he points between him and another man that was suddenly in the room, “are going to your pack tonight.”
Hope steps into the room, shaking her head.
“Is that a good idea? Just you two? What if that is what they want you to do?,” she signs, her eyes landing on me.
“I can handle them,” he turns towards her. “Me and my wolf—we could kill a hundred of them if we had to.”
“Take Jace and Garrick with you.”
“Jace is too loud and we’re planning to go quietly. I need Garrick in case things go……sideways.”
“What if they’re not there, like last time?” Hope presses.
Alpha Dravik shrugs, a deadly look crossing his face. “Then we burn it to the ground. Or maybe I can just do that anyway.” His gaze flicks to me, expecting a reaction.
I give none. Jumping to their defense isn’t on my mind.
He turns to the man beside him. “Brandon, We leave at nightfall.”
Brandon nods, turns and drags Hope with him towards the door, as they begin to bicker.
“Any killing requests?” Alpha Dravik sits beside me.
I blink, was he no longer angry with me?
“What?”
“Anyone you want me to kill for you?” he asks casually.
“Are… are you allowed to kill an alpha?” I stammer.
A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. “You’d be surprised what I’m allowed to do, sweetheart. Now, tell me—why do I smell my brothers on you?”
“They came to check on me,” I say, shrugging. “They were being friendly”
“Friendly?” His tone is sharp, but I see the corner of his mouth twitch. “Curious. Mostly curious. They always want to know what I’m up to… especially when it involves someone I actually care about.”
“Oh.” I bite my lip, realizing how much he’s talking without really looking at me. “So… they’re spying on you?”
He adjusted on the bed, still not facing me.
“Depends on your definition. They think they’re helping. I think they’re meddling.”
“I don’t think they mean harm. They’re… protective. Like a pack should be.”
“Protective, huh?” He finally glances at me, his eyes narrowing, just enough to make me shiver. “Protective or nosy?”
“Both?” I offer cautiously, trying not to laugh, though it’s a little funny watching him wrestle with the idea.
He lets out a low growl, half irritation, half something else.
“They think I’m too reckless and too quick to act. I don’t need advice from my brothers about how I handle my business or my pack.”
“They’re your brothers,” I point out. “Of course they care. They… they just want to make sure you don’t—”
“Get distracted?” His tone cuts me off, sharp. “Exactly. And apparently, the distraction is you.”
I flush at the bluntness, staring at my hands. “Me?”
“Yes, you.” He lets it hang there, like a warning and a confession at the same time. “So if you hear footsteps, or catch a shadow out of the corner of your eye, it’s not a ghost. It’s my brothers.”
“Friendly ghosts,” I murmur, half to myself.
He smirks, just slightly. “Friendly enough, but don’t get used to it. I don’t share space or—.”
Suddenly, his head snaps to the left.
“Lock the door.”
Before I can question him, he’s off the bed, running through the door, moving like a predator. I rush to obey, grabbing the chair by the window and sliding under the handle.
What’s happening?
He probably sensed something.
I quickly went back to the window looking out. Outside, I see Brandon, Garrick, and a handful of men already positioned, scanning the area. Something is going on.
I sink down, hugging my legs, my heart hammering in my chest. I didn’t know what to do. Silverveil has never experienced an attack or attacked anyone before. Yet here I am, watching it unfold in real time.
Peering over the sill again, I see some wolves dragging a creature from the tree line.
My breath catches.
It’s massive………it had the body of a man, the head of a wolf and an enormous tail tipped with something that looks sharp and deadly.
Its claws dig into the dirt, his tail swinging, striking at the wolves as it struggles to break free. The sheer size of it makes my stomach drop.
Then, suddenly, another huge creature that looks like a wolf, black like midnight, grabs its neck. I see the motion, precise and brutal as its head snaps clean from the body.