Chapter 31: Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Chased by Shadows

Noah’s

My heart pounded so hard I thought it would burst. My eyes were locked on the man standing directly in front of me. His dark eyes gleamed with something dangerous, and his smile was sharp, like a newly honed blade. I backed up slowly, my sneakers scraping the dirt beneath my feet, fear clawing intensely at my chest.

“Who are you?” I asked, my voice shaking and barely loud enough to reach him. “What do you want with me?”

He laughed, a low, mocking sound that sent chills down my spine, and took a single step closer. “You really don’t know who I am?” he said, his voice dripping with amusement. “I’m Eric, Alpha of the rogues. And you, Noah, you’re the little human who’s got Enzo, the big bad Alpha, all soft and weak. How does a kid like you manage to do that, huh?”

I swallowed hard, my hands trembling with a mixture of fear and building anger. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, my voice louder now, though it cracked slightly under the pressure. “Just leave me alone! I’m not part of your stupid fight with Enzo!”

Eric’s smile widened, his eyes glinting maliciously as he stepped closer again, his boots sounding heavy on the ground. “Oh, you’re definitely part of it, alright,” he said dismissively. “You’re his mate. That makes you the key to completely breaking him. I kill you, and Enzo’s done for good. No more Alpha, no more powerful pack.”

“Kill me?” I said, my voice high with terror, my heart racing faster than ever. “You’re crazy! Stay away from me! I’m not his mate, I’m just… me, a regular person!”

He laughed again, louder this time, his head tilting back mockingly. “Just you?” he said. “You’re everything to him, kid. Why else do you think I’m standing here right now? You’re my only ticket to winning this war against him.”

I backed up further, my spine hitting a cold, hard fence, and my breath came in short gasps. “Please,” I said, my voice shaking badly. “I don’t want any part of this. Just let me go now. I won’t tell anyone, I promise you!”

Eric shook his head slowly, his smile still cold and unforgiving. “No can do, I’m afraid,” he said. “You die, Enzo falls apart. It’s simple, predictable math. Don’t take it personally, Noah.”

I didn’t stop to think; I just turned and ran, my legs pumping hard beneath me, my breath ragged and struggling. Why didn’t I listen to Ren? Why didn’t I go straight to the mansion like I was told? I felt so incredibly stupid, chasing old memories of my dad, thinking I could have just one normal, safe moment to myself.

The alleyway blurred around me, dark and narrow, my heart pounding as I glanced back over my shoulder every second. Eric was right behind me, his footsteps loud and heavy, his mocking laugh echoing off the walls. I pushed harder, my lungs burning painfully, but my foot caught on a crack in the pavement, and I fell hard, a sharp, immediate pain shooting through my leg.

I scrambled onto my knees, gasping for air, and looked up in panic. Eric was there now, much closer, a knife glinting dangerously in his hand, his smile wider and crueler. “No one’s coming out here to save you now, kid,” he said, his voice low and chilling. “This is exactly where your life ends.”

I stood up instantly, my leg throbbing fiercely, my hands raised defensively. “Please,” I said, my voice breaking. “Don’t do this. I’m not a threat to you or your pack. I’m just a human!”

“Just a human?” Eric said, twirling the knife casually. “That’s precisely what makes this moment perfect. Enzo’s only weak because of his bond with you. One swift cut, and his whole world falls apart right in front of him.”

“Don’t!” I shouted, stepping back further. “You don’t have to do this! What did Enzo even do to you in the past? Why do you hate him so much that you would kill me?”

Eric’s eyes darkened immediately, his cruel smile fading for a second. “Oh, so you want a history lesson, do you?” he said, his voice sharp with resentment. “Enzo’s been a painful thorn in my side for years now. Taking my territory, constantly killing my rogues, acting like he’s completely untouchable. I’m finally done with his arrogance, and you’re the perfect way for me to end it permanently.”

I opened my mouth to scream as loud as I could, but a dark blur shot past me, moving so fast I barely saw it happen. Eric flew backward instantly, crashing hard into a nearby tree with a sickening, heavy thud. The knife fell from his hand and clattered onto the ground. I froze, my breath completely caught in my throat, my eyes wide with shock.

Enzo stood there right in front of me, his eyes now glowing bright red, his fists clenched tightly at his sides, his whole body tense as if he was ready to tear the world apart to protect me.

Eric stood up slowly, dusting dirt off his jacket, his laugh shaky but completely defiant. “Well, well, well, look who finally decided to show up,” he said, his voice mocking Enzo. “The great Alpha Enzo himself. Did you come here to save your little human, huh?”

Enzo growled, a deep, vibrating sound, and stepped forward menacingly. “Why are you here, Eric?” he said, his voice sharp and laced with fury, his eyes burning with red light. “You come after my mate? Do you truly have a death wish for yourself?”

Eric smirked, leaning casually against the tree, his knife back in his hand again. “Oh, we definitely have unfinished business to deal with, Enzo,” he said. “You think you’re so incredibly strong, but you’re soft now. All because of this weak human kid. The pack’s going to turn on you the second they see how truly weak you’ve become.”

“Shut your mouth right now,” Enzo snapped, his voice a lethal growl. “You so much as touch Noah again, and you’re dead. You know I don’t play any games when it comes to him.”

Eric laughed, stepping closer again, his eyes glinting with malice. “Dead?” he said. “You’re nowhere near as scary as you used to be, Alpha. I’ll get exactly what I want in the end, Enzo. I’ll make damn sure you watch him bleed out in front of you.”

Enzo moved in a flash, grabbing Eric forcefully by the neck and lifting him completely off the ground. “Say that again right now,” he said, his voice low and dangerous, vibrating with rage. “Go on, Eric. Test me one more time.”

Eric choked loudly, his cruel smile fading fast, but he still managed to laugh, a raspy, weak sound. “You can’t protect him forever, Enzo,” he said. “I’ll come back again soon. And the next time I do, you won’t be here to stop me.”

Enzo growled even louder, throwing Eric back hard. The rogue hit the ground with a sickening impact. Enzo took another furious step forward, his fists clenched, but Eric stood up instantly, his eyes flashing wildly, and then—he was suddenly gone, vanishing instantly into the shadows as if he had never even been there at all.

I stood there, my legs shaking uncontrollably, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps. My leg still throbbed painfully from the hard fall. Enzo turned to me immediately, his face softening with deep relief, his hands reaching out quickly for my face. “Noah,” he said, his voice low and urgent. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you anywhere? Please, talk to me.”

I looked up at him, my heart still racing a mile a minute, my hands trembling violently. “Enzo,” I whispered, his name barely audible, that single name the only thing I could possibly hold onto in that terrifying moment.