Chapter 7: Chapter Seven

Chapter 7

Lia’s POV

The forest seemed to hold its breath as Edgar’s grip on my arm tightened, his broad frame shielding me from whatever was in the shadows. My heart thundered, the mark on my shoulder placed there like a brand, each pulse syncing with the low, guttural growl vibrating from Edgar’s chest. The howl we’d heard moments ago still echoed in my mind, sharp and menacing, like a warning meant for me. I wanted to snap at Edgar, to demand he let go, but the air was thick with danger, and my instincts, new, and unfamiliar, screamed at me to stay still.

“Keep quiet,” Edgar whispered, his voice barely audible, his dark eyes scanning the trees. His body was tight, every muscle coiled, ready to spring. I pressed closer to him, not because I wanted to, but because that strange pull in my chest demanded it, like a leash binding me to him. My skin prickled, the tingling I’d felt earlier intensifying, crawling up my arms and down my spine. Something inside me was waking up, and it terrified me.

A twig snapped to our left, and Edgar’s head whipped toward the sound. My breath caught as a pair of golden eyes glinted through the underbrush, closer than before. My pulse roared in my ears, louder than it should’ve been, drowning out the rustle of leaves. I clutched at Edgar’s sleeve, my sharp tongue silenced for once by the weight of fear. “What is it?” I whispered, hating how small my voice sounded.

“Frostclad,” he muttered, his tone laced with venom. “Stay behind me, Lia. Don’t move unless I tell you.”

I bristled at the command, but before I could argue, a figure emerged from the shadows, not a wolf, but a man, tall and lean, with sharp green eyes that cut through the darkness. Connor Dexter. His charming smile was gone, replaced by a cold, calculated smirk that made my stomach churn. He stepped forward, casual, like he was strolling through the town square, not stalking us in the dead of night.

“Well, well,” Connor drawled, his voice smooth as silk but sharp as a blade. “The alpha and his little moonbound, out for a midnight walk. How romantic.”

Edgar’s growl deepened, a sound that vibrated through me, stirring something primal in my core. “Leave, Dexter,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “This doesn’t concern you.”

“Oh, but it does.” Connor’s eyes flicked to me, lingering too long, making my skin crawl. “She’s not just any stray, is she? Moonbound. Tied to you. Quite the prize for the Ironclad clan… or the Frostclad Knights.”

My blood ran cold. He knew. How did he know? I hadn’t told anyone, not even Quinn, but the way Connor’s gazed at me, like he could see the mark on my shoulder through my nightgown, made me feel exposed. Vulnerable. I hated it.

Edgar stepped forward, blocking me from Connor’s view. “You touch her, and I’ll rip your throat out,” he snarled, his voice carrying a promise of violence that sent a shiver down my spine, not entirely from fear.

Connor laughed, a cold, hollow sound. “Big words, Nolan. But you’re not the only one with power here.” He tilted his head, his green eyes glinting with malice. “She doesn’t even know what she is yet, does she? Poor thing, caught in your mess. Tell me, Lia, has he warned you what happens to moonbounds who don’t play by the rules?”

“Shut up,” I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended. My hands curled into fists, the tingling in my skin turning to a burn, like fire racing through my veins. “I don’t need your riddles, Connor. If you’ve got something to say, spit it out.”

His smirk widened, but there was no warmth in it. “Feisty. I like that. You’ll need it when the Ironclad turns on you. They don’t take kindly to outsiders, especially ones who steal their alpha’s heart.”

“Enough!” Edgar roared, his voice shaking the air. He lunged forward, faster than I could track, and grabbed Connor by the collar, slamming him against a tree. The impact echoed through the forest, and I flinched, my heart racing. “You want a fight, Dexter? You’ll get one. But leave her out of it.”

Connor didn’t struggle, just grinned, his eyes glimmering with defiance. “You can’t protect her forever, Nolan. The Frost Clad Knights are coming for her. And when we’re done, she’ll beg to join us.”

The mark on my shoulder flared, and a sudden, sharp pain shot through my chest. I gasped, stumbling back, my vision blurring as the tingling in my skin became unbearable. It was like something was clawing its way out of me, wild and untamed. My knees buckled, and I caught myself against a tree, my nails digging into the bark. Not now, I thought, panic rising. Not here.

“Lia!” Edgar’s voice cut through the haze, and in an instant, he was at my side, his hands on my shoulders, steadying me. “Breathe. Focus on me.”

I tried, but my body wasn’t listening. My heartbeat was a war drum, my skin burning, my bones aching like they were trying to reshape themselves. “What’s… happening?” I gasped, my voice trembling.

“You’re trying to shift,” Edgar said, his voice urgent but calm, his hands gripping me tighter. “It’s too soon. You have to fight it, Lia. Push it down.”

Connor’s laugh rang out again, colder this time. “Look at her, Nolan. She’s already breaking. You can’t stop what’s coming.”

Edgar’s head snapped toward Connor, his eyes blazing with fury, but he didn’t let go of me. “Get out of here, Dexter,” he growled. “Or I’ll kill you right now.”

Connor raised his hands in mock surrender, backing away, but his eyes stayed locked on me, promising trouble. “This isn’t over,” he said, then melted into the shadows as quickly as he’d appeared.

I barely noticed him leave. My vision swam, the world tilting as the pain in my chest sharpened. Edgar’s hands were the only thing keeping me upright, his voice a low, steady anchor. “Lia, listen to me. Breathe. In and out. You’re stronger than this. You can control it.”

I clung to his words, forcing air into my lungs, focusing on the warmth of his hands, the intensity of his gaze. Slowly, the burning in my skin started to decline, the clawing sensation fading to a dull ache. I slumped against him, exhausted, my breath ragged. “I… I did it,” I whispered, more to myself than to him.

“You did,” he said, his voice softer now, his thumb brushing my cheek. “But you can’t keep running into danger like this. You’re not ready.”

I pulled back, meeting his gaze, my resistance flaring despite the weakness in my limbs. “Then make me ready, Edgar. I’m not some fragile thing you can lock away. If I’m your mate, if I’m moonbound, then teach me what it means. Because I’m done being afraid.”

His jaw tightened, a storm of emotions flickering in his eyes, anger, fear, and something softer, that made my chest ache in a different way. “You don’t know what you’re asking,” he said quietly. “But I’ll try. For you.”