Chapter 95: Unspoken Feelings

Claire POV

It was a calm night.

Too calm.

Though Redwater had gone back to some sort of rhythm, my heart had not. Watching the moonlight flow across the village like a silver river from the big Alpha's quarters window, I stood by. Wolves were still out, patrolling the northern ridge, and I could feel their tension even from here.

Derek had remained at the council chamber longer than anticipated. One more scout had vanished. Another mark had appeared.

But I was not considering that right now.

I was thinking about him.

Derek Callahan—Alpha, fighter, survivor. The man who stood as my equal bled for this pack and fought beside me. He never sought accolades or required loyalty. Still, he possessed both. From all. Including myself.

Particularly me.

Heart pained, I pressed my brow against the cool glass.

I cared for him.

I had for a time now. Perhaps since the day he defended me in that council meeting months ago. Or perhaps when I discovered him, bruised and bleeding, and all I could consider was not losing him.

But I had not mentioned it.

Not at this time.

Not when there was blood in our soil and woods threatening.

Not when every breath we took might be our last.

Behind me, the door creaked open. I did not turn.

Claire? He spoke softly.

I expected you to return sooner.

"I would have," he said, approaching closer. "But I had to talk with Elder Myra... regarding the Crescent Pack."

I nodded gradually. "Let me guess—she said they were wiped out."

He was next to me now, the heat from his body penetrating my skin. "She claimed they disappeared. No bodies.  No proof.  Just disappeared one winter.”

With our faces just inches apart, I turned to see him. "You think they are back?"

He did not respond immediately. His jaw tightened before he spoke, "I think someone wants us to think they are. And that is even more terrible.

We remained quiet. The only sounds were the low hoot of an owl nearby and the wind rustling through the trees.

There was a soft voice that said, "I am afraid."

He touched my cheek and brushed a hair off of it.  Yes, me too.

It hurt me a lot.

I jumped into a hug with him and buried my face in his chest.  He held me as if he had been expecting it and needed it too.  For a while, his strong but kind arms made everything look safe.

In a soft voice, I said, "I am sick of pretending."

He moved back just enough to look me in the eyes.  "Acting like what?"

"I do not feel this."  That all the council wants to call us is allies, co-leaders, or something else.  Derek...  Take care of yourself.

He should have seen it coming, but he blinked as if he hadn't.  He then opened his mouth and told Claire, "I have loved you ever since you refused to bow down to Jared."

I wiped my eyes and laughed a damp laugh.  It broke my heart the most.

He pulled me closer and said, "You are still the strongest I have ever seen you."  "You restored my faith."  To be loyal.  With the goal.  In love.

At that point, we kissed.

The kind we shared before battle or after tragedy was not like this.  It moved slowly, honestly, and had a lot of unspoken things.  Our hearts beat at the same time.  Our breaths came together as one.  He could feel my pain, happiness, and strength, and I could feel his.

It was not just a kiss.

It was a promise.

We stayed in each other's arms for what seemed like forever.

But there is always more time than there is.

There was a knock that ended the moment.

From behind the door, Theo spoke.  Hey Alpha, you need to show up.  Now.

We split up and started to move.

From the outside, the village was full of chaos.  Warrior groups gathered at the gates.  Rowan was walking quickly, his face sad.  Sophia was as white as snow and held a sealed scroll in her hand.

Derek got it from her. "I found this at the eastern border," she said.  "It was not there this morning."

He slowly opened it.  I stood next to him and read it too.

"We rise where you get soft."  Your weak spot is your heart.  "Your love, your leash."

There was no signature.

Only that same blood-red crescent moon etched into the paper.

Derek's hands gripped the paper till it disintegrated.

“They know,” I whispered.

"They are watching us," he growled.

I felt a chill creep down my spine.  It was too good of a time.  They knew about us.  About how we felt about each other.

Sophia spoke again, but this time her voice was shaking.  "There is more."

Reaching into her coat, she took out a tiny leather pouch.  "This was hanging on the tree next to the scroll."

Inside the pouch was one silver pendant.

The charm of my mother.

The one I buried with her a long time ago.

I took a deep breath in.  "This... this can not be happening."

Sophia told me, "They dug it up."  "Or someone gave it to them."

My jaw hurt from seeing how tightly Derek was clenching it.  It is not just that they want to scare us.  It hurts them to hear this.

I saw him.

And for the first time, I grasped what we were up against.

This was not a war about control or land.

It was about us.

Me.

Him.

Everything we loved.

And they were coming for it.