Chapter 20 THE HUMAN IN THE PACK HOUSE
(Adam’s POV)
The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the sunlight.
Bright, warm, gentle sunlight spilling across Kael’s room and washing over my face. I blinked up at the ceiling slowly, waiting for the dizziness or confusion to hit again.
But it didn’t.
For the first time since I got here, my mind felt… clear.
My body didn’t ache.
My thoughts weren’t scattered.
I pushed myself up to sit, and I didn’t wobble or feel like collapsing back.
Strange.
I looked around. Kael wasn’t in the room. His chair beside the bed was empty, blankets neatly folded. A tray with fresh fruit and water sat on the nightstand, along with a handwritten note:
“Don’t move too much. I’ll be back soon.”
I rolled my eyes but… I smiled a little too.
“Overprotective wolf,” I muttered under my breath.
I slid off the bed and moved slowly across the room. Kael’s chambers were way bigger than anything I’d ever lived in. Warm colors, thick carpets, soft lighting. Everything smelled faintly like Kael’s scent.
The scent that made my head feel floaty if I breathed too deeply.
I shook myself and focused.
I should stay in the room. Kael told me to.
But I needed air. And I needed to see the place I was supposedly safe in.
So I slipped outside.
The hallway was long, clean, quiet. I walked slowly, listening, keeping my breathing steady. I didn’t want to run into anyone. I wasn’t ready for questions.
But it turned out I didn’t need to avoid anyone.
Because everyone else avoided me first.
The moment a guard looking guy walked into the hallway and saw me, his expression tightened like he smelled something rotten. He grabbed the arm of the person walking beside him and turned sharply in the opposite direction without a word.
Okay…
Weird.
I took a few more steps, trying not to overthink it. Then another person, a woman holding files, approached. She looked right at me and instantly stiffened.
And she pressed herself flat to the wall so she wouldn’t have to walk near me.
Like I was poisonous.
My heart sank a little.
I kept walking, pretending not to notice, pretending it didn’t bother me.
But it bothered me.
A lot.
When I reached a wider corridor near the training yard, I saw more pack members gathered. I hesitated, planning to turn back… but someone spotted me too quickly.
A tall man with scars across his arms smirked.
“Look. The Alpha’s human pet is wandering around.”
Heat shot to my face.
Human pet.
The people around him snickered. Another man, bulky and mean-looking, walked past me and shoved his shoulder into mine intentionally.
I stumbled.
No one said sorry.
I felt my chest tighten painfully, my breaths turning shallow.
I didn’t belong here.
I wasn’t wanted here.
A group of younger ones near the stairs lowered their voices, but I heard them anyway.
“He must be a spy.”
“Why else would the Alpha bring a human?”
“He’s going to ruin this pack.”
Spy?
What?
My fingers started trembling. I backed up a step, then another. My stomach churned and the walls felt too close.
I needed to get back to the room.
I turned around and hurried back down the hallway, keeping my eyes on the floor.
By the time I reached Kael’s room again, my hands were shaking so badly I had to press them to my sides.
I sat on the bed and forced myself to inhale deeply.
They hated me.
All of them.
No one dared act like that in front of Kael.
They saved their venom for when he wasn’t around.
I rubbed my arm slowly, trying to calm down.
I didn’t want Kael to know. He loves his pack. He definitely trusts them too. I wouldn’t be the one to create problems between them. I already caused enough.
I was still trying to steady my breathing when the door opened.
Kael walked in and the instant he saw me, his whole expression softened in a way that made my chest ache.
“Adam,” he breathed out. “You’re awake.”
He crossed the room in seconds and cupped my face gently.
“Are you alright? Do you still feel dizzy? Any pain?”
His thumb brushed my cheek.
His forehead pressed to mine.
His hands were warm and grounding.
And then he kissed my forehead; slowly, like he couldn’t help himself.
“I missed you,” he murmured.
Something warm and dangerous unfurled inside my chest.
I hated that it felt good.
I hated that it felt real.
Because it wasn’t.
It couldn’t be.
This was all… mate stuff.
Some bond forcing feelings.
A strong, powerful Alpha bound to a weak human.
He wasn’t choosing me.
He was reacting to instinct.
I swallowed hard. “I’m fine.”
He pulled back slightly, searching my face. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah. Just… walked around a bit.”
His brows creased with worry. “You’re still recovering. You should rest. Don't walk around.”
He took my hand, thumb stroking slow circles on the back of it.
My heart did an embarrassing flip.
“Kael, seriously,” I said quickly. “I’m okay.”
He nodded slowly, though he still looked unconvinced.
“You look stronger today,” he said softly. “Your eyes are clearer. Your scent is… different. Better.”
“Scent?” I blinked.
He smiled like it was the most normal thing. “Yes. Wolves can tell when you’re stressed or in pain. Yours smells a little calmer today.”
I didn’t know what to do with that information.
He squeezed my hand again. “I’ll cancel the rest of my meetings. I want to stay here with you.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to.”
There it was again: that warm, tender tone that made my chest twist.
I looked away, afraid he’d see too much in my eyes.
Before I could respond, another soft knock echoed from the hallway.
Kael sighed. “I have to answer that. Don’t move from the bed, alright?”
He left with a gentle kiss against my temple.
My heart thudded way too hard for something so innocent.
As soon as the door shut, I let out a shaky breath.
I needed to get myself together.
I stood up and paced slowly, trying to calm down—
Then I heard voices.
They were speaking quietly at the end of the hallway, unaware that I was close enough to hear from inside Kael’s room.
“…we have to tell the Alpha it’s too dangerous.”
“He needs to reject the human before things get worse.”
“That boy will be the downfall of our pack.”
My blood ran cold.
Reject me?
My legs felt suddenly weak.
Another voice spoke; sharp, irritated.
“Kael is blinded. The mate bond is messing with his judgment. If we don’t intervene soon—”
I didn’t hear the rest.
Because my ears were ringing.
And my heart was beating too loud.
They weren’t just bullying me.
They weren’t just whispering behind my back.
They were plotting.
Plotting to get Kael to reject me.