Chapter 14: Fourteen

SOLANA

There was smoke everywhere, screams filling the air. My priority was keeping the little ones safe.

Fear had me in its clutches, but I couldn't afford to give in.

I threw myself over the cowering children, my arms spread wide as another explosion rattled the walls. Dust rained down, mixing with the scent of blood and burnt wood. "Stay behind me!" I shouted, my throat raw. "Don't move!"

I could barely breathe, my eyes darting across the burning hall. The attackers were everywhere. They were moving too fast. Nigel and the warriors were fighting back, but there were too many of them.

A loud shriek pierced the air, and my heart sank.

Before I could turn, one of the children was ripped from my grasp. My heart stopped. I spun, catching a glimpse of a masked rogue disappearing into the smoke with the child dangling from his arm.

"No!" I screamed, sprinting after him.

I wouldn't lose him.

Never.

My vision blurred, heat flooded my chest, and my limbs shook violently. My wolf pushed to the surface, driven by my desperation.

No, not now... please not now! I screamed internally. She was supposed to stay hidden.

But she didn't listen.

A crackle of raw power surged through me, tearing a scream from my throat. The air thickened, the ground trembling as my nails dug into the floor. I could feel her breaking through, furious. My body arched as pain assaulted my bones, and then everything faded to black.

When I came back to my senses, I was on my hands and knees. My palms were slick with something warm. A whimper escaped my lips as the metallic smell hit me.

It had to be blood.

Goddess, what have I done? I thought, panic-stricken. I reached a hand in front of me, gasping.

It was too dark. I couldn't see.

The only sound I could hear was the distant crying of the children.

My chest heaved, tears pricking my eyes. "H-Hello?" I whispered hoarsely. "Is anyone—"

My body tensed as steady footsteps approached and halted right in front of me.

Then two strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me against a solid chest. The scent hit me instantly. The smell of roses.

Alpha Roman.

The moment I recognized it, my body went weak. My fingers curled into his shirt as I trembled against him. He said nothing, he just held me tighter.

I couldn't see his face, but I could feel him. I could hear his steady heartbeat beneath my ear, his warmth anchoring me in the darkness.

"Alpha..." My voice cracked. "The children—there were so many—"

"Shh," he murmured against my hair. His voice was rough. "They're safe now."

I let out a sob, burying my face against his chest. My body shook, terror, exhaustion, and relief crashing into me all at once.

My husband's hand slid up to cradle the back of my neck, and I felt him exhale softly against my temple.

"It's alright," he whispered. "I've got you."

"She's a monster, Alpha. Why would you bring such a Luna to us?" Someone spoke, and I froze.

Me?

A monster?

No, that can't be.

"Do you want her to kill us, alpha? She's dangerous!" Someone else said, and the whispers began.

Blood drained from my face, tears rolling down my cheeks as a crippling feeling of terror gripped me.

"That's enough. You will not speak of this event ever again, do you understand?" My husband said.

"Yes, alpha," they chorused, but I did not feel better.

They hated me.

I didn't mean to hurt anyone. I was only trying to protect.

"Solana, breathe," my husband urged. But I couldn't. Try as I could, air refused to enter my lungs.

I was shaking terribly in his arms, the tears streaming down my face. I could hear my alpha speaking, but he felt like he was far away. The pain in my chest grew worse and worse. And then, my body went lax against him as I drowned under the weight of my own fear.

....

I awoke with a gasp, my chest heaving as the remnants of a nightmare clung to me. The vision in my right eye was blurry, but I could see with the other one.

Confused, I rubbed at my eye. When my vision didn't get better, I panicked. Was this a side effect of the wolfsbane poisoning?

Terrified, I scrambled to my feet, my chest heaving. I was just about to fling the door open when I heard voices.

"The situation isn't good at all, Alpha. Some of the elders got wind of the incident. They're becoming paranoid. Some of them claim that Solana is the one who let the attackers in. Others say she's a cursed monster who will doom them all," I heard Nigel say, and my heart plummeted into my gut.

"Someone is clearly instigating them," Alpha Roman droned, and I swallowed hard.

He didn't sound the slightest bit worried. Clearly, he didn't understand how dangerous the situation was. I could get locked up or killed!

Goddess, I didn't want to die in such a gruesome way.

"Do you think Zamora did this?" Nigel asked, and I frowned.

Zamora? The woman who hates me?

What exactly is her deal? I'm not trying to hurt her. Why is she making things difficult for me?

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I bit my lower lip, trying not to cry. But it was useless. Slowly, I slid down the door, holding a hand to my mouth to muffle my sobs. Just when I thought I could actually be happy, my wolf strikes, I go half-blind, and my pack members hate me.

Maybe I'm really cursed.

A gasp slipped from my lips when someone nudged the door.

"Let me in, Solana," came Alpha Roman's deadpan.

My throat went dry, my heart threatening to explode in my chest.

I didn't want to see him.

I was a mess—

My eyes bulged in their sockets as he pushed the door open, despite my weight pressing against it. He stopped halfway and slipped in, his intoxicating scent filling the room.

"There you are," he said, his deep voice rumbling in the space.

I lowered my gaze, unable to look him in the eyes. He didn't move or utter a word at first. All he did was stare, his burning gaze piercing into me.

Then slowly, he crouched in front of me and took hold of my chin, our gazes locking.

Only then did I notice that his other eye had turned green as well. I gaped at him, shocked.

"What do you think? Now, we look like a proper couple, don't you think? With the matching eyes and all," he said.

"Alpha..." I breathed, holding out a shaky hand to touch his face.

Green eyes looked astonishingly beautiful on him. I doubted that they looked the same on me.

Slowly, he wiped away the tears on my face with the pads of his thumbs.

"You look sad again, flower. I do not like it," he said, and I stiffened.

"I—"

He tsked. "I thought we were making progress, flower. Why does it look like you're on the verge of apologizing again?"

My cheeks flushed hot.

"No, that's not—"

"I wonder why, but seeing you like this..." He took hold of my hand and brought it to his hard chest. "Makes me hurt in here too. Does that mean I've been infected by your sadness?"

My eyes widened.

What did that mean?

Did he care about me now?

"I don't understand this feeling, but I think a distraction can help. Let me be your distraction," he uttered, and my heart grew warm.

He was saying all the weirdest things. But for some odd reason, it was comforting.

He frowned suddenly.

"You are still not smiling. Do I make you sad? Does being my Luna keep you...unhappy?"

I was breathless at this point, struggling to understand the bundle of mystery before me.

"N-no, that's not true," I croaked.

His features slowly relaxed. "Nigel told me I have to get you pregnant soon, but I have no idea how that works, Solana. What am I supposed to do?"

I stared at him, my jaw dropping.

Did he just—

A laugh exploded out of me before I could stop it.