CHAPTER 28

CHAPTER 28
Rory’s eyes locked onto mine, sharp and unreadable. “Alaya… about Dolphus,” he began, lowering his voice so only I could hear. “We both know he isn’t your mate. But whatever you do… don’t let the elders know.”

I frowned, instinctively pulling my hands back. “And why should I listen to you?” I asked, trying to hide the spike of anger in my voice. “What’s in it for you, Rory?”

He sighed, leaning casually against the wall, though there was tension in his stance. “Nothing. I just… care about this pack, and I care about you leading it. If the elders find out that your connection with Dolphus isn’t official, they’ll question your leadership. Your position… it could be in danger.”

I studied him closely, my wolf stirring uneasily. Rory always had two faces — one for the elders, one for the pack. He could charm anyone, twist anyone, and I had learned the hard way that trusting him completely was dangerous. Yet… there was something in his eyes this time. Something that hinted at genuine concern.

“You’re really worried about me?” I asked quietly, suspicion tinting my words.

He paused, as if weighing every word. “I am. But don’t mistake my concern for friendship… or anything more. I just… don’t want to see this pack fall apart. You’re capable, Alaya, but you’re young. Mistakes now could cost everything.”

His words lingered in my mind long after he stepped away. He seemed… human in this moment, almost real. But something about him always felt calculated, and I couldn’t let my guard down.

I tried to push Rory from my thoughts, but the unease stayed with me like a shadow. Before I could process any further, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen and saw Tatum’s name.

Tatum: Can we meet? I need to talk.

I hesitated. The anger from earlier flared for just a second. But something in the way he had reached out, in that simple “I need to talk,” made me put my pride aside. I typed back: Yeah. Where?

We agreed on a quiet café downtown, far from the eyes of the pack. A place where no one could eavesdrop or pry.

When I arrived, Tatum was already there, slouched over the table, staring at his hands. He didn’t look up when I slid into the seat across from him.

“Tatum…” I said softly. “Are you okay?”

He finally lifted his gaze, dark and heavy. “Alaya… I feel lost. Completely lost.”

My chest tightened. “Talk to me. What’s going on?”

He exhaled slowly, his fingers nervously tapping the tabletop. “I’ve always been alone. My parents… gone. Dylan… he’s the only person I can rely on. Rob, they’re friends, but they’re not family. I’ve built walls around myself so no one can get close, but I’ve realized… I hurt people instead. Even when I don’t want to.”

I stayed silent, letting him speak. His words fell over me like rain on a cold day, and I felt a strange empathy stirring. The anger I had held toward his distance and moodiness started to melt.

“So that’s why you act the way you do?” I asked quietly. “The moods, the distance, the… walls?”

He nodded, his eyes glimmering with a mixture of relief and regret. “Yeah. I’ve faked being strong, being okay… but I’m not. I’m tired of pretending. Tired of pushing everyone away before they can hurt me. But I’ve learned… sometimes I hurt them anyway.”

I reached across the table, placing my hand lightly on his. “Tatum… you don’t have to pretend around me. You’re not alone anymore. And hurting others doesn’t make you a bad person. It makes you human.”

His lips curved into a fragile, small smile. “I just… I don’t know how to be better. How to not push everyone away.”

“You start by being honest,” I said. “With yourself first, then with others. It’s not easy, but it’s a start. And you can lean on people who care about you — like Dylan, Rob, Skai, and even me. You don’t have to carry everything alone.”

He nodded slowly, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. “Thanks, Alaya. I… I really needed someone to understand.”

I studied him for a moment, noticing how small he looked compared to the walls he had built around himself. The confident, untouchable Tatum was gone, replaced by a boy carrying the weight of his past. And I realized… I could help him. Not fix him entirely, but be someone who cared.

As he spoke, I felt a pang of guilt for my own distractions. Rory had just reminded me of the delicate balance I had to maintain within the pack. Dolphus was sick, my bond with him was complicated, and now I was sitting here, giving my attention to Tatum. But the truth was, I couldn’t ignore him either.

“I know why you act distant,” I said gently. “It’s a defense mechanism. But closing yourself off from everyone won’t keep you safe. It just… makes you lonely.”

Tatum’s eyes softened, and he let out a shaky breath. “I know. I’ve known it for a long time. But opening up… it scares me. More than anything else. I can’t trust easily. I’ve learned the hard way that people leave, or they hurt you. So I built walls. And I’ve been living behind them for so long… I forgot what it feels like to be free.”

I squeezed his hand lightly. “You’re free now, Tatum. You don’t have to pretend here. You can be yourself.”

For a moment, the noise of the café, the chatter of the few other patrons, faded into nothing. It was just us, two people trying to navigate the complexity of our lives, each carrying our own burdens.

I could feel the shift within him — the vulnerability, the relief, the trust that was slowly forming. And I realized that, despite everything else, this was important. Being present for someone who needed you wasn’t a weakness.

But deep inside, my mind returned to Dolphus. Rory’s warning echoed in my ears. I had to protect him. Keep the pack safe. Balance my heart with my duties. And now… there was Tatum, opening up to me in ways I hadn’t expected.

I smiled faintly at him. “You don’t have to be perfect, Tatum. Just… try to be better than yesterday. That’s all anyone can ask.”

He nodded, a small spark of hope flickering in his eyes. “I’ll try. For real this time.”

I stayed with him a while longer, listening, talking, offering the small comfort of my presence. And for the first time in a long time, I felt the weight of my responsibilities ease, just a little.

Because no matter the pack, no matter Rory’s schemes, no matter the danger lurking in the shadows… sometimes, all anyone needed was someone to understand.

He glanced at me for a minimum at said, “you have a perfect life, right?”

I smiled bitterly. My life was far from perfect. “No, Tatum. My life is one hell of a journey that you wouldn't want to know about.”

“Tell me about it.”

I looked at him for a while, my heart broken again. I was a werewolf, what if he didn't like it that way? No. I wouldn't tell him.

I held hia hands in mine, “some stories are not yo be told. Maybe I'll tell you… someday