Chapter 13: Marked Territory
Chapter 13: Marked Territory
Trents POV
"You’ll be safe here. I give you my word." My voice was low as I guided Eva into the Alpha’s Quarters. My scent dominated the air, but I hoped she wouldn’t take it as a challenge. This place had never felt like a home—just a duty. But now, with her in it, the air shifted.
She flinched slightly as she passed through the threshold, like she wasn’t used to warmth. Her eyes swept the expansive living room, all dark hardwood floors and stone hearths. She paused, uncertain, shrinking in on herself. Her presence seemed too small for this space, but somehow, she made it feel complete.
Kyle leaned against the doorframe with his usual relaxed demeanor. Amelia stood beside him, arms crossed tightly, worry evident in her eyes. She was always the empath, the only one who’d match my seriousness when it came to pack politics. But today, even she looked torn.
"It’s done," Kyle said, nodding to me. "The warriors are on patrol. And yes—Myra knows."
That last part was said with a tight jaw. I didn’t need to ask how she reacted.
I sighed. "Then we wait for the fallout."
Eva sat on the edge of the couch, her hands curled in her lap. She looked up at me, and I hated the way she flinched when I moved too fast.
"You’re not a prisoner," I said.
She blinked. "Then what am I?"
My chest tightened. "Someone I should’ve protected sooner."
"But you didn’t." Her voice was quiet but sharp. She wasn’t wrong. And she wasn’t here because she trusted me—she was here because she had no other choice.
Amelia crouched beside her, placing a hand gently on her knee. "You don’t have to fear anyone here. We won’t let what happened before happen again."
Eva didn’t reply.
I turned toward Kyle. "Where’s Kiara?"
"Stormed off with Myra. No doubt they’re already poisoning ears."
Amelia rolled her eyes. "They’ve always hated change."
"This isn’t just change, Amy," Kyle said. "This is a full-blown coup to them. A former slave suddenly protected by the Alpha? Myra’s pride won’t take it."
I crossed my arms. "Then they’ll learn to take it. Or leave."
The door closed behind Kyle and Amelia a few minutes later. I turned back to Eva. She hadn’t moved from the couch. Her eyes lingered on the hearth now, flickering with something like confusion.
"You can have the master bedroom," I offered. "It’s got its own bath, balcony, and better light in the morning."
She looked up again, unsure.
"You don’t have to stay in there with me. You’ll have privacy."
"That’s not it," she said.
I waited.
"It’s just... I don’t know how to accept kindness."
Her honesty floored me. I stepped forward slowly, then crouched to meet her eyes.
"Then let me show you."
She looked at me like she didn’t believe a word I said. But she didn’t pull away when I reached for her hand.
\---
The next morning, the manor felt different. It wasn’t just Eva’s scent mixing with mine—it was her energy. I found her in the kitchen, sitting awkwardly on a stool as Amelia stirred a pot of tea.
"You’re up early," I said.
She looked at me warily, but there was less stiffness in her shoulders. Amelia handed her a steaming mug and winked.
"She helped me prep breakfast," Amelia said. "Even chopped vegetables like she wasn’t royalty."
Eva gave her a small smile. "I just needed something to do."
"You don’t need to prove anything here," I told her.
She stared into her cup. "I’m not trying to prove anything. I just... don’t want to feel useless."
Amelia exchanged a glance with me. We both knew how deeply that feeling could rot a person from the inside out.
Later, I watched from the study window as she walked through the training yard. The warriors kept their distance, but their eyes tracked her. Whispers spread like wildfire.
Eva paused to pet one of the pups rolling in the grass, her lips twitching in the barest smile. One of the younger omegas—Lia, I think—approached her cautiously, holding out a basket of apples from the orchard.
Eva hesitated, then accepted one.
I didn’t breathe.
When she bit into it and actually laughed at something Lia said, I felt my heart catch in my throat.
She was easing in.
\---
Down the hall, Kiara paced the floor like a caged animal. Myra watched her with a cold sort of amusement.
"He’s making a mockery of us," Kiara hissed.
"Worse. He’s replacing us," Myra said bitterly. "Did you see the way Kyle defended her? Like she was his Luna."
Kiara narrowed her eyes. "We can’t let her stay."
"No, we can’t."
"So what do we do?"
Myra smirked. "We remind the pack who she really is."
\---
That night, the moon hung low and heavy in the sky. I stood on the balcony of my room, watching it rise like a silent judge. The wind carried whispers from below—packs talked. Rumors spread fast.
Eva stepped outside quietly, wrapped in a thick blanket. She didn’t look at me.
"You can’t sleep?" I asked.
She nodded. "Too quiet."
I almost smiled. "You’ll get used to it."
We stood there in silence. The wind whipped around us. Then she spoke.
"Do you believe in second chances, Trent?"
I turned to her. Her hair whipped across her face. Her eyes glistened in the moonlight.
"I do."
"Then maybe... maybe I can try to believe it too."
And for the first time, she leaned her shoulder against mine. It wasn’t much. But it was more than I thought I’d get.
Downstairs, someone knocked on the door. Kyle answered, his voice muffled. I heard footsteps rush away.
Suddenly, Kyle’s voice burst through the pack link. Trent. Emergency. Northern border. Alpha Liam’s flag just crossed.
My breath caught.
"What is it?" Eva asked.
I straightened. "Trouble."
"From who?"
My jaw clenched. "Alpha Liam. He’s here."
She paled, the color draining from her cheeks. Her hand gripped the balcony rail tightly.
"Why would he come here? He let me rot. He abandoned me."
"Because now he knows who you are. And he’ll want to claim you—not out of love, but out of power."
I reached for her hand, this time gripping it tightly.
"But I won’t let him. You’re not his to claim anymore."
Her lips trembled, but she nodded.
And just like that, the peace of the manor shattered. The storm was coming. And this time, I was ready to fight for her.