Chapter 11 First night
Dravik's pov
"You burn your enemies alive, even women and children and eat their flesh from bone".
The words echo through my mind long after.
Is that what she thinks of me?
I could almost taste her fear in the air when she said it, it clings to her like a second skin.
“She fears us,” Shadow paces restless.
“Of course, she does”, I snap. “What did you expect?”
The reputation I built wasn’t meant to win hearts. It was meant to keep them trembling. Years of blood, wars, and tears crafted the name I carry.
Alpha Dravik of the Bloodborn Pack. The Demon King. The monster that mothers warn their pups about.
Sure most of them weren’t real, but I didn’t bother to correct anybody since it created the fear that keeps enemies at bay.
I never cared about what anyone thinks of it……until her voice cracked on those words.
Now it sits heavy in my chest like a wound I can’t heal.
She doesn’t trust me, not even a little.
After I left her in the hospital, I had called Brandon, one of my Gammas who’s been keeping an eye on Silverveil. I needed answers, and I wanted to know if there was anything he had found out about them.
So far he found nothing which absolutely made no sense. I hadn't so much as heard of that pack which was just 100 miles before until my trail in finding out what killed Lyra led me to them.
There is something off about them, I can feel it in his guts.
I can’t stop thinking about Auren too. Since she arrived, she hasn’t smiled once. Not even when the others laugh or when she’s spoken to kindly. Her scent tells me everything…..fear, exhaustion, pain. Never a trace of joy, not even a flicker.
Why does that bother me to begin with?
During dinner, when Cassandra threw her venom disguised as charm, I felt her emotions spike—hurt, shame, confusion. She kept her head down, trembling, close to tears but she didn’t cry. That restraint almost impressed me. She’s been beaten, humiliated, yet she refuses to break in front of anyone.
She reminds me too much of myself.
“You need to sleep,” I muttered to her, leading her up the stairs after dinner.
She followed quietly, her steps barely making a sound. She looked ready to disappear. I felt her close to tears again, and it took effort not to turn back and silence Cassandra once and for all.
Cassy has been part of our lives since childhood. The daughter of my father’s Beta and Garrick’s first love, though she never once looked at him that way. Her heart always chased what it couldn’t have……Power and me. I gave her friendship, nothing more.
After the drama that left Garrick’s heart broken and us almost at war, she went off to marry an old alpha.
Now she is back and Garrick still trails after her like a lost pup.
Pathetic.
That’s what love does, it weakens even the strongest of men. I’ve been there once, and I am still recovering from it.
After making sure Auren got into bed, I turned to leave.
“You’re leaving? I thought this was our room?” Her voice stopped me.
For the first time, her tone wasn’t fearful…..it almost sounded… disappointed.
I look back at her almost smiling. Was that a sign she trusts me now? Will she miss me?
“Full moon tonight,” I said. “I lead the pack run. I will be back in a few hours and you will likely be asleep by then.”
Her brows pulled together. “Pack run?”
“When the pack goes on a big hunt together under the full moon”. Her eyes went even wider. “Don’t tell me Silverveil doesn’t do that? As far as I know, every pack I know does them.”
She shook her head, confusion written all over her face.
Strange.
Every pack runs, every wolf needs it. The idea that her pack doesn’t make my gut twist.
“You’ll get used to it, get some sleep and don’t worry about it for now” I open the door. “Once you get your wolf back, you’ll join us.”
I closed the door on her puzzled face and went downstairs.
Jace and Brandon were waiting near the foyer. No sign of Garrick.
My jaw tightened. “Where is Garrick?”
Jace smirked. “Still consoling Cassy after your little outburst.”
I raised a brow and his grin faltered.
“He’ll join us soon,” he added quickly.
Brandon unbuttoned his shirt, glancing at me. “How’s the new girl?”
“Quiet,” I said. “Her pack doesn’t do full moon runs. Do you know about that?.”
He frowned. “For real? I didn’t. I thought that's standard everywhere, the night of the full moon empowers us and it's the best night for a hunt.”
“Apparently they don’t know that or decided not to.” I studied him. “You didn’t notice anything strange when you were there?”
He shook his head. “They looked normal. Too normal if you ask me. Some went to work, sone went to their farms, few stays at home,” he cocks an eyebrow. “Do you think they're hiding something?”
“Well, for starters, who killed her parents? I don't believe it's her.” I pulled my trousers down.
“Her uncle?” Jace asks.
I shook my head. “He has everything to gain but the man doesn’t seem smart. Signed the contract without reading a single word.”
“Maybe we should pay them a visit tomorrow”, Jace cracks his knuckle in preparation for the fight he is stewing.
I rolled my eyes, “what for?”
“Surprise them, sometimes it's better when they don't know we are coming," he says.
I pause, it might be a great idea. Just then Garrick entered, I didn't bother to talk to him out loud.
“Dont be late ever again”, I warned him through the pack link.
He nodded.
Jace slapped him on the shoulder, "Come on, man, I’m itching to kill something.”
We shifted, joining the pack as we ran through the woods, the moonlight painting the trees in silver. For a few hours, I let the wild take over, the wind, the scent of prey, the thrill of blood and freedom. It was the only thing that ever quieted the noise in my head.
When we returned near dawn, I confirmed the time we were leaving for Auren’s pack and went straight to my room, sliping in quietly so as not to wake her.
I'm glad to see she is still where I left her. I had expected she would use the opportunity to escape, goddess knows that’s what I would have done.
Instead, she was curled up on the farthest side of the bed, clutching a pillow,still in the sweats from earlier, her hair spread out and her breathing soft.
She looked like she hadn’t moved all night.
She didn’t stir when I stripped or when I stepped into the shower. Even after I climbed into the other side of the bed, she stayed perfectly still.
Is that part of her not having a wolf too? Is all her senses dead?
I hope not, for her sake.
Eventually, somewhere in the morning, she moved because I woke to find her arm draped across my chest, her leg over mine and her head tucked against me.
For a long moment, I just watched her. The noon light hit her face, revealing freckles scattered across her nose and cheeks. She is cute.
Too damn cute and innocent for a world like this…..or for me.
I felt her wake slowly and she gasped, pulling away like she’d touched fire.
“Where am I?” she moved to the far end holding the sheets around her body..
“Auren, look at me. You’re in my pack, remember?”
Recognition flickered as her gaze fell on me, followed by panic as her gaze dropped to my bare chest……then lower.
She gasps again and I know what she saw. It was morning for goddess sake so of course that part of my body will be active.
“Are you naked?”
I smirked. “I prefer it that way. Especially in my own bed.”
She patted herself, checking if she was dressed. The way her cheeks flushed almost made me laugh.
“Strip her”, Shadow whispered, low and hungry. “Show her what’s under the sheets”.
“Get that out of your head, this isn't that kind of marriage”, I said back to him.
Shadow grumbled and retreated, sulking like a child denied a toy.
She bolted for the bathroom and locked the door. I could hear her muttering to herself and I leaned back on the bed, half amused. She’s probably still untouched. The thought stirred something I didn’t want to name.
It took her a full twenty minutes before she made an appearance and she eyeballed me as I pulled on a black tee.
“I have errands to run,” I pulled the tees down, her eyes following the movement. “Miriam will come to apply the cream and you can order whatever food you want from the kitchen. Stay here.”
“In the room?”
“Well, not just here. You’re free to move around the house. Just don’t leave.”
I reached for the door, about to pull it shut, pausing to look at her one last time.
“Mine,” Shadow growls
“Don't be ridiculous. She doesn’t even have a wolf. She can’t be yours”.
He snarled, but I ignored him, closing the door behind me.