Chapter 25 Not one of you
Auren's pov
“No I'm not,” I say quickly, pulling my hand away from my stomach like I have been caught doing something wrong.
Alpha Dravik’s eyes narrow. He folds his arms across his chest, his broad shoulders filling the space between us. The silver in his gaze sharpens as he watches me. “Are you lying to me right now?” his voice stays calm, which makes it worse. “Last time your hand was on your stomach like that, you collapsed.”
“It’s not hurting, I swear.”
“Then why are you holding it?” His head tilts slightly. “And you winced.”
That makes me wince again, not from pain but from the confrontation. Sure the wound was still throbbing but that's nothing compared to the pain I have been forced to endure. In fact this is the best I had felt in a long time.
“It’s… it’s nothing,” I say.
The lie feels fake even to my own ears. I look away. I do not want to explain all these things to him or to tell him that I touched the scar because it’s a reminder of how weak I was.
Bruises fades, small cuts heal but this never will, it will be there forever. Like a constant reminder that even though the blood tie was broken I was still half mated to Eron. Still tied to Silverveil and the horrible life I had lived there.
Why haven’t Eron sought me out anyway?
If the half mated thing was an accident surely by now he would have known since he is about to marry Seris right? Alpha Dravik said a wolf cannot marry while still mated to another. That means Eron either does not know… or he knows and he did this purposely.
Or Alpha Dravik lied to me and just doesn’t want to marry me because of the baggage I carry.
Goddess, i hope it’s the former.
“Scars fade over time,” Alpha Dravik says quietly.
I look up, startled. I had forgotten he was still there. How does he know what I was thinking? Was it that obvious?
“They won’t always be so prominent,” he continues. “You should look at it as a survivor’s scar.” He moves to seat on the chair he just placed back in its position.
“A survivor’s scar?”I sit on the edge of the bed, the mattress dipping beneath me. That's one way to put it. He nods, “It caused you a great deal of pain and suffering. It nearly broke you, yet here you are. Probably looking healthier than you have been in years.”
He is so right about the healthier part. My body feels stronger, breathing is easier and I can look at myself in the mirror again.
“You survived, Auren,” he continued. “You might not believe it, but you are a fighter.”
I almost winced at his statement. He said it so filled with certainty and high hope. He was so wrong. I'm not a fighter, I have never hurt anyone or even thought of killing anybody not even my uncle or my lousy cousin no matter how much they put me through.
“I’m really not.”
He studies me, “Strength isn’t always loud. Sometimes it is just refusing to die.”
That silences me.
Hours later, a woman knocked in my room to inform me that the pack was safe and Alpha Dravik said I'm free to leave the room and explore.
I do not need to be told twice.
Snow has started to fall and I haven’t been outside under the snow for a long time. I stop at the open front door downstairs, my breath catching as I take in the sight. White flakes drift down, slow and thick, blanketing the ground.
Children run through the courtyard, laughing. A red haired boy trips over a girl carrying snowballs. They tumble together, then scramble up and start throwing snow at each other. More children join in and it soon turns into a competition, the boys against the girls. The girls giggle and squeals as they run away with the boys hot on their trail.
I smiled as I watch how happy they looked. I step forward, then stop just before crossing the threshold. My body locks up.
I have never gone outside alone before.
“Are you going to stand there all night?”
I turn to see Hope sitting on the bottom step, her elbows on her knees, chin in her hands as she watches me. I hated that I couldn’t sent them.
“It’s just snow,” she says. “You’ve seen snow before right? Silverveil isn’t that far.”
“Yes, I’ve seen snow,” I reply as I turn back towards the door, my eyes fixed on the falling white which is getting heavier by the second.
“Then what is it?” I hear her stand and walk closer. “I’ve been watching you for twenty minutes and I can’t figure out what the problem is? Is it about the beast from earlier because it’s gone. As you can see, the children are outside enjoying themselves.”
Twenty minutes. I didn’t even realize I had been standing here that long. I feel her fingers lace through mine. It feels warm.
“You’re safe here,” she says softly. “You’re not alone and there is always someone who will listen to you if you want to talk or come to your aid if you’re being attacked.” She suddenly pulls her hand back. “Wait, You’re not planning to run, are you?”
“No,” I say quickly. “I’ve just… I’ve never been outside on my own before without guards.”
Her expression shifts to surprise, but then changes something gentler. She grabs my arm again and pulls.
“Then let’s fix that.”
Cold bites into my skin instantly and snow soaks my sneakers. Hope spins beneath the falling flakes with her jeans and tank top, squealing like a kid with her hair catching snow like fire under frost.
She stops after a while and squats as she starts gathering snow into a ball.
“I know everyone thinks we're this bloodthirsty pack with a demon Alpha, that just wants to kill everyone but we actually are not. Here we believe in loyalty and everyone protects each other. if you’re outside and someone attacks, you’re guaranteed that someone will come to your aid. Always.”
“Because I’m Alpha Dravik’s bride?” I ask quietly.
“Partly,” she says. “Mostly because we protect our own.”
“Oh.”
The disappointment slips out before I can stop it because technically, I'm still not one of them……yet.