Chapter 31 The Shadow in the Garage
The glass slipped from my fingers.
It shattered on the tile. Water spread across the floor like blood. But I couldn’t move. Couldn’t look away from the window.
The figure in the parking garage moved with purpose. Not sneaking. Walking. Like they had every right to be there.
Then they looked up.
Even from twenty floors up, even in the darkness, I felt their eyes find mine.
The bond erupted.
Lycian was awake instantly. I felt him surge through our connection before I heard him move. Then he was there. Hands on my shoulders. Spinning me away from the window.
“What’s wrong?” His voice was rough with sleep and alarm. His eyes are already shifting gold.
“Someone’s down there in the garage. They—” My voice shook. “They looked right at me.”
He moved to the window. His whole body went rigid. Through the bond, I felt his rage ignite. White-hot and barely controlled.
“Stay here.” He was already moving and grabbing his phone. His shoes.
“No.” I caught his arm. “Don’t go alone. What if it’s a trap?”
“Then I walk into it. Better me than you.” He cupped my face. Kissed me hard. Fast. “Lock the door behind me. Don’t open it for anyone but me. Understand?”
“Lycian…”
“Promise me, Elowen.”
Through the bond, I felt his fear. Not for himself. For me. For Aunt Clara sleeping down the hall. For everything we’d built that could shatter in one violent moment.
“I promise,” I whispered.
He kissed me again. Then he was gone. The penthouse door closed with a soft click.
I locked it. Checked it twice. Then stood there trembling. Feeling him through the bond. Moving fast. Down the elevator. Into the garage.
I ran to the window.
He emerged from the building. Moving like a predator. All grace and controlled violence. The figure was still there. Waiting.
They didn’t run.
That scared me more than anything.
Lycian approached. I was too far away to hear words. But I felt his fury through the bond. Felt his wolf rising. Ready to tear apart whoever had threatened his mate.
Then something happened I didn’t expect.
The figure raised their hands. Not in surrender. In greeting.
Lycian stopped. Went very still.
Through the bond, his rage shifted to confusion. Then recognition. Then something else. Something I couldn’t quite read.
They talked. Just stood there in the empty garage talking like old friends.
What the hell?
Five minutes passed. Ten. My hands pressed against the glass. Leaving prints. My heart wouldn’t slow down.
Finally, Lycian turned. Looked up at our window. Even from this distance, I saw his expression.
Grim. Worried. But not angry anymore.
He gestured to the building. The figure nodded. They walked toward the entrance together.
Together.
I backed away from the window. Mind racing. Who was this person? Why was Lycian bringing them here?
My phone buzzed. Text from Lycian.
It’s okay. Someone you need to meet. Coming up now.
Someone I need to meet. At three in the morning. After threatening messages and lurking in our garage.
Sure. Totally normal.
I checked on Aunt Clara. Still sleeping. I closed her door quietly. Went back to the living room. Paced.
The elevator chimed.
I moved to the door. Hand on the lock. Waiting.
“It’s me,” Lycian called.
I opened it.
He stood there with a woman. Tall. Maybe mid-thirties. Dark hair pulled back in a practical braid. Dressed in black tactical clothing. Eyes that assessed everything in one sweep.
She looked at me. Her expression shifted. Softened slightly.
“You’re smaller than I expected,” she said. Her voice was low. Calm. “But I can see why Marcus is scared.”
“Who are you?” My voice came out steadier than I felt.
“Her name is Sienna,” Lycian said. Moving to stand beside me. His hand found the small of my back. Steadying. “She’s from the Wolf Council. Investigative division.”
The Wolf Council. The governing body over all North American wolf packs. The ones who settled disputes. Enforced laws. Maintained order.
“You’re here about the accusations,” I said.
“Among other things.” Sienna walked past us into the penthouse. Making herself at home. “We’ve been watching your situation for weeks. The harassment. The threats. The clear attempt by Marcus Blackthorn to discredit you and drive you away from the Valor pack.”
“You’ve been watching?” I looked at Lycian. “Did you know?”
“No. Council investigations are classified until they’re ready to reveal themselves.” He was watching Sienna carefully. “Why now? Why show yourself tonight?”
“Because things are escalating faster than we anticipated.” Sienna turned to face us. “We intercepted communications tonight. Marcus is planning something for tomorrow. Something big. We need to move first.”
My stomach dropped. “What kind of something?”
“A formal pack challenge. He’s going to demand the pack vote on whether to accept you as Lycian’s mate. If the majority votes no, you’ll be forced to leave Valor territory. Permanently.”
“He can do that?” My voice was barely a whisper.
“Technically, yes. Any senior pack member can call for a formal vote regarding the Alpha heir’s mate choice. It’s an old law. Rarely used. But legal.” Sienna’s expression was sympathetic. “He’s been building support. Calling in favors. Spreading rumors. Half the pack thinks you’re using Lycian for status. The other half doesn’t know what to think.”
Lycian’s hand tightened on my back. Through the bond, I felt his fury returning. “My father won’t allow it.”
“Your father is in a difficult position. If he overrules pack law to protect you, he looks weak. Like he’s playing favorites. Marcus knows this. He’s counting on it.”
The room felt like it was tilting. Everything I’d worked for. Everything we’d built. Could be destroyed with one vote.
“So what do we do?” I asked. Trying to keep my voice from shaking. “How do I fight this?”
“You don’t fight it. You win it.” Sienna pulled out her phone. Showed us a screen full of messages. Photos. Evidence. “We’ve been documenting everything. The harassment. The setup with the scholarship. Madison’s involvement. Sarah’s participation. All of it.”
I stared at the evidence. Weeks of cruelty lay out in neat digital files.
“This proves Marcus orchestrated everything,” Sienna continued. “He wanted you gone from the moment Lycian met you at the gala. Saw you as a threat to his control over the pack’s younger generation.”
“Why does he care that much?” I asked. “I’m just one person.”
“Because you’re not just one person. You’re the Valor heir’s mate. The future Luna. And you’re human.” Sienna’s eyes were sharp. Knowing. “Marcus believes in pure bloodlines. Strong wolves breeding with strong wolves. The idea of a human Luna disgusts him. Makes him feel like the pack is weakening.”
“That’s insane.”
“That’s tradition. Old guard thinking. But it’s still prevalent.” She put her phone away. “Tomorrow at the pack meeting, Marcus will present his case. We need to present ours. Show everyone what he really is. What he’s been doing.”
“Will they believe it?” Lycian asked. “Or will they think we fabricated evidence?”
“That’s where I come in. Council investigators are neutral. Trusted. When I present these findings, they’ll have to believe it.” Sienna looked at me. “But you need to be strong tomorrow. Marcus will attack your character. Your worth. Your right to be there. You cannot show weakness.”
“I won’t.”
“Good.” She moved toward the door. “Pack meeting is at seven PM. Lycian will bring you. I’ll be there with the evidence. Trust me. This ends tomorrow.”
She left as quietly as she’d arrived.
I stood there. Numb. Processing everything.
“Elowen.” Lycian turned me to face him. “Look at me.”
I did. His eyes were still gold. Still dangerous. But looking at me with such tenderness it made my chest ache.
“We’re going to win this,” he said. “I promise you. No vote. No pack law. Nothing will take you from me.”
“What if they side with him? What if—”
“They won’t. Because when they see the truth, when they understand what Marcus has done, they’ll realize you’ve been the victim all along.” He pulled me close. The bond wrapped around us like a shield. “And if they don’t, if somehow the worst happens, we’ll leave. Together. Start somewhere new.”
“You’d give up your pack? Your family? Everything?”
“For you? Without hesitation.” He kissed my forehead. My cheeks. My lips. “You’re my mate. My bond. My choice. Nothing matters more than that.”
I wanted to believe him. Wanted to trust that tomorrow would end differently than I feared.
But as we went back to bed, as I lay in his arms listening to his heartbeat, I couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was about to change.
Tomorrow, the pack would decide.
And I had no idea if I was ready for their answer.