Chapter 10 A Glimpse Of Raze
"The gate was unlocked," Amanda lied.
Silas raised an eyebrow. "No, it wasn't. That section has been locked for three years. Derek sealed it himself after he lost Raze."
Amanda said nothing. Her fingers still tingled from where they had touched the lock.
Silas moved closer. He looked at the book. Recognition flashed across his face.
"You're researching binding rituals."
"I'm trying to help." Amanda's voice was steady despite her racing heart.
"Help?" Silas laughed, but there was no humor in it. "You've been here two days. You don't know anything about what happened. About what Derek has been through."
"Then tell me." Amanda stood and faced him directly. "Tell me what happened during the ritual hunt."
Silas's expression hardened. "That's not my story to tell."
"Then whose story is it?"
"Derek's. And he doesn't want to talk about it." Silas crossed his arms. "You should leave this alone, Amanda. You're going to make things worse."
"Worse?" Amanda felt anger rise in her chest. "How can things get worse? Your Alpha heir is dying inside. The pack is falling apart. And everyone is too afraid to do anything about it."
Silas's jaw tightened. For a moment, she thought he might argue. Instead, he stepped back.
"Close the book. Put it back. And forget what you read."
"I can't do that."
"You have to." Silas's voice dropped lower. "There are things happening here that you don't understand. Dangerous things. If you keep digging, you'll put yourself at risk. And Derek won't be able to protect you."
"I don't need his protection."
"Yes, you do." Silas turned toward the door. "Everyone in this estate does. Even if they don't realize it."
He left without another word.
Amanda stood alone in the locked section. Her hands shook as she closed the book.
She knew she should put it back. Should walk away.
But she couldn't.
Instead, she tucked the book under her arm and left the library.
Three days passed.
Derek avoided her completely.
Amanda saw him only at a distance. Walking through the halls. Disappearing into his study. Each time she tried to approach, he was gone before she reached him.
The servants told her he was busy with pack business. But Amanda knew better.
He was avoiding her because she had gotten too close. Because she had seen his pain.
At night, she lay awake in her room. She could hear sounds from down the hall. Low groans. The creak of floorboards. Once, she heard something shatter.
Derek's nightmares were getting worse.
On the fourth night, Amanda couldn't sleep at all.
She sat by her window and watched the moon. It was three-quarters full now. Growing toward completion.
The birthmark on her shoulder pulsed with heat. It had been doing that more often. Like it was trying to tell her something.
Around midnight, she heard a crash.
It came from the direction of Derek's room. Louder than before.
Amanda threw off her blankets and grabbed her robe. She rushed into the hallway.
A few servants appeared from other rooms. Their faces were worried.
"Go back to bed. I'll check on him."
They hesitated. Then they obeyed.
Amanda hurried down the hall. Derek's door was slightly open. She pushed it wider.
The room was in chaos.
Furniture was overturned. A lamp lay shattered on the floor. And in the center of it all, Derek knelt on the ground.
His hands clutched his chest. His face was twisted in agony. Sweat poured down his skin.
"Derek."
His eyes snapped to her. They were wild. Filled with pain.
"Get out."
Amanda stepped inside instead. She closed the door behind her.
"I said get out."
"No." Amanda moved closer. Her heart pounded. "You're in pain. Let me help."
"You can't help." Derek's body convulsed. He cried out and collapsed forward, catching himself with one hand. "No one can."
Amanda knelt beside him. She reached out slowly.
"Don't touch me." Derek tried to pull away. But he was too weak.
Amanda placed her hands on his chest.
The moment she made contact, her birthmark exploded with light.
Power surged from her palms. Warm and bright. It flowed into Derek like water into parched earth.
Derek's eyes went wide. His body went rigid.
Amanda felt something beneath her hands. Something alive. Trapped. Desperate.
His wolf.
It was there. Buried deep. Wrapped in chains of dark magic.
But it was fighting. Clawing its way toward the surface. And the effort was tearing Derek apart.
"I see you." Amanda's voice was barely a whisper. She wasn't sure if she was talking to Derek or his wolf. Maybe both. "I see you, Raze."
The wolf responded.
A surge of recognition. Of hope.
Amanda pushed more power through her hands. The light grew brighter. The heat intensified.
For thirty seconds, the binding weakened.
Derek gasped. His eyes cleared. And Amanda saw something shift in his expression.
"Raze." Tears streamed down his face. "I can feel him."
The wolf was there. Not free. But present. Strong. Alive.
Derek's hand came up and covered Amanda's. His grip was desperate.
"Don't let go."
"I won't."
But Amanda could feel her strength fading. The power flowing from her was immense. It drained her like nothing she'd ever experienced.
Her vision blurred. Her hands trembled.
"Amanda." Derek's voice was urgent now. "Amanda, stop. You're hurting yourself."
"Just a little longer."
"No." Derek grabbed her wrists and pulled her hands away. "That's enough."
The light vanished.
The connection severed.
Amanda collapsed backward. Derek caught her before she hit the floor.
For a moment, they stayed like that. Both breathing hard. Both exhausted.
The pain in Derek's eyes had eased. Not gone. But better.
"What are you?"
Amanda looked up at him. Her body felt like it weighed a thousand pounds.
"I don't fully know yet." Her voice was barely audible. "But I can help you. If you let me."
Derek stared at her. seeing her clearly. For the first time since the wedding, there was no hostility in his gaze.
Instead, there was something else.
Curiosity. Fear.
And the faintest hint of hope.