Chapter 81
Chapter 81
31
5 vouchers
I jumped when Damien roared. The sound shook the walls and made my heart slam against my ribs. I sat up fast in bed, pulling the blanket up to my chest. My fingers twisted into the fabric, and my knees drew in without me thinking. For a second, I just stared at him, blinking fast, trying to understand why the room suddenly felt unsafe again. My hair fell across my face, and I pushed it back with a shaking hand.
“What happened?” I asked, my voice shaky. My eyes moved over him quickly, from his clenched fists to the way his chest rose too hard.
He stood by the door, shoulders tense. “It’s nothing.” His hand stayed pressed near his side, and he didn’t step closer like he usually would. His hair was messy, like he had run his fingers through it before walking in, and that scared me more.
I furrowed my eyebrows and looked at him closer. His jaw was tight and he was holding his side like it hurt. “It doesn’t look like nothing. You’re in pain. I can see it on your face.” I shifted to the edge of the bed, keeping the blanket tight around me, my toes touching the cold floor.
He shook his head and walked over to the bed. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about it.” He tried to sound calm, but his mouth barely moved, and his fingers flexed like he was holding something back.
I raked my fingers through my hair, still staring at him. “Damien, you just roared loud enough to scare the whole pack. Something is wrong. Tell me.” I reached for his wrist, but he moved just enough that my fingers only brushed his sleeve.
Before he could answer I heard it. Loud voices outside. The pack members were shouting again. My stomach dropped. I froze, listening. My shoulders lifted, and my hand went flat against the mattress. The sound came through the walls, angry and messy, like too many people talking over each other. I turned my head toward the window, but my body stayed stuck near the bed.
“We know the human Luna is back!”
“You need to protect our pack!”
“Choose a human or your pack!”
I looked at Damien, my eyes wide. “What the hell? They’re at it again?” My voice came out higher than 1 wanted. I pulled the blanket tighter until it pressed against my throat. My fingers wouldn’t stop moving against the edge.
He walked to the window and pulled the curtain back a little. His face stayed hard. “They’re not letting it go.” His fingers gripped the curtain so tightly the material wrinkled under his hand.
I got out of bed fast, wrapping the blanket around me. I stood next to him and peeked out. The courtyard was full of people. They were yelling and waving their arms. Some pointed toward the packhouse. Others stood shoulder to shoulder like they had already decided I was their enemy. My bare feet pressed against the floor, and I leaned closer to the wall beside the window.
“Choose a human or your pack!”
“Get rid of her!”
11:46 Thu, May 21
Chapter 81
31
5 vouchers
“She’s the reason everything is falling apart!”
I stepped back from the window, my hands shaking. “They’re serious this time. They really think I’m the problem.” My back hit the wall, and I stayed there, breathing through my mouth. My eyes burned, but I refused to cry in front of that window.
Damien let the curtain fall and turned to me. “I’ll handle it.” His voice was low, but the muscle in his jaw moved. He looked ready to break something.
I grabbed his arm. “How? They’re already saying you have to choose. You or me. The pack or the human.” My fingers dug into his skin, and I shook my head before he could answer.
He pulled me into a hug, his arms tight around me. “I’m not choosing. You’re staying.” His chin touched the top of my head, and his hand spread across my back.
I hugged him back but my mind was racing. “They’re not going to stop. I can hear them. They’re getting louder.” I pressed my face into his chest, but even there, I could still hear every word. My hands gripped his shirt, twisting the fabric hard.
The shouting outside got worse. Damien’s arms tightened, and his body went still around me.
“We know the human Luna is back!”
“You need to protect our pack!”
“Choose a human or your pack!”
I pulled away from Damien and raked my fingers through my hair again. “This is bad. Really bad. What if they turn on you? What if they force you to pick?” I paced two steps away, then turned back fast, unable to stay still.
Damien’s jaw tightened. “They won’t.” He stood straight, shoulders squared, like he could hold the whole door shut with his body alone.
I looked at him, my voice cracking. “You don’t know that. They’re scared. They think I’m the reason the pack is breaking.” I pressed one hand to my stomach and wrapped the other around my waist. My feet stayed planted, but my legs felt weak.
He took my face in his hands and made me look at him. “I’m not losing you. Not for them. Not for anyone.” His thumbs brushed under my eyes, and he bent closer so I couldn’t look away.
I nodded but I still felt sick. The voices outside kept getting louder. I swallowed hard, but the tight feeling in my throat stayed there. My hands slid down to his wrists, holding on like I needed him to keep me standing.
“Choose a human or your pack!”
“Protect us!”
“Get rid of the human!”
I pressed my hands over my ears for a second, trying to block it out. “They’re not stopping. They want you to
11:46 Thu, May 21
Chapter 81
31
5 vouchers
choose right now.” My elbows tucked in close, and I squeezed my eyes shut, but the words still pushed through.
Damien pulled my hands down gently. “I already chose. I chose you.” He held my wrists between us, his grip firm but careful.
The shouting outside grew into one big chant. It rolled through the room until even the bedframe seemed to shake. My skin prickled, and I could barely breathe. I stepped closer to Damien, my shoulder brushing his chest.
“Choose one now!”
“Choose one now!”
“Choose one now!”
I looked up at Damien, my heart pounding. My voice came out small. His eyes stayed on mine, but his expression had gone cold in a way that scared me.
“Choose one now.”
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11:46 Thu, May 21 ♫
