Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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The crowd scattered fast. Faces twisted with fear and shock. Some ran, whispering and pointing. Dirt kicked up around my knees. I stayed on the ground, breathing hard, my hands still pressed to the dirt. My heart wouldn’t slow down. My fingers dug into the soil like I needed something solid.
Damien crouched in front of me. His shirt was torn and bloody. He lifted one hand slowly. His jaw was tight, but his eyes stayed fixed on mine. He extended his hand toward me, palm up. “Sienna. It’s me.”
I stared at his hand. My whole body was shaking like my legs had forgotten how to hold me properly. I didn’t move. What if it wasn’t him? What if this was another trick? What if this was another shapeshifter trying to fool me again? I dragged myself back on my palms.
I pulled my knees closer to my chest and shook my head. “No. Stay back.”
He didn’t move. His voice stayed low and steady. “It’s really me. I killed the one who was pretending to be me. I’m here now.”
I looked at his face, searching for anything that didn’t feel right. The scar on his jaw. The way his eyes looked at me. The way he held his hand out without forcing it. He still waited. But I still couldn’t trust it.
“You’re not him,” I whispered. “You can’t be. They tricked me before. They made me think it was you and it
wasn’t.”
He kept his hand out. “I know. I know they did. But this is me. I’ve been looking for you since the moment you disappeared. I’m not leaving without you.”
I stared at him, tears burning my eyes. My chest felt tight. I wanted to believe him so badly, but the fear was louder. I raked my fingers through my hair hard. My breathing came out broken. “How do I know? How do I know it’s really you this time?”
He stayed crouched, voice calm. “Ask me something only I would know. Ask me anything.”
I swallowed. My hands curled around my knees. My voice came out small. “What did you say to me right before you left the hotel that morning?”
He didn’t even hesitate. “I said I would never leave you.”
My breath caught. That was exactly what he had said. My eyes filled with tears so fast his face blurred. My hand shook as I reached out slowly and took his. It was warm. Real. His fingers closed around mine and pulled me gently to my feet.
I let out a shaky sob and threw myself against him. He wrapped his arms around me tight, one hand holding the back of my head. I grabbed his torn shirt and cried into his chest. My knees almost gave out, but he held
me up.
“I thought I was going to die,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “I kept waiting and waiting. I kept thinking you weren’t coming. I was so scared.”
Damien rubbed my back, his voice low. “It’s okay now. I’m here. I’ve got you.”
11:45 Thu, May 21 J
Chapter 76
5 your harg
1 shook my head against his chest, still crying. “They kept messing with my head. Every time I thought I understood what was happening, something else happened. I didn’t know who to trust. I didn’t even trust myself anymore.”
His arms tightened around me. “You don’t have to explain everything right now.”
I nodded, but my fingers still clung to him. “I just need you to be real.”
“I’m real,” he said, bending his head until his mouth brushed my hair. “Feel me. I’m here.”
He picked me up bridal style without warning. I gasped and wrapped my arms around his neck, burying my face against his shoulder. My tears kept coming. I couldn’t stop them. He started walking through the trees.
We moved fast through a hidden path only the alphas knew about. Leaves snapped under his boots. The air smelled like pine and dirt. I kept crying quietly against him, my fingers gripping his shirt. I lifted my head and looked at his face.
He glanced down at me. “I’m still here.”
I swallowed and nodded, pressing my cheek back against his shoulder. “Don’t put me down yet.”
“I won’t.”
When we finally reached the packhouse, he didn’t slow down for anyone. Wolves froze in the hallway as he carried me past them. Some lowered their eyes. Damien’s jaw clenched, and his arms tightened.
He took me straight to a private room where only the alphas were waiting. Elias, Rafe, Theo, and Alice were all there. They stood up the second we walked in.
Elias stepped forward first. “What the hell happened? Where have you been?”
Rafe looked between us, eyes wide. “We thought you were dead. The whole pack has been losing it.”
Theo stayed quiet but his face was tight with worry.
Alice crossed her arms, frowning. “You look like hell. Both of you.”
I wiped my face with my sleeve and tried to steady my voice. Damien set me down gently on a chair, but he didn’t move far. He stayed beside me with one hand on my shoulder. I started talking.
I told them everything I could from how I was captured from the hotel thinking it was Damien. I still couldn’t believe everything that had happened even though I had loved through it myself. I was so traumatised that it felt like right now I was still being tricked by the shapeshifters.
They listened without interrupting. Elias stopped with both hands on his hips. Rafe leaned against the wall. eyes dropping to the floor. Alice’s jaw clenched. Theo kept watching the door. When I finally finished, my voice was hoarse.
Damien stood beside me, one hand still on my shoulder. The room stayed quiet for a second.
Then I looked up at all of them, my fingers gripping the edge of the chair, and said the words that made my
11:45 Thu, May 21
Chapter 76
stomach twist. I closed my eyes.
“It was Kade behind it all.”
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