Chapter 106
Chapter 106
ཉྙཱ༩༠
6 vouchers
The growl was still sitting in my throat when the shift started pulling me back. My paws slipped in the dirt. and I tried to stay standing, but my legs folded under me. Damien moved closer without rushing, one hand out, eyes locked on mine. “Easy,” he said quietly. “I’m here.”
I wanted to answer him, but all that came out was a rough sound. My bones cracked again. My body twisted. Fur disappeared, skin came back, and I hit the ground on my knees, naked, breathless, and so embarrassed I wanted the dirt to swallow me whole.
Damien took off his coat immediately. He did not make a big scene. He did not gasp or look around like 1 needed hiding from the entire world. He just stepped in front of me, blocking the crowd with his body, and wrapped the coat around my shoulders. “Arms in,” he murmured.
I looked down, cheeks burning. “This is so humiliating.” He helped me into the sleeves, fingers careful at my elbows. “No,” he said. “It’s just new.” I pulled the coat tight over my chest. “I literally growled at Alice in front of everyone.” His mouth twitched, but his eyes stayed gentle. “You had taste.”
I glared at him. “Damien.” He crouched in front of me and brushed dirt from my knee with his thumb. “I’m sorry. Not funny.” Linda muttered behind him, “It was kind of funny.” I covered my face with one hand. “I hate all of you.” Damien stood and helped me up, his hand staying at my waist until my legs stopped wobbling.
His coat hung down to my thighs, and I kept holding it closed while everyone stared. Alice was still near Clara. face pale but trying way too hard to look calm. My wolf pressed against my ribs, quiet but alert. I leaned closer to Damien. “Something is wrong with her.”
His jaw tightened. “Alice?” I nodded. “Her bond to the pack feels fake.” He looked at me carefully. “Fake how?” I rubbed my temple, trying to find words that did not sound insane. “Like she was stitched into it. Like everyone else smells connected, but hers smells patched. Wrong. Forced.”
Alice’s eyes narrowed from across the ring. “Are you accusing me of something else now?” I turned toward her, still gripping Damien’s coat. “I’m saying your bond smells like a lie.” The pack started whispering. Alice laughed once, sharp and nervous. “That is actually ridiculous. Now she can smell history?”
Damien’s voice cut through the noise. “Linda.” Linda stepped forward. “Alpha?” Damien did not take his eyes off Alice. “Search Alice’s records. Birth, bloodline, naming ceremony, every family document.” Alice straightened, fingers tightening around her skirt. “You cannot be serious.” Damien looked at her. “I am.”
She stepped back. “I will not stand here while your new Luna invents stories about me.” Damien’s voice dropped. “You will stand where I tell you to stand.” Alice’s face went cold. For one second, she looked nothing like the crying girl from the council room. She turned toward the exit, but two warriors moved in front of
her.
“Move,” Alice snapped. One warrior shook his head. “Alpha ordered a search.” Alice looked at Damien, lips parted. “You’re treating me like a prisoner?” Damien did not blink. “If you try to leave again, yes.” The silence after that was awkward, but I kept my mouth shut because my wolf was pacing.
Linda returned with two record keepers less than an hour later. We were back in the council room by then. I sat beside Damien, still wearing his coat, rubbing my thumb along the sleeve because it smelled like him and kept my nerves from fully jumping out of my body. Alice stood near the window, arms folded, foot tapping.
11:49 Thu, May 21
Chapter 106
༢༩ta
5 vouchers
Linda placed three folders on the table. “Alice’s general records exist.” Damien leaned forward. “And her birth records?” Linda’s mouth tightened. “Missing.” The room went still. Alice folded her arms tighter. “Old papers get lost.” I looked at her. “Funny how only the important ones disappear.”
Before she could answer, an old servant near the doorway stepped forward. Her hands were clasped in front of her apron, and her face looked scared enough that even Marcus noticed. Damien turned. “Mara?” The servant swallowed. “Alpha, I knew your mother. I knew your father too.” Alice’s face changed. “Don’t.”
Everyone looked at her. Mara flinched but kept talking. “Alice was not born here.” Clara stood, her chair scraping hard. “Careful.” Mara shook her head. “No. I stayed quiet too long.” Damien’s hand tightened on the table. “Say it.” Mara looked at Alice, then at him. “She was brought in after a rogue massacre near the northern woods. She was a child. No parents. No pack mark. One elder took her in, and your father approved the cover.”
Damien stared at her. “My father?” Mara nodded, wiping her palms down her apron. “Yes. Her history was rewritten. She was placed under a family line that had lost a daughter young. They said it was safer. They said the pack could not know.” Alice’s lips parted. “You old witch.” Damien stood so fast his chair hit the floor. “Do not speak to her.”
Alice’s eyes flashed. “You have no idea what they did for me.” I watched Damien’s face. The anger was there. but underneath it was something worse. His father. His elders. His records. His inner circle. All of them had hidden this from him and left him looking stupid in his own pack. For once, I reached for his hand first. My fingers slid into his, and I squeezed. He looked down at our hands, then at me.
I said nothing. I just stayed there, holding him. His throat moved. Then he looked at Linda. “Find Alice.” Linda turned to the guards. “Bring her back to the room.” The guards rushed out quickly. A minute later, one came back pale. Alice was gone.
AD
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11:50 Thu, May 21
