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We left the campus too fast.
The second the doors shut behind us, Damien’s hand landed on my thigh, fingers spread, hus jaw was tight, teeth grinding once before he forced them apart.
He didn’t look at me.
He just stared straight ahead and turned the key.
I twisted in my seat, one hand gripping the door handle. “How could a rogue be in there?”
He shifted gears but didn’t answer. His knuckles went pale on the steering wheel.
“In a human building,” I pressed, leaning closer, searching his face.
“With cameras, with music, with people filming everything. I thought they didn’t cross into human territory like that.”
“They don’t,” he said, eyes still on the road.
“Then what was that?”
His fingers flexed against my leg, thumb pressing down once before releasing.” Rogues don’t follow pack rules.”
“But there’s a pact,” I said, my voice rising as I threw my hands up. “You said humans can’t know.”
“They don’t know.”
“Not yet.”
He shot me a sharp look, eyes dark, warning,”it didn’t attack.”
“it could have.”
“it didn’t.”
“That’s not the point,” I snapped, rubbing my palms together, trying to warm the cold crawling up my arms.
“It was close enough for you to smell it, that means it was close enough to touch me.”
His jaw tightened again. He didn’t deny it.
My stomach dropped. I swallowed hard. “Was it alone?”
He kept driving.
“How many?” I asked quietly, fingers curling into my seatbelt.
“More than one.”
My pulse started climbing again. I dragged a shaky hand through my hair. “So they
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were just… watching?”
“Probably.”
“Watching me.”
“Watching the heir,” he corrected, finally glancing at me.
I looked away, pressing my lips together until they hurt. I folded my arms over my chest like that could shield anything.
I just wanted one normal night.
30 soucher
He drove in silence after that, shoulders stiff, eyes scanning the mirrors every few seconds. Too quiet. Too controlled.
When the packhouse gates came into view, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.
It didn’t last.
Inside, he didn’t slow down. Didn’t greet anyone. Didn’t nod back at the wolves watching him pass. He just grabbed my wrist and guided me upstairs, long strides forcing me to hurry behind him.
In the bedroom he dropped the duffel on the bed and unzipped it hard enough that the metal teeth scraped loud. He started opening drawers, pulling things out fast.
“What are you doing?” I asked, stepping closer.
“We move up the hunt.”
“Hunt?” I stared at him, blinking. “After that?”
“Yes.”
“You just smelled rogues in my old campus and your solution is to go deeper into the woods?” I threw my hands out, pacing once across the room.
He looked at me like I was missing something obvious. “They’re near our borders.”
“So?” I shot back.
“So we flush them out.”
I let out a sharp laugh and dragged both hands through my hair. “You think they’ll just be waiting in the trees like cartoon villains?”
His jaw ticked. He shoved a knife into the bag. “I think they were bold enough to step into human territory. That tells me they’re not hiding.”
I watched him load the bag.
My chest tightened. I crossed my arms over my stomach. “You’re expecting a fight.”
“I’m always expecting one.”
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“That’s not normal,” I said, stepping closer, searching his face.
“It is for me.”
I hated how calm he sounded.
“Am I bait?” I asked suddenly, my voice smaller now.
His head snapped up. “No.”
“They smelled me.” I pointed at myself. “They smell power.”
“They smell your heir through me,” I shot back, my finger pressing against his chest.” That makes me bait.”
He stepped forward and grabbed my chin lightly, thumb under my jaw, lifting my face so I had to look at him.
“You are not bait.”
“Then why bring me?” I whispered.
“Because I don’t leave you behind when they’ve already marked your scent,” he said, his grip tightening slightly before he let go.
That shut me up.
Morning came before I felt ready.
We were back in the SUV, trees swallowing the road as we moved deeper into forest paths. Damien sat forward in his seat, one hand on the wheel, the other resting near the console like he was seconds from reaching for something.
I stared out the window, fingers tracing the edge of the glass, trying to ignore the feeling crawling up my spine.
“Are they tracking us?” I asked quietly, leaning closer to him.
“If they are, they’re good,” he muttered.
“That’s not reassuring.” I hugged myself tighter.
He didn’t try to reassure me.
The road narrowed. Branches scraped along the sides of the SUV with sharp screeches. I leaned forward slightly, peering through the windshield.
“This feels wrong,” I said, gripping the dashboard.
He didn’t respond and the driver slowed around a bend and then it happened.
A black van burst from a hidden dirt path ahead, tires screaming as it skidded sideways across the road.
The SUV slammed to a stop. My body jerked forward, seatbelt digging into my shoulder.
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“What the…” I started.
50 cher
Doors flew open, men poured out with masks, guns raised, everything happened at
once.
“Down!” Damien roared.
Gunshots exploded. Glass shattered over my head. I screamed and dropped to the floor between the seats, hands clamped over my ears, knees pulled to my chest.
Damien’s door slammed open. I heard him shout something, voice sharp, furious.
There were more shots, the back door ripped open.
Hands grabbed me, fingers digging into my arms.
I screamed and kicked, nails clawing at fabric, catching skin. “Damien!”
I saw him through the chaos, moving fast, shoving one of them back, eyes locked on
Someone punched me hard in the ribs. My breath left my body in a broken gasp. I doubled over.
A cloth slammed over my mouth with sweet chemical.
My lungs burned instantly. I thrashed, biting down, twisting my head side to side.
Damien’s voice cut through everything. “Sienna!”
A gun fired again.
He was getting closer. I saw him grab one of them by the throat and slam him against the van.
Then something cracked against my temple.
Light exploded behind my eyes.
The world tilted sideways. My fingers slipped from the sleeve I was clutching.
The last thing I saw was Damien lunging toward me, teeth bared, fury written across his face.
Then everything went black.
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