Chapter 51
Chapter 51
I barely got the words out before Damien shot up from behind the desk.
སྙན་
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He crossed the room in three strides and slammed one hand flat against the wall right next to my head.
His other hand came down hard on my shoulder, pinning me there. His body blocked the whole door.
“You think you can threaten me like that?” he said, voice low and flat. “In my own pack?”
My heart slammed so hard it hurt. I had never seen him look at me this way, not even when he dragged me here the first time. This was different. This was pure alpha, and it made my legs feel weak.
“Damien, wait, I didn’t mean-”
“No,” he leaned in until his face was inches from mine.
His fingers dug into my shoulder just enough to keep me still, “you listen right now. You are not opening your mouth to anyone about being human.”
I swallowed hard.
“I don’t give a shit what the book said.” His jaw tightened.
He raked his free hand through his hair once, fast, then pointed at my stomach. “You carry my pup and you belong to this pack now. You don’t get to blow everything up because you’re scared or confused or whatever the hell is going on in your head.”
I tried to twist away but he held me tighter. My breath caught.
For the first time since I met him, real fear crawled up my spine. This wasn’t the cold distance I was used to. this was something that could actually hurt me if he wanted it to.
“You’re hurting me,” I whispered.
He didn’t let go, “Good, maybe you’ll finally hear me. You pull that stunt and I swear I will lock you in the bedroom until this war is over. You won’t do anything except sit there and keep that pup safe. Do you understand me?”
I nodded fast. “I understand.”
He stared at me another second, then he stepped back and dropped his hands. The air rushed back into my lungs.
“Go to bed,” he ordered. “Now. And stay there.”
I didn’t argue. I turned, yanked the door open, and walked out without looking back.
My legs felt like jelly the whole way down the hall.
11:41 Thu, May 21
Chapter 51
:
When I reached our bedroom I pushed inside and shut the door behind me.
I dropped the book on the nightstand and sank onto the edge of the bed.
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My hands shook as I pulled my knees up. What the hell was I doing? Threatening him like that? I had never seen him snap like that before.
Everything felt so messed up. I cried harder, shoulders shaking, because I didn’t know how to fix any of it.
I was still wiping my face when the first rumble hit.
The floor shook under my feet. I jerked my head up, “what the-”
Another shake, harder this time. The lamp on the nightstand wobbled and fell over. A picture frame slid off the wall and smashed on the floor. My heart jumped into my throat. I stood up fast, eyes wide.
The walls rattled again, like something huge was slamming into the side of the packhouse.
Shouts came from somewhere down the hall followed by a loud crash outside.
The door flew open. Rafe stood there breathing hard, his usual grin nowhere in sight. His shirt was half untucked and there was dust on his shoulder.
“Sienna, rogues are attacking the packhouse right now,” he said, “we’ve got to get you underground, I’m responsible for you, come on.”
I stared at him for half a second, still wiping tears off my cheeks. “Rogues? But Damien said the strike was just a warning-”
“There’s no time to be explaining anything right now.” He crossed the room in two steps and grabbed my wrist, “move, now.”
He pulled me into the hallway and I followed because my body reacted before my brain could catch up.
The packhouse was pure chaos. Guards ran past us shouting orders.
Two omegas carried a crying pup between them, feet pounding on the wooden floor.
Someone yelled, “east wing’s breached, get the women down!”
Glass shattered somewhere behind us. The walls shook again and a chunk of ceiling plaster rained down on
our heads.
Rafe didn’t slow down, “stay right behind me. We’re heading for the stairs at the end of this hall.”
I nodded and tried to keep up. My bare feet slapped against the floor. “Where’s Damien? Is he outside fighting?”
“He’s already shifted and out there with the others,” Rafe said over his shoulder. “Alice and Elias are holding the front, we just need to get you safe.”
11:41 Thu, May 21
Chapter 51
Another explosion rocked the building. This one was closer.
The floor lurched and I stumbled. Rafe caught my arm and kept me upright.
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People were yelling everywhere now. “Pups first!” “Barricade that door!” A woman I didn’t recognize ran past us screaming for her mate. Smoke drifted down the hallway from the direction of the main hall. My eyes
stung.
We turned the corner fast. The stairwell door was just ahead. Rafe pushed me in front of him. “Down the steps, quick. I’ve got your back.”
I started running. My heart hammered so loud I could hear it in my ears. Behind us more shouts broke out. “They’re inside the perimeter!” “Shift and hold them!”
We were halfway down the long hallway when the biggest shake
yet hit.
The wall to our left exploded inward. Bricks and wood and dust flew everywhere.
Rafe shoved me forward but it was too late. A huge section of the ceiling came down with a roar, slamming between us like a wall of rubble.
Stones and broken beams blocked the entire path. I hit the ground hard on my hands and knees.
“Luna!” Rafe’s voice came muffled through the pile. “Are you okay? Can you hear me?”
“I’m here!” I scrambled to my feet. Dust filled my lungs and I coughed hard. “Rafe, I’m trapped on this side!”
“Stay put! I’ll get help and dig you out. Don’t move!”
His voice faded as he yelled for the others. I was alone, completely alone in a tiny pocket of hallway, the lights overhead flickered once and died. Only the emergency strips on the floor gave any light at all. I rushed to the pile of rubble and started banging on the biggest stone with my fists.
“Help!” I shouted, “Smzomeone get me out of here!”
I hit it again and again, knuckles splitting. “Rafe! Anybody! I’m stuck!”
Dust poured down from above. I kept pounding.
A low groan came from the pile overhead. I looked up just as a loose stone broke free. It dropped straight down and cracked against the side of my head. Pain exploded behind my eyes, the world tilted hard and my knees buckled.
I tried to stay up, one hand pressed to the bleeding spot, but the floor rushed up to meet me before everything went dark.
11:42 Thu, May 21
