Chapter 144 144- Do Not Let Him See You’re Not Afraid
LEXI
חוג
Knowing Blake is here, right there, even if Aaron doesn’t realise it, and that Ellorie is beside me, watching just as closely… it helps. It steadies something in me. After everything that happened with the hunters, after what I saw… Aaron doesn’t seem nearly as intimidating as he used to. I straighten slightly in my seat, lifting my chin just a fraction.
“What do you want, Aaron?” I ask, not bothering to soften it. He exhales heavily, dragging a hand through his hair in a way that feels…. uncharacteristically unsure.
“I wanted to say…” He hesitates, jaw tightening like he’s forcing the words out.
“I owe you.” He blurts out. I blink.
“Uh… what?” I ask.
“I owe you,” he repeats, a little more firmly this time. I stare at him.
“Care to explain that?” I prompt. He shifts in his seat, clearly uncomfortable, his fingers tapping restlessly against the table before he
forces them still.
“Look… I would be dead twice over if it weren’t for you,” he says.
“The dragon. I mean, Blake, he would have killed me when I broke into his room. And again in the cafeteria. Both times you stopped him.
If you hadn’t…” He exhales sharply.
“I’d be dead. And it would’ve been my own fault.” He says it plainly. No bravado. No defensiveness. Just… fact. And the thing is, he’s right. I knew that already. But hearing him say it… like that… It throws me.
“Why are you saying this now?” I ask, narrowing my eyes slightly. He huffs a quiet, humourless breath.
“A few reasons,” he admits.
“I guess… I was too proud before. People usually just… listen to me. Do what I say. Comes with the whole ‘future alpha’ thing, I suppose”
He gives a small, self-aware shrug.
“I got used to being the biggest threat in the room.” He pauses, glancing down at the table for a moment before looking back up at me
“That’s not how it works here.” He adds. No. It really isn’t.
N
“And I realised that the other night, when those people broke in. I was at my window. I saw… what happened he continues, his voice
dropping slightly. My stomach tightens.
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Chapter 144 144- Do Not Let Him See You’re Not Afraid
“With the fire. With the hunters.” he adds quietly. I frown.
“So you’re apologising now because you’re scared of Blake?” I ask bluntly. He shakes his head immediately.
“No. Well…” he winces.
“Not just that.” he answers. At least he’s honest.
“I am scared of him,” he admits.
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“Anyone with half a brain would be after seeing that. But that’s not why I’m here.” he continues and leans forward slightly, his expression
more serious now.
“I was being cocky. Blake is terrifying. But I convinced myself the stories about him were exaggerated. That with my pack behind me, I’d
be able to take him if it came down to it.” he says. I resist the urge to roll my eyes.
“Yeah, that was stupid,” I mutter. He snorts faintly.
“Yeah. I’ve figured that out.” He laughs humourlessly. Then he sobers again.
“I turned it into a competition in my head,” he continues.
“Something to prove I was stronger. Better. Like if I could stand up to him, it would mean something.” He pauses, jaw tightening.
“I’m supposed to lead my pack one day. Protect them. But I’ve never actually had to. There’s never been a real threat. Nothing that
pushed me.” His gaze flicks to the side for a moment before returning to me.
“My dad thinks I’m not ready,” he admits.
“And I… didn’t like that. So I made something up. Turned Blake into a problem that needed solving. Someone everyone already had an
issue with, so it was easy to push things in that direction.” he explains. He exhales slowly.
“And I took that out on you too. Used you in my imagined vendetta.” he confesses. He goes quiet for a second, like he’s gathering himself
before continuing.
“Then I saw what happened. I saw what he can do. What he did do. And I realised two things.” he says again, softer now. Aaron holds up
a hand, ticking them off.
“One, I was never going to win that. Not alone. Not with my pack. Not even close. So yeah… you saved my life.” He tells me. Another
pause.
“And two…” He trails ff and his expression shifts, something heavier settling in.
“My dad was right.” He says, sounding miserable. That… surprises me.
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Chapter 144 144- Do Not Let Him See You’re Not Afraid
“I’ve been putting my pack in danger,” he continues.
“Encouraging them to pick fights with someone stronger than us, someone who never actually did anything to deserve it.” His voice is
quieter now.
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“I’m supposed to protect them. Not drag them into something stupid just to prove a point.” He finishes. Silence stretches between us for a
moment. I blink, trying to process all of that.
“Oh… That’s… good? That you realised that?” I say finally, eloquent as ever. Wow. Brilliant response, Lexi. He huffs a small laugh, rubbing
the back of his neck again.
“Yeah. I guess.” He mumbles. He shifts again, scratching at his arm, clearly still uncomfortable. And that’s when it hits me. He’s alone,
Completely alone. No pack hovering nearby. No backup. No one watching his back or backing up his words. Just… him. And every single
thing he’s said so far has been completely genuine. No twisting. No half-truths. No ego. Just honesty. And that… might be the most
surprising part of all.
Aaron lets out a long, heavy sigh, like he’s been holding it in the entire time.
“Look… I don’t expect you to forgive me. But I wanted to tell you that I’m going to try to make it right.” he says, his voice rougher now,
less rehearsed. I stay quiet, watching him carefully.
“I’ll make sure no wolves bother you anymore. And if any other hunters show up… you can count on me. On all of us.
touch you again, and they won’t stand by if someone else does either.” he continues. That… I hadn’t expected.
“I owe you that much,” he adds, almost stubbornly. Then he grimaces slightly.
My pack won’t
“And I know it’s not exactly selfless. Even now, I’m still… working angles.” he confesses. I almost laugh. At least he’s honest about it.
“I need to step up. Be a decent alpha. And that means protecting my pack. They don’t need a dragon as an enemy.” he says as his gaze flicks briefly, instinctively, towards where Blake is standing behind him, huh, maybe he does know Blake is there after all.
“And the only way I can see to fix things with him… is to fix things with you.” he reasons. Right. That part makes sense.
“I guess that’s the main thing is I want you to know that I’m learning. Sometimes being a good leader is fighting back. But sometimes…”
He hesitates, then forces the words out.
“Sometimes it’s putting aside my ego and apologising.” he finishes, exhaling slowly. I clear my throat, mostly to buy myself a second to
figure out what to say.
“I can’t control what Blake does or feels. But… I appreciate your apology.” I say carefully. And I do.
“I hope you can become the alpha you’re trying to be. And for what it’s worth… I think this is a really good step.” I add Aaron’s shoulders relax slightly at that, some of the tension leaving him as he gives me a small, genuine smile, and then it vanishes Blake clears his throat
behind him. Aaron goes completely still. It’s almost immediate, the way his entire body locks up. I see his hands twitch at his sides, and then, subtly, he rubs at his wrists, like he can still feel what happened the last time they crossed a line Blake steps forward just enough
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Chapter 144 144- Do Not Let Him See You’re Not Afraid
to be seen.
“As long as Lexi isn’t having trouble, I won’t have trouble with you or yours.” Blake says, his voice low and controlled,. Aaron swallows.
“But if you betray her…” Blake continues, his golden eyes sharp, unblinking,
“Or touch my hoard again…” There’s a pause. A deliberate one.
“I will break a lot more than your wrists.” Blake threatens. The words hang in the air. Aaron gulps audibly and nods, forcing himself to
meet Blake’s gaze.
“Understood,” he says, trying for confidence. It… doesn’t quite land. He pushes himself to his feet, clearing his throat again, like he’s
trying to regain some kind of composure.
“Thanks… for listening,” he says to me, softer now.
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“If, if there’s anything I can do… to help, or make things up to you… just let me know.” he adds. Then he steps carefully around Blake,
giving him a wide berth without making it obvious. He doesn’t run. But he doesn’t linger either. He heads over to the wolves from earlier, muttering something low and firm. They both frown, glance over at me, then nod, much more subdued than before. And just like that
Aaron walks straight out of the library. Alone.
“Well… that was something,” Ellorie says, breaking the silence first. I blink a couple of times, still processing, then nod slowly.
“Yeah. It really was.” I agree. It’s not just what Aaron said, it’s how he said it. No arrogance, no posturing, no pack at his back. Just… honesty. Awkward, uncomfortable, very un-Aaron honesty. I glance over at Blake. He inclines his head slightly, acknowledging me, his
expression neutral but thoughtful.
“Are you okay with this?” I ask.
“I didn’t think you’d forgive him so easily.” I point out. Blake exhales quietly, crossing his arms.
“I haven’t forgiven him. But I can be practical.” he says flatly. Of course he can.
“You have enough enemies. You don’t need more.” He continues, his gaze flickering to the door Aaron just left through. There’s a pause, then his mouth twitches faintly, like he’s reluctantly admitting something.
“Besides… anyone who actually spends time with you tends to adore you. It’s annoying.” he adds. I blink. That… is not where I expected
that to go.
“But the wolf pack, could be powerful. If they have a competent leader, they could be useful. Good allies.” he continues, tone sharpening
slightly.
“And if they’re not… they can meet the same end as the hunters.” he conclude. Ah. There it is. That’s more like the Blake I expected
Ellorie nods along like that is a perfectly reasonable statement, completely unfazed.
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Chapter 144 144- Do Not Let Him See You’re Not Afraid
“Exactly,” she says brightly. Then she turns back to me, her eyes lighting up again.
“Which is why you need to keep practicing your fire, Lexi. Next time, you might not even need Blake to incinerate the lot of them.” She
teases. I visibly flinch.
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“Ellorie,” I say slowly, giving her a look. She just shrugs, completely unbothered, taking a sip of her drink like she didn’t just suggest mass
incineration as a personal growth goal. I am… not nearly as enthusiastic about that idea. Blake, on the other hand, goes very still. I notice
it immediately. The shift is subtle, but it’s there, the way his expression drops just a fraction, the way something tightens behind his eyes.
That same look he’s had for the past few days. The one I haven’t been able to figure out. Something about that comment bothered him.
Or maybe it’s not the comment. Maybe it’s… everything. I feel the question rise up again, right there on the tip of my tongue. What’s
wrong? But I don’t ask. Not here. Not in front of Ellorie. He would hate that. So I swallow it down again, letting the moment pass, even
though the tension doesn’t quite go with it. Still… what just happened with Aaron, that’s a good thing. I think. I’m safer now. The wolves
won’t be targeting me anymore, and I didn’t have to fight for it. I didn’t have to hurt anyone to make it happen. At least… not directly. I
frown slightly, staring down at the candle in front of me. Because Aaron only came here because of what he saw. Because of what Blake
did. Because of the violence. So did I really avoid it? Or did I just benefit from it after the fact? And then there’s the other part, the
reason he really feels like he owes me. Because I helped him. Because I stopped Blake from killing him. So which one mattered more? The
fear… or the kindness? I press my lips together, my thoughts tangling up in themselves. Because if Blake hadn’t been violent… I wouldn’t
have had the chance to step in. And if I hadn’t stepped in… Aaron wouldn’t be here apologising now. It’s like a loop. A messy,
complicated, impossible loop. A chicken-and-egg kind of problem. And maybe… I glance between Blake and the door Aaron left through.
Maybe sometimes there just… isn’t a clean answer. Just outcomes. And choices. And figuring out how to live with both.
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