Chapter 139
Chapter 139
Ellie POV
The air in the packhouse felt different. Even when everything seemed calm, I could feel the tension buzzing under the surface, like the whole building was holding its breath.
Kieran was here for a meeting with Nolan and a few of the senior warriors to discuss the border. In light of the rogue attack, and the fact that Kieran’s pack shared a border with Silver Fang, it made perfect sense.
Part of me couldn’t help but wonder if his presence this early in the morning was more, but I tried to shake off the thought. I didn’t want to start believing that the goddess really was manipulating the events around me. Although, it was getting harder and harder to maintain that stance.
I stayed out of the way, listening faintly from the hall while pretending to busy myself with other things. I didn’t need to hear the details to know what they were talking about. Every conversation lately came back to the same thing: safety, security, control.
But no matter how tight Nolan locked down the borders, the sense of unease that had been creeping through me for weeks wouldn’t go away.
Ever since that day-the flash of light, the vision, the woman with moonlit eyes-I’d felt it constantly. Like something unseen was shifting closer, like the goddess was trying to tell me that the real danger hadn’t even begun yet.
When Kieran’s meeting ended, I expected him to leave with the others. Instead, he lingered. He said something quietly to Nolan before slipping away down the corridor. A few minutes later, I heard his voice again-closer this time, softer.
“Ellie p>
I turned, heart giving an anxious stutter. “You shouldn’t be here p>
He smiled faintly, that same easy, charming expression that made people underestimate him. “I could say the same about you. You look pale, are you all right p>
I hesitated. I wanted to tell him it was nothing, that he should go. But the words stuck in my throat. The truth was, I wasn’t all right. The dreams, the attack, the whispers that followed me everywhere I went, it was too
much.
“I’m fine,” I said, though it didn’t sound convincing even to me.
Kieran frowned, stepping closer. “You don’t look fine. Nolan’s made this place into a fortress since the attack, but that kind of protection comes at a cost. You’re a bird in a cage, Ellie. I don’t think you were made for that p>
Something in his tone made me look up at him sharply. He wasn’t wrong. And yet p>
“I don’t have much of a choice,” I murmured.
He studied me for a long moment, his expression softening. “You always have a choice p>
I wanted to believe that. I really did. But I thought about the boys, about their tiny hands reaching for me, about the way August had started holding himself up on his chubby little arms and I hadn’t been there to see it. The
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Chapter 130
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guilt burned in my chest.
Kieran had saved me this morning, but he wouldn’t always be there, would he?
Then again, wasn’t that exactly what he was offering me? Protection from people just like that woman. People who couldn’t be reasoned with, who were unpredictable p>
The thought of marrying Kieran made my chest twist strangely. It wasn’t that I hated the idea of being his wife. He was handsome, charming, and sweet. But marrying him just for the benefits and safety of being with an alpha felt wrong.
Then again, hadn’t I already done that once with Nolan? Why should Kieran be any different?
My head was spinning. It was so difficult to know what to do.
“Ellie, are you alright? I know that what happened with that woman was frightening but you seem… disturbed.” Kieran’s voice was low, almost confessional as he moved just a bit closer.
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