Chapter 13
Kallias’s eyes burn holes into my soul, his piercing glare practically screaming “explain yourself And for a split second, I actually consider it.
Hut then again, what is there to explain when I was the one constantly telling him dot there’s absolutely nothing between us anymore)
Until I remember I’m wearing nothing but Enoch’s oversized shirt, and my explanation would probably sound a lot like a
confession.
Scrambling to my feet, I pull the shirt tighter around me, clutching at what little dignity I have left. “It’s not what it looks like.” I begin, but my voice cracks hallway though the sentence.
Great start, Taryn. Real convincing.
Before I can take another step to explain myself, Enoch’s arm snakes around my waist, pulling me back against his chest.
My heart nearly stops. He’s glaring at Kallias as if he just declared himself King of the Assholes, completely oblivious–or maybe indifferent–to the already awkward air in the room.
Seriously? Now?
“Enoch,” I hiss under my breath, trying to pry his arm off me.
It’s as though I’m trying to wrestle a steel beam. His hold doesn’t budge, his other arm coming around me as if I might bolt.
To make things worse, he’s glaring at Kallias, who looks as though he might explode from sheer annoyance,
This is not helping
I shuffle awkwardly around the cave, Enoch still attached to me akin to a giant, overprotective octopus.
I grab my bag and shove random items into it, trying to ignore the incredulous looks coming from Kallias and his merry band of judgmental asshats.
“Seriously?” Kallias finally growls, his irritation sharp enough to cut through the humid air.
The vines over the cave entrance rustle, and Gamma Abel strides in, his frown so deep it might as well be carved into stone.
The judge, the jury, and the bitch of all.
His eyes sweep over the scene: me, in Enoch’s shirt, his arms glued to my waist, and Kallias practically vibrating with irritation.
The disapproval in his eyes is worse than anything Kallias could have said.
Kill me. Right now. Just strike me down, Moon Goddess.
“Wonderful,” I mutter under my breath. “The cavalry’s here.”
Gamma Abel sighs, his disappointment palpable. “Taryn.”
I wince. He doesn’t yell, but the weight of my name on his tongue is enough to make me wish I’d drowned in the rain carlier.
Gamma Abel exhales sharply. “What the hell is this?” he demands, gesturing vaguely at the madness before him.
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Chapter 13.
His gaze lingers on Enoch’s possessive hold on me, and the crease in his brow deepens.
“Can we talk outside?” he says, his tone sharp. His eyes flick to Enoch, still glued to my side. “Alone.”
Before I can answer, he fixes his glare on Enoch. “Let her go
Enoch doesn’t move. If anything, his grip tightens, and for a second, I think he’s going to challenge the Gamma.
Oh Goddess, I sure hope not.
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I twist to look up at him, trying to keep my voice calm despite the rising panic. “Enoch, it’s okay. Just let me talk to him. alright?”
His green eyes flick to me, uncertain but obedient.
After a tense minute, he lets me go, stepping back looking like a sulking child.
I turn to Kallias, who’s standing there with his arms crossed, barely resisting the urge to smirk.
“For the love of the Goddess, don’t do anything stupid,” I snap at him before following Gamma Abel out of the cave.
The rain hasn’t let up, and the leaves drip cold water down the back of my neck as we step into the damp clearing.
I shiver but don’t dare complain–not with the way Gamma Abel’s frustration practically crackles in the air between us.
“What the hell were you thinking?” he starts, his voice low but furious. “Do you have any idea the calls I’ve gotten?”
I flinch, crossing my arms over my chest. “It wasn’t my fault-
He cuts me off with a sharp gesture. “The Imperial Pack warriors are involved now. Do you know how lucky you are that someone in the market vouched for you? If they hadn’t, we’d be facing a much bigger problem.”
-I swallow hard, guilt tightening my throat.
“I trusted you, Taryn,” he continues, his tone biting.
“I told you to keep him out of trouble. And what happens? This.” He gestures vaguely toward the cave, as if the sight of Enoch alone is proof of my failure.
“I find you holed up in a cave with him while the Imperial Pack is breathing down our necks? What do you think this makes our pack look like, Taryn?”
“I’m sorry,” I stammer, but the words feel hollow.
He exhales sharply, rubbing a hand over his face. “Sorry isn’t going to fix this,” he mutters. “We’ll deal with this when we get home.”
I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat as he turns back toward the cave. His words play on a loop in my head: I trusted
you.
Back inside, Kallias is leaning against the wall, looking as smug as ever, while Enoch sits on the ground, fiddling with the bracelet I gave him as though it’s the most interesting thing in the world.
“We’re leaving Gamma Abel announces, his tone brooking no argument. He points at Enoch. “You–stay close and keep your mouth shut.”
Enoch’s eyes narrow slightly, but he doesn’t argue. I glance at Kallias, who’s still watching me, waiting for me to trip over my
own feet
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Chapter B
“Let’s go, Gamma Abel says, already heading for the exit
I grab my bag, avoiding everyone’s gaze as I follow him out of the cave Rouch then to the full, impening heat and caree follow, but Abel holds up a hand.
“Stay here,” he orders.
Enoch growls low in his throat, a sound that makes the hair on my arms stand on end.
“It’s fine,” I say quickly, turning back to him. “Just… behave, okay?“.
This is going to be a long, long day.
The air is tense, the kind of tense that makes your teeth ache from the pressure.
It doesn’t help that we’re trudging back home in silence, every footfall on the dirt path as loud as a gunshot in try eats.
Gamma Abel is up front, his broad shoulders radiating disappointment, while Kallias trails behind him, glaring daggers the back of my head.
I can feel his irritation like a second shadow, but hey, it’s not my fault Enoch decided to turn our morning into a pack–wide scandal.
Speaking of Enoch, he’s walking beside me, his steps unusually light for someone his size. He’s practically glowing after that cave stunt, blissfully unaware of the shitstorm brewing around us.
“I told you not to cause trouble,” I whisper under my breath, glancing at him.
Enoch looks down at me, his green eyes wide with something close to childlike confusion
“Enoch didn’t,” he says simply, as if that’s supposed to magically erase everything that just happened
I groan, pinching the bridge of my nose. “No, of course not. The drama just follows you, doesn’t it?”
Gamma Abel slows his pace, his head turning slightly: “Taryn, he barks, sharp enough to make me straighten on instinct.
“We’re shifting for speed. Inform your… companion”
My stomach sinks. “About that,” I start hesitantly, already bracing for the explosion. “Enoch……..can’t shift.”
Silence. The kind of silence that makes you want to crawl into a hole and never come out.
Gamma Abel’s shoulders stiffen before he exhales a long exasperated breath.
“Fine,” he mutters through gritted teeth, the word practically a growl. “Kallias, let him ride on your back.”
1 almost choke on my own spit
What?
Kallias whips around, his eyes narrowing into slits. “You want me to what?”
Gamma Abel doesn’t even look at him, already stripping off his shirt in preparation for his shift. “You heard me.”
Kallias’s jaw works furiously, his glare flicking to me as if this is somehow my fault.
1 shrug, giving him my best don’t look at me, dude face.
Enoch, meanwhile, looks delighted. He tilts his he, watching Kallias with a gleam of mischief in his eyes.
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Chapter 13
wolf
athe
Kallias shifts, his well form massive and imposing and I swear he’s radiating pure malice as he craiches low
I wouldn’t be shocked if he throws off Enoch along the way
Enoch climbs onto his back, his hands gripping Kallias’s for a mile too tightly
“Don’t pull his bait.” I warn, but Enoch just flashes me a toothy grin.
This hile shit
You think they’re going to survive being like that for the rest of the ride back home? My wolf murmurs as I let her take the
Oh fuck me, if they don’t act like normal adults My wolf simply chuckles.
And we’re of
The forest blurs around us as we run, the rhythmic pounding of paws on dirt drowning out every other sound.
Kallias is trying to shake Enoch off–subtle at first, then less so. Enoch just laughs, tugging harder at his for like a kid on a
“This is going to end in blood.” I mutter to myself, pushing harder to keep up with the group.
We’re almost to the pack borders when it happens.
The rogue comes out of nowhere. All snarling teeth and wild eyes.
It lunges, aiming straight for Gamma Abel, but before anyone can react, there’s a blur of motion.
A gust of wind
Enoch
One second he’s clinging to Kallias like a leech trying to make his wolf bald, and the next, he’s a whirlwind of destruction.
He hits the rogue with a force that makes the ground shake, his movements are both fluid and terrifyingly efficient
It’s over in seconds.
The rogue collapses in a lifeless heap, and Enoch straightens, his chest heaving but his expression calm.
Blood pools the innocent blades of grass while silence hovered over the horizons. Including me.
He turns to the group, tilting his head as though he’s waiting for applause.
“Good?” he asks, his voice gentle, as if he didn’t just commit murder with his bare hands.
Everyone stares. Gamma Abel looks like he’s forgotten how to blink. Kallias is still mid–shift, his wolf form frozen in place.
And me? I’m trying not to lose my shit,
“Enoch.” I hiss, shifting back into my human form and yanking my clothes on as fast as humanly possible.
My hands are shaking as I pull my shirt over my head, my mind racing with a million thoughts, which none of them helpful.
He walks over to me with his massive frame towering above mine, and presents his head akin to a damn golden retriever waiting for a pat
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Chapter 1
I stare at him, my brain short–circuiting
“Uh good job?” I say weakly, reaching up to pat his head because what the hell else am I supposed to do?
His grin is blinding, and he practically beams at the praise, completely oblivious to the growing tension in the air.
Gamma Abel clears his throat, breaking the silence. “We need to move, Now”
Inod, grabbing Knoch’s arm and pulling him along. But as we start running again, one thought refuses to leaves my mind,
I’m so screwed.
