Chapter 6 — Shadows at the Gate

The silence between us was a living thing, stretching taut until it nearly snapped. Killian’s gaze burned into mine, a storm I didn’t dare step into, yet couldn’t look away from.

“Aria,” he said finally, his voice quieter now, but still edged in command. “I’m not your enemy.”

I folded my arms, leaning against the bedpost. “You’ve been my enemy longer than you’ve been anything else.”

A flicker of something—regret, maybe—passed over his face. “I can’t change the past. But I can protect your future. Our future.”

“Our future?” I almost laughed. “You think a few declarations will erase what you did?”

His jaw tightened. “No. I think my actions will.”

Before I could answer, a knock came at the door—firm, urgent. Killian moved first, swinging it open to reveal Beta Rhys, his blond hair damp with sweat, his leather armor streaked with dirt.

“They’re regrouping,” Rhys said without preamble. “Northwest side now. The scouts report more coming.”

Killian swore under his breath. “They’ll test the borders until they find a weakness.”

“That’s not all,” Rhys added, glancing at me briefly before lowering his voice. “One of the rogues carried Nightshade scent.”

Killian stiffened. “The Nightshade Pack hasn’t crossed into our territory in years.”

“They have now,” Rhys said grimly.

I didn’t need the full history to understand the tension in Killian’s stance. I’d heard enough whispers, even outside the pack. The Nightshade Pack was notorious for brutality—and for hating the Nightfangs with a blood-deep vengeance.

Killian dismissed Rhys with orders to reinforce the northwest perimeter, then turned back to me. His expression was unreadable.

“They’re not here by accident,” he said. “Someone sent them. And until I know who, I want you and Luca where I can see you.”

I bristled. “You want to keep me on a leash.”

“I want to keep you alive,” he corrected sharply. “There’s a difference.”

I didn’t respond. Because deep down, I knew his words weren’t entirely born from dominance—they came from fear. Fear he didn’t want me to see.

That night, sleep was impossible. Every howl in the distance set my nerves on edge. The pack house was restless—wolves pacing in the halls, messengers coming and going at all hours.

I sat by Luca’s bed, watching the gentle rise and fall of his chest. My mind kept circling back to the she-wolf in crimson. The venom in her tone, the way she’d looked at my son like he was something unclean.

Killian had enemies outside these walls, yes—but also inside. And those could be more dangerous.

By morning, the tension in the pack had hardened into a brittle calm. Killian called a meeting in the war room, and to my surprise, he summoned me as well.

When I entered, a dozen wolves turned to look at me, some with curiosity, others with open hostility. Killian stood at the head of the long table, a map spread before him, dotted with markers.

“Aria,” he said, gesturing to a seat beside him.

I sat, ignoring the stares.

“We’ve confirmed the Nightshade Pack is behind the rogue attacks,” Killian began. “They’re probing for weaknesses. Testing our readiness.” His gaze swept the room. “They won’t find any.”

A ripple of approval moved through the wolves.

One older male cleared his throat. “Alpha, with respect—bringing an outsider here during a time of war is… risky.”

Killian’s eyes hardened. “She’s not an outsider. She is my mate.”

The words hit the room like a thunderclap. Whispers broke out immediately. I felt the heat rise in my cheeks, though whether from embarrassment or fury, I wasn’t sure.

“She left the pack,” the man pressed. “She—”

“She was driven out,” Killian cut in, his voice a low growl. “By my choice. My mistake. Which I intend to correct.”

Silence fell again. But the tension didn’t vanish—it only shifted, coiling tighter beneath the surface.

After the meeting, I pulled Killian aside. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“Do what?”

“Claim me. Publicly.”

He met my gaze, unwavering. “I did. Or they would have kept questioning your place here. Questioning Luca’s place.”

His tone softened, just slightly. “I won’t have them doubting either of you.”

I wanted to argue. To tell him that I didn’t need his protection, that I could fight my own battles. But the truth was… his words had carved through some of the ice I’d been holding onto for years.

That afternoon, I went to the training grounds. The warriors were running drills, their movements sharp and efficient. A few paused when they saw me, their eyes narrowing. I ignored them, scanning the yard until I spotted Rhys.

“You’re Beta,” I said as I approached. “You know everything that goes on here.”

“Mostly,” he replied cautiously.

“Then tell me about the woman in crimson.”

His brow furrowed. “You mean Selene?”

So she had a name.

“She’s… ambitious,” Rhys said carefully. “She’s been part of the Alpha guard for three years. Loyal to Killian.”

“Loyal?” I echoed, remembering her words, her disdain.

Rhys hesitated. “She’s… not fond of outsiders. Or anyone she sees as a threat to the pack’s stability.”

I bit back a bitter laugh. Stability. That was a pretty word for ambition laced with malice.

That night, the howls started again—closer this time. I was at the window when I saw movement in the treeline. Shadows slipping between the branches. My pulse quickened.

I turned to wake Killian, but the space beside me was empty. He was already outside, his wolf form—a massive black beast—charging toward the intruders.

I didn’t think. I shifted, bones cracking, fur bursting over skin, my wolf leaping forward before reason could catch up.

The cold air burned my lungs as I raced toward the border, the ground blurring beneath my paws. I caught up to Killian just as a rogue lunged at him from the side. My jaws closed on its throat before it could land the blow, hot blood flooding my mouth.

Killian snarled at me, but there was no time to argue. More rogues poured from the trees, their eyes wild, their scents wrong—tinged with the bitterness of Nightshade territory.

We fought side by side, claws tearing, teeth sinking. The bond between us was an unspoken rhythm—strike, defend, push forward.

When the last rogue fell, I was breathing hard, blood matting my fur. Killian shifted back to human form, his chest heaving.

“What the hell were you thinking?” he demanded.

“I was thinking you could use help,” I snapped, shifting back myself. The cold air bit at my bare skin, but I didn’t care.

His gaze raked over me, checking for injuries. When he found none, his shoulders eased slightly. “You shouldn’t have been out here.”

“And you should know by now,” I said, stepping closer, “that I don’t stay where I’m told.”

Our eyes locked, the space between us charged. And in that wild, breathless moment, I wasn’t sure if we were about to start fighting again… or something far more dangerous.