Chapter 041

“So,” Colin began after a few minutes of silence, his voice low and easy, almost teasing, “where are you from? And how exactly did you land yourself in between the Lycan brothers?”

I blinked at him, caught off guard. “Between them?”

He chuckled, kicking a loose pebble along the path. “Oh, don’t look so surprised. You’d have to be blind not to notice it. Every time you walk into a room, one of them is already watching. Draven goes all stiff like he’s holding back a war, Daemon smirks like he’s already won, and Darius—” Colin paused, smiling faintly. “He just looks at you like you’re something he’s still trying to figure out.”

My chest tightened at his words, though I managed to keep my voice light. “You’ve been watching me.”

He shrugged. “Well Technically I have eyes.”

We walked on, the crunch of leaves beneath our feet filling the silence. The night air had turned colder, brushing against my bare arms. To distract myself, I reached into the pocket of my cloak and pulled out an apple I’d taken from breakfast earlier.

Colin raised a brow. “Stealing from the royal table now?”

“Borrowing,” I corrected, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Besides, it’s not like they’d miss one apple.”

I took a bite, the crisp sweetness filling my mouth, then held it out to him. “Want some?”

He hesitated before taking it, his fingers brushing mine briefly, a soft, accidental touch that sent a strange spark up my arm. “Thanks,” he murmured, taking a bite and handing it back.

We shared it in silence for a moment, passing it between us like some unspoken peace offering. When it was down to the last few bites, I tossed the core into the bushes.

“So,” he said again, slower this time, “where are you really from?”

I glanced at him from the corner of my eye. “Nowhere important.”

He gave me a look that said he didn’t buy it. “That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the only one I’ve got,” I muttered, hugging my arms around myself. “My home was burned down years ago. Everything else… doesn’t matter anymore.”

Colin’s expression softened, and for once, he didn’t press. “You don’t have to talk about it,” he said quietly. “But you should know, you’re not as invisible as you think, Rain. People are watching. Some curious. Some jealous. Selene especially, you seem to be her target of hate.”

I swallowed hard, my stomach knotting. “She’s just be childish, nothing to worry about,” I whispered, even though the words didn’t feel brave.

He studied me for a long moment before smiling faintly. “You’ve got more fight in you than you realize.”

“I doubt that.”

“I don’t.” He looked ahead, eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight. “You should let me train you properly. You’re quick. You learn fast. And if you’re going to stay here—”

“I’m not staying,” I cut in quickly.

He turned his head, surprise flickering across his face. “You sure about that?”

I forced a small, empty smile. “Completely.”

He didn’t say anything after that. We just kept walking, the forest echoing with the rhythm of our footsteps and the quiet things neither of us dared to admit.

“For what it’s worth,” Colin said after a while, his voice softer this time, “I’m glad Maris finally has someone she can talk to.”

I glanced at him, startled by the sincerity in his tone. “She talks to plenty of people,” I said, trying to keep my voice even.

He gave a small laugh, shaking his head. “Not really. She’s friendly, sure, but that’s different from talking. You’ve seen her. She listens more than she speaks. Keeps most of her thoughts locked up somewhere no one can reach.”

That sounded familiar. Too familiar.

“I didn’t know,” I murmured.

“She doesn’t let people know,” he said with a shrug. “But since you came around, she laughs more. Stays out of her head for a while. You’ve been good for her.”

The words caught me off guard, warming something deep inside my chest I didn’t realize had gone cold. “I should be the one thanking her,” I said quietly. “She’s the only reason I haven’t lost my mind in this place.”

Colin smiled faintly. “Then maybe you two are saving each other.”

I didn’t know what to say to that, so I didn’t say anything. We just walked, side by side, under the quiet shimmer of the moon filtering through the trees. The air felt gentler somehow. Lighter.

After a while, I asked, “Does she know you sneak out like this?”

He chuckled. “She’d murder me if she did. So maybe don’t mention it.”

“Your secret’s safe with me,” I said, a ghost of a smile pulling at my lips.

“Good,” he said, glancing down at me with a crooked grin. “Wouldn’t want to ruin my reputation as the responsible older brother.”

We both laughed. soft, quiet sounds that got lost in the whispering woods.

For the first time in a long while, I felt… almost normal. Like I wasn’t trapped in the middle of a world that wanted to claim or destroy me. Just a girl sharing an apple and a walk under the moonlight.

Almost.

I was just starting to relax when the low growl cut through the stillness.

Colin stiffened beside me, nostrils flaring, body tensing. “Stay behind me,” he murmured, his tone changing—hard, protective.

A dark figure emerged from the shadows, moving with purpose. The moonlight caught the edges of his face first, sharp jaw, silvered eyes that gleamed with authority. My stomach dropped. I knew that face.

Nathan.

Darius’s beta. I had assumed his position over time because he seemed to be attached to Darius’s hip.

I’d seen him before, standing behind Darius the day I arrived, the one who’d questioned whether I truly was his mate. His expression then had been wary. Now, it was pure fury.

“What the hell is going on here?” His voice was low but carried enough power to make the trees seem smaller. He stalked closer, gaze flicking between Colin and me. “You’re alone. In my Alpha’s woods. At midnight.”

My throat went dry. Words tangled somewhere between fear and the memory of that first day. The air around Nathan was charged, commanding, dangerous in a way that made my knees weak.

“I—” The sound barely left my mouth.

Colin stepped forward, putting himself slightly in front of me. “We were just taking a walk, Nathan. Nothing more.”

Nathan’s lip curled, not buying it. “A walk? In the dead of night?” His gaze darted to me, pinning me like a predator sizing its prey. “Does your Alpha know you’re out here… with her?”

Colin’s shoulders tightened. “I don’t need to report every breath I take, Nathan.”

The title slipped out with deliberate emphasis, and I saw Nathan’s jaw tick. The tension between them was a living thing, two wolves circling invisible lines of rank and defiance.

I swallowed, trying to find my voice. “It’s true. I couldn’t sleep,” I whispered. “Colin found me near the border and just… walked me back.”

Nathan’s eyes flicked back to me, sharp and unreadable. For a moment, I thought he might call my bluff, drag us both before Darius. Then he took a slow, deliberate step closer, lowering his voice.

“You both shouldn’t be out here, this parts are dangerous,” he said, and though his tone was still hard, there was an edge to it. “If the wrong eyes saw this… you’d make enemies you don’t even know exist.” He said looking directly at me.

“I already have enough of those,” I murmured.

His stare lingered, heavy with something I couldn’t name, warning, maybe pity. Then, finally, he exhaled through his nose and turned to Colin. “Take her back. Now. Before I report this.”

Colin gave a small nod, and without another word, Nathan disappeared into the darkness, his presence fading like smoke through the trees.

I stood frozen for a long second, my pulse drumming in my ears.

Colin turned to me, running a hand through his hair. “He’s loyal to Darius,” he said quietly. “We should go before he changes his mind.”

I nodded, still trying to calm my racing heart. The walk back was silent this time, no laughter, no shared smiles, just the sound of my thoughts echoing the same truth over and over.

I’d been caught once. I might not be so lucky next time.