13

SIENNA

The next morning, I woke to voices outside my room. They were arguing…sharp, clipped tones muffled by the rain. Rhea’s voice was one of them, the other deeper, colder. Rhys.

I pushed myself up slowly, ignoring the dull ache in my stomach. The baby was still there, still alive, and that was the only thing keeping me steady. I listened harder, every word filtering through the thin walls.

“She needs rest,” Rhea said firmly. “You can’t keep dragging her into your mess.”

“This isn’t my mess,” Rhys replied. His voice was low, dangerous. “Someone in this camp nearly killed her. That makes it my problem and even if she’s from the Silverfang pack, that doesn’t mean we need to slaughter her and remember she’s carrying children.”

“Or maybe it’s your guilt,” she shot back. “You put her here. You put her in this danger.”

Silence. Then the sound of heavy boots moving away. When Rhea stepped inside a moment later, I could tell from her face she hadn’t won that argument.

“He’s been walking around since morning like a lost puppy,” she muttered, checking my pulse like I was about to explode. 

“You should still be lying down.”

“I’ve been lying down long enough,” I said, pulling the blanket aside. “I’m fine.”

“You nearly lost your baby, Sienna.”

“I didn’t, though.” I swung my legs off the bed. “And I won’t if I find out who’s trying to make sure I do.”

Rhea sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “You never listen.”

“Then maybe it’s time someone did,” I said, and pushed past her before she could argue.

The pack was slick with mud, the ground soft under my bare feet. People stared as I passed,some with pity, others with suspicion. I didn’t care. I wasn’t hiding anymore.

Rhys was by the armory, speaking with one of his men. His eyes found me immediately.

“What are you doing out of bed?” he demanded.

“Walking,” I said simply. “And asking questions.”

He dismissed the soldier with a flick of his hand. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“Then tell me where I should be, Rhys. Because your people clearly don’t want me in their kitchens, their rooms, or this pack for that matter.”

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “You were hurt, Sienna.”

“And someone made sure of that.”

Something flashed in his eyes…anger, maybe, or fear but he hid it quickly. “I’m already looking into it.”

“You mean you’re asking Elira.”

His jaw tightened. “Leave her out of this.”

“I can’t,” I snapped. “Not when her name keeps coming up in every whisper, every look, every lie that’s been spun about me.”

Rhys stared at me for a long time, his expression unreadable. “You think she’s behind this?”

“I think she’s capable of it.”

Before he could answer, a voice called out behind us. “Alpha!”

It was Mira, the same woman from the kitchen. She ran toward us, her face pale. “There’s been another theft. From the food stores.”

Rhys turned sharply. “Who?”

She hesitated, then looked at me. “We… found her bracelet there. The one with the red stone.”

I felt the world tilt slightly. “That’s impossible. I haven’t even…”

“Show me,” Rhys said, cutting me off.

I followed them to the storage shed, the same one where I’d been hurt. My stomach twisted as we entered. On the table sat a small cloth bundle. Mira opened it, revealing dried meat, herbs and my bracelet.

I reached for it. “That’s not…”

Rhys caught my wrist midair. “Don’t touch it.”

I looked up at him, my anger rising. “You think I planted my own bracelet here?”

He didn’t answer. His silence was worse than the accusation.

Mira shifted nervously. “Alpha, maybe she’s confused…”

“Enough,” Rhys snapped. His voice was sharp, commanding. “No one speaks of this until I say so. Understood?”

She nodded and hurried out.

When we were alone, I pulled my arm free. “So that’s it? You’re going to pretend you don’t see what’s happening?”

“What I see,” he said through clenched teeth, “is you in the middle of every damn problem this pack has had in weeks.”

“Because someone put me there!” I shot back. “You think I want this? You think I enjoy being hated?”

He ran a hand through his hair, looking torn. “You’re making it hard to defend you Goldie.”

“Then don’t,” I said, stepping closer. “Just tell me the truth. Are you protecting her?”

“Elira?”

“Yes.”

He stared at me, and for a moment I thought he might actually say it. But then his face hardened. 

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Maybe not,” I said quietly. “But I know fear when I see it. And she’s afraid of something.”

Rhys’s mouth twitched, just slightly. “If she wanted you dead, you’d be gone.”

“Then maybe she doesn’t want me dead,” I whispered. “Maybe she wants me broken.”

He didn’t respond. The silence between us stretched until I couldn’t take it anymore. I turned to leave…but stopped when he said softly, “You shouldn’t make enemies you can’t handle.”

I looked back over my shoulder. “Then maybe stop treating me like one.”

When I walked out of the shed, I saw Elira standing across the courtyard, watching. Her face was serene, but her fingers twisted the end of her shawl, white-knuckled.

Later that evening, as the fires burned low, I found her by the stream. She was alone, rinsing her hands, the moonlight catching in her dark hair.

“Did you lose something?” I asked, stepping closer.

She didn’t turn. “You should be resting.”

“So should you. It must be exhausting keeping up appearances.”

Her reflection in the water smiled faintly. “Careful, little healer. People who dig too deep tend to find graves.”

“Maybe I already did,” I said. “Mine.”

That made her laugh softly. “You think I planted that bracelet?”

“I think you enjoy watching me squirm.”

Finally, she turned to face me, her expression unreadable. “If I wanted to hurt you, I wouldn’t hide behind stolen food.”

“Then who is?”

She stepped closer, lowering her voice. “You’re asking the wrong question.”

“What’s the right one?”

Her lips curved into a small, knowing smile. “Who stands to lose the most if you stay alive?”

Before I could respond, she brushed past me, her perfume sharp and floral.

That night, I lay awake, staring at the ceiling. Her words echoed in my head like a riddle I couldn’t solve. If Elira wasn’t behind it… then who was? Because someone wanted me gone and they weren’t finished yet and for the first time, I realized this wasn’t just about me or Elira. It was about Rhys.

Someone was playing us all and I was done being their pawn.