20

SIENNA

By the time the fire burned low that evening, I’d almost gotten used to the strange quiet of Rhys’s chambers. Almost.

The room smelled of cedarwood and smoke, heavy and masculine, yet oddly comforting. Every so often, I’d glance at the tall shelves, the swords on the wall, the black coat he’d carelessly thrown over a chair. Everything in this space screamed to him, sharp edges and silent power.

I was supposed to be resting, but my body refused to stay still. My mind was a hive of restless thoughts. Why had he brought me here? Why was I still alive? And most of all, what did he want from me?

The door creaked, and I tensed. It wasn’t Rhys this time, but one of his guards bringing food, a bowl of rice, and some bread.

“You can just leave it,” I murmured, keeping my voice low.

He nodded and placed the tray on the table, but I could tell something was off. His face was pale, his movements too careful, like he was afraid of saying something wrong. Then another guard appeared at the door.

“Did you tell him?” the second one whispered.

“Tell him what?” I asked.

Both men froze. The taller one shifted uneasily. “It’s nothing, ma’am.”

I frowned. “You’re terrible liars.”

He hesitated. “It’s just… word from the northern borders.”

“What kind of word?”

“Someone from the Silverfang pack was sighted.”

The name alone made my heart skip a beat. “Silverfang?” My voice came out smaller than I meant it to. “Who?”

The two guards exchanged a look, and then the taller one sighed. “Your stepbrother. Damon.”

I felt the blood drain from my face. For a second, everything went quiet: the fire, the air, even the steady beating of my heart. All of it went still.

“Are you sure?” I whispered.

“That’s what the scouts said. He was seen near the ridge this afternoon. Talking to a few of our men, then he vanished into the trees.”

I shook my head. “No. No, that doesn’t make sense. He wouldn’t...” I stopped, because I knew I was lying. Damon would. Damon always would.

The guards looked uncomfortable. “Alpha Rhys is already aware. He’s doubling patrols.”

I wanted to ask more, but the words wouldn’t come. I just nodded numbly. They left soon after, closing the door behind them, and I sat there staring at the wall, my hands trembling so badly I had to tuck them under my legs.

Damon was here. Damon had found me.

A thousand memories hit me at once: his cold smile, his voice that always sounded too calm when he was angry, the last time I saw him as he told me where to terminate my babies, telling me I was nothing but a traitor’s daughter and now he was at Rhys’s borders.

“What are you doing here, Damon?” I whispered to myself.

I didn’t even realize when the door opened again until Rhys’s voice cut through the fog in my head.

“What did they tell you?”

I flinched, turning to him. “You knew.”

He shut the door behind him and moved closer, his presence filling the room like heat. “I was going to tell you.”

“When? After he was standing right outside that window?” I snapped, rising to my feet, though my legs shook. “You were just going to let me find out through whispers?”

“I was handling it.”

“You should have told me.”

His eyes narrowed. “And what would you have done with that information, Sienna? Run? Scream? Put my pack in danger?”

“I would have prepared!” My voice broke before I could stop it. “You don’t understand, Rhys. If Damon’s here, it’s not for peace. He’s not the type who comes to talk.”

Rhys crossed his arms. “Then what is he here for?”

“To drag me back,” I said softly. “Or kill me trying.”

He stared at me, unreadable. “You’re saying your own brother would kill you.”

I gave a bitter laugh. “Half-brother. And yes. Damon doesn’t do mercy. Especially not for traitors.”

“Traitor?” he repeated.

I looked away. “That’s what they call me. For leaving. For not choosing their side.”

He stepped closer. “And whose side did you choose?”

“I didn’t choose anyone,” I said quietly. “I just wanted to live.”

The silence that followed was so thick I could hear the faint crackle of the fire and the storm of my own heartbeat. Rhys didn’t speak for a long time. His eyes stayed fixed on me, sharp, searching, as if trying to see through the words I wasn’t saying.

When he finally spoke, his voice was a low tone. “If he tries to cross into my territory, he won’t make it far.”

“You don’t understand,” I said, shaking my head. “He’s not like other warriors. He’ll come no matter what. You can’t reason with him.”

“Then I’ll stop him.”

The way he said it... calm, certainly made my chest ache in a strange, painful way. “Why?” I asked. “Why would you protect me?”

He gave a faint smirk. “Because you’re under my roof and I don’t like people touching what’s mine.”

“I’m not yours,” I said sharply.

His gaze didn’t waver. “Then tell me you want to leave Goldie, tell me you want to leave this instance, and I will let you.”

I opened my mouth, but the words wouldn’t come. Because the truth was, I didn’t know what I wanted anymore. Every part of me screamed to run, but where would I go? Damon was out there, and every shadow outside these walls was his territory now.

“I can’t,” I whispered finally.

His smirk faded. “Exactly.”

He turned toward the door. “I’ll deal with Damon. You stay here.”

“Rhys...” I started, but he stopped, glancing over his shoulder.

“You’re safe here,” he said simply. “As long as you don’t do anything stupid.”

Then, he was gone.

The door closed with a quiet thud, and I sank onto the edge of the bed, pressing my palms to my eyes. Safe. He said it as if it were a fact, but I knew better. No one was safe from Damon. Not even Rhys.

Outside, I could hear the muffled sounds of soldiers moving, giving orders, and boots crunching against gravel. The whole pack was on edge now, and I was the reason. Again.

When the footsteps faded, I crawled closer to the window. The moon hung low over the trees, silver and cold, casting its pale light over the courtyard below. Somewhere beyond those woods, Damon was waiting. I could almost feel it, his presence, his certainty. He’d never stopped hunting me.

“Please,” I whispered into the night. “Don’t find me.”

But I knew he would and for the first time since coming here, I wasn’t just scared of Damon. I was scared of what would happen if Rhys and Damon ever stood face-to-face because one of them wouldn’t survive it.