Chapter 17: The Weight of Trust and Tension

Alaina

Trying to sync with Adrian Martinez was like trying to catch smoke with bare hands. Every time I thought I understood him, he slipped through my grasp, his mood shifting like shadows under moonlight. One minute, he seemed open to cooperation, the next, cold and unreadable. But I was done second-guessing his intentions. Whatever his true motives were, I had one of my own: to see this pack stand tall again.

Today marked the long-awaited Pack Games, an annual spectacle held in the Grand Meadow. It was still early, the sun barely brushing the horizon yet sleep had already slipped through my fingers.

I rose with the dawn, my body alive with a strange blend of anticipation and anxiety. After washing up, I moved to the small trunk by my bedside and retrieved the outfit I had carefully selected the night before. I didn’t want to stand out too much, but I couldn’t blend in either. Baggy cream pants paired with a soft, fitted shirt gave me just the right balance between comfort and subtle confidence. My hair, brushed until it gleamed, framed my face with gentle waves.

“Another day to prove yourself,” Edith murmured, her voice brushing against my consciousness like a sigh. “Another day of chasing his trust… But Alaina, have you ever considered looking for a way to break the bond? The one that ties us to our destined mates?”

Her words gave me pause, my hand stilling in my hair.

“Edith…” I whispered, my throat tightening. It wasn’t something I liked to think about.p

“I’m sorry,” she said gently, sensing the turmoil her question had stirred. “I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“No,” I replied after a pause. “You’re not wrong. But that weight... it isn’t yours to carry alone. None of this is your fault.”

“We’re in this together,” she whispered, a gentle warmth behind her words.

“We always have been,” I said, reaching for the comb again and running it through my hair. “Come on. Let’s get through today first.”

“And maybe motivate the others while we’re at it?” she offered, trying to lighten the mood.

I smiled faintly. “Let’s start with ourselves.”

After getting ready, I stepped out into the gradually brightening morning. The main hall was already brimming with energy, members of the Blackwood Pack congregating under Beta Isaac’s direction. I lingered on the fringes, watching from afar, unwilling to step into the center of it all without Adrian’s lead.

And then he appeared.

He moved with a quiet authority, every step drawing attention whether he wanted it or not. His tall frame cut through the gathering like a blade of focus. I took the chance and met him halfway, intercepting him just before he could reach the grand hall’s entrance.

“Today’s important,” I began, trying to match his stride. “I know the Pack game is more than just competition. It’s about unity, pride... proving ourselves as one.”

He barely looked at me. “You've never experienced the pack games before. You never had a pack, did you?”

The words struck harder than they should have. I pressed my lips together, swallowing the sharp sting of rejection.

“I didn’t,” I answered. “But I understand the power of belonging. And that power can make or break a pack like this one.”

Adrian gave a humorless chuckle. “Sure, Alaina Mayers. Let’s see what you understand.”

His tone was dismissive, but something in his gaze lingered. A challenge, maybe. Or maybe a test.

I fell into step behind him as we entered the hall.

He took his place beside Isaac and Lucious, his most trusted men, while the rest of the pack lined the walls—warriors, healers, scouts. Curious stares found me instantly, whispering eyes prying into my presence.

“Who is she?” someone whispered.

“Another outsider?” a woman murmured, brows raised.

“I thought we were stretched thin on supplies. Why are we taking in strays?” a man asked, his voice thick with resentment.

Adrian raised his hand, silencing the room before it could descend into speculation and mutiny.

“She’s Alaina Mayers,” he announced, his voice carrying with authority. “And she is not here as a stray or charity case. She’s here because I believe she may be the key to something this pack has long forgotten.”

He paused, letting the words settle.

“She may not come from tradition. She may not have worn our colors. But I see potential in her, potential that might lead us to victory in the games.”

Murmurs stirred, a few surprised glances cast my way. Isaac met my eyes but said nothing, clearly reserving judgment.

“And for those of you questioning our resources,” Adrian continued, narrowing his gaze, “let me make something clear: we are not broke, we are not weak, and we are not desperate. I’ve always had control of this pack. And I always will.”