Chapter Five

CHAPTER FIVE — Lines You Shouldn’t Cross

Alexa’s POV

I shouldn’t be here.

The thought repeats in my head as I stand just beyond the tree line, staring at the training grounds again.

But my feet don’t move.

They didn’t yesterday either.

And somehow… they brought me back.

The air is thick with the scent of earth, sweat, and something deeper—something wild.

Wolves train in the open field, their movements sharp and controlled, bodies clashing with force and precision.

Power.

That’s what this place is.

And for some reason…

I can’t stay away from it.

My fingers curl slightly at my sides as I watch.

Every movement. Every strike.

It’s like something inside me recognizes it.

Like I should be there.

That thought alone sends a strange chill down my spine.

“Still pretending you got lost?”

My heart jumps.

I turn.

Xavier.

Of course.

He leans casually against a tree, arms crossed, his gray eyes locked onto me like he’s been watching for a while.

Which… he probably has.

“I’m not pretending anything,” I reply, forcing my voice to stay steady.

“Then explain why you’re here again.”

I hesitate.

Because I don’t have an answer.

Not one that makes sense.

“I just… came.”

His eyebrow lifts slightly.

“Compelling.”

I roll my eyes.

“Why do you care?”

He pushes off the tree slowly and starts walking toward me.

That same controlled movement.

Like a predator that already knows it’s going to win.

“I don’t,” he says calmly.

Lie.

I can feel it.

“Then stop following me.”

“I’m not following you.”

“You were literally watching me.”

“I watch everything.”

Of course he does.

Alpha-in-training.

Always aware.

Always in control.

Except…

Something about him right now doesn’t feel completely in control.

He stops a few steps away.

Close enough for me to feel the tension between us again.

That same strange pull from yesterday flickers in my chest.

I ignore it.

“I can stand wherever I want,” I say.

He studies me carefully.

“You’re different today.”

My breath catches slightly.

“Yes.”

“How?”

He doesn’t answer immediately.

His gaze drops—just for a second—to my hands.

My posture.

Like he’s analyzing something.

“Less afraid,” he finally says.

I let out a quiet laugh.

“You think I’m not afraid of you?”

“I think you’re pretending not to be.”

That hits closer than I want it to.

But I don’t back down.

“Maybe I just stopped caring.”

Something sharp flashes in his eyes.

Dangerous.

“Careful, Alexa.”

“Why?” I step closer without thinking. “Does it bother you?”

“Yes.”

The word comes out faster than either of us expects.

Silence falls instantly.

We both freeze

“Am I?”

I blink.

He… didn’t mean to say that.

But he did.

And now it’s hanging between us.

Heavy.

Real.

I swallow.

“Why?”

Big mistake.

His expression hardens immediately.

“There’s nothing to explain.”

“There is.”

“There isn’t.”

“You just said—”

“I said nothing.”

The wall is back.

Stronger than before.

Of course it is.

Xavier Blackwood doesn’t make mistakes.

Except he just did.

And we both know it.

Before I can push further, a voice cuts through the air.

“Xavier!”

We both turn.

Joan.

Perfect timing.

She walks toward us confidently, her long blonde hair swaying with every step. Her eyes immediately land on me—and narrow.

“Well, this is interesting.”

I step back slightly.

The moment shifts.

Breaks.

Joan slips her arm through Xavier’s like she belongs there.

Like she owns him

“Training isn’t for spectators,” she says, her tone dripping with fake sweetness. “Especially not ones who don’t belong.”

There it is again.

That word.

Belong.

I feel the familiar sting rise—

But I don’t let it show.

“I wasn’t watching you,” I replied calmly.

Her smile tightens.

“Oh, I know.”

Her eyes flick between me and Xavier.

“But you were watching something.”

Tension spikes instantly.

Xavier pulls his arm slightly away from hers.

Subtle.

But noticeable.

Joan notices too.

Her grip tightens.

“I came to talk about the ceremony,” she says, her voice now directed at him.

Ceremony.

My chest tightens slightly.

Right.

Their mating.

I look away.

I shouldn’t care.

I don’t care.

“Later,” Xavier says.

Joan blinks.

“Later?”

“I’m busy.”

Her expression darkens.

“With what?” she asks sharply.

Silence.

Then—

“With me,” I say.

I don’t even know why I said it.

The words just… came out.

Joan’s head snaps toward me.

“What did you just say?”

Too late now.

I lift my chin slightly.

“He said he’s busy.”

Her eyes flash with anger.

“Stay out of this, Alexa.”

“Then stop dragging me into it.”

The air crackles with tension.

Joan steps closer.

“You really think you can stand here and act like you’re equal to me?”

I hold her gaze.

“I’m not trying to be equal to you.”

“Good,” she smirks. “Because you’re not.”

Something inside me snaps again.

“I’m better.”

Silence.

Dead.

Heavy.

Joan’s face goes pale for a split second.

Then red with rage.

“What did you just say?”

But before she can react—

Xavier speaks.

“Enough.”

Both of us freeze.

His voice is low.

Controlled.

But there’s something else beneath it.

Something dangerous.

“Joan,” he says, not looking at her. 

“Leave.”

Her eyes widen.

“Excuse me?”

“I said leave.”

The command is clear.

Alpha.

Power.

Joan stares at him like she doesn’t recognize him.

Then her gaze shifts to me.

And the hatred there?

It’s worse than before.

“You’ll regret this,” she whispers

Then she turns and walks away.

But not defeated.

No.

Promising war.

Silence settles again.

Just me and Xavier.

Alone.

Again.

I exhale slowly.

“That was… something.”

“You shouldn’t have said that.”

“Which part?”

“All of it.”

I shrug slightly.

“Too late.”

He runs a hand through his hair, clearly irritated.

“You don’t understand what you’re doing.”

“Then explain it to me.”

“I can’t.”

“Or you won’t?”

His jaw tightens.

“Go home, Alexa.”

There it is again.

Dismissal.

Distance.

Control.

But this time…

It

doesn’t land the same.

I step back slowly.

“Fine.”

I turn.

Start walking away.

But just before I disappear into the trees—

I stop.

And say without looking back—

“You don’t hate me as much as you pretend to.”

Silence.

Then I keep walking.

This time for real.

Behind me…

Xavier doesn’t move.

Doesn’t speak.

But something inside him shifts.

Cracks.

Because the truth is—

I’m right.

And that’s the one thing he can’t afford.