CHAPTER 8

The sound of breaking glass was followed by Marcus throwing himself towards me.

I barely had time to move before he grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the window. Something sharp flew past us, striking the wall behind where I had been standing.

I gasped, my heart pounding violently.

“Stay behind me!” Marcus ordered.

He moved towards the door, his expression changing completely. The regret and patience I had seen in him moments earlier were gone. In their place was the cold authority of an Alpha.

“GUARDS!”

The door burst open almost immediately; two guards rushed inside, their eyes widening at the shattered window.

“Secure the building! Nobody leaves until I give the order.”

“Yes sir!”

One of them hurried towards the window while the other remained beside Marcus.

I stared at the object lodged in the wall; it was a short silver bolt, and its presence made the mark on my wrist burn.

“Was that meant for me?” I whispered.

Marcus turned towards me. “I think so.”

“Someone tried to kill me?”

He didn't answer immediately, but his expression was enough.

The guard pulled the bolt from the wall and examined it.

“Alpha, this came from outside the eastern wall, the attacker was caught trying to escape.”

Marcus's jaw tightened. “Bring him to the holding cells. I want to know who sent him.”

I looked at Marcus, struggling to understand how quickly everything had changed.

“You said my old pack might come looking for me, might this be their doing?”

“I don't know yet,” he replied. “But whoever sent that bolt knew exactly where you were staying.”

I looked towards the broken window again, just a few minutes ago; I had been standing there asking questions about my family, now someone had tried to take my life before I could even get the answers.

“I can't keep hiding in this room,” I said.

Marcus looked at me. “You aren't going anywhere until I know it's safe.”

“Then let me see what is happening outside, I don't want to sit here while everyone makes decisions about my life.”

“Amelia, this isn't a game.”

“And it’s my life!” I snapped. “I'm tired of being told to stay quiet, stay inside and wait for someone else to decide what I should know. If someone wants me dead, I deserve to know whom and why.”

Marcus studied my face before releasing a tired breath.

“Fine, but you stay beside me.”

I nodded in agreement.

He instructed the remaining guard to escort us, and then led me out of the room. The moment we entered the hallway, I noticed several pack members moving quickly through the building, some carried weapons while others were checking the doors and windows.

Their eyes followed me as I walked past.

I couldn't tell whether they were curious about me or frightened by the attack, but I hated feeling like everyone knew something about me that I didn't.

“Why are they staring?” I whispered.

“They know you're my niece, news travels quickly in a pack.”

“Apparently, so does trouble.”

Marcus glanced at me, but didn't respond.

We continued downstairs and entered the main hall. Several guards stood near the entrance, speaking in low voices; one of them immediately approached Marcus.

“Alpha, the attacker has been identified.”

Marcus stopped. “Who is he?”

“A rogue, he was paid to carry out the attack.”

“By whom?”

The guard hesitated.

“He claims he was hired by someone connected to the Silver Moon Pack.”

Silver Moon! My old pack.

I gripped the edge of the nearest table, suddenly feeling as though the floor had shifted beneath my feet.

“They know I'm alive,” I whispered.

Marcus turned towards me “It appears someone has discovered where you are.”

“Who sent him?”

“The man is being questioned, but he is holding back some information. We will get the name before tomorrow.”

I shook my head, trying to steady my breathing. I had barely escaped one life, and now the people I thought I had left behind were reaching into the new one.

Aiden's face flashed through my mind.

Had he found out?

Did Seraphina know?

Or was someone else from that pack behind this?

I hated that even after everything they had done, their names could still make my heart tighten.

“As for now we need to keep her fully protect” he said glancing back at me.

I looked at him “You keep saying you want to protect me, but I need more than protection. I need to learn how to defend myself.”

His expression changed “Your wolf is still recovering, she needs time.”

“I’ve waited long enough, I don't want to remain helpless.”

He studied me for a moment before nodding.

“We'll arrange it, but you must understand that your training won't be easy.”

“I've survived worse than difficult training.”

For the first time that morning, something almost resembling approval crossed his face.

“Come, there's something else you need to see.”

He led me through another corridor and towards a large set of doors. When they opened, I found myself looking into a spacious courtyard, several warriors were gathered there, some practicing while others spoke in small groups.

The moment Marcus stepped outside, their conversations stopped.

“Everyone,” he announced, his voice carrying across the courtyard. “I want you to listen carefully. Amelia is under my protection, anyone who threatens her answers to me personally.”

A few warriors exchanged glances.

I stood beside him, suddenly aware of how many eyes were fixed on me.

Marcus continued “She is not an enemy, and she is not someone you should treat as a burden, she is family.”

The words settled somewhere deep inside me *Family*.

It was strange hearing that word spoken about me without an insult or a condition attached to it.

“You wanted to stop hiding? This is the start.”

I looked around the courtyard, for the first time since I arrived; I wasn't looking at the walls, the doors or the windows. I was looking at the people who lived here.

I still didn't know what my bloodline meant. I didn't know why my father had kept so many secrets or why the symbol on my necklace was connected to a warning.

But I knew one thing: I couldn't spend the rest of my life running from people who wanted me gone.

My hand moved briefly to my stomach. I could feel the life growing inside me, and I knew I had to become strong enough to protect it.

Whatever my father had left behind, whatever power Marcus feared, I would face it. I was no longer going to let fear decide how I lived.

A guard suddenly came rushing into the courtyard, his face pale.

“Alpha! The prisoner has escaped!”