Semua Bab DEAR EX, I AM YOUR UNCLE'S MATE: Bab 21 - Bab 30

The pack was uneasy in the days following Elijah’s retreat. I could feel it in the way they moved through the territory—tense, uncertain. They had witnessed the power struggle between Elijah, Damian, and me, and while Elijah was gone for now, the threat he represented still lingered like a storm on the horizon. I knew they were watching me more closely now, whispering among themselves about what had happened, about the power I had displayed. Some of them were fearful, unsure of what to make of me, while others seemed… intrigued. They had seen me stand up to Elijah, and while Damian was still technically their alpha, I could sense the shifting tides beneath the surface. The fractures in the pack were growing, and if I was going to survive—if I was going to escape being a pawn in both Elijah’s and Damian’s games—I needed allies. But I wasn’t the only one who could feel the pack slipping through Damian’s fingers. Damian had always been a proud leader, a strong one, but since Elijah’s

I could feel it, the underlying unease that had woven itself into the fabric of our lives since Elijah’s return—and now, since the witches had made their presence known.I still couldn’t shake the memory of the witch’s voice, soft but laced with power: You don’t have a choice. The power inside you is not something you can control on your own. If you don’t learn to harness it, it will consume you.The idea of being consumed by the darkness inside me was terrifying. Yet at the same time, I couldn’t deny the way that power pulsed beneath my skin, how it made me feel alive in a way I hadn’t before. It was a delicate balance—one I wasn’t sure I could maintain for long.I found Gareth near the edge of the clearing, standing with a few other wolves who had slowly begun to align themselves with me. They were talking in low voices, their faces drawn with the same concern I felt creeping through my own thoughts."How’s Damian?" I asked, my voice quieter than usual. I knew the answer before Gare

“Damian’s losing it.” I froze mid-step, the low murmur of voices halting me outside the doorway of the council hall. They hadn’t heard me yet, but my heart pounded at the conversation trickling through the barely cracked door. “He’s made too many enemies,” the voice continued, sharper now. “We can’t keep following him blindly, not after the mess with Elijah.” A cold ripple of satisfaction coursed through me, but I bit down the feeling, leaning in closer to catch more of the exchange. This was what I had been waiting for—cracks. Little fractures in the trust that once bound the pack to Damian’s leadership. “Annabel’s got a point,” another voice chimed in, quieter, but laced with conviction. “She’s been steady, even when everything else is falling apart.” My breath hitched. So, they were starting to see it. I wasn’t just Damian’s weak mate anymore. But before I could make a move, the door swung open, revealing Zane, one of the more influential wolves in the pack. His eyes widened

“Elijah’s been planning this for weeks.” Zane’s voice cut through the low murmur of the council room, but it was the way his eyes fixed on me that made my pulse quicken. Everyone else around the table was locked in their own discussions, whispering plans and doubts, but Zane... Zane was looking for something. A confirmation, an ally, or maybe just an answer to a question none of us were ready to ask. My hands clenched into fists beneath the table, hidden from view, as I forced my voice to remain steady. “What are you trying to say?” Zane’s gaze flickered, a flash of something—fear, maybe—but he didn’t back down. “You know exactly what I’m saying. He’s using you, Annabel. He’s been using you since the moment he came back.” I looked away, my heart pounding harder. I didn’t need to hear this. Not now. Not when everything was spiraling out of control. But Zane was relentless. “Elijah’s dangerous, but you already know that,” he pressed, his voice low but firm. “Damian’s not stable eit

“You were supposed to be loyal to me.”Damian’s voice cracked like a whip, his eyes wild with disbelief. The fury in them cut through me, sharper than any weapon ever could. I hadn’t planned to confront him so soon, but there was no other way now.The moment Elijah set his plan in motion, it had all started to unravel. There was no more waiting, no more pretending.“I didn’t betray you,” I said, but even as the words left my mouth, I knew how hollow they sounded. The truth was tangled between us, heavy and unspoken. His paranoia had drawn the lines long before I even knew they existed.Damian stepped closer, his fists clenched at his sides. “Didn’t you? You think I don’t see it? You think I don’t know you’ve been working with him?”I flinched at the venom in his words, but I held my ground. “I’m trying to save the pack, Damian. You’re losing control.”His laugh was harsh, broken. “Losing control? You’re the one who’s playing both sides, Annabel. You think you can dance between us like