CHAPTER 61: CAIUS COMES HOME

CaiusThe air in the compound tasted weird today. Nothing was out of place, but everything felt really wrong. I looked at the gates and wondered who had died while I was gone.Dax met me at the entrance. He looked the same. His uniform was tight. His face was a mask of discipline. He held a tablet in his hand and stood tall. This was the man I trusted most with the security of the Ironblood pack."Alpha," Dax said. He bowed his head just enough to show respect but not enough to look weak. "The patrol inspection went well?""It was routine," I said. I didn't look at him. I looked past him at the courtyard. "Anything to report here?""Nothing, sir. The North gate had a small issue, but we fixed it by noon. All patrols are back.""And the administration building?" I asked. I don't know why I asked. My feet wanted to walk that way.Dax blinked. "Everything is normal there. The clerks left an hour ago. Why do you ask?""The air feels heavy," I said. I started walking toward my quarters. "D

CHAPTER 62: WHAT LYRA SEES

Senna"He’s different when you’re in the room," Lyra said.She didn’t look up from the little white notes she was putting on the medicine jars. She just said it. The sun was coming through the high windows of the infirmary. I kept my head down. I was busy crushing dried leaves into a fine green powder."Who is?" I asked. I knew who she meant, but I wanted her to stop talking.Lyra gave me a look. It was the kind of look a teacher gives a kid who is pretending they can't read a big word. "You know who," she said.She smoothed a note down with her thumb. She was very careful with her work."The Alpha," she said. "Caius. He looks like he’s paying attention differently when you are there. Like the room gets smaller when you walk in. Like everyone else is just a blur and you’re the only thing with clear lines.""He is the Alpha, Lyra," I said. I tried to make my voice sound like my heart wasn't beating too fast. "He has to pay attention to everything. That is his job. He watches the doors,

CHAPTER 63: DAX'S LINE

Senna"I’m going to be direct with you," Dax said.He didn't knock. Or say good morning... he just walked into the infirmary and shut the door behind him. The sound of the latch clicking felt very loud in the quiet room.I didn't stop what I was doing. I was organizing the little glass bottles of willow bark and mint. My hands were steady, even if my heart was starting to beat a little too fast. I didn't look at him yet."You are usually direct, Dax," I said. "It is one of the things I like about you.""Set that down, Senna," he said. His voice was not mean. It was just very flat. "This isn't a medical visit. I didn't come here to get my self checked."I set the bottle down. I turned around and wiped my hands on my white apron. I looked at him. He was standing by the door with his arms crossed. He looked tired, but he also looked like he had finally solved a puzzle and didn't like the outcome."Okay," I said. "I am listening.""I have enough now," Dax said. He stepped closer to the ta

THE LAST NIGHT BEFORE

Caius"Are you still here?" I asked, walking into the infirmary late. I didn't need to ask, of course. I knew she'd be here. Senna looked up from a pile of reports. Her eyes were tired.I sat in my usual chair, the one by the window. It had become my chair. I didn't say anything else right away. She didn't either. The room just felt quiet, but not the bad kind of quiet. I watched her for a bit. She was writing something down, her brow a little crinkled. She had a way of focusing that made you feel like nothing else mattered. I felt that sometimes too."My mother died when I was fourteen," I said. It just came out. I wasn't planning on saying it. I hadn't said it to anyone in a long time. I hadn't wanted to. Senna stopped writing. She looked at me, really looked. "My father died six months later," I went on. "Not from grief. He trusted and he was too soft." She just watched me. Her face was calm. Senna just listened. "I ran the pack for three years before I was old enough to formally c

All Chapters of REBORN TO BREAK YOU: Chapter 61 - Chapter 64

CHAPTER 61: CAIUS COMES HOME

CHAPTER 62: WHAT LYRA SEES

CHAPTER 63: DAX'S LINE

THE LAST NIGHT BEFORE