Into the Alpha’s Keep Chapter 42: 41

Heavens, I was so worried about her.

How was she doing without me? I knew she was safe because Hunter’s males were coming after me, and they would all die by Fenrir’s hands. Furthermore, Selena still hadn’t shifted, which kept her safe because she didn’t smell strongly enough like a wolf to be tracked easily.

But... that didn’t make things better.

I wanted my sister by my side; I needed to know that my little one was okay.

I felt Fenrir’s gaze burn into me. He sensed my sadness and was suspicious.

I swallowed the sweet and pushed my thoughts about Selena away, keeping her out of my mind.

“We’re sorry for your family, Savannah. It must have been hard to lose them so tragically,” murmured the elder without eyes, as if he had also felt my melancholy.

“It was... unexpected,” I hissed.

Fenrir’s gaze was on me again, burning my skin. I ignored him once more, focusing on the wonderful sweets in front of me.

“Did you also spend fifty years mourning, or was yours quicker?” Lucian mocked.

Fenrir’s hands tightened around the armrests of his chair.

“Lucian... I won’t warn you again,” one of the elders scolded.

I stared at each of them, observing them. Lucian and Fenrir seemed to have... some sort of disagreement. While Jax seemed to be friends with Fenrir, and the other alpha, Konrad, was friends with all of them. But... there was an empty chair at the table, with a setting, as if they were waiting for someone.

Five alphas.

That’s what Alexandra had told me, but there were only four at dinner. Apparently, one of them didn’t care enough to show up.

I went back to eating, listening to them discuss the tactics and ways of dismantling any wolves that invaded their territories. It wasn’t a very pleasant conversation for dinner, but none of them seemed disgusted by the subject.

How did they do this? I would never understand.

Just hearing them talk made me want to vomit all the meat I had eaten.

***

I walked the path back home alongside Fenrir. The castle grounds were beautiful, with hills and open fields filled with stones and tall, old trees.

I stared at my shadow rising on the ground, following the silver light of the moon. Fenrir’s shadow followed right next to mine, but much larger.

I let out a heavy sigh and intertwined my fingers in front of my body.

It was a pleasant night, although colder than it usually was. The breeze that stirred my hair made my skin prickle, causing me to feel cold.

Fenrir shot me a look before focusing on the uneven path ahead of us.

“You don’t care about your family’s death,” he said. “But there’s something that makes you... unhappy. I can feel your sadness sometimes, at random moments.”

I blinked, surprised.

“What?” I gasped, staring at him with wide eyes.

“Earlier, that’s how it seemed. Your family died, but you acted as if it was just an... accident and not like Hunter had killed them.”

I gritted my teeth, feeling the heat of irritation chase away the cold I was feeling.

“But he killed them, if that’s what you’re doubting.”

“I’m not doubting anything, Savannah. I’m just saying how it seemed,” he replied, and he sounded sincere.

I lifted my face and stared at him, holding his gaze. I could’ve omitted it or cared little about what he was thinking, but I felt the need to be honest with him, to speak the truth.

“Hunter and Caspian killed my family on the day of the wedding, as I’ve already told you. But... you’re right, I don’t care. And, yes, I blame myself for it. I blame myself for not thinking more, for not caring enough,” I revealed, softly.

Fenrir put his hands in his pants pockets and stopped walking, turning to face me.

“Why?”

I bit my cheeks.

“Because my parents weren’t... exemplary. I was deprived of everything my whole life, raised and molded to be the perfect wife, the exemplary companion that an alpha needed. I could never have friends, go out, or... I don’t even know how to use a phone, because I never had one.” I laughed, but the laugh didn’t reach my eyes. “My father was harsh and disrespectful, he’d beat me, punish me without food if I misbehaved. And my mother was in line with all of that, completely submissive. When they died and I managed to escape, it was the first time in my life I felt free,” I confessed. “I know this sounds horrible, but... this is the truth. That’s how I feel.”

He took a step toward me, keeping his blue eyes locked on mine. The gray vibrated, enveloping his dark pupils. The freckles around his nose seemed to reflect through the silver light.

“Actually, it doesn’t sound horrible to me,” he retorted. “Over time, we learn, little wolf, that people reap what they sow. Your parents were never good enough for you, so don’t blame yourself for not mourning their death, for feeling free because of it.”

“Even if it makes me a horrible daughter?”

“Even if it makes you a free daughter, and consequently, happy to be yourself for the first time in your life.”

I smiled gratefully.

“Yeah... um... thank you for that.”

He turned and resumed walking. I stood still for a few seconds more, absorbing what he had said and his... nice attitude toward me. I followed him, forcing my body to move and break free from its stupor.

“And how was the pack?” he asked after a while.

“It wasn’t a pleasant place to live. They never respected their females. Mating? It simply didn’t exist there; they didn’t think females were worthy enough to have their lives intertwined with theirs.” He shot me a look. I shrugged. “It wasn’t all bad, there were... good moments. The bonfire parties were fun.”

When I was allowed to go, on the rare occasions Hunter invited me. I wanted to add that, but I kept quiet.

My feet crushed the stones on the ground, making a soft noise, while Fenrir walked in complete silence. I had no idea how he managed to do that.

“That’s why you don’t care if I kill them.”

A snide laugh parted my lips.

“Well... that too, and because they’re after me.”

“What does Hunter want with you, after all? He killed your family, does he want to add you to the statistics too?”

He spoke to me in such a natural way, he genuinely seemed curious about the truth, but he kept a safe distance, as if wanting to respect my boundaries on the matter.

“Hunter’s mother, Lily, was my father’s mistress. Caspian found out everything and came up with his whole plan for revenge against my family for having his honor wounded. That’s why, before I escaped, Hunter told me he’d make me the pack’s prostitute, that I’d serve to satisfy the Eclipse males,” I revealed. Fenrir looked at me. “Now, I don’t know anymore if he still has those plans or if he just wants to kill me for escaping and living a life away from him, for ruining his plans.”

In the blink of an eye, he was in front of me. The golden gleam illuminating his gaze. He leaned in, aligning our faces.

“He’ll never lay a hand on you,” he stated, his voice thick and deep, half-human, half-animal.

My wolf purred, all pleased with his domination. My hairs stood on end as his magnetism hit me, as if pulling me toward him.

“If it’s up to me, never again,” I agreed.

He extended his hand and touched my face with his fingertips, caressing my cheek.

“I’m speaking for myself, little wolf,” he whispered, breathing warm air. “He’ll be dead before even thinking about it. No male will touch you. None.”

It seemed to waver, man and beast dueling within him, but both with the same objective at the moment: to keep Hunter and his threat to my life away from me.