Into the Alpha’s Keep Chapter 67: 67

The music pulsed through the night, a vibrant, infectious rhythm that spilled into the air, loud and full of life. It wove around the wolves as they danced near the towering bonfires, their movements fluid and carefree, shadows stretching and swaying across the earth.

The crackling flames cast a warm, flickering glow over the gathering, and the sharp, cleansing scent of burning eucalyptus hung thickly in the air, mingling with the rich, savory aroma of roasting meat.

The wolves tended to it with practiced ease, the promise of a hearty feast drawing laughter and chatter from the crowd.

The smells intertwined, earthy and primal, tugging at something deep within me, grounding me in the moment despite the chaos that lingered at the edges of my thoughts.

They all seemed so at ease, so unburdened, as if the world beyond this circle of light and warmth didn’t exist.

As if there weren’t males stationed at every kilometer of the borderland, their senses sharp and bodies tense, patrolling for threats that could descend upon us at any moment. As if there weren’t darker, more insidious dangers lurking just outside the reach of the firelight, waiting for a chance to strike.

Their laughter rang out, bright and unrestrained, and for a fleeting second, I envied their ability to let go, to surrender to the night without a backward glance.

I exhaled deeply, the breath shuddering out of me as I shook my head, trying to dislodge the shadow of Hunter from my mind. His name alone was a splinter, sharp and persistent, but I refused to let it pierce me—not tonight.

This moment was mine, a rare sliver of peace amidst the storm, and I wouldn’t let him taint it with his lies, his betrayal, his presence that still haunted me like a ghost I couldn’t banish.

I squared my shoulders, determination settling over me like armor, and felt the tightness in my chest begin to ease, a knot unraveling with each deliberate breath.

I lifted my face, the cool night air brushing against my skin, and let my gaze sweep across the gathering, searching for him. My eyes found Fenrir a few meters away, standing near one of the bonfires, its golden light painting him in hues of amber and shadow.

He was surrounded by a small group of males, their voices a low hum beneath the music as they spoke. He looked relaxed, hands tucked casually into his pants pockets, his posture loose in a way I rarely saw. A smile played on his lips and it transformed him, stripping away the weight he so often carried.

His eyes, illuminated by the dancing flames, sparkled with a warmth that seemed to reach across the distance between us, pulling me in despite myself.

I held my breath, caught off guard by the sudden rush of sensations that surged through me at the sight of him.

My heart kicked against my ribs, a wild, erratic rhythm I couldn’t tame. My breathing faltered, shallow and uneven, as if the air had thickened around me.

My throat tightened, a lump forming that I couldn’t swallow down, and my stomach churned with a restless, rebellious energy that made me feel both alive and unsteady.

I tried to ignore it, to push it aside, but the signs were unmistakable—familiar in a way that sent a jolt of recognition through me.

I had been in love once before, years ago, when I was younger and more naive. I knew exactly what these feelings meant, the way they crept up like a tide, overwhelming and relentless. And that knowledge terrified me, a fear so visceral I couldn’t even find the words to name it.

It wasn’t just the intensity of it, the way it threatened to consume me; it was the vulnerability it demanded, the risk it carried.

I had learned too early that the heart was a fragile, precious thing—far too valuable to be entrusted to just anyone.

One of the males in the group said something that made him laugh.

His head tilted back slightly, and the sound of his laugh rang out, cutting through the night like a melody. In that instant, he seemed so… young, so unburdened, a stark contrast to the Fenrir I knew—the alpha whose three hundred years of life had carved lines of authority and weariness into his presence.

This version of him was lighter, carefree, as if the weight of centuries had slipped from his shoulders for just a moment, revealing a man who could still find joy amidst the chaos.

It was disarming, and I found myself staring, captivated by the rare glimpse of him unshackled by duty.

Then, as if a thread had tugged at his instincts, his demeanor shifted.

His dark brows furrowed, a subtle crease forming between them, and a flicker of awareness sharpened his features. He swept the clearing with those piercing blue eyes, the motion deliberate yet almost unconscious, like a predator sensing a change in the wind.

I watched, heart thudding, as his gaze roamed—searching, seeking—until it landed on me.

Our eyes locked, and I swear I saw the silver flecks around his pupils flare, dancing like molten starlight in the fire’s glow.

The intensity of his stare pinned me in place, a silent force that stole the air from my lungs.

I lost my breath entirely, the world narrowing to the space between us.

It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck me, electrifying every nerve, and I stumbled back a step, overwhelmed by the sheer weight of his presence.

My body trembled under the impact, caught in a current I couldn’t escape. He didn’t look away—not for a second—and then one corner of his mouth lifted, curling into a half-smile that was both knowing and intimate.

His gaze held mine through the thick fringe of his dark lashes, focused and unwavering, as though he could see straight through to the marrow of my soul. That look—it was a quiet command, a pull I couldn’t resist, and it set my pulse racing wildly.

My body betrayed me, reacting with a will of its own.

Heat flooded my cheeks, my chest tightened, and a shiver raced down my spine, igniting every inch of me.

My hands clenched at my sides, fingers twitching with the urge to move—to reach out or pull away, I couldn’t tell. And Fenrir—he felt it all. I knew he did.

That invisible thread between us thrummed with every fleeting sensation, every erratic beat of my heart, and his smile widened, a slow, deliberate curve that told me he was savoring it.

The firelight played across his face, casting shadows that only sharpened the edges of his expression, and I was helpless against the inferno he’d sparked within me.

It was as if one of the bonfires roaring around us had leapt inside my chest, its flames licking at my ribs, consuming me from the inside out.

The heat was so fierce, so overwhelming, that I could barely blink, barely draw a breath, my entire being suspended in the blaze of that moment.

Then, abruptly, Marilyn stepped into my line of sight, her figure a sudden wall between me and Fenrir.

The spell shattered, and I blinked, dazed, as reality crashed back in.

"Hello, Marilyn," I greeted her, with a dry throat.

My body tensed, diminishing the intensity caused by the alpha’s gaze. My wolf reacted, making me slightly open my lips in a low growl.

It was a little risky for her to be so close to me when my wild side wanted to rip her head off. My self-control was nonexistent in the face of the deep, grotesque hatred I felt for the omega, a feeling that came from the depths of my soul.

"How do you feel?" she asked, her brown eyes glowing with genuine hatred.

I took a gulp of beer, moistening my throat, before answering.

"I’m not sure I understand..."

"Turning into the alpha’s bitch, used and soon to be discarded, just like so many others before you."

I felt Andrei take a step, getting closer to me. The atmosphere around us changed. Anton snorted, looking bored and irritated with her.

I drank another sip of my beer calmly, keeping my wild instincts under control. That’s what she wanted from me—a scandal, something that would make the Dăneşti, who had already started accepting me, hate me again.

But she wouldn’t get it. Not this time.

"Just like you?" I asked, blinking slowly.

Alexandra choked on a laugh, disguising it with a coughing fit, while Mihaela began downing all the shots of ţuică she had on the table. Anton and Andrei remained silent, as if waiting for any aggressive reaction to intervene. But they didn’t seem happy with the she-wolf being so close, much less with what was coming out of her mouth.

She had a certain... power over Fenrir, which made me hate her even more, as well as him. That’s why none of them intervened, fearing the alpha’s wrath. Marilyn had no boundaries, and she knew it, using it to take advantage of many situations, like now.

The muscle in the she-wolf’s slim jaw worked, and her gaze became narrowed.

"What did you say?" she whispered dangerously, too low.

She seemed as close to the edge as I was, about to leap for my throat. She wasn’t the same damn bitch, analytical and shrewd. The same one who had sabotaged me so many times, who made me fall into her cunning traps. Marilyn was... different, even uncontrolled.

I shrugged.

"You asked me how I feel, becoming a used bitch who will soon be discarded by the alpha..." I ran my tongue over my teeth. "I just want to know if that’s how you feel, since you’re in the same situation." I rubbed my thumb on my chin, pretending to ponder. "Actually, I’m still in the ‘used bitch’ phase, while you’re already in the ‘discarded’ phase. Can you explain how that feels? Maybe then I won’t be so... bewildered when it happens to me too," I mocked.

Someone whistled. Anton or Andrei, I couldn’t tell.

Marilyn let out a deep growl, and her eyes shone in a deep brown as she merged with her animal. Her fangs lengthened, her nails grew, and a thin layer of fur covered her skin.

I bristled, ready to fight.

She was much older than me, and perhaps much stronger, also more experienced, but not even that could make me waver or retreat. My pride screamed louder, and the anger consumed me.

She raised her arm, ready to strike her claws at my face and scratch my skin. Alexandra jumped to my side, pulling Mihaela and defending her beloved, while Anton and Andrei prepared to push her away from me. Each one, omegas and alphas, giving in to their wild instincts.

My eyes shone, the emerald green taking the tone of my irises. I felt the transformation happening in my body, just like it had with hers.

I would fight. Or die trying.