Chapter Fourteen

The pack

I watch as the moon appears, casting white beams through the tree branches that reach the sky. The spotlight drew attention to every problem in my thick head. I should have been focused on the pack and our plans, but all I could think about was her. Saturn. 

"Alpha, are you ready?" A voice interrupted my daydreams. And I knew Chhaya could see how distracted I had been, even though I had already told her everything was fine. Over and over again. She moved forward. She checked my expression for any signs of pain. I know she wondered if I was mad at her.

"Yeah, just a moment," I replied, forcing my mind to shift back to my duties, my job as alpha. 

"What's the plan for tonight?" 

"We stick to the plans and keep an eye out for any intruders."

It's been so quiet lately," Chhaya said, her tone scared. I could sense the tension rising among the pack. They felt the pressure more than ever. We needed to remain vigilant. In their eyes, Saturn wasn't the only threat. She must belong to a group of some sort. I think so too. 

As I nodded, I tried to keep my focus. I was everywhere. My brain here and there. I struggle with my daily tasks. I wasn't worried about the girl. Well, not in the way they were thinking. Every time I closed my eyes, I could see Saturn's stoned face and hear her whimper as if it were echoing in my ears. 

"Alpha, are you sure you're okay?" Chhaya asked gently. Her eyes watched me with concern. 

"I said I'm fine," I snapped, but as soon as the words left my mouth, I felt a wave of guilt. Chhaya was only looking out for me, and here I was, pushing her away. Like always, hurting her was the last thing I wanted to do.

"Look, I'm sorry," I softened my tone. "It's just... there's a lot on my mind." 

"Is it the girl?" she asked, her lips furrowing. I hesitated, the truth hanging in the air like a deep white fog. 

"It's complicated." 

"Do you think she's a threat? To the pack? To us?" Chhaya's voice turned crazy again, her worried side showing. 

"I don't know," I admitted, running a hand through my hair.

"I can't shake the feeling that she's connected to something far bigger than us. And that worries me." She looked down at the ground. I knew what she was implying.

"Then we protect our pack. We keep her at a far until we know more." I nodded, appreciating her loyalty. I tried to keep her believing the girl wasn't my mate.

"You're right. We need to stand as one pack, no matter what happens." 

As the night deepened, I gathered the pack, their faces shone in the moonlight glow. Each of them carried their problems and pain. Together, we could beat any war. We moved as one through the dark forest, with a shared determination. As we patrolled the area, my mind kept going back to Saturn. I could feel my wolf stirring, restless, and wanted to break free, to reach her. I had to remind myself she wasn't mine, and I had to understand that. But what if she was more than that? What if fate had other plans for us? But Chhaya? She would be heartbroken. And I did have feelings for her. Strong ones too.

"Alpha!" Atohi's sudden shout startled me, breaking my thoughts lost in feelings, startling me. "We've got movement up ahead!" I snapped back to reality with werewolf adrenaline pumping through my veins. 

The focus shifted immediately as we prepared for a potential fight. Whatever was coming our way, I knew one thing for sure, I had to protect my pack, no matter the cost. And if Saturn were somehow tied to this, I would have to confront my feelings head-on for better or worse.