Chapter 11: The calm before the storm

Chapter Eleven: The Calm Before the Storm

The following days were a strange limbo, a moment in time that hung suspended, with time appearing to slow down, yet Ava could feel the intensity growing in the air around them. Damien was quieter than usual, lost in his thoughts, and though he was still present, there was a distance between them that hadn't been there before. It wasn't just Isabella's arrival that had unsettled him; it was something more, something Ava couldn't quite understand.

She had tried to press him about Isabella's past, about their relationship, but Damien had given her nothing but evasive answers, setting aside her questions with a wave or a change of subject. It frustrated her, and the more he pushed her away, the more she felt the need to understand what was really going on. The dangerous silence between them was becoming suffocating.

She had always prided herself on being able to handle things on her own, but now she realized that she couldn't navigate this world without knowing more about Damien's past—and more about the woman who seemed to haunt his every move.

One evening, after a long day of silence and tension, Damien had excused himself, claiming he needed to clear his head. Ava didn't argue; she knew he needed space, but she also knew that if she was going to be a part of his life, she had to be stronger. She just couldn't sit idly by and let the situation control them.

And so, she found herself at the front door of the cabin that night, determination in her chest and a storm of emotions swirling inside her. She needed answers. No more hesitation. She couldn't just wait for things to happen to her.

He had made it crystal clear that she wasn't to be involved in the pack's politics, that it wasn't her fight. But she wasn't about to leave him to bear the weight of it all alone-not after everything they'd been through.

The coolness of the night air seemed to be enveloped by the heaviness that lingered between them until she felt herself gasping for breath. She could feel it, the storm brewing. These rogue attacks were only the beginning, a warning of what was still to come. And if she was going to stay by his side, she had to be ready to take on whatever would come her way.

The forest was eerily still around the cabin as Ava stepped out into the soft earth that silenced her footsteps. It was as if she had just stepped into the eye of a hurricane, waiting for the storm to break loose.

As she walked, she thought about Isabella and the way she had looked at her-like a predator sizing up its prey. There was no heat in her eyes, only cold calculation. Ava wasn't one to ever feel intimidated by another woman, but there was just something so different about Isabella. She wasn't trying to take Damien away from her but, rather, she was attempting to take everything: control, the pack, the future, her place in his life.

Her mind was racing when a rustling sound from behind her made her stop in her tracks. She spun around, her heart in her throat, but saw nothing. The forest was empty, the shadows stretching long in the moonlight.

But something felt off.

Ava's instincts told her to move, to get back to the cabin, but before she could take another step, a voice called out from the darkness.

"Ava."

She froze.

The voice was soft, familiar-but not Damien's.

Turning slowly, Ava's breath caught as a figure emerged from the shadows. It was a man-tall, with piercing blue eyes and a sharp, angular face. He was dressed in black, his posture confident, almost too controlled. But it was the smile on his lips that made Ava's heart race in fear.

"You're the human who's caught Damien's attention," he said, his voice low and mocking. "Interesting."

Ava's breath caught in her throat. "Who are you?"

The man moved closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "I'm just someone who's been watching." He smiled again, and this time, it was more predator-like, wolfish even, as though he could envision her being his next meal. "You are not from this world, Ava. You're not supposed to be here. And most certainly, you are not supposed to be with him."

A shiver ran down Ava's spine. "What do you want?

The man's smile spread, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I want to see how long you can survive in this world before you realize you're out of your depth. Damien might be the alpha, but even he can't protect you from everything.

Ava's heart raced as the weight of his words settled in her chest. She had known from the beginning that being with Damien would come with risks, but this—this was different. This wasn't just a threat to her safety. It was a warning. A message that she wasn't welcome in Damien's world.

"I'm not going anywhere," she said, her voice more defiant than she felt. "You can't scare me."

The man's eyes sparkled with amusement, his expression suggesting her words were no more than a passing curiosity. "We'll see how long that lasts." He paused, his gaze darkening. "I would hate for something to happen to you. But I suppose if you're determined to stay, you'll just have to learn the hard way.

With one last look, the man turned and disappeared into the darkness, his presence lingering like a shadow.

Ava stood frozen, her pulse pounding in her ears. She knew she had to go back to the cabin. Damien needed to know what had just happened, but at the same time, she couldn't.

Chapter Eleven: The Calm Before the Storm (Continued)

Ava breathed in and out in smooth, hulking gusts while edging forward to the side of the cabin as her gaze tarried in a stare with the line of trees. Something is alive in the air-an unsavory stillness as if everything around her waited for an action to unfold. The moon above was merely a thin curve, dripping latticework across the meadow.

She glanced over her shoulder, half expecting Damien to appear behind her, his disapproving gaze stopping her in her tracks. But there was no sound, no movement from the cabin. She was alone.

Alone with her thoughts, and the questions gnawing at her since Isabella's visit.

What had Damien seen in her? Why had Isabella come back into the picture after all this time? And most importantly-what was she going to do about it?

Ava's fingers clenched around the strap of her bag as she made her decision. She was going to confront Isabella, find out what she wanted, and do whatever it took to prove she wasn't just a distraction.

But no sooner had she stepped forward than a sudden rustling behind her broke the stillness. Ava froze, her heart pounding in her chest. She hadn't expected anyone to be around. Her mind was racing, but before she could do anything, Damien's voice called out to her.

"Ava."

She turned quickly, her heart skipping a beat as she saw him standing at the door of the cabin, watching her with an unreadable expression. His eyes narrowed slightly, his body tense.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked, his voice softer than usual, but still carrying an edge of concern.

Ava hesitated, taking a step back toward the cabin. Her plan, her need for answers, suddenly felt more vulnerable now that Damien was there. But she couldn't back down. Not now.

"I. I needed to think," she said, her voice a little unsteady. "There's too much going on, Damien. I need to understand what's happening. Why Isabella came here. Why you're so distant all of a sudden.

Damien's face hardened at the mention of Isabella, but he didn't look away. He seemed to wrestle with something, a battle that Ava could almost feel in the air between them.

"Ava," he said slowly, his voice strained, "I don't want you involved in this. It's dangerous. Isabella isn't just some—"

"I'm not some helpless human who needs to be shielded from reality!" Ava interrupted, her frustration bubbling over. "You keep treating me like I don't belong here, like I can't handle this. But I'm with you, Damien. I'm not going anywhere."

The words hung between them, heavy and real. She could see the conflict in Damien's eyes, the battle between keeping her safe and letting her stand by his side.

Damien stepped closer, his expression softening, though his eyes were still shadowed with uncertainty. "You don't understand what you're getting into. Isabella… she's a complication. One that I can't just ignore.

Ava inhaled deeply, grounding herself. "She's not just a complication, Damien. She's someone who's trying to take everything from you-from us. And I am not going to just stand and allow it."

Damien briefly closed his eyes as though the weight of her words was too much for him to take. When he opened them once more, they showed raw vulnerability, fear, and some unspoken plea to be understood.

"You're right," he said in a low, cracked voice, as if the confession itself had been torn from his throat. "But I cannot let you get hurt because of me. Because of what I am."

Ava's heart ached as she moved toward him, her fingers brushing against his chest. "Damien, I'm not afraid of what you are. I'm afraid of losing you. Of watching you carry all of this on your own."

His gaze softened, his hand moving to cup her face gently. "I never wanted you to be caught in this world. I never wanted you to be in danger because of me."

She leaned into his touch, her heart pounding in her chest. "But I am in this world now. And I'm not going anywhere.

Damien's lips parted as though he would say more, but just then a noise cut through the tension-shuffling footsteps emerging from the forest, followed by unmistakable low growls. Ava tensed; some instinctive reaction was turned on inside her.

Damien's eyes hardened, focusing on the trees as his stance shifted, his senses on full alert. "Stay behind me," he ordered, voice low and commanding.

But Ava didn't move. She couldn't. Not when the threat was so close, not when she knew that whatever was lurking out there was not something she could ignore. Her hand instinctively reached for the small knife Damien had given her when they first began this journey together. It wasn't much, but it was enough for defense. She wasn't going to be helpless.

Damien turned to her, his eyes darting between concern and approval. "I told you to stay behind me."

Ava's eyes met his, unflinching. "I can fight too, Damien. I'm not going to hide.

For one instant, the tension between them cracked, and Damien nodded once-a silent acknowledgment of the strength she had shown. The noise in the distance started getting louder, and whatever the threat was out there made it real that they didn't have much time.

I don't have time to explain it all now," Damien said, his voice tight with urgency. "But trust me, Ava. It's not just a rogue pack. There's something much worse going on."

Before Ava could respond, the first figure emerged from the trees. A lone figure, tall and broad-shouldered, dressed in dark clothing, his eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight.

Damien," he growled, his voice filled with pure malice. "You've made a mistake. You can't protect her forever."

Ava felt her stomach lurch inside her, and she tightened the grip on the knife. The cold fire danced in his eyes as Ava looked toward Damien.

"This isn't over," Damien muttered, once again shift

ing to stand before her in preparation for whatever was to come.