Chapter 27: The calm before the storm

Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Calm Before the Storm

The kiss had left Ava breathless, her heart racing inside her chest. As the moonlight bathed them both in its soft glow, the weight of the Bloodstone seemed to grow heavier, its presence a constant beneath the surface of their connection. But in that moment, when Damien's hands were still gently cupping her face and his eyes held a promise she hadn't known she needed, Ava felt a fleeting sense of peace. It was as if time itself had stopped.

She allowed herself, for one brief second, to forget it all: the ancient pact, the looming threat, the fears that had gnawed at her since she first laid eyes on the Bloodstone. She didn't have all the answers, but Damien's touch, his unspoken words, and the intensity of the kiss told her one thing-she wasn't facing this alone. And somehow, that made everything feel just a little more manageable.

When they finally pulled away, their breaths mingling in the cool night air, Damien held her gaze, his expression serious. "Are you okay?"

Ava nodded, even though part of her wasn't so sure. "I don't know. But I'm not running away from this. Not from you.

A flicker of something dark crossed over Damien's features, his jaw clenching slightly. "Good. Because we can't afford to run now. We've crossed a line, Ava. And there's no going back.

The words struck a chord within her, and for a brief moment, the truth of their situation sank in deeper: Kieran, the pact, the Bloodstone-they were all so big, bigger than she could have ever imagined. But Damien was right; they couldn't run. Not now. Not when the stakes were this high.

"I'm with you," she said firmly, her voice steady even though her heart was still racing. "Whatever happens, I'm with you."

Damien's lips curled into a faint smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. He looked over her shoulder, as if scanning the distance. "We should head back. The pack's waiting for us."

They walked back to camp in silence, the events of the night weighing down on them both. Ava's mind was awhirl with thoughts and emotion, but one thing was undeniable: she couldn't reject the growing connection between herself and Damien. It had been as if the universe itself had conspired against them, bringing them together despite the fact that it seemed to tear everything she knew apart.

As they approached the clearing where the pack had set up camp, Ava could feel the eyes of the pack members on them. The air seemed to thicken with tension, and she sensed that something was off. It was more than just the usual unease of being around wolves. There was a palpable sense of anticipation, as though everyone was waiting for something to happen.

Damien, too, appeared a little on edge, his posture taut and his eyes cruising the camp with a watchful wariness. Ava could sense it in him-the change in his energy, the instinctive alertness that came with being surrounded by others-wolves who might be loyal but were also unpredictable.

"Stay close," he whispered, the tips of his fingers grazing hers for a brief second.

Ava nodded, her heart skipping at the simple contact. All that had happened, the danger they were facing-together, it was those moments-small, intimate gestures-which reminded her of what she had with Damien, something raw, something real.

As they entered the camp, a few of the wolves nodded respectfully at Damien, but most eyed him warily and kept their distance. Ava could feel the tension between them. Whispers lingered in the air, quiet conversations that ceased the moment Damien approached.

It was then that she saw her—Isla.

Isla's eyes, from across the campfire, stared hard into hers, unreadable. She stood with a pack of wolves, her body stiff, her arms crossed over her chest. When her gaze flickered back to Damien, Ava could see how her lips pressed into a thin line.

Ava's stomach twisted. There was no mistaking the hostility in Isla's eyes. It was as if the air around her had shifted, and in that instant, Ava knew what Kieran had meant when he spoke of enemies within the pack.

Isla hated her.

And it wasn't just a passing feeling—it was something deep, something that ran far beyond jealousy. Ava had always sensed that Isla's interest in Damien was more than just a pack loyalty. There was something more personal behind her cold stares, the way she always seemed to be lurking nearby, watching.

Damien must have noticed her, too, because he tensed, his eyes narrowing as he glanced toward Isla. Ava's heart sank as she realized Isla's hatred for her wasn't just because of rivalry. It ran deeper than that.

She didn't want to believe it, but the way Isla's eyes glowed with something darker told her that Isla might see Ava as a threat to more than just Damien's affections. She could be a threat to the pack.

Before Ava could say anything, Damien stepped forward, his voice low but commanding. "Isla. We need to talk.

Isla's gaze flicked to him, a tight smile curling her lips, one that never reached her eyes. "Oh, I'm sure we do. But it's not the right time for you to explain yourself, Alpha.

The bite in her tone was unmistakable, and Ava could feel the temperature of the camp drop. The pack was watching now, their curiosity piqued by the tension between their Alpha and one of the most powerful members of the pack.

"I'm not here to explain myself," Damien replied, his voice firm. "I'm here to make sure we're all on the same page."

Isla's smile faltered, but she didn't back down. Instead, her gaze cut to Ava, the venom in her eyes undeniable. "Then perhaps you should start with her."

Ava stiffened, but before she could respond, Damien placed a hand on her shoulder, a silent reassurance that, despite the growing tension, they were in this together.

But as Isla's icy gaze locked on her once more, Ava couldn't help but speculate on what this would really mean for their future -for her and Damien and everything still to come.