Alison’s POV
The late morning sun streamed through the window, its golden rays painting shifting patterns on the floor. Despite the warmth outside, I felt a chill creeping through me. My mind hadn’t stopped spinning since that argument with my father last week. The tension between us had settled into an uneasy silence, the kind that thickens the air and makes every glance loaded with unspoken words.
But I couldn’t stay cooped up in this house any longer. The walls felt like they were closing in, each one carrying the weight of promises I never agreed to. I needed air, an escape, something to remind me that my life was still mine to live.
Grabbing a light jacket, I made my way to the door. Just as my hand touched the knob, my father’s voice cut through the quiet like a blade.
“Maureen, Where are you going?” His tone was sharp, though the weariness behind it softened the edges.
I froze, exhaling sharply before turning around. “I need some space. I’m just taking a walk through the pack. Is that also going to be a problem?”
His dark eyes narrowed, scanning me as if he could unearth the truth behind my words. “Please not without guards,” he stated firmly.
“Seriously?” I folded my arms, my patience fraying. “I don’t need babysitters.”
“You’ve barely spoken to me in a week, Darling,” he countered, his voice laced with frustration. “The least you can do is let me ensure your safety. It’s not negotiable.”
I clenched my jaw, the urge to argue simmering beneath my skin, but I knew it would be a losing battle. “Fine. One guard, no more,” I insisted
“Two guards, please” he pleaded making me look at his face to see the plea in his eyes
“Okay, but they listen to me” I relented, turning on my heel before he could change the terms.
As I approached the gate, the sight of two men trailing behind me confirmed my suspicions. Great. Babysitters in tow. Ignoring their presence, I focused on the path ahead, my steps leading me into the heart of the pack.
The pack was alive with activity, the hum of daily life vibrating through the air. To my surprise, the gazes that followed me weren’t filled with suspicion or judgment, like one I had received the first week of my arrival at Night fang, this one was filled with warmth. Smiles greeted me at every turn, accompanied by polite nods and murmured greetings.
I couldn’t help but feel a small spark of hope. Maybe they weren’t holding my disappearance too hard after all. Maybe there was still a place for me here.
Lost in thought, I didn’t notice the young woman until she collided with me, stumbling backward with a soft gasp.
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” she exclaimed, her hands fumbling in the air as if searching for something solid to anchor herself.
I caught her by the arm, steadying her. “It’s okay. Are you alright?”
She nodded quickly, though her pale eyes didn’t quite meet mine. That’s when it hit me.. From her hand movements… she was blind.
“Here, Let me help you,” I said gently.
“Ohh no… I’m… I’m fine,” she stammered, trying to pull away.
Ignoring her protest I still held her up then I asked, “What’s your name?”
“I’m Simone and you?,” she replied hesitantly.
“Nice to meet you, Simone. I’m Alison,” I said, not wanting to tell her my initial name as she would recognize me immediately, offering a smile she couldn’t see but hopefully could feel. “Where is Simone heading?”
She hesitated, then admitted, “Home”
“Then let me walk you there. No arguments.” I gestured to the guards, who stepped forward to assist.
Simone led us through winding paths until we reached a modest cottage on the edge of the pack lands. The exterior was worn but tidy, a reflection of someone doing their best with limited resources.
As we stepped inside, I took in the sparse furnishings and the faint scent of lavender that filled the air. “You live here all alone?” I asked, unable to hide the concern in my voice.
She nodded, her hands wringing nervously. “I’ve been managing since my parents…well, since the raid years ago. They didn’t make it. And I’ve been blind since birth, so…” She trailed off, her words heavy with unspoken struggles.
My chest tightened. “You’ve been doing this all by yourself?”
“I don’t have much of a choice,” she said with a small, bitter laugh.
“That’s incredible, Simone,” I said softly, my admiration genuine. “But you shouldn’t have to do it alone, now you have a new friend who will help you.”
Her head tilted, a mix of curiosity and disbelief crossing her features.
“I’ll be back tomorrow,” I promised. “And we’ll figure something out, for now let me prepare some food for you so you can have a little rest for the day.”
With that I stood up and dashed into the small hut kitchen seeing more of rice and limited resources, with what was available I made her a little food and as she ate she gisted me about the pack and I couldn’t help but wonder how she feels in. Her condition, hearing these but not seeing any.
The walk back home was quieter, the weight of Simone’s story kept pressing on my mind. As I passed the pack members, their smiles felt different now like pieces of a puzzle I was just beginning to understand. If Simone had been overlooked, how many others were silently struggling, unseen and unheard?
By the time I reached my room, my thoughts were racing. I needed to do something. But what? And how?
My phone buzzed, pulling me from my reverie. Xander’s name lit up the screen, and a genuine smile broke through the storm cloud of my thoughts.
“Hey, you,” I answered, my voice softening instinctively.
“Alison,” he replied, his deep voice wrapping around my name like a warm embrace. “How’s my favorite troublemaker?”
I laughed, the sound surprising even me. “Surviving. Barely. You won’t believe the day I’ve had.”
“Try me,” he challenged, amusement lacing his tone.
I launched into the story, telling him about Simone and the pack. He listened intently, his occasional hums and murmurs of agreement reminding me how much I valued these moments of connection.
“She sounds incredible,” he said when I finished.
“She is,” I agreed. “I just… I want to help her, you know? Make things better for her and others like her.”
“You’ll figure it out,” he said confidently. “You always do.”
His faith in me sent a warmth coursing through my chest. For a moment, the world felt a little less overwhelming.
“I wish you were here,” I admitted softly.
“Me too,” he replied, his voice a whisper of longing.
We said our goodbyes, and as the call ended, I felt a flicker of determination reignite within me. I wasn’t alone in this.
The phone rang again just as I was undressing, pulling me back into the moment. Smiling, I answered without checking the caller ID. “Hey, babe. Did you forget something?”
The voice that answered wasn’t Xander’s.
“I love the sound of that,” Felix drawled, his tone slick with amusement.
My stomach turned as I yanked the phone away, staring at the unregistered number. Slowly, I brought it back to my ear. “What the hell do you want?”
“To ask you out on a date,” he said casually, as if we were old friends.
“Not a chance,” I snapped.
His tone shifted, dropping into something cold and dangerous. “You wouldn’t want your pretty pack to suffer another raid, would you?”
The words sent an icy shiver down my spine. My fingers tightened around the phone, my breath hitching.
“You wouldn’t,” I said, though my voice wavered.
“Try me,” he replied, his smugness infuriating.
After a long pause, I gritted out, “Fine. But it’ll be here, in my pack.”
“Deal,” he said smoothly.
The call ended, leaving me standing in the middle of my room, the phone clutched tightly in my hand. Something about Felix felt wrong-more than wrong. Dangerous. Calculated.
Whatever his game was, I was going to find out. But first, I needed to make sure Xander didn’t get dragged into this. Not yet.
Not until I had answers.