Freya’s POV
The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. Freja paced restlessly back and forth, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she let out an exasperated sigh for what had to be the tenth time in the past few minutes. The frustration in her eyes was impossible to ignore.
“Where the hell is Steven?!” she snapped, her voice laced with barely contained anger. Each step she took on the wooden floor echoed throughout the room, adding to the growing tension.
I had been leaning against the wall, my arms crossed as I turned towards Liam, who had been standing silent beside me. His face wasn’t different from its usual impassive look, but somehow, his posture seemed to relay a tinge of guiltiness. My eyebrows furrowed as I turned toward him.
“Are you absolutely sure you told him that Maya escaped?” I asked, making sure my voice was firm, yet not blaming. This really wasn’t a mistake Steven would make, and I needed to make sure this wasn’t just some sort of misunderstanding.
Liam nodded slowly, with a clench of his jaw. “I did,” Liam said seriously, “I really did, right on cue like I was expected to, only. ” his voice caught then, and the young man absently rubbed at the back of his neck trying to find exactly what he should say. Lastly, he expelled a breath of air and a shake of head. “Just didn’t show much interest or anything.”
Freja let out another sharp sigh this time, throwing her hands up in pure frustration. “What the hell could possibly be more important to Steven than the safety of his own pack?!” she demanded, her eyebrows knitting together as she glared toward the entrance like she expected him to walk in at any moment with a valid excuse.
Just then, Roy walked in, his face hard with exhaustion. The weariness in his eyes twisted my stomach uncomfortably. Things were getting worse by the day.
“We got the wolves to scatter,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “But they’re all scared. It’s happening too frequently now, and the pack is on a hairpin edge. They need their Alpha for reassurance.” His tone relayed what wasn’t said-we were running out of time.
Steven should have been here. He should have been the one handling this. But instead, he had disappeared, leaving us all to deal with the mess.
“He just left like that?” I asked, still trying to make sense of the situation. “Didn’t he say anything at all before he went off?”
Liam let out a sharp exhalation; his face was troubled. “He did,” he said. “The only thing he asked me was where Luna was, and when I told him she left the mansion at dusk, he just sped off without another word.”
The room fell silent.
I exchanged a look with Freja and Roy, a sinking feeling settling deep in my gut. Steven wasn’t the type to simply abandon his responsibilities-especially not when his pack was in danger. But how impulsive he had been over Luna’s whereabouts was surely an indication of where his priorities lay at that moment.
“Well, let’s just wait for him,” I finally said, trying to keep things from getting any worse. “I am sure he will be back soon.”
None disagreed, though the tension persisted, thick in the air.
We sat in silence, waiting for any sign of him. The minutes ticked by, and it felt like hours until the sound of a car engine roared outside. My heart leaped in relief, and I immediately sprang to my feet.
“Knew he’d be back,” I said with a smirk, glancing at Freja, who looked far from happy.
A second later, the front door swung open, and in walked Steven, Luna right beside him, looking a little exhausted but otherwise unharmed.
The moment Freja saw them, she didn’t waste any time. “Where the hell have you two been?!” she snapped, her tone sharp and commanding.
Steven raised an eyebrow and gave her a glance that said she was overreacting. “Is there a problem?” he asked calmly, almost detached.
I felt my frustration bubble again. “What? Didn’t Liam tell you that Maya ran away? And that some wolves got killed by the demon wolf?” I asked, searching his face for some kind of reaction, some hint of the concern he should have shown.
“Oh.” Steven blinked, as if just remembering the information. “Liam did mention Maya’s escape, but. I actually forgot about it.”
Silence.
Freja stared at him in incredulity, her jaw dropping slightly before she let out a dry laugh. “You forgot?! You actually forgot?!” she repeated, amazed. “Wow. That’s just incredible.”
I let out a slow breath, unsure of how I even felt at this moment. My emotions were tangled between frustration and something else-something unexpected. Without even realizing what I was doing, I stepped forward and suddenly wrapped my arms around him in a hug.
“We always complain about how reckless and overzealous you are,” I murmured, feeling the rise of his body heat against mine. “And now, for the first time ever, you slacked off and got distracted. I have no idea what the right emotion is for this moment, but honestly? I’m so damn proud of you.”
“Freya!” Freja exclaimed, shock lacing her tone. “How can you be proud of him for ignoring his pack’s problems?!”
I sat back a little, watching in amusement as the look of shock crossed her features. “Oh, come on, Freja. Just say it out loud-you’re glad to. Our brother is finally changing.”
Freja opened her mouth to try and argue further, but for once, no words tumbled out.
Luna, who had been standing wordlessly next to Steven, suddenly spoke up in a soft yet firm tone. “I need to go upstairs. I’m tired,” she said, turning toward the staircase and making her way up without another word.
Freja tried again. “Steven, what….”
“I’ll be back,” Steven cut in, already following Luna before she could get the sentence out.
The instant he disappeared upstairs, Freja turned to me, her mouth still slightly agape in shock.
“Did I just see that right?” she asked slowly, like she couldn’t believe her eyes.
I was just as shocked, my mind still trying to wrap itself around what had just happened. I turned to Liam, seeking some sort of confirmation. “Liam, did you see that?!”
Liam still sat staring up the stairs, his face frozen in an incredulous expression. “I’m still trying to work out if this is reality or not,” he admitted.
A slow grin oozed across my lips as realization settled in. “Freja, we should throw a party,” I teased, nudging her playfully. “Seems the goddess is finally answering our prayers.”
Freja blinked a few times before shaking her head, at a complete loss for words. Liam chuckled low in his throat, still more than a little dazed by the turn of events.
Maybe, just maybe, things were finally beginning to change.
******
Ashley’s POV
I entered the room; my eyes started to scan in a habitual fashion, taking in the familiar view. The atmosphere in the house was heavier, as if the weight of the events that happened had been withheld by the very walls. Slowly, I exhaled before shutting my eyes to will my mind and body to push the tide of memories that was starting to hurtfully well up.
Let’s just forget it, Ashley. Let’s not hold on to that night. It wasn’t Steven’s fault. I was the one who made him drink, and he lost control because of it. It was my mistake too. It wasn’t intentional. So, let’s just bury it in the past where it belongs.
I bunched up my fists to my sides as an uneasy feeling slowly crawled its way up my spine. The voice of a deep tone, however, was enough to shatter the dead silence and plunge me into wakefulness.
“Are you alright, Luna?” Steven’s voice came from behind me.
I gasped and opened my eyes, swinging to face him. My heart still raced with the suddenness.
“Yes-Yes, I’m. I’m fine,” I stammered, fighting for composure. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to discuss the escape of Maya with Liam and your sisters?”
He stood there, his face unreadable, and replied, “I just. wanted to make sure you’re fine.”
I couldn’t help it. A surprised laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it.
“Is something funny?” he asked, furrowing his brow slightly in confusion.
“Your joke is very funny,” I chuckled, shaking my head.
His confusion deepened. “What joke?” he asked, genuinely clueless.
That was when I realized-he wasn’t teasing. My laughter died, and I stared at him, trying to get a grasp on the situation.
“Oh, you. you were serious?” I asked again, softer this time. “You really followed me up to see if I’m okay?”
“Why else would I have followed you up here?” he said, neutral, but there was something in his eyes that I couldn’t place.
I had opened my mouth, then decided to close it, unsure of how to respond to him because he had never once bothered. It was off his character, really; really, I barely believed it.
“Oh. Well, I’m. I’m fine. Thank you,” I said much softer than I had previously mentioned, still absorbing this abnormal change in him.
“Get some rest,” he said, his gaze lingering on me for a brief moment before he turned toward the door. “I’ll be back later.”
I nodded wordlessly, my eyes following his every move as he walked out. The door clicked shut behind him, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
What. just happened?
Whatever happened to the cold-hearted, ruthless Steven I knew? The man who never cared for anything or anyone? Why was he suddenly acting like this?
I shook my head and exhaled heavily. I have no strength to care about that now. I am so tired.
With that thought still in my head, I slumped onto the bed, letting exhaustion overtake me.