charter 104 Change
Chapter 195 Changes
TESSA
Arden <b>cleared </b>her throat. “It’s only gotten better because Cade and the Alphas of the different factions are <b>controlling </b>it <b>within </b>our borders. But even then, it’s so difficult. We thought <b>it </b>was over, for <b>the </b>past year. <b>but </b><b>they </b>recently came back, and now they’re harder to control–not only because of their <b>number </b>but because of their <b>traits</b>.”
“<b>Traits</b>?<b>” </b><b>I </b><b>asked</b>, frowning.
Arden sighed, her shoulders drooping. “I can’t exin it. It’s like the rogues are<i>… </i>evolving.
<b>I </b>bit my lip, my thoughts immediately running wild. Rogues evolving? That wasn’t something I’d <b>ever </b>heard before, not even in the old books I found in Edith and Winston’s ce<b>. </b>
Evolving meant adapting, surviving longer, and bing more dangerous. I didn’t like the sound of <b>that</b>. I lifted the ss to my lips and drowned another gulp, letting the sweet taste coat my tongue.
Then Arden shook her head, trying to dismiss her own words. “But don’t think too much about <i>it</i>,” she said softly. “If you’re with a pack not from here, then I hope you have it better. You’re wee here any <b>time</b><b>, </b>though.”
Her voice dipped at the end, almost sad, and I turned my eyes to her, my chest twisting with guilt.
I pursed my lips. A part of me wanted to tell her that maybe we weren’t as safe as she thought either–<i>that </i>our hunters might already be experiencing those very same rogues. Encounters had been happening more often, whispers shared in the halls of my current pack,
But of course, I couldn’t say that out loud. That would mean admitting we were breaching their forests<b>, </b>trespassing in territories we had no right to enter. And Arden didn’t deserve another betrayal.
I sipped another of my drinks again instead, letting the liquid burn slightly as it went down. Arden looked stressed, the furrow of her brow deepening. She shouldn’t be stressed on her wedding day! My lips parted before I could stop them.
“Do you have any ns to have children?” I asked, trying to change the topic to children because I knew she loved them.
Her face paled instantly.
Oh crap.
I froze. Did I say something wrong? My brain scrambled, heat rushing to my cheeks.
Arden scratched at her arms, gaze/casting downward. “We’ve actually been trying,” she admitted quietly. “But… I don’t know. It doesn’t seem to be working.”
My stomach dropped.
I pursed my lips, guilt hitting me in waves. Why did I ask that? Why couldn’t I just keep my mouth shut? I made it worse, didn’t I? The one thing she didn’t need tonight was another reminder of what she couldn’t control.
Chapter <b>195 </b><b>Changes </b>
I <b>reached </b>over instinctively and wrapped my fingers around hers, squeezing gently. “No maner what, Fin <b>here</b>. I whispered, meaning every single word.
I’ll <b>give </b>you my new number. <b>I </b>promise to be here even if I’m not physically here. <b>You’re </b><b>perfect </b><b>the </b>way
<b>you </b>are.
Her lips curved into a small smile, and for a second, I thought maybe I had managed to undo <b>at </b>least <b>part </b>of the damage. Still, the guilt wouldn’t let go of me. I should have known better.
I turned back to my ss, desperate for something to do with my hands. That’s when I noticed how <b>many </b>empty ones sat in front of me. One, two, three, four, five, six… my brows rose.
Crap. That exined the slight tipsiness buzzing under my skin, the warmth spreading down to my fingers.
And yet, I still lifted the ss to my lips again.
I couldn’t go home.
That was the simple truth. The sun had already dipped beneath the horizon, and though the moonlight gave our kind some guidance, the idea of trudging back on my own left a sour taste in my mouth.
Winston couldn’t fetch me either–it was already too dark, and I refused to put him at risk. Even with werewolf senses and vision, I couldn’t convince myself it was worth troubling him for.
Luckily, Owen gave me a duplicate of his house keys during hisst visit. His nonchnt “Just use <i>it </i><i>if </i>you need to crash” still rang in my ears.
I’dughed it off at the time, but right now it was sounding like the most logical option. The alternative was making the journey to the East and swimming through the night.
Doable, sure–but tiring. Frankly, after the amount I’d already had to drink, it wasn’t exactly ideal.
So, going to Owen’s was the best option. I even had clearance from Elias already; the guards would recognize me.
I was fastening my jacket, mentally debating which route I’d take, when the shift in the air prickled at the back of my neck. Another presence. My breath hitched instinctively.
For a heartbeat, I feared it might be Rowan. My pulse quickened, but then I realized there were no sparks. Relief spread through me like water seeping into dry soil. Whoever it was, it wasn’t him.
However, the person behind me right now wasn’t any better.
It was Zaria.
My shoulders stiffened.
“Come with me,” she said tly, before I could even open my mouth. Her fingers wrapped around my wrist, and she tugged me toward the treeline.
Chapter 196 Changes
I should’ve resisted. <b>My </b>instincts screamed that nothing good ever <b>came </b><b>from </b>following Zaria mnie th shadows. Still<b>, </b>I let <b>her </b><b>drag </b><b>me </b>into the <b>woods</b>.
<b>We </b><b>stopped </b>beneath a rowering tree, where the canopy blocked even the starlight, <b>and </b>she <b>finally </b>whirle
on <b>me</b>.
“What are you doing here?” she snapped.
<b>“</b><b>I </b><b>was </b>invited,” I answered coolly.
Zaria bit her lip, and her jaw tightened. “Oh, so just because you’re close with Arden, you think you <b>belong </b>here?”
“I am close with Arden.” I let my lips curve into an innocent smile, even tilting my head yfully. <b>“</b>Best friends, actually.”
The muscle in her cheek twitched. I leaned in, whispering. “Why? Jealous?”
Her eyes narrowed.
And then I went for the jugr. “You’ve always wanted to befriend the pretty, kind ones. The ones everyone gravitates toward. Not because you actually care, but so you can manipte them–and, through them, the ones who love them. That’s who you are, Zaria. But in the end, they all became my friends.”
Her nostrils red.
Before I could blink, her handshed out toward my face.
But I wasn’t the same girl she used to bully. I wasn’t the younger sister who flinched and cowered. I caught her wrist mid–air. My palm pressed into her skin until I felt her bones under my fingers.
Her eyes widened. Shock flickered across her face.
I smirked.
“You think you’re tough now?” she hissed. Her voice cracked on the edges. “You’re still the same, Tessa. You always will be.”
I sighed, shaking my head slowly. “No,” I said. “Look at us. Look at where we are right now. If anyone hasn’t changed, it’s you. You’re still desperate, still… insecure.”
Her lips parted, but nothing came out
I felt heat rush up my chest, anger, and years of swallowed–down hurt all bubbling at once. And before she could recover, before her pride could twist her features into that smug superiority she always wore–I raised my hand and pped her.
Hard.
The crack echoed through the trees, sharp and unforgiving.