✧

I'm not much of a sleeper, so when I'm on night duty, I don't usually mind having to stay up to make sure everything is in order. We still have our guards within the territory, but we do it so we have extra protection within the house.

My mind is far too active when I'm trying to sleep. I think about Malakai, I think about the situation we are in, I think about...Viola.

I'd like to think we've made progress, but I'm starting to believe that she hates me even more now. My tactics in trying to get her on my side aren't working and I realise that is probably my fault. The teasing isn't doing me any favours but I can't help myself. Every time I see her and feel her eyes on me, I cannot stop the thoughts that flood through my head.

No matter how much she tries to deny it, I know that she's attracted to me. In the same way I am attracted to her. It's inevitable. Sooner or later she'll come to her senses and all of this will be a distant memory. That's if she doesn't kill me first.

As I prowl the magic barrier around the pack house, the hairs on the back of my neck begin to stand and I whip my head towards the trees. My eyes narrow as I focus on the branches of the trees and I freeze, listening to every sound.

Someone's here, Haze. One of the guards mindlinks me.

I tighten my fist. I know. Stay quiet. Attack when needed.

On it.

My breathing halts in my chest as the sensation crawling down my spine begins to heighten. I grit my jaw and hold back the growl that crawls up my throat. Whoever is here is a dead fucking man, they're not making it out alive.

The silence around us is deafening. My shoulders hunch at the possibilities of who it could be. We haven't had a visitor since we put up camp here. Noah made it impossible for us to be tracked—until this very moment.

Viola's brother comes to mind. He's a lycan. He can move quick, hide within the shadows. But there is no way he'd be able to find us, not with our precautions. Would he? No. I trust Noah, his tactics have worked so far.

A gust of wind ripples past as claws swipe across my back with sudden sharpness. I didn't see them coming. I didn't see them at all. I groan in agony as I turn to find pitch darkness. How the fuck did he move so quick? Lightning speed.

I breathe out through my nose harshly as I feel blood trickle down my back, my T-shirt now shredded and stained through. The pain bursts through my torso and I know better than trying to chase after him with claw marks this deep. It fucking kills. But I'll make him pay.

Get him! I bellow through the mindlink as I spot a figure rushing off in the distance.

My guards spring into action, shifting into their wolves as they chase down the trespasser and bring them to their mercy. I huff out a thick groan as I take a step forward, my skin in pieces and my back in agony.

"Fuck," I curse under my breath.

Haze. One of my wolves steps towards me. You need to go to the infirmary.

I'm fine. I brush off and attempt to take another step with a struggle. Just take him to the cellar and wait for my decision.

He nods at me as I press a hand to my spine and retrieve it. My dark crimson blood glitters in the moonlight and I snarl. My wolves drag him off into the night and I stagger back to the pack house.

I'm not going to the infirmary. Hell fucking no.

I should have seen him. I should have taken him down. I shouldn't have been distracted.

My hands press to the front door of the house as I creep in and try to keep as quiet as possible. I need to get to my room before anyone spots me. I'll heal overnight and this will all be forgotten. My mind is all over the place. I despise myself for not focusing.

I make it two steps down the hall until I crash into a chest of drawers. I grip my abdomen to hold myself up but the pain is sweeping over me like a tidal wave. Goddess, what the fuck has he done to me?

A door creaks open to my left and I glance up through blurry eyes to find a familiar set of brown eyes and dark hair that I severely dislike. "Haze?" Her voice floats through my head as I press a hand to the wall, my blood smearing the paint. "Jesus. What the hell happened?"

My lips part to give a witty response but I have no energy. Instead I take a step forward and she rushes to my side, catching me before I fall. This situation seems ironic. I told her the other day that she's weak, but somehow she manages to keep my body up despite being over a foot taller than her. She's a lot stronger than I realised.

She somehow drags me through the hall until her hand presses against my office door and shoves us both in. I collapse down onto the sofa as she stands above me. Sweat trickles down my temple and I attempt to breathe as calmly as possible but I'm burning from the inside out.

Tiny hands touch my back and I shiver in agony and relief. "Holy hell, Haze," she gasps as she rips the rest of my blood soaked T-shirt. "You have silver lodged in your back. Let me go get one of the doctors."

"No," I heave, latching onto her wrist with as much strength as possible before she can leave. "Don't."

Her expression twists into deep confusion. "Are you an idiot? This could kill you."

The corner of my lip twitches even though I'm filled with discomfort. "You care a lot for someone who states they hate me." I murmur through staggered pants.

Viola exhales a long breath that sounds like a morbid laugh. "Yeah, well, if you die, I'll probably die because my wolf won't be able to stand living, and I'm not sacrificing that. Even if my pride tells me otherwise."

"How selfish of me," I say weakly but her eyes lock onto my smirk. "I'll try my hardest not to die for you."

"You're really insufferable, you know that?"

I swallow and attempt to dampen my dry throat. "Yes, sweetness. I am more than aware."

Viola stands and starts rummaging around the office. I open my mouth but I'm exhausted. All my energy is being zapped from me. Soon she comes back with pliers in hand and perches on the sofa beside me.

"Who or what did this to you?" She asks.

I pause for a moment as she presses a hand to my back and digs the pliers into my open wound. I grit my teeth and groan as she pulls out the silver without hesitation. "Y-you could have given warning," I hiss through my teeth.

"Sorry, I thought you wouldn't be such a pussy."

My eyes close and I exhale through my nose. A rush of images flood my mind, especially bending her over my desk and spanking her ass raw for speaking to me like that—but right now I can't do fuck all.

This is the last thing I expected. I didn't ask her to do this. She did it on her own accord. She might not care about me, but deep down, I'm starting to think that a small part of her does. I don't want to see her get hurt and I think she doesn't want me in the same position either.

I keep quiet as she draws out the rest of the silver and I latch onto the leather sofa for dear life. Never have I felt this level of pain from claw marks. I've only ever come into contact with silver once and it wasn't a pleasant experience...this is ten times worse.

"Right," she steps away and I glance over my shoulder at the way my blood coats her hands. A strange sensation washes through me at the sight of it. Why the fuck am I getting turned on now of all times? "I think it's all out, but those wounds are gaping open. You need to go to the infirmary to get it checked out."

I shake my head. "No. I'm fine. I don't need to go there."

Viola scoffs. "Sure. Sure. Do you have medical supplies in here?"

"There," I point to the top shelf. "But I'm fine. I could have sorted myself out."

This time she rolls her eyes as she walks away. "Just shut up, Haze. Please, just shut up." She mutters under her breath and now I really want to make her ass red as hell for the fucking attitude.

I manage to push myself up but I'm still weak as hell. The silver might be out of my system, but it's going to drain me until I get some rest. Viola comes back with the box and opens it up before grabbing a bottle of disinfectant.

"You're gonna need to patch this up otherwise it'll get infected and then it'll be really nasty."

Before I can protest she pours the bottle of what I can only believe is one hundred percent alcohol over my wounds. I grit my teeth and clench my fists. "What the fuck," I murmur as the liquid burns me right down to the core. "Again, no fucking warning."

"Get over it."

My cock twitches pathetically at her backtalk because all I can think of is the one hundred ways I'd punish her for talking to me like that. I'm struggling to keep myself conscious and she's somehow making my blood rush to my crotch as if it's nothing. I am so fucked in the head it hurts.

I remain silent whilst she presses dressing pads to my back before wrapping me up with a bandage around my torso. I'm still breathing heavily when she ties it together and slaps my shoulder as if we're good friends and that makes my wolf growl in protest. "There. Good as new."

It takes me a moment to twist around to face her and she flashes me a sarcastic smile.

"You grew up in the infirmary or something?" I heave.

She shakes her head. "No. I spent one too many days getting roughed up with my dad when he was a grieving asshole. I decided to learn how to patch myself up."

I narrow my eyes at her. "Your dad hurt you?"

"No," she snaps instantly. "He just..." she trails off and I feel my wolf scratching from the insides. "He's always been tough on me and Nate. He pushed me to my limits, but sometimes too far. It's fine. He never physically put his hands on me. He loves us."

I scoff at her words. "Really sounds like it if you had to learn how to patch yourself up."

"It's fine," she waves it off as if it's nothing, but it's not. It's sent my wolf—and myself—into a murderous frenzy. "Who did this to you?"

"Don't know," I admit. "The guards have put them in the cellar. I'll see to them tomorrow. We haven't had a trespasser here before, so I need to get answers."

Viola frowns. "You're really hidden, huh?"

"For good reason," I nod.

"Malakai."

My eyes focus on hers. "Yes."

"Who is he?"

"My brother." I say without hesitation.

Her expression widens in surprise. "Your brother?"

I merely nod. "He's a power hungry asshole. If you think I'm bad, you haven't seen anything with him."

"Why are you hiding from him?"

A sigh escapes my lips and I attempt to lean back into the sofa but my back burns and I try to mask it. My lip worms between my teeth and I ponder the question. I've been secretive for a reason but I realise it's now how I earn her trust.

"Right," she rasps and stands. "Of course you're not going to tell me."

"Wait," I grab her wrist again and now I'm no longer doused in pain, I can feel sparks of pleasure ripple across my skin. "I will tell you."

Viola's face softens. "You will?"

"Malakai took over the north when our parents died. He wanted to attack the south, claim back the land that he stated was our ancestors but I know he's greedy and wants the power, the control," I state slowly and feel the intensity of her stare on my face. "We went along with it, even though most of us didn't agree. But he's incredibly powerful, he has powers that I don't. When it came to going back after the attack, a group of us decided to leave and find refuge instead because none of us wanted to be under his control. He's reckless, vicious and unfair."

She chews her lip in anticipation but doesn't interrupt me.

"That's the reason I didn't come to see you for months because we were creating a sanctuary for everyone who wanted to rebel against him," I carry on. "I had to make sure we were safe and that we couldn't be found. We're training, building resilience so that when it comes to taking him on, we're ready."

"And he won't let you back to the pack?"

I exhale a short laugh void of any humour. "He'd gut each and everyone of us before we had the chance. The second you go against him, there is no going back. We've betrayed him and that's all he'll ever see us as."

"Fuck," she blinks. "I didn't realise it was that bad."

"We're coping," I state. "But Malakai could find us any time. We just need to be prepared."

Viola cups her hands over her elbows. "Which is why you told me I need to build up my strength."

"Precisely," I nod.

"Why would you bring me here if you knew there would be danger?"

A slash of confusion crosses her eyes. I could tell her the truth, but I know it won't end well.

"Because I need you," I exhale.

"Looks like you've been doing just fine without me."

My mouth curls as I study her pretty stoic face. "I think we all know we are better when we are with our mates, even if you don't want to admit it."

"Because I don't know you."

"Because you won't let me get to know you." I admit. She's been keeping her distance, even when I've been trying. "But we can."

She glances down and sighs. "I haven't forgiven you for taking me."

"I know. But I wouldn't let anything happen to you."

The room falls to silence for a long beat. "You should probably rest," she says as she stands. "You won't heal if you don't rest."

"Now I'm really starting to believe that you care for me, sweetness."

I expect her to turn her nose up but she doesn't. She stares down at me. "Care is a strong word," she rolls back her shoulders. "But I don't want you to die."

"Unless it's by you?"

"Yes."

I laugh. "Noted. Go to bed, Viola. It's late."

"You'll be okay?" She asks apprehensively.

My heart aches at the softness of her voice. She definitely cares. "I'll be fine."

"Okay," she whispers before walking to the door. "Goodnight, Haze."

"Goodnight, sweetness."

✧

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Author's Note

I love the idea of Viola patching Haze up🥹🥹🥹 she does care about him secretly

What did you guys think of this chapter?👉🏼

Haze is opening up and soon they'll be learning to trust each other🥰

But Viola doesn't know the real reason Haze wanted her there, eeeek it's going to get messy when she finds out!

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Love Savanna x

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