Chapter 237 PIPER

I shook myself and went deep into the thick forest with a lot of caution. All around, it was silent; only the soft breeze was causing some leaves to rustle along.

Well, the sun had gone beyond the horizon, throwing these woods deep in shadow. Up ahead, I had caught a glimpse of Alina disappearing. She seemed to appear almost as smoke into darkness.

It wasn’t curiosity pulling me deeper; it was instinct. Something just didn’t sit right in my brain with the way she’d left from tonight’s festivities.

Alina had always been this rosebush in my life. These quiet stings pointed at keeping me off balance with each spoken word and each well-placed, calculated act. Tonight felt no different.

I watched my step, light as possible, breathing calmly as the faint path cleared its way between the trees, alive with crickets humming and the periodic hoot of an owl, yet quiet.

Then, before me, I saw it: light filtering through the trees. I approached it, and my heart ran wild in my chest.

With every step I took, the light grew stronger, and soon I could see that Alina was standing in some small clearing, her back turned to me.

I moved closer to him. “Rowan, you gotta listen to me. Alina’s been playing you. She has been trying to turn you against the pack.”

He frowned and turned to Alina. “Is this true?”

Alina’s face changed into an image of wounded innocence. “Of course not, she is trying to twist things, Rowan. She’s jealous of what we’ve built together.”

“Jealous?” I said. “Don’t flatter yourself, Alina. I’m trying to protect this pack, something you obviously could care less about.”

Surprised, his fists clenched, Rowan took a scary step forward.

“Knock it off, both of you. I don’t know who to believe.”

I turned to him; my voice didn’t rise, but it was firm in tone.

“Rowan, reflect on what has transpired recently, the conflict within our pack, the debates. Who was the one person common to it all?”

His eyes darted in Alina’s direction. Uncertainty weighed heavily upon his face. Alina sidled up to his side, her voice low, melodious.

“Don’t let her turn your mind against me, Rowan. You know me. You know I only want what’s best for you.”

A muscle twisted in Rowan’s jaw, and for a moment it almost seemed as though he would rise on her behalf.