Chapter 279

I clenched the note in my hand, Calla’s threat pounding in my mind. My heart raced as I slipped it into my pocket, deciding on my next move. Rowan and Lila were laughing again. The sound carried across the training grounds, light and easy, while I stood on the sidelines, a storm brewing inside me. I wasn’t jealous, not really, or so I told myself. Yet, I couldn’t stop the gnawing irritation at the sight of them together.

“Everything alright?” Warrick’s voice broke through my thoughts. I turned to see him leaning against the wooden railing, his expression tentative. He looked better, less guilt-ridden than he had days ago, but the memory of his mistake still stung.

“I’m fine,” I said shortly, brushing past him.

“Piper,” he called after me, his tone soft. “You don’t have to keep shutting me out.”

I stopped, my fists clenching. “Maybe I wouldn’t have to if you hadn’t given me a reason to.” His silence was deafening, and I walked away before I could say more, my emotions boiling over.

By the time I entered the council meeting, I was already on edge. Aurora and Dane sat at the head of the room, their calm demeanors a stark contrast to the buzzing tension that filled the space. Rowan, seated near Lila, made a comment about the patrol routes being inefficient. It wasn’t directed at me, but it grated on my nerves anyway.

“Maybe if you focused less on… distractions, you’d notice things sooner,” I snapped, my voice cutting through the room. The silence that followed was deafening. Rowan’s brows furrowed as he looked at me, confusion and hurt flashing across his face.

“Piper,” Aurora said, her tone firm but gentle. “That’s enough.” I felt the weight of everyone’s eyes on me, and my cheeks burned. “I’m just saying, we can’t afford mistakes right now.”

Aurora stood, her presence commanding. “A word. Outside.” I followed her into the hallway, my chest tight with frustration. “What?” I demanded, crossing my arms.

Aurora’s eyes softened, but her voice remained steady. “What’s going on with you, Piper? This isn’t like you.”

“I’m fine,” I said, the words defensive even to my own ears.

“You’re not,” she countered. “And if you don’t figure out what’s bothering you, it’s going to hurt more than just you. Talk to me.”

For a moment, I considered telling her everything: the jealousy, the tension with Warrick, the confusion I felt about Rowan and Lila, but the words caught in my throat. Instead, I shook my head. “I’ll handle it.”

Aurora sighed, her disappointment evident. “Fine. But don’t let this fester, Piper. You’re better than this.”

Later that evening, Warrick found me near the riverbank, my favorite spot to clear my head.

“You’re avoiding me,” he said, sitting down beside me without waiting for an invitation.

“I wonder why,” I muttered, not meeting his gaze.

“Piper,” he began, his voice heavy with regret. “I messed up. I know that. But I care about you. Can’t we at least talk about it?”

I turned to him, my eyes hard. “What’s there to talk about, Warrick? You made your choice.”

“I was drunk,” he admitted. “Stupid and drunk. It didn’t mean anything.”

“And I’m supposed to just forget it?” I snapped. “How do I trust you after that?”

His shoulders slumped, the weight of my words hitting him hard. “I don’t know. But I’ll do whatever it takes to fix this.”

For a moment, I softened, the sincerity in his eyes chipping away at my anger. But I wasn’t ready to forgive him, not yet. “We’ll see,” I said quietly, standing to leave.

I was on my way back to my quarters when I noticed a shadow moving near the side entrance of the packhouse. The figure moved quickly, purposefully, as if trying not to be seen. My steps slowed, my curiosity instantly piqued. Squinting through the dim light, I recognized Lila. Her posture was stiff, her head darting side to side as if checking to ensure no one was following her.

My first instinct was to ignore it—after all, everyone had their reasons for taking late-night walks. But something about her movements didn’t feel right.

“What are you up to?” I murmured under my breath, stepping into the shadows to avoid being seen.

Lila headed toward the forest, her pace quickening. My heart thudded in my chest as I debated my next move. Should I follow her? Confront her? Or go back and alert Aurora or Dane? But the memory of her growing closeness to Rowan, the unease I’d felt watching them together, gnawed at me. And then there was the fire…

No, I couldn’t let this go.

Keeping my distance, I trailed her into the trees, careful to avoid stepping on anything that might give me away. The moonlight filtering through the canopy cast eerie shadows, and the silence was heavy, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves. Lila stopped abruptly, glancing over her shoulder. I pressed myself against a tree, holding my breath. For a moment, I thought she’d spotted me, but then she continued forward, her steps quieter now.

As I followed her deeper into the woods, my mind raced. Why would she be sneaking out like this? And why alone? Finally, she came to a halt near the edge of the territory. I ducked behind a bush, peering out cautiously. Lila crouched down, her hands fumbling with something in the dirt. I strained to see, my pulse quickening when I noticed her pulling out a small object, a folded piece of paper.

What the hell was that?

Lila stood, tucking the paper into her pocket before glancing around again. Her gaze lingered on my hiding spot for a moment too long, and I froze, my heart pounding in my ears. Before I could decide whether to reveal myself or retreat, Lila straightened and started walking back toward the packhouse, her pace brisk.

I stayed rooted in place, my thoughts spinning. Whatever she was up to, it wasn’t innocent. And I needed to find out why.