The eclipse finally ended, bringing a tense relief to the narrator and those around her. Although the immediate danger of the skinwalker seemed to have passed, its lingering presence kept everyone on edge. Asher insisted that the narrator come back to the packhouse for safety, but she refused, unwilling to leave while Amy remained in the house. This sparked a conflict, with Gage stepping in to stay and protect her, challenging Asher’s authority and creating a fragile truce.
Amy’s calm and unsettling presence in the house heightened the tension. She spoke softly but with an undercurrent of menace, making the narrator and her protectors uneasy. Despite Asher’s frustration and desire to control the situation, the narrator stood firm in her decision to stay, feeling only safe with Gage and Arlo nearby. Amy’s subtle focus on a pendant in the house added to the feeling that something ominous was unfolding.
As night deepened, the atmosphere grew heavier with fear and anticipation. Strange noises outside the house caused everyone to tense, their senses alert for any sign of danger. Gage and Asher reacted protectively, but no visible threat appeared. The presence outside remained unseen but palpably close, maintaining a sense of imminent threat that none of them could shake.
The chapter ends with the narrator and her allies bracing for what’s to come, the house filled with silence yet thick with suspense. The lingering danger outside and Amy’s unnerving watchfulness create a charged atmosphere, signaling that the night’s peace is only temporary and that a confrontation is inevitable.
CHAPTER 70
CHAPTER 70
The eclipse finally ended, and the world seemed to exhale with me. The shadows that had pressed into every corner of my house lifted, leaving an uneasy calm behind. I could still feel it–the presence of the skinwalker, its hunger lingering in the air even though it wouldn’t return today. My chest was tight, my hands shaking slightly, but for the first time in hours, I could breathe without thinking the creature might strike again.
Asher stood near the window, his shoulders rigid, eyes scanning the darkened yard like he expected it to come back at any second. Gage and Arlo were close, too, each carrying their own tension. The Luna and Alpha were here as well, watching quietly, letting the house hold its breath.
“We can’t stay like this.” Asher said finally, his voice low, tight with frustration. “You’re coming back to the packhouse with me.”
I shook my head, gripping the edge of the counter. My voice came out firmer than I felt. “Not while Amy is here.”
Asher froze, his jaw tightening. “She’s not going to do anything. The eclipse is over. There’s
no reason-”
“She’s still here, Asher.” I interrupted, my pulse jumping at the subtle, calculating way she had been watching me earlier. I hadn’t said anything, hadn’t wanted to show fear, but I could feel it in my bones–Amy was still in the house, still aware of me, and still a problem.
Gage stepped forward, his expression hard, protective. “Then I’ll stay here with her.” He said, voice steady. “I won’t leave her alone.”
Asher’s eyes flicked to him, sharp with irritation. “Gage, no. That’s not-”
“I don’t care.” Gage cut him off. “She’s staying, and so am I. You don’t get to decide everything, Asher.”
I felt a small jolt of gratitude toward him. Arlo stepped closer, not saying much but giving me a reassuring nod. Asher ran a hand through his hair, visibly frustrated, his protective instincts clashing with the reality that he couldn’t force me to leave.
“Fine.” He muttered, pacing the room. “Stay here. But if anything happens–anything–I will be the first through that door. Understood?”
I nodded, not trusting my voice. The tension in the room was thick, a mix of relief and fear, of defiance and worry.
< CHAPTER 70
+25 Points
Amy then appeared in my house. She stood near the doorway, calm, composed, her gaze on me like she could see everything I was thinking. There was a faint smirk at the corner of her mouth, just enough to make my skin crawl. I didn’t like it. I didn’t trust her.
“You seem tense.” She said softly, almost conversational, as if nothing in the past hour had happened. “I hope you’re taking care of yourself.”
I clenched my fists, forcing my breathing to slow. “I’m fine.” I said through gritted teeth.
She tilted her head slightly, studying me. “Good. That’s good. We can’t have you falling apart.”
I didn’t answer. Something about the way she said it, the subtle meaning behind the words, set my nerves on edge. I could feel Asher’s tension spike, even though he tried not to show it.
Gage moved closer to me, silently offering protection. “She’s not going to touch you.” He muttered, eyes flashing with warning. “Not while I’m here.”
I nodded, grateful for him, grateful for Arlo too. Their presence was a small island of safety in a storm that hadn’t fully passed.
Asher didn’t like it. I could see it in the way his jaw worked, how he paced closer to the door, wanting to assert control but knowing he couldn’t. “You’re making this harder than it needs to be.” He muttered.
“You’re not the only one who gets to decide what’s safe.” I shot back, my voice steadier than I expected. The words surprised even me, but the truth felt good, like a small rebellion against the tension pressing down.
Amy shifted slightly, and I noticed the way her eyes flicked to the small trinket on the counter -a simple pendant I had found in the basement when I was clearing it out. But I didn’t think it had any real meaning to it, not until I saw the way she was looking at it. I didn’t reach for it, didn’t acknowledge it, but I felt the chill in my chest tighten.
Arlo sighed quietly, breaking the moment. “Let’s just settle down for a minute. Catch our breath.”
Gage stayed close to me, leaning against the counter, arms crossed, a silent shield. I leaned back slightly, trying to soak in the small comfort of having someone I trusted nearby.
Asher finally sat down heavily on the couch, running a hand through his hair. “This is ridiculous.” He muttered. “You’re safe at the packhouse. The packhouse is where you need to
be.”
I shook my head again, feeling a stubborn spark inside me. “Not while Amy is there.” I repeated. “I’m staying. I need-” I stopped, realizing I couldn’t even say it aloud. I needed to
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< CHAPTER 70
feel safe, and right now, I only felt safe with the twins here.
+25 Points
Amy made a small, deliberate movement toward the door, and my pulse jumped. She didn’t say anything, didn’t make a sound, but the way she moved felt deliberate, like a predator testing boundaries.
Gage noticed instantly, stepping closer to me. “Don’t even think about it.” He said quietly, a low warning under his breath.
I glanced at Asher. He stiffened, ready to leap up, but he didn’t. He couldn’t–he had no choice but to let the twins take their positions here. I felt the mix of relief and tension settle like a weight across my chest.
Hours passed slowly. The Alpha and Luna had returned to the packhouse with Amy, which I was grateful for but the house was quiet except for the soft rustle of movement as we all settled into the temporary calm. Gage stayed near me, and Asher watched from the couch, tense and brooding.
Amy’s presence never left me. Even when she wasn’t here, it didn’t feel like she was really gone either. She didn’t need to do anything overt; her presence alone was enough to make my
skin crawl.
The night deepened. Shadows grew long in the corners of the house, and the wind outside rustled leaves, making small, unsettling noises that I knew wouldn’t be dangerous, but felt like it might be. Every creak, every sigh of the house, reminded me of the skinwalker lurking somewhere, waiting for another chance.
And then, just as I allowed myself a small moment of relief, a soft thump came from outside. It was subtle, almost dismissible. But my heart jumped into my throat. Gage immediately moved toward the window, peering into the darkness. Asher tensed beside him, and even Arlo straightened.
Nothing was visible, but the sound had been real. My pulse hammered in my ears.
“You heard that too, right?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Gage didn’t answer immediately. He didn’t need to. His eyes told me everything: stay calm, stay close. He was right there. Asher’s hand wrapped around mine, another anchor.
Asher finally spoke, voice low, tight with controlled anger. “Stay here.” He said. “Don’t move. Whatever it is, we’ll handle it.”
The next thump came, louder this time, closer. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. My heart felt like it was pounding against my ribs, like it was warning me of something I didn’t want to admit.
3/4
CHAPTER 70
+25 Points?
Asher’s hand tightened around mine instead of letting go. Arlo stepped closer, fists clenched, eyes scanning the darkness.
And then, just as quickly as it started, the sound stopped. Silence fell again, thicker, heavier than before. Gage slammed the door open but no one was there, so he quickly closed it again.
No matter where the guys looked, they couldn’t see anything. They couldn’t see who or what was outside my house.
Asher had to get back to the packhouse but I think he was making it fairly obvious that he didn’t want to leave the twins here alone with me. Not that he didn’t trust me. He just didn’t
tust Gage.
I swallowed hard, my chest tight. I could feel it–the presence outside, whatever it was, was
still there. Watching. Waiting. Patient.
I didn’t dare move.
The night stretched on, the tension unbroken, the house holding its breath. Somewhere outside, in the dark, something waited. And I knew, with a certainty that chilled me to the bone, that it wouldn’t stop until it had me.
And none of us were ready for what came next.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
SUMMARY (~1000 Words in English)
