By the third morning after the wolf’s awakening, Emily had found her rhythm in the pack. Too quickly, if you asked me.
She helped in the kitchens. She chatted with the younger warriors. She found reasons to stay close to the twins. And somehow, she always seemed to be where Asher was. Whether it was in the strategy room, the courtyard, or even on the training field.
At first, I told myself I was imagining it. But the longer it went on, the harder it became to ignore.
The day began like any other. I woke early, checked patrol reports, and went downstairs to find Asher already in the dining room, talking to Emily.
They were standing near the coffee pot, voices low but friendly. She laughed at something he said, light and effortless, and laid a hand briefly on his arm. It was quick, almost nothing. But I felt it like a spark under my skin.
When she saw me, her expression brightened. “Morning, Trinny! You’re up early.”
I nodded stiffly. “Early start. Patrols came back with some reports.”
“Oh? Anything interesting?” Her tone was casual, but her eyes were sharp.
“Not really. Just some movement near the northern ridge. Probably rogues passing through.”
She hummed thoughtfully. “You know, if you had better border reinforcement out there, you wouldn’t have to worry about rogues sneaking close.”
Asher straightened slightly. “We’ve been talking about that, actually. I might move two more warriors out there next week.”
I blinked. “Might? Since when was that decided?”
He glanced at me, tone even. “It was just a suggestion. Emily mentioned it yesterday.”
“Oh.” I said flatly, looking at her. “Did she?”
She smiled faintly, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. “I just thought it might help. I didn’t mean to overstep.”
But she didn’t look sorry. Not even a little.
By midday, tension pulsed like static between us.
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CHAPTER 175
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Asher and I had a full schedule of briefings and training assessments, but every time Emily was nearby, his focus shifted. She had a way of speaking that sounded helpful, logical even. Never crossing lines outright, but always nudging him toward her perspective. There was something almost magnetic about her calm demeanor, the way she phrased things so carefully, as if every word was designed to guide without forcing.
And she always made it seem like she was thinking of the pack’s best interest.
During one of the strategy meetings, she even joined the discussion uninvited. “If you’re rearranging patrols, maybe it’s time to rethink leadership structure. Too much pressure on a small circle can make things… fragile.”
I raised a brow. “Fragile?”
She looked at me calmly. “You’ve carried a lot of responsibility for a long time, Trinny. Maybe delegating more would take some pressure off. For everyone.”
The words were harmless enough. But when she said for everyone, her eyes flicked toward Asher, just long enough for me to catch it, a subtle undercurrent I couldn’t ignore.
He didn’t respond right away, just rubbed the back of his neck. “She’s got a point.” He murmured after a moment, his gaze drifting toward her. “You have been doing a lot lately.”
“I’m fine.” I said evenly, keeping my voice steady. “I’ve been fine for years. And I’ve handled a hell of a lot more than this.”
“Still.” He pressed, “It wouldn’t hurt to share some of the workload. Just to lighten the constant strain.”
Emily smiled softly, like a mediator smoothing a disagreement. “It’s not about capability. It’s about balance. And making sure no one burns out under invisible pressure.”
I forced a smile back. “Thanks for your concern, Emily. But balance is something I’ve already
mastered.”
Her eyes lingered on mine for a fraction too long. Like she knew exactly what she was doing.
That night, after dinner, I went out to the training field alone. I needed space. Away from the packhouse, away from her voice twisting through every conversation.
The air was cool, and the lights from the fence cast long shadows over the grass. The wolf was lying quietly in the pen, its massive frame calm but alert. Its eyes followed me as I approached.
“You saw it too, didn’t you?” I whispered.
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A low rumble vibrated in its chest. Soft, almost like acknowledgment.
“She’s playing a game.” I said quietly. “And Asher’s starting to fall for it.”
+25 Points
Another rumble, lower this time. Its gaze flicked toward the packhouse, then back to me.
I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face. “Yeah. I know. I can’t accuse her without proof. Not yet.”
The wolf’s ears twitched, then it lay its head back down. I stood there a moment longer before heading back inside.
The next morning, Asher barely looked at me.
He wasn’t angry, exactly. Just… distant. Preoccupied. The kind of quiet that felt like someone building walls in their mind, one brick at a time, until you couldn’t see what was left behind
them.
During breakfast, Emily was sitting with the twins at the far table. When she laughed, Gage’s whole face lit up. Arlo leaned closer, hanging on her every word. Her voice carried across the room. Sweet, smooth and definitely practiced. She knew exactly how to draw people in.
I tried not to let it get to me, but the sight made my chest tighten, my appetite vanish.
“Asher.” I said finally, keeping my tone neutral. “Can we talk? Alone?”
He nodded, following me upstairs to the office. Once the door was shut, I turned to face him. “Something’s off with Emily.”
He sighed. “We’ve been over this.”
“No.” I said, sharper than I meant to. “We haven’t. Not really. She’s manipulative, Asher. She’s worming her way into everything. Our decisions, the twins, you.”
He crossed his arms, eyes narrowing slightly. “You’re reading too much into it.”
“I’m not.”
“She’s been nothing but helpful since she got here. The twins trust her, the warriors like her, and you…” He hesitated, jaw tightening. “You’re acting jealous.”
I froze. “Excuse me?”
His expression softened slightly, like he immediately regretted the words, but the damage was done.
I laughed, short and humorless. “You really think this is jealousy?”
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“I didn’t say…”
+25 Points
“Yes, you did.” I cut him off, voice low but steady. “And that’s exactly what she wants. She’s twisting things. Making you see me as the problem.”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m not saying she’s perfect, Trinny. I just think maybe you’re overreacting because of everything we’ve been through. The shadows, the relics, the constant threats… it’s been a lot.”
“This has nothing to do with the past.” I said quietly. “This is about right now. And right now, there’s something wrong with her. You can feel it too. You’re just not admitting it.”
He didn’t answer. The silence between us was thick, heavy enough to feel like pressure on my chest. Somewhere outside, a door slammed, sharp and distant, and for a second, I could’ve
sworn Asher flinched.
The silence stretched, sharp as glass between us.
Finally, he said, “Maybe we should take a step back. Let things settle.”
“Step back?”
“Just for a few days. Let the pack breathe. Maybe you and I both need space.”
My heart thudded painfully in my chest. “Space.” I repeated, tasting the word like poison.
He met my gaze. “We’ll talk again after the next council meeting.”
And then he walked out.
I stayed in the office long after he left. The room felt too quiet, the air heavy with things
unsaid.
When I finally moved, I went to the window. Outside, the moon hung pale and watchful above the trees. I could see the faint glow of the training lights in the distance, and one figure standing near the pen.
Emily.
She was still awake, still watching the wolf. The wind caught her hair, and even from here, I could see how still she was.
Then, slowly, she turned her head. Looking straight toward the window where I stood.
Our eyes met, even across the distance. And she smiled.
Not the friendly, open smile she showed the pack.
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+25 Points
This one was cold. Knowing and triumphant. She’d come between the Alpha and Luna of this pack.
When I turned from the window, I caught my reflection in the glass. Eyes tired, shoulders heavy, heart pounding with something that wasn’t quite fear.
Because I finally understood what the wolf had been trying to warn me.
Emily wasn’t just manipulating the pack. She was dismantling it from the inside.
And she’d just taken her first piece of Asher.
Suddenly my wrist started to burn. I looked down and saw the mark starting to glow. It hasn’t done that in months. But now it’s back. It’s warning me. It’s letting me know that danger is here and that my powers, they haven’t gone anywhere.
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Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.
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