My Fated Alpha's Cruel Game (Elena and Marcus) novel Chapter 186

Chapter 186: Chapter 186 The Trap Revealed

Elena’s POV

The moment we stepped through the cabin door, Damien stormed off to the bedroom without so much as a glance at anyone. His shoulders were rigid with frustration, and I could practically feel the disappointment radiating from him. He expected too much too fast. Briar needed time to process everything we’d just thrown at her, but patience had never been one of Damien’s strongest qualities.

"Let me guess, things didn’t go according to plan," Caleb said, studying my expression.

"She shifted, which was incredible to witness. We managed to talk, but she’s completely overwhelmed. Damien thought she’d pack up and come home with us on the spot." I sank into the nearest chair, exhaustion weighing down my limbs. "He was setting himself up for disappointment."

Caleb shook his head. "I want her back just as badly as he does, but we can’t ignore reality. She’s been raised to see us as the enemy. Years of that kind of conditioning don’t just disappear because we showed up with good intentions."

"Exactly what I’ve been trying to tell myself," I murmured.

Heavy footsteps announced Damien’s return before he appeared in the doorway, phone already in hand.

"Koa just mind-linked me. They’re planning another pack attack tonight." His voice was clipped, all business now.

"When do they ever take a break?" The constant threat was wearing on all of us.

"Apparently never." Damien was already dialing. Within minutes, he’d contacted the targeted pack, and they immediately initiated their evacuation procedures.

"I don’t understand why they keep going after werewolf packs," Caleb said. "Vampires are the real danger here."

"Pack structure makes us easier targets," I explained, feeling the familiar weight of leadership responsibilities. "We’re organized, predictable. We protect territories and stick together. Vampires are mostly solitary creatures, harder to track down and corner."

"I’m heading out to help with the evacuation," Caleb announced, already reaching for his jacket.

After he left, silence settled over the cabin like a heavy blanket. I stared at the wall, my mind racing through everything that had happened today. When Damien finally joined me on the couch, his earlier anger had melted into something more vulnerable.

"I know I’m being unreasonable," he said, pulling me against his side. "I just wanted her to trust us enough to come back, even for a few hours."

"The Hunters keep their people on a tight leash. They would have noticed if she’d disappeared for too long." I let myself relax into his warmth, grateful for this moment of peace.

Something in my tone must have given me away because he tilted my chin up, studying my face with concern.

"I haven’t asked how you’re handling all this," he said softly.

The question hit deeper than I expected. "It feels exactly like it did sixteen years ago. Right around the time you threatened to reject me so you could move on with your life." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

He pressed his lips to the top of my head, and I felt him tense.

"Is that why you’ve been so quiet about everything? You’re afraid I’ll say the same thing again?"

"I’m afraid I’ll say something that starts the same fights we had back then," I admitted. "My head is full of thoughts that aren’t about you, but they’ll still tear us apart if I voice them."

His arms tightened around me, and he forced me to meet his eyes before kissing me with desperate intensity.

"I swear to you, I will never threaten rejection again. I saw what it did to you last time, how it made you afraid to leave the pack territory. Now I think I’m the one who’s falling apart."

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