Page 8 of Falling for My Shifter Enemy

As I hurry after his long strides, I can't help but wonder if this is how it would always be—me trailing in his wake, trying to keep up with both his pace and his mercurial moods. The mate bond pulses between us like a living thing, making my skin tingle whenever I get too close to him. I have to fight the urge to reach out and touch him, to confirm that this connection isn't just in my head.

The hallway seems to stretch endlessly, each step echoing off the concrete walls. Other pack members pass us, their eyes sliding over me with varying degrees of curiosity and hostility.

When we reach a set of heavy double doors, Theo pauses, his hand on the handle. For a moment, he looks like he wants to saysomething, his jaw working as he glances down at me. The mate bond flares hot and bright, and I hold my breath, hoping that maybe now—

But instead he just pushes the door open to what is obviously the pack meeting hall.

The space is already full, humming with tension and whispered conversations. It's a vast room with exposed brick walls and high ceilings, dominated by a long table at the front. Wooden beams cross overhead, and large windows let in streams of morning light that cut through the slight haze of anxiety and aggression hanging in the air.

All eyes turn to us as we enter, and I feel the weight of their judgment like a physical thing. The whispers start immediately—about the weak, submissive wolf, about what their Alpha is thinking bringing me here. Theo moves to the front of the room with fluid grace, leaving me standing awkwardly near the back, but I can feel his awareness of me, see the way his shoulders tense when someone moves too close to where I stand.

Theo's second-in-command steps forward. His military bearing is evident in every movement as he addresses the room. "We need to discuss the situation at Moonlit Ridge," he says, his deep voice carrying easily through the space. "The humans are becoming more aggressive. There have been reports of hunters in the area."

The room erupts in heated discussion. The scent of aggression spikes in the air as some wolves argue for immediate action, while others urge caution. I listen intently, my mind racing with possibilities. The old landowner who had allowed both packs to use the land has passed away, leaving the territory vulnerable to human encroachment.

"And what exactly is she doing here?" A sneering voice cuts through the debate like a knife. A man steps forward from the crowd, his hazel eyes fixed on me with open hostility. He's younger than most of the others. "What use is a submissive who can't even shift? She'll only drag us down."

The words hit me like a physical blow, and not just because of their cruelty. I know that voice, know that face—Liam Blackwood, formerly of my own pack. He'd left Whispering Pines just weeks ago to join Howling Pines, tired of living in his older brother's shadow. And now here he is, throwing my deepest insecurity into the open like ammunition.

My cheeks burn as I feel Theo's gaze snap to me. Through the mate bond, I can sense his shock rippling like a wave, though his face remains impassive. This isn't how I wanted him to find out. I'd planned to tell him myself, to explain that even though I can't shift, my wolf is still very much a part of me. But now, thanks to Liam, it's out there in the worst possible way.

The room has gone deadly quiet, the kind of silence that precedes violence in wolf packs. I force myself to stand straighter, even as I feel the weight of every pair of eyes in the room. Some faces show disgust, others pity, but it's Theo's carefully blank expression that hurts the most.

I want to say something, to defend myself, but how do you explain something you've never understood yourself? How do you justify your place in a world where shifting is as natural as breathing?

Liam's smirk grows wider in the silence, clearly pleased with the bomb he's just dropped.

My heart pounds against my ribs so hard I'm sure everyone can hear it. But something inside me snaps—maybe it's the constantunderestimation, maybe it's the mate bond giving me strength, or maybe I'm just tired of feeling like nothing but a burden.

Stand tall, stand strong,my wolf urges.Show them our worth.

"Yes, I can't shift," I say, my voice steadier than I expected. "But that doesn't make me less of a wolf." The words come from somewhere deep inside, where my wolf's strength meets my own determination. "And it certainly doesn't mean I have nothing to offer this pack."

"Pretty words," Liam sneers, "but when the humans come with their guns, what good will understanding do? You can't even protect yourself, let alone—"

"Enough." Theo's voice cuts through the room like a blade, silencing everyone instantly. His power ripples through the air, making my wolf whimper in response. "The meeting will proceed as planned. Derek, continue with the report."

He doesn't look at me, doesn't acknowledge my outburst or my revelation. But as Derek begins speaking about patrol schedules and security measures, I feel Theo's awareness of me like a physical touch. The mate bond thrums between us, complicated now by this new knowledge.

I remain standing tall, even as my insides tremble. Let them watch. Let them judge. I might not be able to shift, but I have other strengths. If I can't contribute with physical strength, maybe I can help another way. After all, sometimes the best solutions come from unexpected places—and I've always been good at finding paths others overlook.

After the meeting breaks up, Theo catches my arm as I try to slip away. His grip is firm but not painful, and the contact sends sparks through my skin, the mate bond singing at the touch.His scent—pine and leather and something wild—surrounds me, making it hard to think.

"You can't shift." His voice is low, meant only for my ears, but I hear the disbelief, the confusion—maybe even a hint of betrayal. "Why didn't you tell me?"

I meet his dark gaze, fighting the urge to look away. "When exactly did I have a chance to mention it?"

His jaw clenches, and I feel his struggle through the bond—a mix of anger, frustration, and something deeper, more complicated. "This changes things," he says finally, releasing my arm.

"Does it?" I ask, hating how small my voice sounds. "Does it really change who I am? What I could be to—" I catch myself before saying 'to you,' but the words hang unspoken between us.

For a moment, something flickers in his eyes—longing, maybe, or regret. But then his expression hardens again. "Stay in the apartment today. We'll figure out what to do with you tomorrow."

The dismissal stings worse than Liam's cruel words. 'What to do with you'—like I'm a problem to be solved rather than a person, rather than his mate. I watch him stride away, his broad shoulders rigid with tension, and wonder if this revelation has just destroyed any chance we had before it could even begin.

Chapter 4

Chloé

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