Page 36 of Blood, Shadow & Claw

It wasn't just Janica; I could feel the distance growing between myself and the rest of the pack, including Ajax. Each day, he seemed more distant, more preoccupied with his duties as pack leader. At night, when we lay tangled in each other's arms, it was as if the world fell away and nothing else mattered. But as soon as the sun rose, that connection seemed to crumble.

Was I imagining it? Was the tension all in my head, or was something happening beneath the surface? My sense of unease grew stronger as I tried to figure it out. I couldn't shake the feeling that change was coming, and whatever it was, it wouldn't be good.

I leaned against a tree, wrapping my arms around myself as if I could hold everything together by sheer willpower alone. But deep down, I knew that no amount of strength could protect me from the storm brewing in my heart.

I watched from behind the gnarled oak tree as Raylene approached Ajax, her silver hair pulled back into a tight bun and her piercing gray eyes fixed on him with determination. I couldn't hear what she was saying, but her gestures were animated, and her lips moved quickly to plant seeds of doubt in his mind. Ajax listened intently, his brow furrowed, and his arms crossed over his broad chest.

"Is everything okay?" I asked myself, swallowing hard as my heart raced in my chest. It felt like an invisible force was pulling me closer, urging me to confront them and demand answers. But Ihesitated, torn between my desire for the truth and fear of driving Ajax further away.

"Raylene," I whispered under my breath, my fingers curling into fists at my sides. "What are you up to?"

"Everything all right, Mazie?" Ajax's voice startled me, and I whipped around to find him standing just a few feet away, concern etched across his handsome features.

"Uh, yeah... I was just..." I stuttered, disconcerted by his sudden appearance. "I saw you talking to Raylene and?—"

"Ah." He sighed heavily, running a hand through his short, dark hair. "Mazie, I want to be honest with you. My conversation with Raylene wasn't pleasant. She's been spreading lies about you."

"Lies?" My voice wavered with hurt and confusion. "What kind of lies?"

"Look, it doesn't matter," he said quickly, stepping closer and resting his hands on my shoulders. "You know they're not true, and I know they're not true. That's all that matters."

"Ajax," I murmured, biting my lip as I looked at him. "Are you sure? I mean, if the pack is starting to doubt me?—"

"Listen, Mazie," he interrupted, his blue eyes searching mine. "It's going to take time for you to settle in. You're different, and that scares some people. But I believe in you and know you have a place with us. Just give it some time."

"Okay," I whispered, nodding slowly as I tried to ignore the knot of uncertainty tightening in my stomach. "I trust you, Ajax."

"Good." He smiled softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from my face before pressing a tender kiss to my forehead. "Now, let's get back to the others."

As we walked hand in hand toward the pack, I couldn't help but feel torn between my love for Ajax and the growing tension surrounding us. The lies Raylene had planted festered beneath the surface, threatening to rip everything apart—and I was terrified of what would happen when they finally broke free.

The sound of laughter echoed through the trees as I stood on the outskirts of the pack's gathering, feeling the weight of my loneliness pressing down upon me. My fingers traced the intricate embroideryon my dress, a once-comforting reminder of my life as an influencer, now a stark contrast to the rugged, earthy world of the umbra shifters.

"Hey, Mazie," a voice called out hesitantly. I saw a young woman from the pack approaching with a tentative smile. "I just wanted to say I like your dress."

"Thank you," I replied, smiling as I struggled to remember her name. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't connect with these people—I couldn't shake the feeling that I was an outsider who didn't truly belong.

"Have you been here long?" she asked, looking around at the gathering.

"Only a few weeks," I admitted, my gaze drifting back to the pack members as they laughed and chatted easily. "But it feels like…a lifetime ago."

"Ah, yeah, I remember when I first joined the pack," she said, nodding sympathetically. "Adjusting can be tough, but you'll get there."

"Will I?" The question slipped out before I could stop it, and I bit my lip, regretting my sudden emotional vulnerability.

"Of course!" she insisted, her eyes widening in surprise at my doubt. "Everyone needs time to find their place. Just give it some more time, okay?"

"Sure," I murmured, nodding as I forced another smile. But as she walked away, my heart grew heavier, weighed down by the sense of isolation that clung to me like a shadow.

My thoughts turned to Ajax, his strong arms wrapped around me as we lay entwined beneath the moonlit sky. The passion and intimacy we shared at night felt like a lifeline, but as each day passed, it became harder to ignore the growing distance between us.

"Is it worth it?" I whispered, my fingers curling into fists as I fought against the rising tide of doubt and fear. "Can I make this work?"

"Hey, Mazie," Ajax's voice cut through my thoughts like a knife, and I looked up to see him standing beside me, his blue eyes clouded with concern. "Is everything alright?"

"Fine," I lied, plastering on a bright smile even as my insides twisted into knots. "Just…taking in the scenery."

"Alright," he said slowly, clearly unconvinced but letting it slide for now. "I just wanted to check on you. I'm heading back to the pack house to deal with some things, so I'll catch up with you later, okay?"

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