Page 37 of Blood, Shadow & Claw

"Of course," I replied, watching as he walked away and feeling our rift growing wider.

As laughter and camaraderie filled the air, I stood alone, torn between my love for Ajax and the mounting tension within the pack. And though I tried to hold onto the hope that I could find my place among them, the weight of my doubts threatened to drag me under.

I wandered away from the gathering, seeking solace in the quiet embrace of the woods. The cool breeze whispered through the trees, their leaves rustling like a thousand hushed voices. Despite my love for nature, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched – an unwanted outsider.

"…never should have come out here," a voice drifted to me as if carried on the wind. My heart clenched, and I strained to listen without revealing myself.

"Right? I mean, she's nice enough, but she's not one of us," another woman said. "What if the Hunters find out about her?"

"Then we'd be exposed," a third voice hissed, fear lacing her words. "Everything we've worked so hard to protect would be destroyed."

My breath caught in my throat, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. Were they talking about me? Afraid that I would bring harm upon them all? As much as I wanted to believe it was just paranoia, their fears echoed my doubts.

"Maybe they'd be better off without me," I whispered, the thought taking root in the darkest corners of my mind.

"Did you hear something?" one of the women asked, her voice suddenly nearer.

"Probably just the wind," another replied, though uncertainty lingered in her tone.

"Let's go back," the third suggested, and the sound of retreating footsteps followed.

As they left, I stood frozen, my thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and hurt. How could I stay when my presence threatened the pack's safety? But how could I leave Ajax, the man who had ignited a fire within me, who made me feel alive?

"Damn it," I muttered, my hands balling into fists as frustration surged through me. "Why does everything have to be so complicated?"

But no matter how hard I tried to ignore the truth, it gnawed away at me relentlessly. I couldn't risk the pack's safety for my happiness. No matter how much it hurt, they would be better off without me.

An icy breeze whispered through the trees, chilling my bones as I stood rooted to the spot, unable to shake the words I had just overheard. The pack members' voices echoed in my mind, their fear of the Hunters and my role in exposing them to the world haunting me. I wrapped my arms around myself, seeking warmth and comfort where none could be found.

"Hey," Ajax's voice broke through my thoughts, startling me. "You okay?"

I looked up at him, his dark eyes searching mine for an answer I didn't have. How could I tell him that I might be the reason everything he fought to protect could crumble?

"Fine," I lied, forcing a smile. "Just... cold."

"Come here." He enveloped me in his strong arms, his body heat seeping into my skin. But even then, the frosty tendrils of doubt continued to creep through my veins. I leaned against him, trying to lose myself in the feel of his arms around me.

"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked again, concern lacing his voice. "You seem... distant."

"Everything's fine," I insisted, though my heart screamed the opposite. How could I burden him with the knowledge that I might be the downfall of his pack? That I might bring danger to the people he was sworn to protect?

"Okay," he said, but the furrow between his brows remained, signaling his skepticism.

"Let's go inside," I suggested, my voice betraying my desperationto escape the whispers of the wind and the unspoken accusations that haunted me.

"Sure," he agreed, leading me towards the house with his arm wrapped protectively around me.

As we entered the warmth of the living room, I tried to lose myself in the mundane tasks of everyday life – folding laundry, washing dishes, anything to keep my mind from spiraling into a pit of despair. But the weight of my thoughts bore down on me, suffocating me with every breath.

"Damn it," I muttered under my breath as I dropped a fork onto the floor, the clang jarring in the quiet room. Ajax glanced over at me, his brow furrowed once more.

"Talk to me, Mazie," he implored, slowly approaching me. Whatever's going on in your head... you don't have to face it alone."

"Maybe that's the problem," I whispered, tears filling my eyes. "Maybe I should be alone."

"What?" His voice was filled with confusion and hurt, and it tore at me like claws raking across my soul. How could I explain without shattering the fragile bond between us?

"I heard them talking," I admitted, my voice trembling. They were talking about how I shouldn't have come here, about the danger I pose to the pack."

---