Chapter 382: Shadows at the window...

Ramsey

Eight hours ago

There was something about the human world that bothered me—the way they had such casual regard for their own safety. They had regard for systems that couldn’t protect them, channelled their love and energy to things that ought not to be and then the constant hypocrisy of loving animals, not wanting to harm them... and the strange things I’ve witnessed since I arrived here.

They do not understand the natural order of things and in their everyday life do their best to go against it. They leave their children unguarded, their loved ones vulnerable to threats they couldn’t even imagine. Police patrols arrived after the threat had already caused damage.

Here, it was all...pretend. A play for security in a world that had never truly been safe.

I couldn’t sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Lyla collapsing, saw the blood pooling beneath her, felt the terror that had gripped me when I thought I might lose everything that mattered. I hated myself for getting angry with her earlier, for not being there the moment she started bleeding, for letting my frustration cloud my judgment when she needed me most.

Now she had withdrawn again, pulling back into that protective shell she created when I became too much to bear.

I checked my watch: 2:03 a.m. I’d finally managed to soothe Lyla to sleep for the second time that night. She kept having nightmares, shouting out in her sleep, thrashing against invisible things that I couldn’t fight for her. Each cry tore at my heart, but there was nothing I could do except hold her and whisper soothing words until she settled again.

Unable to stand the compression of the tiny human house any longer, I grabbed a bottle of wine from the kitchen and carried a chair out to the small balcony. The night air was cooler here, helping to clear my head as I tried to make sense of everything that had happened.

My phone buzzed with an incoming message. The sender was listed as "Unknown," but as I read the words, I felt anger simmering inside of me.

Alpha Ramsey Kincaid, you have been summoned. Appear before the court within a fortnight or prepare to forfeit your title and the legacy of your ancestors. Bring the werewolf you made your Luna. There are questions and debts.

The more I stared at the message, the more anger built in my chest. Of course, I knew what the Hollow Kin were—ancient Lycans who held authority over our entire species in the supernatural realm.

They were the silent checkmates, existing before the rise of Lycan rule, and they only intervened when the natural order was at risk.

why did they want to summon me now, of all times? When Lyla was hurt, when our children were

my eye. Instantly, I turned off my phone’s light

They were slowly approaching from the left side, where

the numerous footsteps approaching, I

rose from my seat and inched back into the house, closing the door soundlessly, melting into the darkness. I crossed

bedroom, I slipped inside, shutting the door gently behind me so that I wouldn’t wake

sheets, and her face was scrunched in exhaustion. She was snoring softly, occasionally whimpering at whatever

it was secure. The footsteps were growing closer now, accompanied by other sounds—a wet, dragging noise that made my Lycan recoil

into the corner of the room, I positioned myself between the window and Lyla’s sleeping form, ready to defend her with my life if necessary. The moon

smell wafted up to my nose, a combination of decay, rotting flesh and burnt wood. They

make out shadowy figures moving in the yard below. Lycans do not possess enhanced night vision like werewolves, despite the darkness. So, I was barely

then I heard something strange: loud distress

window, I watched in amazement as someone fought the creatures in our yard. The defender moved with speed and strength. I strained my eyes

fight seemed to last forever, though it was probably only minutes. Finally, the putrid smell began to

outside and rounded the corner of the house. A tall figure was dragging

my presence before I could get closer. In one fluid motion, it leapt away from me and disappeared into the night, moving faster

a battle had just taken place. But when I examined the area more closely, I found nothing—no blood, no scuff marks in the dirt, no trace that anything unusual had

hours later, I stood in the corner of the bedroom, watching the pack doctor and healer Miriam had come with examine

was probably just stressed,

sure she was always properly rested and had her meals on time. Occasions where she’d insist that she must do certain things, I’d still help her out. So, where was the

still asleep during the examination, the pack doctor was asking me some questions when Lyla

to wake her up until finally, she opened her eyes and collapsed against Miriam’s body, sobbing. I stood there helplessly watching as the healer checked her vitals, murmuring quietly to the doctor about

happened early this morning was part of the problem. To further prove my suspicion, I went back later this morning, when the skies were bright, but had seen no

had defended us – if it had been someone from the pack, the person wouldn’t

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