Chapter 6: Underneath the Mask

The gathering hall was alive with murmured conversations, the tension among the pack palpable. Jack stood at the head of the room, his towering figure radiating authority. Dax, seated slightly to his left, kept his expression neutral, but I could see the restless energy coiled beneath his calm exterior.

I slipped into a chair at the back, keeping my head low. The weight of Ronan’s earlier words lingered like a shadow, but the pull to watch Dax was stronger. He caught my gaze for a fleeting second, a flicker of something unreadable in those fiery amber eyes, before looking away.

Jack cleared his throat, silencing the room. “We’ve had reports of rogue activity near the southern border,” he began, his voice measured but firm. “This is not a drill. Patrols will double starting tonight, and I expect everyone to stay vigilant.”

The murmurs resumed, uneasy whispers passing between pack members. The mention of rogues was enough to put anyone on edge, and for good reason. They weren’t just wolves without a pack—they were desperate, dangerous, and unpredictable.

“Dax will be leading the first patrol tonight,” Jack continued, his tone leaving no room for debate. “He’ll need a team of volunteers.”

Hands shot up around the room, and I wasn’t surprised. Dax had that effect on people—a magnetic pull that made others want to follow him, to prove themselves in his presence. But the tension between him and Jack didn’t go unnoticed. Jack’s measured authority seemed to rankle Dax, even if he didn’t outwardly show it.

“Thank you,” Jack said, nodding to the volunteers. “Dismissed.”

As the pack began to disperse, I stayed in my seat, waiting for the room to clear. Dax caught my eye again, a silent request passing between us. He left through the side door, and after a moment’s hesitation, I followed.

I found him outside, leaning against the edge of the porch. The moonlight cast shadows across his face, highlighting the sharp angles of his jaw and the tension in his posture.

“You shouldn’t be out here,” he said without turning, his voice low.

“And you shouldn’t be so obvious,” I countered, stepping closer. “What if someone sees us?”

He glanced at me then, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Let them. Maybe they’ll finally understand that you’re mine.”

The possessiveness in his tone sent a shiver down my spine. My wolf purred in agreement, but my human side bristled.

“We agreed to keep this a secret,” I reminded him, crossing my arms. “For now.”

“For now,” he echoed, his voice laced with frustration. He pushed off the railing, closing the distance between us. “But how long, Alina? How long am I supposed to act like I don’t want you, like you’re not the only thing I think about?”

The raw intensity in his gaze made my resolve falter. “This isn’t just about us,” I said softly. “It’s about the pack, about Jack—about everything that could fall apart if they found out.”

“Jack doesn’t matter,” he growled, his hands gripping my shoulders. “None of them do. You’re my mate, Alina. That bond means more than any title, any rule.”

My heart ached at his words, torn between the truth in them and the reality we faced. “But it doesn’t erase what we are,” I whispered. “Step-siblings. If they knew…”

“They’d judge us,” he finished, his voice hard. “But do you care? Because I don’t. Let them talk. Let them think what they want. It won’t change how I feel.”

His hands slid down to my waist, pulling me closer. My breath hitched as the familiar heat of his touch ignited something primal within me.

“Dax…” I started, but his name came out as more of a plea than a protest.

“Stop fighting it,” he murmured, his lips brushing against my temple. “Stop pretending this doesn’t consume you like it does me.”

I wanted to deny it, to push him away and cling to the safety of my walls. But I couldn’t. The bond between us was too strong, too insistent, and my wolf refused to let me lie to myself any longer.

So I didn’t. I closed the distance between us, capturing his lips with mine in a kiss that burned away every doubt, every fear. It was raw and desperate, a clash of passion and surrender that left me breathless.

When we finally pulled apart, his forehead rested against mine, his breath warm against my skin. “Say it,” he whispered. “Say you’re mine.”

“I’m yours,” I admitted, my voice barely audible. “But we have to be careful, Dax. No one can know. Not yet.”

His jaw tightened, but he nodded. “Fine. But when the time comes, I’m not hiding anymore.”

The patrol later that night was uneventful, but the tension between Dax and Jack was anything but. They moved like a well-oiled machine, but the unspoken rivalry between father and son was evident in every glance, every order.

I stayed on the sidelines, my heart in my throat as I watched Dax lead his team with the confidence of a future alpha. But the weight of our secret loomed over me, a constant reminder of the line we walked.

And as the night stretched on, I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone—something—was watching.