CHAPTER 184: SHADOWS AT THE DOOR

Josie

For a long moment, I couldn’t even breathe. The entire dining hall felt like it had frozen over — heavy, cold, and suffocating. The elders’ words rang in my head long after they’d stopped speaking.

A rogue.

They wanted to turn me into a rogue.

I forced myself to stand, the chair scraping harshly against the floor. "What exactly have I done wrong?" My voice came out steadier than I expected, though my insides were shaking. "Michelle is gone. She’s not part of this pack anymore. So tell me—what have I done?"

Elder Seraphine’s face twisted with disdain. "Your existence is an offense enough. You bring storms wherever you go."

I laughed bitterly. "That’s not an answer."

She ignored me, turning to the Alphas instead. "You three would risk your pack for this girl? For this... creature?"

Kiel’s growl was low, deep, and warning. "You will not speak about her like that."

But Elder Marrek only sneered. "You’ve gone blind, Alpha. She has bewitched you all. Can’t you see how every curse, every misfortune, began the moment she arrived?"

Thorne’s chair cracked beneath his clenched fists. "Enough."

Still, they wouldn’t stop. The elders ranted louder, their voices rising above reason, throwing accusation after accusation until the air pulsed with anger.

"If the Alphas will not act," Marrek barked, "then the people will. There will be a riot before dawn if she remains among us!"

Their words hit like a slap. My knees almost buckled. A riot. Over me.

I couldn’t even speak. I just stood there, cold spreading from my heart outward.

Kiel slammed his palm on the table, his voice shaking with fury. "Get out! Both of you! You’ve said enough!"

But the elders didn’t even flinch. They gave me one last venomous glare before storming out of the dining hall, their robes sweeping behind them like smoke trails of judgment.

When the doors slammed shut, the silence left behind was unbearable.

My lips trembled. "Why... why does nothing ever work for me?"

Varen was the first to move. He came around the table and knelt beside me, his hand firm but gentle on my arm. "Hey, don’t say that. We’ll handle this."

I looked at him, really looked at him, and saw the exhaustion in his eyes—the weight of trying to keep everything from falling apart. "You keep saying that, but it never gets better," I whispered. "Every time I try to make things right, something else happens. Ever since I realized I was mated to all three of you, it’s been chaos."

He gave a tired smile. "Chaos loves you, Josie."

I almost laughed, but the sound caught in my throat.

"Eat," he said softly, guiding me back to the table.

"I don’t think I can—"

"You’re going to eat," he said firmly, and before I could protest again, Kiel was already beside me with a plate.

"I’ll feed you myself if I have to," Kiel muttered, his tone half-teasing, half-serious. He picked up a small piece of meat with a fork and held it out to me.

I wanted to argue, but the sincerity in his eyes stopped me. So I opened my mouth and let him feed me. The food was tasteless, but somehow it felt like breathing again.

For a few minutes, the silence around the table was fragile but peaceful.

Then Carolyn appeared.

She carried a tray in her hands, smiling sweetly like nothing in the world was wrong. "I thought some juice would help you relax, Luna," she said, walking up to me.

Before I could thank her, the cold liquid splashed over my head.

I froze. Juice trickled down my face, soaking into my clothes, sticky and humiliating.

Carolyn gasped dramatically. "Oh! I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to—"

"Don’t," I snapped, rising to my feet.

Her fake apology died on her lips when she saw my eyes. "Josie, it was an accident, I swear—"

"An accident?" I hissed, wiping the sticky liquid from my cheek. "Then why are you smiling?"

Her expression faltered for just a second, then she bowed quickly and scurried off.

I couldn’t stay there anymore. I turned and walked away before I said something I’d regret.

"Josie—" Thorne called after me.

I didn’t look back.

By the time I reached my room, my chest was heaving. I yanked the wet clothes off and threw them aside, then sat on the edge of my bed, pressing my face into my palms.

It was too much.

Too many accusations. Too many people pretending to care while waiting for me to fall apart.

I called one of the maids, a quiet young woman with trembling hands. "Tell the Alphas I want to be alone tonight," I said. "No one comes in."

She nodded quickly and left.

As soon as the door shut, the silence became oppressive.

I thought of calling Marcy—sweet, loyal Marcy who’d stood by me through everything—but she had a husband now. A new life. It wouldn’t be fair to drag her back into my chaos.

So I lay there in bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to convince myself I was fine.

But I wasn’t.

The air in the room felt heavier than usual. The wind outside seemed to whisper against the windows, though the night was still.

I turned on my side, clutching the blanket, but the unease wouldn’t leave me. My wolf stirred restlessly, pacing inside me.

Something’s wrong, she whispered.

I sat up. The room was dark except for the faint flicker of the candle on my nightstand. The shadows seemed to stretch, long and distorted, like they had minds of their own.

Then I heard it—voices.

Faint. Whispering. Coming from the hallway.

My heart pounded.

I slipped out of bed, barefoot, and crept toward the door. When I opened it, the corridor was empty, but the murmurs continued—soft and strange, like a chant carried by the wind.

I knew I shouldn’t go, but curiosity—or maybe instinct—drove me forward.

The closer I got to the maids’ quarters, the stronger the haze in the air became. It shimmered faintly, almost like smoke, but thicker. My skin prickled with unease.

And then I saw him.

Liam.

He stood at the far edge of the corridor, his back half-turned to me, staring into nothing. His eyes glowed faintly, unfocused, like someone lost in a trance.

"Liam?" I whispered.

He didn’t answer.

For a heartbeat, I thought about stepping closer—but something deep inside screamed don’t.

My wolf growled low. He’s not alone.

I glanced around, and though I couldn’t see anyone else, I felt them. The presence. Watching. Waiting.

That was when I realized the truth.

This wasn’t about me. It was about them. Thorne. Kiel. Varen.

Whoever was behind this didn’t just want to destroy me—they wanted to destroy the Alphas through me.

And I was the only one who could stop it.

I backed away quietly, my pulse racing, and slipped back into my room without a sound. I locked the door, leaning against it as my breath came in sharp, uneven bursts.

I didn’t sleep that night. Every creak of the floorboards, every whisper of the wind made me flinch. By dawn, my eyes burned from exhaustion, but my mind was clear.

I had to tell Thorne.

When he found me the next morning, I was already dressed. He looked tired, but there was something urgent in his eyes.

"The seer’s here," he said. "She’s waiting for us at the cottage."

I followed him silently through the forest path that led to the old seer’s home. The air felt colder the deeper we went, thick with the scent of moss and rain.

When we reached the small stone cottage, the door creaked open before we even knocked.

Inside, the seer sat hunched over a small fire, her eyes wide and glassy, lips moving rapidly as she muttered to herself.

"Seer?" I called softly. "We came to—"

She gasped, cutting me off, her gaze darting toward the door. "He’s here," she whispered. "He’s already here."

Thorne frowned. "Who?"

The woman’s voice trembled. "It’s too late... it’s time..."

"Time for what?" I asked, stepping closer, my pulse quickening.

But before she could answer, the air in the cottage shifted. A strange energy crawled across my skin, thick and suffocating.

The door behind us slammed open.

A woman stood there—dark-haired, cloaked, her eyes burning with unnatural fire.

The seer screamed, stumbling back.

Thorne moved instantly, shoving me behind him. His body vibrated with power, his voice a thunderous growl. "Leave," he snarled, eyes blazing. "Or you’ll die by my hands."

The witch smiled.