CHAPTER 92: CHAPTER 92 PANIC

(Ember POV)

After we returned to the room. Alaric and Damon went out again, claiming they had something to do.

I stood by the window, resting my head on my elbow. The sun was setting in the distance, painting the sky with shades of orange and soft pink. The gentle breeze moved through the trees. The clouds looked golden at the edges, glowing for a short moment before fading into gray. It was warm and quiet like the day was calmly ending.

I sighed, my gaze moved down to the open space. It reminded me of the day I was running for my life. The very same day I died in my world and transmigrated into this one, and it was that very same day I met Damon for the first time.

Speaking of Damon, that guy is very strange. A small smile formed on my lips. I just can’t believe that he would stand up for me. ’Does this mean that he is beginning to fall in love with me?’

I giggled, the look on my so called family’s face was golden, especially that of Maddie. She looked like she could kill somebody at that moment.

I yawned, this place is so boring. ’Should I go out? What if Maddie and her minions gang up on me and beat the hell out of me?’

’Are you afraid of them? You have Damon, remember?’

I bit my lower lips, I turned towards the door. ’I’ll just get some fresh air and come back.’

With that thought, I opened the door and stepped out, hugging my arms loosely around my waist. The hallway was quiet, and for once, I didn’t sense any trouble. Which was strange, because it was always at every corner of the house.

I made my way down the stairs, slowly walking toward the open space behind the estate. It was the one place I could breathe without feeling caged, well to the real Ember.

I made my way to the field, which was just to the left side of the main mansion. I pulled off my shoes. My bare feet touched the cool grass, and for a second, I felt human again.

I strode further into the open field and took a deep breath, letting the fresh air fill my lungs. It smelled of trees, and damp soil. The wind swept across my skin, brushing my hair back gently. The last rays of sunlight kissed the edges of the rooftops behind me, and the sky glowed like soft fire.

Some werewolves were passing by the field. They glanced at me now and then.

I caught a few of their eyes. Their expressions twisted in disdain. One even wrinkled his nose, like my presence was something foul in the air. They didn’t say anything to me, and didn’t bother to approach me.

It was as if I carried a disease. Well, being an Omega is one to them.

Good, because I had no strength for drama tonight.

I turned my back to them and kept walking toward the quiet end of the field where the trees lined up thick and low. The longer I stayed out, the calmer I felt. I didn’t care if they glared. I wasn’t trying to win them over. I just needed air, and a few moments of peace.

But then... something felt wrong.

The air changed. It felt colder all of a sudden, and there was tension hanging in the air like a cloud of ice.

The hair at the back of my neck stood up in protest, and a chill ran down my spine.

My body stilled, instincts flaring like a silent alarm. My eyes scanned the tree line, the shadows between the trunks. The werewolves had stopped looking at me, or maybe I just stopped noticing. Everything faded around me, except for the growing sense of danger clawing at my gut.

I swallowed hard. Maybe it was time to head back inside. Something didn’t feel right.

I slowly turned around, and that’s when I saw him.

’Erik.’

He stood just a few feet away, he crossed his arms across his chest, leaning against a tree like he’d been watching me the entire time. His hair was a mess, his eyes were brown, and his lips pulled into a crooked smirk that made my skin crawl.

There was something in his gaze that made my breath hitch. The hunger and sinister look dancing in his eyes. The kind that made you want to run.

My body froze. I couldn’t even look away.

"Well, well," he drawled, pushing himself off the tree with slow, deliberate steps. "You’re out here all alone... brave of you."

I took a cautious step back, trying to keep my voice steady. "The open field belongs to everyone, doesn’t it?"

He chuckled, low and mocking. "Sure. But tonight, it feels like it belongs to just us."

My heart pounded harder. I forced my feet not to move too fast. Running would only make things worse.

"I was just heading back," I said softly, turning slightly in hopes I could walk away without provoking him.

But he stepped in my path.

"Why leave so soon?" he asked, tilting his head. "It’s not every day I get to be this close to the famous pet of Alpha Damon.

I clenched my fists by my sides, trying not to show fear.

"Move," I said, more firmly this time.

He grinned wider, his eyes sweeping over me in a way that made my stomach twist. "You look even better up close. I almost forgot."

My throat went dry. ’This motherfucker.’

"I said move, Erik."

He leaned in, his voice lower now, but sharper. "Or what? You’ll cry to Damon? He’s not here."

Panic pricked at my chest, but I held my ground. "You won’t get away with whatever you’re planning."

Erik laughed, loud and cruel. "You think this is about getting away with something?" He stepped closer again, his breath brushing my cheek. "This is about finishing what I started."

My pulse pounded in my ears. My body screamed at me to run, but my legs felt heavy.