Chapter 20
The blade presses harder, and I squeeze my eyes shut. Then, all at once, there’s nothing-just a rush of cool air. The attacker and the blade are gone, as if I’m no more substantial than mist. I open my eyes to find myself safely standing a few feet behind the figure, completely out of their reach.
They cry out in exasperation, and Lucas seizes the moment to go on the offensive once more. His hand darts forward, and I could have sworn claws flashed at his fingertips. He seems determined to
tear the figure apart.
But just as he prepares to strike a second time, the figure vanishes yet again. This time, there’s no sign of them anywhere. Lucas scans the surroundings carefully, making sure we’re truly alone, before hurrying over to me.
“Charlotte! Are you hurt?” His eyes are wide with concern, fixed unwaveringly on mine.
I press my palm against my side as the pain begins to settle in. My hand comes away slick with blood, but the injury doesn’t seem deep. “I’m alright, it’s just a scratch.”
He stares at me, troubled. “But your eyes, they’re glowing. And you just disappeared.”
I find myself in the bathroom, tending to the wound at my side as best I can. The cut is shallow,
nothing more than a graze. Lucas had pushed for a trip to the ER, but I refused. Peering into the mirror,
I study my reflection, unable to imagine showing up at the hospital like this.
My eyes shimmer with an unus Chapter Unlocked, Enjoy Reading! up residence in them. My usual eye color is nowhere to be round. I pink repeatedly, пoping the strange glow will fade, but it stays.
Meanwhile, Lucas is in the next room, talking on the phone with Elijah. I can’t make out what Elijah is saying, but Lucas keeps insisting that I’m safe and there’s nothing to worry about. He tries to reassure Elijah that we’ll be at the packhouse soon, though it doesn’t appear to calm him. After a while, silence settles over everything.
Leaving the bathroom, I spot Lucas sitting at the edge of my bed. “You look troubled,” I remark.
Lucas lifts his head to look at me, recoiling slightly. He rubs the back of his neck. “Alpha’s upset. He’s on his way to pick you up.”
My brows knit together. “You haven’t done anything wrong. Elijah shouldn’t be taking it out on you.”
Shaking his head, Lucas rises to his feet. “I don’t think he’s directing his anger at me. He’s just terrified -someone attacked you, and he wasn’t here to stop it.”
“But I’m fine now. You told him that, right?” I keep the cloth pressed against my side. It’s not a big cut, but it’s bleeding more than I expected.
“I did, but Charlotte, you almost weren’t fine. If you hadn’t-” He stops short, brow furrowed. “What exactly did you do?”
I bite my lip. “I’m not sure. It just… happened. The main thing is, I’m alright.” Even as I say this, my hands are trembling, and adrenaline still courses through me. There’s no question someone is after my life, and I’m still clueless as to who. Who was the man my attacker mentioned? Why did he claim I threatened everything he’d built? I’ve kept to myself for years, never menaced anyone.
The door flies open, and Elijah rushes straight toward me. Without hesitation, he enfolds me in a firm embrace. A sharp pain makes me flinch, causing Elijah to immediately release me. His gaze drops to the cloth pressed against my side, and the worry etched on his face deepens. His eyes return to mine,
now wide with shock.
“Charlotte?” he utters, as if unsure whether it’s truly me standing there.
“I’m alright. It’s only a minor wound.” I avert my eyes, fearing this might be the breaking point for Elijah.
“Your eyes…” Elijah’s tone is unreadable; I can’t figure out if he’s frightened or confused.
“It’s still me. I have no idea why they’re glowing. None of this makes any sense.” Tears threaten to spill over, and I curse myself silently. I want to appear tough, but with Elijah here, I feel exposed.
Elijah clasps my face in his hands and showers me with quick kisses. “I can’t tell you how relieved I am you’re safe,” he murmurs when he finally pulls back.
His words lift a weight from my chest, and my heartbeat slows. His thumb gently traces my cheek.
“Charlotte, your eyes-they’re returning to normal,” Elijah remarks, his hands still framing my face as he examines me closely.
“They are?” I ask. Elijah gives a nod, prompting me to break away and dash into the bathroom. Staring into the mirror, I see my eyes have shifted back to their usual warm brown.
Elijah slips into the bathroom behind me. “Let me take care of that wound for you,” he offers.
