Chapter 189
Jake's office was exactly what I expected—neat, organized, and painfully impersonal.
The large wooden desk was stacked with reports and maps, the shelves lined with books and ledgers. The only thing that seemed remotely personal was a framed picture on the far wall. Even from here, I could tell it was of Prisca.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced myself to look away.
Jake was already at his desk, flipping through a folder. "Close the door behind you."
I did as he asked, stepping further into the room. "So, what’s the plan?"
He didn’t look up. "We need to tighten security. I want to know how someone got past our patrols and drugged the guards."
I crossed my arms. "That’s obvious. But do you have any leads on who’s behind this?"
Jake finally met my gaze. "Nothing solid. But whoever it is, they’re getting bolder."
A chill ran down my spine. "Then we don’t have time to waste."
He nodded. "Which is why I want you to go over the patrol routes with me. I need a fresh set of eyes."
I blinked. "Me?"
Jake raised an eyebrow. "You’re the one who caught the intruder first, Ayla. You clearly have good instincts. And let’s not forget your… visions." His voice tightened slightly, like he still didn’t want to acknowledge them.
I ignored the way my stomach twisted at his tone and walked over to his desk. "Fine. Let’s go over them."
We spent the next hour combing through reports, adjusting security placements, and reworking the schedules for patrol shifts.
Somewhere in the middle of it, I got distracted.
Jake’s sleeves were rolled up, revealing strong forearms, his veins subtly visible beneath his skin. His movements were precise, his focus unwavering.
I hated that I noticed.
I hated even more that I was staring.
"You’re quiet," he said without looking up.
I cleared my throat. "Just thinking."
"About?"
"About how you actually trust my opinion on this," I said, attempting to steer the conversation.
Jake leaned back in his chair, studying me. "I don’t trust easily. But I trust results. And you keep proving yourself."
Something about his words made my heart stutter.
I looked away, pretending to focus on the maps. "Well, good. Because I’m not going anywhere."
The air between us shifted, something unspoken settling between us.
But before either of us could say anything, there was a knock at the door.
Sophie’s voice came through. "Ayla, open up!"
I shot Jake a quick look before heading for the door.
The second I cracked it open, Sophie burst in, her face lit with excitement. "You’re coming with me."
I frowned. "What? Why?"
"Because," she grinned, "we’re taking the twins outside today."
Jake tensed slightly. "Is that safe?"
Sophie waved a dismissive hand. "Relax, Alpha. The courtyard is secured, and we’ll have guards nearby. Besides, they need sunlight, and Ayla needs a break from your brooding presence."
I bit my lip to keep from laughing.
Jake sighed, rubbing his temple. "Fine. But take extra guards."
Sophie beamed. "Already done!" She turned to me. "Come on, let’s go before the little monsters get impatient."
I didn’t argue.
The courtyard was warm, the sun shining down on the lush green grass.
Lily and Logan were nestled on a blanket, giggling as Sophie played with them. Fatima sat beside her, sipping lemonade while keeping a close watch on the surroundings.
I sat cross-legged beside them, watching as Lily clapped her hands excitedly at the sight of a butterfly flitting nearby.
"You’re smiling," Sophie teased.
I rolled my eyes. "I’m allowed to smile."
Fatima smirked. "Yes, but lately, you only seem to do it when you’re with the twins. Or, you know, when a certain Alpha is around."
I groaned. "Not this again."
Sophie grinned. "Oh, it’s definitely this again."
Before I could argue, Lily suddenly reached out toward the butterfly—
And it stopped in midair.
Not fluttering. Not moving. Just hovering as if frozen in time.
My breath caught.
Fatima’s glass slipped from her hand, hitting the grass with a dull thud.
Sophie’s eyes widened. "Did she just—?"
Before she could finish her sentence, the butterfly suddenly flapped its wings and continued flying as if nothing had happened.
I turned to Lily, who simply giggled and clapped again, completely unaware of what she had just done.
My heart pounded.
First, the floating bubbles. Now this.
I swallowed hard, glancing at Fatima and Sophie. They both looked as shaken as I felt.
Sophie whispered, "We are so screwed."
"No we are not ,we are going to protect them remember " I said smiling as I picked Lily up and she giggled.
The first nightmare came that night.
At first, it was nothing but a whisper in the dark—a voice calling my name, distant and hollow. But then, the shadows thickened, the air turned ice-cold, and I found myself standing in the middle of the forest.
Alone.
The trees twisted unnaturally, their branches reaching toward me like skeletal fingers. The wind howled, carrying an eerie laugh that sent chills down my spine.
And then I saw them.
Lily and Logan, standing just ahead, their tiny figures barely visible in the fog.
I ran toward them, but no matter how fast I moved, they were always just out of reach.
A sharp growl echoed through the trees, followed by the sound of footsteps—heavy, slow, deliberate.
Something was coming.
Something I couldn’t see.
Panic surged through me. I pushed forward, reaching for the twins, but just as my fingers brushed against Logan’s tiny hand—
Darkness swallowed them whole.
I screamed.
And then I woke up.
My body jerked violently, my breath coming in ragged gasps. My skin was damp with sweat, my heart pounding so hard it hurt.
It took me a moment to remember where I was.
My room. The packhouse. Safe.
Except I didn’t feel safe at all.
The dream had felt so real, the fear still clinging to my chest like a vice.
I exhaled shakily, running a hand through my damp hair. I needed water.
Throwing off the blankets, I stood on unsteady legs and made my way to the door. The hallway was silent, the only sound the distant chirping of crickets outside.
I headed toward the kitchen, but as I turned the corner, I nearly ran straight into a solid wall of muscle.
I gasped, stumbling back, only to realize—
It wasn’t a wall. It was Jake.
His hands caught my arms before I could fall, steadying me. "Ayla?" His voice was low, rough with sleep. He was shirtless, his hair slightly disheveled, like he had just woken up himself.
I swallowed hard, my pulse still racing from the dream. "I—sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you."
He frowned. "You didn’t. What are you doing up?"
I hesitated. "Just needed some water."
His eyes studied me, sharp even in the dim light. "You’re shaking."
I clenched my jaw. "I’m fine."
Jake didn’t look convinced. "Did you have a vision?"
I shook my head. "No. Just a nightmare."
His grip on my arms tightened for a fraction of a second before he released me. "What was it about?"
I looked away, unsure why I felt so vulnerable under his gaze. "The twins. Something was after them. I tried to reach them, but they just—vanished."
Jake was silent for a moment. Then, without warning, he reached out and cupped the side of my face, tilting my chin up so I had no choice but to meet his eyes.
"You will be alright...I promise," he said quietly.
I froze.
It wasn’t just his words that made my breath catch—it was the way he said them. Firm. Certain. Like it wasn’t even a question.
Something in my chest ached.
Because for so long, I had felt alone. Even when Sophie and Fatima were by my side, even when I had the twins, a part of me had always carried the weight of everything by myself.
Jake’s thumb brushed against my cheek, and I realized too late that a tear had escaped.
I pulled back quickly, embarrassed. "I’m fine," I said again, even though we both knew it was a lie.
Jake exhaled through his nose, but he didn’t push me. Instead, he nodded toward the kitchen. "Come on. I’ll get you some water."
I didn’t argue.
We walked in silence, the air thick with something unspoken.
Jake moved around the kitchen with ease, grabbing a glass and filling it with water before handing it to me. I took it, my fingers brushing against his.
"Thanks," I murmured.
He leaned against the counter, arms crossed, watching me as I took a sip. "Do you get nightmares often?"
I swallowed. "Not really. At least, not before all this."
He nodded slowly, like he understood.
And maybe he did.
After all, I wasn’t the only one who had lost something.
Or someone.
For a while, neither of us spoke.
Then, in a voice so quiet I almost didn’t hear it, Jake said, "You can wake me up if it happens again."
I blinked. "What?"
He shifted slightly, looking almost… uncomfortable. "If you have another nightmare. Come find me."
I stared at him, unsure what to say.
This was new.
Jake had always been distant, guarded. But this? This was something else.
Something softer.
I nodded, my chest tightening. "Okay."
And for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel quite so alone.
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