The door opened with a soft creak.
I didn't look back. I didn't need to. His presence felt like a shift in the room's air—quiet, simmering, familiar.
"Eva—" Damien began.
I cut him off with a calm voice, too calm for how torn my insides felt. "You should go back to Selene. She needs you the most right now."
"I came here to explain," he said, stepping in. "There's nothing between me and Selene—there never was. And I swear, she can't possibly be pregnant with my child."
I turned slowly, arching a brow at him. "You don't owe me an explanation," I said coolly. "She's your future Luna, isn't she? Whatever happens between the two of you has nothing to do with me."
He flinched, just slightly. "That's not—"
"She's carrying your child, Damien." I folded my arms. "You have responsibilities now. And this pack will expect you to do what's 'right.' I'm not part of that."
His jaw clenched. Silence stretched between us.
For a moment, I wondered if he'd say something—deny it again, fight harder. But he didn't. And I hated that a part of me hoped he would.
I moved past him, my voice steady. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have things to do."
But just as I brushed by, his hand caught my wrist—firm but not painful. His touch burned, even now.
"You really don't care?" he asked, voice low, raw.
I looked down at his hand, then up into his eyes. "You tell me, Alpha. Does it look like I care?"
And with a slight pull, I slipped free of his grasp and walked out—head high, heart heavy.
–––⸻✧⸻–––
The crisp air bit into my skin as I stepped into the backyard. I walked until I found the nearest stone pillar and gripped it tightly. I let out the breath I'd been holding.
My chest ached in ways I couldn't name. Did it hurt? Of course, it did. More than I wanted to admit.
I hadn't meant to feel anything for Damien. But emotions were traitorous. They crept in where they weren't invited and made a home in hollow places.
He wasn't mine. He never was.
And now… now he had a family.
I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing the tears to stay right where they were—unshed, buried, locked away.
It wasn't right. These feelings were crazy. Reckless. Dangerous. He wasn't mine to want, and the sooner I reminded myself of that, the better.
"Boo!"
I jumped, hand flying to my chest as I spun around.
A lean man with a cheeky grin stood behind me, arms casually folded. He was built differently than Damien or Xavier— with a runner's body and a sunray in his eyes.
"Did I scare you?" he asked, lips twitching in amusement.
"I don't know, you tell me. Is nearly giving someone a heart attack your hobby?"
He laughed—light, boyish, and completely unapologetic. "That was a little payback. You were giving the pillar a death grip like you were planning to kill it."
I blinked. "And you are?"
"Oh, right." He offered his hand. "Rowan. Damien and Xavier's cousin."
I shook it, brow raised. "Eva."
"Yeah, I know." He leaned in slightly. "You're kind of the talk of the town."
My face stiffened. "What's that supposed to mean?"
He slapped a hand over his mouth, eyes wide. "Oops. Slipped again. Forget I said that."
"Not how that works," I said flatly.
He chuckled again, leaning back on his heels like nothing could faze him. "You've got sharp comebacks. I like that."
"And you've got a habit of walking around uninvited. I don't like that."
Rowan grinned wider, clearly enjoying himself. "You'll get used to me. I have a feeling we're going to be seeing a lot of each other."
I let out a breath—part amusement, part exasperation. There was something about him. His presence didn't press down like Xavier's or carry the loaded silence Damien's did. Rowan was… easier. Still unfamiliar, but his energy felt lighter, like he hadn't come to wound me just for breathing.
Still, I wasn't stupid.
Not anymore.
"So, what's your angle?" I asked, narrowing my eyes slightly. "You walk out here, scare me, start talking like we're old friends—what do you want?"
He blinked, then tilted his head with a half-smile. "Wow. Suspicious much?"
"I've earned it."
Rowan studied me for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Fair enough. Look, I'm not here to bite. Or backstab. I just saw someone who looked like they needed air… and maybe a little company."
I didn't respond right away.
"Okay," he added, "and maybe I was a little curious. Heard the stories. Wanted to see for myself."
I gave him a dry look. "And what do the stories say?"
"That you're a witch." His lips twitched again. "Or a curse. Or a seductress sent to tear apart the mighty bloodline of Nightfang."
"Oh, so just the usual." I rolled my eyes. "Charming."
"But," he said, taking a step closer, voice dropping with sincerity, "you don't look like any of those things to me."
I stilled. My heart kicked once in my chest, a little off-beat.
"And how would you know what I look like?" I asked carefully.
"Because I actually look. Most people don't."
I turned my gaze away, staring out toward the trees. He was too smooth. Too easy with his words.
Luciana had smiled at me too. Played the good girl card and then left me choking on betrayal.
"I'm not looking for new friends," I said after a moment.
"I'm not offering to be your bestie. I'm offering conversation." He spread his arms, that mischievous grin back on his face. "That's all. You look like someone who could use someone who doesn't stare at you like you're about to eat their firstborn."
A breath escaped me that was dangerously close to a laugh. "You're ridiculous."
"Guilty."
I glanced at him again, really looked.
There was nothing fake in his eyes. But trust? That was a lesson I had learned the hard way.
"You don't know me," I said quietly.
"Nope." He tilted his head, smile softening. "But I'm not afraid to."
He took a step closer. Just one. Not threatening, not overly confident either—but enough to make my spine straighten.
"Do I make you nervous?" he asked suddenly, quietly.
I blinked at him, unsure where that came from.
"Because you look like you're trying really hard not to run," he added, voice lower, softer now.
My lips parted to answer, but I had nothing.
Then—he raised a hand, slowly, toward my face. My whole body tensed. But it wasn't the proximity that froze me.
It was the words he whispered next:
"Careful, Eva. Around here, people disappear when they trust too easily."