CHAPTER 20

*First Person's Perspective*

~Enise~

I woke up with a jolt, the eerie sensation of being watched prickling at the back of my neck. My heart raced as I turned to the window, my gaze locking onto the same bird from my first day here. It perched on the sill, its dark eyes staring directly at me. A shiver ran down my spine, and I quickly glanced away.

That’s when I noticed it—a folded piece of paper sitting on my bedside table. My chest tightened as I reached for it, my fingers trembling slightly. Unfolding it, I read the chilling words scrawled across the page:

*I see your plans are going the way you like it. How about a little game?*

I swallowed hard, my mind racing. Who could have written this? How did they know? My instincts screamed at me to destroy the note, to hide the evidence, but then a better idea struck me. I quickly grabbed my phone and snapped a photo of the paper.

But then another thought crept in. Why stop there? Why not show Lucas? Maybe it was time for him to know that someone was watching, that someone was onto me.

I threw off the covers and hurried to the bathroom, completing my morning routine in record time. My reflection in the mirror looked back at me with a mix of determination and unease. I twisted my hair into a quick bun and threw on joggers, a jacket, and sneakers—an outfit casual enough to give the impression I was heading out for a run.

Satisfied with my disguise, I grabbed the note and tucked it into my jacket pocket. Lucas wouldn’t suspect a thing. He wouldn’t know where I was really going or why.

As I stepped outside, I spotted him immediately. Lucas stood at the edge of the driveway, his sharp voice cutting through the morning air as he issued orders to the staff and guards. He looked as composed as ever, but there was an edge to his tone that hadn’t been there before.

I approached cautiously, pretending to be casual. “What’s going on?” I asked, my voice steady despite the unease swirling in my chest.

He turned to me, his expression unreadable as always. “Slade’s planning an attack,” he said bluntly.

My stomach dropped. “What? Why?”

He shrugged, the motion almost too casual. “I retaliated. One of his pack members is dead.”

The way he said it, so indifferent, so unfeeling—it made my blood run cold. My eyes widened, and I struggled to keep my composure. “You killed someone?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Lucas met my gaze without a hint of remorse. “He was a threat. I did what I had to do.”

I wanted to scream. I wanted to grab him and shake him until he understood the gravity of what he’d done. But I couldn’t let my emotions show. Not yet. Wait! Why did I find that surprising? He was an Alpha. This is definitely not the first time he was doing this. What am I even saying? I was a victim of his cruelty and just happened to be saved in time before I was completely wiped off the earth's surface. So

Instead, I forced myself to smile faintly, nodding as though I understood. “Of course,” I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. “You had no choice.”

But my thoughts were racing. Hadn’t I told him to stop? Hadn’t I made it clear that this cycle of violence had to end? And yet, here he was, still playing the same dangerous game, still risking everything. Lucian. Why was he so hot headed? He had promised to stop, why did he continue

“Stay close to the house,” Lucas said, his tone firm. “We’ve tightened security, but I don’t want to take any chances.”

I nodded again, my mind already forming a plan. He couldn’t know where I was going, and he certainly couldn’t know about the note. “I was just heading out for a run,” I said, gesturing to my outfit. “I’ll stay close.”

Lucas’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn’t argue. “Be careful,” he said finally, his voice softer now.

“I will,” I promised, already turning away before he could ask any more questions.

As I walked away from the house, I felt a weight settle on my shoulders. Lucas had no idea what was really happening. He didn’t know about the note, or the bird, or the feeling of being watched that never seemed to leave me. And he certainly didn’t know about the storm brewing inside me.

But that was fine. Let him stay in the dark for now. I had my own battles to fight, and I didn’t need him getting in the way.

The note burned a hole in my pocket as I made my way toward the meeting spot I had arranged with Lucian. I needed answers, and I needed them now. Why was Slade still a threat? Why was Lucas still taking lives, still playing the game I thought we had ended?

And more importantly, who was behind the note? Who was watching me, and why?

The questions swirled in my mind as I picked up my pace, my sneakers pounding against the pavement. The morning air was crisp and cool, but it did little to calm my racing thoughts.

When I finally reached the edge of the woods, I paused, glancing around to make sure I wasn’t being followed. Satisfied that I was alone, I stepped into the shadows, the trees closing in around me.

Lucian was waiting for me, his tall frame leaning casually against a tree. He straightened when he saw me, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. “You’re early,” he said, his voice low and smooth.

“I had to come,” I said, pulling the note from my pocket and holding it out to him. “This was on my bedside table this morning.”

Lucian took the note, his expression darkening as he read the words. “Where did you find this?”

“I just said it was On my bedside table,” I repeated, my voice tinged with frustration. “Someone put it there while I was sleeping.”

Lucian’s jaw tightened, and he folded the note carefully, tucking it into his pocket. “This isn’t good,” he muttered. “It means they’re closer than we thought.”

“Who?” I demanded, my patience wearing thin. “Who’s watching me?”

Lucian hesitated, his eyes flicking to the trees as though expecting someone to emerge from the shadows. “I don't know, It’s complicated,” he said finally. “But it’s not safe for you here anymore. You need to leave.”

I shook my head, my resolve hardening. “I’m not going anywhere,” I said firmly. “Not until I figure out what’s really going on.”

Lucian sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You need to leave that house. Come to me. It's not safe for you over there"

“I know,” I said quietly. “But I don’t have a choice.”

For a moment, we just stood there, the tension between us heavy and suffocating. Finally, Lucian nodded, his expression grim. “I’ll do what I can,” he said. “But you need to be careful. They’re watching you.”

“I know,” I said again, my voice barely above a whisper.

As I turned to leave, I felt a chill run down my spine. The game was far from over, and I was starting to realize just how high the stakes really were.