Camdens POV
I sat in my office, staring at the stack of papers on the desk. My mind kept wandering back to the events of the dayâthe rogues, the fear in Avery's eyes, the weight of everything that had happened since she returned.
The house was on edge. Tension had taken root, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was looming over them, waiting to strike.
A knock at the door broke my thoughts.
"Come in," I called, my voice sharp but weary.
He entered, his expression grim. The usual confidence in his stance was absent, replaced by a quiet urgency. He handed me a report, his fingers tight around the edges.
"We found something, Alpha," Joel began, his voice low. "The rogues had this." He stepped forward and placed a torn shirt on my desk. I didn't need to see the scent-marking of it to know whose it was.
It was unmistakableâAvery's .
My stomach turned. "Where did you find this?" I growled.
"Deep in the woods, just beyond the boundary line. It's fresh, probably within the last day or so."
My stomach twisted. The thought that someone had gotten close enough to take her shirtâhell, to get close enough to steal something so intimate. I was fighting the urge to lose control.
I forced myself to breathe, looking back at the shirt, letting the scent of it fill my lungs. It felt like a threat. A warning.
"I want a full sweep of the area, Joel. I need to know who is behind this," I said, my voice tight. "And I want you to dig deeper into the rogues. We might have more than just an outside threat on our hands."
"Yes Alpha"
"Joel". i emphasized "I want to know who they are, where they're from, and why they're targeting Avery. This is no coincidence."
Joel nodded and left, but my thoughts kept spiraling, replaying the fear I saw in Avery's eyes. I could feel my heart clenching in my chest.
"Josh, Luke, get in here"
The door to my office opened, and Josh and Luke stepped in, their expressions unreadable but the tension thick between us.
"Alpha," Josh began, but I cut him off before he could say another word.
"Do you have any idea what just happened?" I snapped, my voice hard and edged with fury. "I gave you a direct order. Avery's safety is your responsibility. And youâ" I pointed a finger at each of them. "You let her stray into rogue territory. How the hell does that happen?"
Luke stiffened, his jaw tightening. "We were watching her and the perimeter, Alpha. But Avery... she needed a break and one minute were sitting down, the next she went out without us knowing."
"Without you knowing?" I echoed, rising from my chair, my hands gripping the edge of the desk until my knuckles turned white. "Are you telling me that you let her slip through your fingers? This isn't just some mistake. She could have been killed. She's my responsibility!"
Josh opened his mouth, but I silenced him with a look. I couldn't contain the frustration anymore, the anger that had been building since I found out she was out there alone.
"I should have been there," I muttered more to myself, my fingers running through my hair. "I should've gone after her sooner. But I trusted you two to keep her safe. And you failed."
Neither of them responded, but I could see the regret in their eyes. I didn't need them to tell me they understood. Their guilt was enough.
"We won't let it happen again," Luke said finally, his voice low, the weight of my anger clearly taking its toll. "We'll double the patrols and keep a closer eye on her."
I nodded, still seething, but it wasn't enough. This wasn't just about duty. This was personal. Avery was more than just a pack member to me. She was everything. And I couldn't stand the thought of losing herâespecially because we weren't doing enough to protect her.
"I'll deal with this threat," I muttered, glancing at them. "You two focus on keeping her out of danger. Understood?"
"Yes, Alpha," they said in unison before they both turned to leave.
But before the door closed behind them, I called out one last time.
"Make sure it doesn't happen again."
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Avery POV
It had been a few days since Camden and I had that tense conversation. Things weren't perfect, but they were better. We had talked about the past, the fears, the pain, and there were moments where I thought maybe we could find our way back to something. But those moments were fleeting. Reality kept crashing in.
There was still the ever-present weight of what had happened five years ago, of what someone had tried to do to meâto usâand now that I was back, it felt like we were all waiting for the other shoe to drop.
And it would.
That much, I was certain of.
As I sat at the kitchen table with Caleb coloring beside me, I could hear the distant voices from the living room. Camden and Joel were talking, their voices low but tinged with a sense of urgency. I had gotten used to the tension in the house, the heavy presence of danger, but today something felt different. The air seemed thicker, charged with anticipation, like something was about to happen.
I glanced down at Caleb, his little fingers gripping the crayon with intense concentration. He had no idea how much danger still loomed over us, how much we had fought just to survive. He was too young to understand the stakes, but I knew I couldn't keep him in the dark forever.
My thoughts were interrupted when Camden walked in, his brow furrowed, a tight expression on his face. I could see it in the way his jaw clenched, the way his shoulders were tense. He was trying, I could tell, but I knew something was wrong. Something was weighing heavily on him.
"Hey," I said softly, trying to keep the concern out of my voice. "Everything okay?"
Camden gave me a look, and for a moment, I thought he might shut down, the way he usually did when things got too complicated. But then his eyes softened, just for a split second.
"Lets talk over here and not disturb Caleb's masterpiece"
We sat on the breakfast bar on the opposite side of the room.
"We have a problem," he said, his voice rough with frustration. "Joel just came back from his interrogation. The roguesâthey're not just random wolves anymore."
My stomach dropped. I had a sinking feeling I knew where this was going. "What do you mean?"
He ran a hand through his hair, looking more tired than I had seen him in a long time. "They're being controlled. Someone's behind them. Someone orchestrating all of this. And they're not done yet, Avery."
My heart slammed in my chest as Camden's words sank in. "Controlled?" I repeated, almost to myself, my mind racing. "What are you saying? Someone's using them? Why?"
Camden's face twisted with frustration as he leaned forward, his eyes dark with worry. "It's not random, Avery. It's planned. Someone has been pulling the strings, using the rogues as pawns. And now that you're back..." He trailed off, the implication hanging in the air like a storm cloud, thick and suffocating.
I swallowed, feeling the weight of his words settle in my stomach. Five years ago, someone had tried to take everything from me. And now it seemed like that someone hadn't just given upâthey'd been waiting, watching, and now they were going to finish what they'd started.
"Who?" I whispered, my voice shaking despite my best efforts to keep it steady. "Who's behind this?"
Camden shook his head, his jaw tightening. "I don't know yet. But we're getting closer. Joel is digging into everything he can, but this... it feels different, Avery.
I couldn't breathe. The air in the room felt too thick, my chest tight with a mix of fear and anger. I wanted to scream, to demand answers, to fight, but I couldn't bring myself to do any of it. It was like the walls were closing in around me, pushing me down into a place where I was just waiting for the next attack, the next hit that would shatter everything once again.
I blinked, trying to refocus. Caleb. He was here. He was safe. I had to keep it togetherâfor him.
Camden was silent for a long moment, and when he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost gentle. "Let's do something later, me you and Caleb, we can forget about this looming threat for a moment."
"Lets have movie night in my room, my king bed can fit us all"
I actually didn't hate the idea. "Sure, Caleb would love that, I'll let him know" I smiled.
Camden grinned, his eyes lighting up just a little. "And what about you? Would you like that too?" His voice dropped into something more teasing, flirting just enough to bring a smile to my lips.
I rolled my eyes, but the playful look in his eyes made me feel a flutter in my chest. "I guess I could use a break from the tension. Movie night sounds nice."
Camden chuckled, standing up. "Alright, I've got some work to finish. Stay on the grounds, keep Caleb safe. I'll be back soon, and then we can all relax."
Caleb was excited for the movie night when i told him.
I pulled my phone out and shot Camden a quick message:
Sounds like a plan. Caleb and I will be ready.
Not even a minute passed before he responded:
You know I meant it. I want to spend time with you too.
I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips. Camden had a way of making everything feel lighter, even when the weight of the world was pressing down on us. He was trying so hard, and I appreciated his effort to bring in some normalcy.
I tucked my phone away and glanced at Caleb, who was already bouncing around the living room, too excited to sit still. "Okay, buddy. Movie night in dads roomâget your favorite snacks ready," I said, trying to match his excitement.
His face lit up. "Movie night! Can I have popcorn?"
"Of course," I said with a smile, watching him run off to the pantry.
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Caleb and i spent the next hour "preparing" Cam's room for the movie night. His bed had been turned into a fort and snack laid scattered all around.
"Mom we're ready can you get Daddy" He was jumping around the room happily. "Ok stay with Josh and Luke and i'll be back".
I snickered as the boys shocked face when they saw the mess Caleb and i made. "Keep an eye on him, i'll be right back"
I went to go find Cam as i knew hed be in his office but when i was about to knock i heard him talking... with a girl.
I couldn't help but freeze in place, Camden's voice rang out through the closed door. I had never heard him speak so firmly to anyone, and something about it made me stay rooted to the spot. I knew I shouldn't be listening, but the words that followed made it impossible to leave.
"Maddison, I've told you this over and over i'm not interested," Camden said, his tone sharp, but there was an underlying frustration I hadn't heard before. "You're not going to change my mind. I'm with Avery. It's always been Avery."
It's always been Avery. He said it with such finality!
I bit my lip, trying to steady my breathing. There was a strange mix of relief and discomfort swirling in my chest. Relief, because Camden had made it clear where his loyalty lay. Discomfort, because I wasn't sure how I felt about this Maddison being so persistent, so... there.
"You think I don't know that, Camden?" Maddison replied, her voice sweet but laced with something else. "But I've always been here for you. You don't have to be with her. You could be with me."
I felt a twinge in my stomach, a pang I couldn't quite explain. Why did her words sting? Was it because I knew she wasn't just talking about the past? She was still here, still trying to make her place in Camden's life, despite everything. And part of meâpart of me really didn't like that.
Camden's voice softened, but it still carried a weight of finality. "Avery is the one I want. I don't know how many times I have to say it. Please, just... stop."
I pressed my back to the wall, clutching the doorframe to steady myself. I didn't want to hear more, but at the same time, I couldn't pull myself away. The silence that followed made me want to peek around the corner, but I stayed still, letting my breath settle in my throat. My heart was racing, my emotions churning in a way I wasn't prepared for.
The door creaked open, and I quickly pressed myself further into the shadowed corner of the hall, hoping he wouldn't see me. Camden stepped out, his expression guarded, but his eyes softened when they landed on me.
Before I could even react, Maddison came out behind him, her steps light but quick as she brushed past him and down the hall, not sparing me a second glance. There was a quiet tension between them, and for some reason, that made something in my chest tighten.
I didn't move, waiting for Camden to follow, to come to me. But I couldn't help but feel... something. A sense of possessiveness that I wasn't proud of. That sharp, irrational jealousy that cut deep. I didn't want to feel this way. I didn't want to care about what Maddison thought, or what she wanted. But somehow, it felt like she was trying to take something that was mine.
I heard Camden call my name softly. "Avery?"
I stepped out of the shadows, meeting his gaze. His brows furrowed slightly, and his expression was cautious, as if waiting for me to say something.
"You okay?" he asked, his voice low, almost too calm.
I nodded, forcing a smile that I didn't quite feel. "Yeah. I'm fine."
His eyes narrowed a little, as if sensing the lie, but he didn't press. "I didn't expect her to show up again."
"Clearly," I muttered, still trying to hide the edge in my voice. Camden was looking at me with a mix of concern and confusion, but I wasn't sure I was ready to admit to himâor even myselfâwhat was bubbling up inside me.
"Let's just get to movie night," I said quickly, trying to shift the focus. "Caleb's been bouncing off the walls waiting for you."
Camden gave me a small smile, but I noticed the tightness in his jaw. "Yeah, let's go. I'll make sure we all have a good time."
As we walked back to Caleb's room, my mind was reeling. "Did i have feelings for Cam? When did they develop?"
Was I jealous?
Yes. I had to admit it. I wanted Camden. Not just for the sake of Caleb or some half-hearted, distant connection, but because I wanted him. Completely. And if I was being honest with myself, I had been denying it for too long.
I was falling for him again. And this time, I wasn't going to let anyoneâor anythingâstand in my way.