Chapter Seven: A Growing Tension
The sun was beginning to set as Damien and Ava stood side by side, gazing out over the forest from the cabin's porch. The day had been quiet, the tension from the previous night's battle still lingering in the air, but neither of them had spoken much since the rogue's retreat. Ava felt an unspoken connection with him, one that deepened with every moment they spent together. It was risky, she knew, but she couldn't help it.
"So," she said, breaking the silence. "What now? Are we just waiting for the next fight?"
Damien glanced at her, his golden eyes softer than usual. "We're waiting for the pack," he replied. "I need to ensure they're aware of what's happening."
"Are they… are they going to be okay with you not being in charge?" she asked cautiously.
Damien's jaw tightened slightly, but his expression remained composed. "The pack will follow whoever is strongest, whether I'm leading them or not. But this situation is different. They'll need to know about the rogues—and you."
Ava frowned. "Me?"
"You're part of the problem now," he said, his tone turning serious. "The rogues know about you. They'll come after you to get to me."
The weight of his words hung heavily between them, but before Ava could respond, the sound of tires crunching over gravel reached their ears. Damien's posture immediately stiffened, his gaze snapping to the road.
Ava followed his line of sight, and her stomach dropped when she saw a black SUV pull into the clearing. She didn't need to ask who it was.
The door of the SUV swung open, and a tall, muscular figure emerged. His broad shoulders and commanding presence were unmistakable. It was Damien's older brother, Victor.
"Great," Damien muttered quietly.
Ava observed as Victor's gaze locked onto Damien before shifting to her, a look of disdain crossing his face.
"Damien," Victor greeted, his voice laced with mock politeness. "Still avoiding your responsibilities, I see."
Damien's expression hardened, but he held his tongue for a moment. Instead, he crossed his arms and gave his brother a long, scrutinizing look.
"Ava," Victor said, turning his attention to her with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I've heard a lot about you. Didn't realize you were the new distraction."
Ava's stomach twisted, but she held her ground. "I'm not a distraction," she replied firmly.
Victor chuckled darkly, his gaze lingering on her a moment too long before returning to Damien. "I think you'll find I'm not the only one who believes you're wasting your time with this human."
Damien's eyes flashed with irritation, but before he could respond, Victor stepped closer, his presence imposing. "You should come back to the pack, Damien. Your place is with us, not hiding away in some cabin with a mortal girl who doesn't understand what she's getting into."
Ava's pulse quickened as she sensed the tension between the two brothers, thick and palpable.
There was something about Victor that made her uneasy. Perhaps it was the way he kept staring at her, as if she were merely an obstacle in his path.
"I'm not going anywhere," Damien said coldly, his voice taking on a harder edge. "The rogues are a problem, Victor. You know that."
Victor's lips twisted into a slight smirk. "Of course. But running off with a human isn't the answer. You're an alpha, Damien. You should be leading the pack, not babysitting a girl who's just going to hold you back."
Ava felt a tightness in her chest at the implication, but before she could respond, Damien stepped forward, his expression darkening.
"You don't get to dictate my actions anymore," Damien said, his voice low and menacing.
Victor raised an eyebrow but stood his ground. "We'll see about that." He shot a final glance at Ava, the malice in his eyes unmistakable. "Enjoy your time in the woods, little human. It won't last long."
With a final sneer, he turned and strode back to his SUV, slamming the door shut. The engine roared to life, and in moments, the vehicle was gone, leaving the clearing in an eerie silence.
Ava exhaled slowly, feeling the tension in her body begin to dissipate. She hadn't realized how much she'd been holding her breath until the moment passed.
Damien remained still, his gaze locked on the road where Victor's SUV had vanished. His jaw was clenched, and his posture was tense with frustration.
"Who was that?" Ava asked softly, though she suspected she already knew the answer.
"That was my brother," Damien said, frustration barely contained. "Victor. He's always been… difficult."
"Difficult?" Ava echoed, raising an eyebrow. "He didn't seem to like me very much."
Damien glanced at her, his expression softening a bit. "Victor doesn't like anything that threatens his control over the pack. And right now, that includes you."
"Me?" Ava asked, her voice tight with disbelief.
Damien sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "You're a distraction to him. A complication. And he doesn't like the idea of me being… attached to a human."
Ava swallowed hard, trying to process the weight of Damien's words. The rivalry between the brothers was more than just about power—it was personal. And now, she found herself caught in the middle.
"He's right about one thing," Damien said after a long pause. "You're not part of this world. It's dangerous for you. I don't want to pull you further into it, but I don't have a choice."
Ava shook her head, her resolve only growing stronger. "I'm not going anywhere."
Damien looked at her, his expression unreadable. "Ava, this isn't a fairy tale. You don't get to walk away from this."
She met his gaze, unwavering. "Neither do you."
The silence between them was thick, charged with a mix of tension and unspoken understanding. But as Damien turned back to the road, Ava couldn't shake the feeling of the fight ahead. It
wasn't just rogues they had to worry about anymore.
It was the pack itself.