Chapter 44: Intruder

Chapter 44: Intruder Kaya I’m not sure how long I’ve been running—minutes, hours? Time feels warped, but one thing is painfully certain: I’m about to die. My pulse hammers relentlessly in my ears, and every breath feels like it’s setting my lungs on fire, the air too sharp, too scarce. I have no one to blame but myself. Back in Dark Wood, physical exertion was never part of my daily routine. Damien made sure of that. He didn’t like me engaging in "anything remotely dangerous or harmful," as he’d always phrase it. I never fully understood what that meant––I’ve been through a lot of dangerous and harmful shit in the past––but I didn’t complain. At the time, it felt like a blessing. After all, why train when there was no reason to fight? But now, I’m paying the price for all those idle days—every burning muscle and every gasping breath a reminder of the strength I never built. "Are you alright?" Samantha’s voice slices through the fog of my exhaustion, and I force myself to respond without choking on my own breath. "Yeah... I’m good." "You don’t look good," she frowns, slowing to a stop and throwing her arm in front of me to halt my staggering steps. "Your face is bright red. Keep going like this, and I swear, you’ll pass out with a nosebleed." She’s not wrong—my head feels like it’s about to burst, as if the pressure might crack my skull open. "Let’s take a break," Sam urges, gently steering me off the path and onto the grass. "At this rate, you won’t even finish the first lap." The words sting, and I wince—not from her tone, but from the truth in it. Still, I shake my head, unwilling to accept defeat. I will finish all three laps. I have to. Not just to prove it to them, but to myself. I need to show that I don’t require special treatment, not anymore. And if anyone dares call me "the Alpha’s favorite" again, it won’t be because I was coddled. It’ll be because I was the strongest. "I’ll rest a little longer, then keep going," I manage to say between breaths, my chest rising and falling frantically. "You go ahead. I don’t want you getting scolded because of me." "Nah," Samantha says with a shake of her head, brushing off my concern. "It’s fine. You’re new here. Sticking by your side during your first training session will only work in my favor." She flashes me a wide, easy grin, warm and reassuring. I find myself returning it almost instinctively. Even though I’m still not entirely sure whether her helping me like this is the best idea—for either of us—I’m genuinely grateful for her presence. If I were alone right now, I think I’d completely fall apart. "Tillian." A sudden male voice cuts through the relative quiet, making us both snap our heads in its direction. "Alpha Magnus," Samantha responds immediately, stepping forward with a subtle shift that places her tall frame protectively in front of mine. "What’s going on? Why did you stop?" he asks, his sharp gaze flicking to me. A faint crease forms between his brows, subtle but noticeable. "We’re just—" "We stopped because of me," I cut in before she can offer an excuse on my behalf, stepping out from behind her and positioning myself between them. "I got tired. I don’t really know the layout of the forest yet, and I asked Samantha to stay with me while I caught my breath." Samantha looks like she wants to object, lips parting, but before she can say a single word, Magnus exhales in quiet frustration and jerks his chin to the left, clearly signaling for her to go. "Resume the run," he commands firmly. Her eyes widen slightly in protest. "But, Alpha Magnus, she’s—" "I’ll stay with her," he interrupts, voice leaving no room for argument. "Now move it." Great. Magnus babysitting me completely undermines everything I’ve been trying to prove since I got here. But Samantha has no choice—there’s no point in her disobeying a direct order, especially when I won’t be left alone. "Yes, Alpha," she replies dutifully. She casts me one last apologetic glance, but I give her a subtle nod, silently assuring her that it’s alright. A moment later, she turns and takes off, her long strides carrying her quickly down the path, leaving me alone with... him. "Are you feeling alright?" Magnus asks, tilting his head slightly as one brow arches in curiosity. "I did tell you—you didn’t have to run with the others." I frown, the irritation boiling inside me like a kettle left too long on the stove. I can’t even explain why his presence makes me so angry. Maybe it’s the fact that he brought me to his pack without offering any kind of explanation. Or the way he’s acted since—aloof, erratic, and just plain strange. And then, as if that wasn’t enough, he had the audacity to mock me about whatever twisted idea he has of what I was doing in the Dark Wood pack. Or maybe... maybe it’s not really about him at all. I don’t know. My brain is struggling to get enough oxygen as it is, and I feel like I’m about to unravel. "I’m part of your pack now," I snap, though I meant for my tone to be calm, neutral. "So I need to do what everyone else is doing." Magnus lets out a low, unexpected chuckle. "Ha." His entire expression softens, and to my surprise, a faint blush creeps into his cheeks. "Pride and confidence," he says, smiling faintly, "those are qualities everyone in my pack shares. If you keep that fire, I think you’ll blend in just fine." His voice is so unexpectedly warm, so disarmingly gentle, that for a moment, I almost let my guard down. I don’t know what’s going on with him—one moment he’s arrogant and cold, and the next... he’s kind. Soft. Close. I blink, my lashes fluttering in confusion, before I realize something else—yes, he’s standing incredibly close. Uncomfortably close. So close that our bodies are nearly touching, and the heat radiating off his skin feels like it’s wrapping around me. Startled, I freeze in place, my limbs locked, my breath caught in my throat. Magnus lifts his arm slowly, and before I can process what’s happening, the back of his hand brushes lightly against my forehead—soft and careful, as though he’s afraid I might shatter if he touches me too hard. I close my eyes instinctively at the sensation, trying to collect myself, trying to calm the frantic pace of my heartbeat. Big mistake. With my senses alerted and the world narrowed to the space between us, his scent hits me like a wave—warm, earthy, laced with the faintest hint of something wild and electric. Now that he’s flushed and damp with sweat, the scent is stronger, richer... like it’s seeping through the air and straight into my bloodstream. Why is my body reacting to him like this? "Strange," Magnus murmurs, his voice a breath across my skin. I snap out of my daze, blinking up at him as he studies me with a slight frown. "A bump like this should’ve healed by now." I blink again, his words taking a moment to register. "Oh..." I trail off, mind still foggy as I scramble for something more coherent to say. "I don’t even––" Before I can finish my sentence, Magnus’s face turns sharply to the side. His hand slides down from my forehead and covers my mouth in one swift, silent motion. "Shhh," he whispers, his amber eyes narrowing as they scan the forest ahead. "We have an intruder."