Chapter 145: I didn’t belong here.

HELENA. As I raced down the hallway, heart pounding against my chest, I couldn't shake the image of Aaron's teasing grin from my mind. He was so…argh. Sure, he was hot as hell. Sure, I might be totally in love with him that I can't tell my right from my left. But I would never ever get used to his teasing. I smiled, though my cheeks burned from the earlier encounter. It wasn't until I rounded the final corner that I realized my relief was short-lived. 'Oof—sorry!" I gasped, stumbling backward. I had collided with someone, solid as a wall. When I looked up, my heart sank. Quincy. The same wolf who had barged in on Aaron and me the night before. His sharp gray eyes glimmered with recognition, and before I could open my mouth, he let out an amused chuckle. 'Well, well, if it isn't the runaway," Quincy teased, his voice light. But he was clearly enjoying my discomfort. 'Didn't think I'd see you sprinting down these halls this early. Where are you off to in such a rush?" I could feel the heat rising in my face, cursing my luck. Of all the wolves I could run into this early morning apart from Luna, why did it have to be Quincy? I looked up at him, trying to find the right words, but they stuck in my throat. 'I—uh…" Quincy folded his arms over his broad chest, leaning slightly toward me. 'Oh, don't tell me Aaron scared you off again." His grin widened, and I could tell he was holding back a laugh. 'He can be a handful, but running away this often? You might need a new strategy." I opened my mouth to respond, but all that came out was a faint, awkward laugh. 'No, it's not that. I'm just, um… tired." 'Tired?" Quincy raised an eyebrow. 'You seemed wide awake a second ago." I could feel the ground beneath me threatening to swallow me whole. Well enough, I would appreciate that. 'Yeah, well... it's been a long morning." 'Right," he said, his teasing tone never faltering. 'Well, try not to get lost on the way back to your room this time." I managed a weak smile and sidestepped around him. 'Thank you. I'll try not to." He winked at me, clearly enjoying my flustered state. 'See you at breakfast. Try not to knock anyone else over on your way there." My only response was a nervous laugh before I hurried away, the sound of his chuckle echoing behind me. Great. My interactions with the wolves here were off to an excellent start. By the time I reached my room, I shut the door behind me, leaning back against it and letting out a long breath. Both wolves teasing still echoed in my head, but I had bigger things to focus on. After a quick shower and some much-needed time to calm down, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. There was a lot on the line today. Aaron had returned, and that meant the council would want to address everything…from his absence to the future of his role as Alpha. And then there was me, stuck in the middle of a world I didn't fully belong to, yet having to pretend like I did. No matter how hard I tried to avoid it, I couldn't help but feel like an outsider. The wolves here all moved with such confidence and purpose, while I still felt like I was tiptoeing through an elaborate game I hadn't been taught how to play. I pulled on a simple dress, something neutral and comfortable. I wasn't ready for whatever the council had planned today, but I didn't have a choice. I had to stick this out, for Aaron and Luna. Breakfast was in the grand hall, a long table already set with food. Luna was already seated, her sharp eyes scanning the room as she spotted me. I made my way toward her, my steps hesitant. 'Good morning," Luna said, her voice even and calm. 'Morning," I replied, sliding into the chair next to her. She looked me over, probably noticing the tension in my posture. 'You don't have to be so nervous, you know. We've got a plan, and we'll handle whatever comes." I nodded. 'I know, it's just… they're very unpredictable. I don't know what to expect." Luna took a sip of her tea, her eyes never leaving mine. 'The council's decision will be crucial, especially with Aaron back. They'll want to hear from him, and from us, about how things should move forward." I swallowed, my throat tight. 'What if they ask questions about me? I mean, about why I'm here?" 'They will," she said simply. 'But we've prepared for that. You're a guest of the Alpha. That's all they need to know. If anyone pushes further, we'll handle it." I sighed. The council, the elders, all the formalities—they seemed to tower over me, like an invisible weight pressing down. And no matter how much Luna tried to reassure me, it didn't change the fact that I didn't belong here. I was still human, surrounded by wolves, and it felt like any second they'd all figure that out. Luna placed a hand on my arm, her grip firm but comforting. 'You'll be fine. Trust me." Before I could respond, Aaron appeared at the far end of the hall. His presence instantly drew attention, the room quieting as his gaze swept over everyone. There was an unspoken respect for him, even after all his time away. It was clear to everyone that he belonged here, no matter how complicated things had become. As he made his way toward us, I noticed the shift in Luna's posture—calm but alert. Aaron sat down across from us, his expression unreadable. 'We need to talk." Aaron said, his tone serious but not unkind. Luna nodded, leaning forward slightly. 'I assume you've already been briefed on what's happening with the council?" He let out a small sigh, running a hand through his hair. 'Yeah. They want answers. About my absence, about what I plan to do next." 'They're going to press you hard," Luna added. 'They're divided on whether or not you should resume your role as Alpha." I stayed quiet, my hands in my lap. The air between them was thick with the weight of unspoken tension. This wasn't just about Aaron stepping back into a role; it was about how the pack would view his leadership after being gone so long. Aaron glanced at me briefly, his expression softening for just a second, and I could see the beginning of a smile. 'I'll handle the council. They have no choice but to listen to me." Luna smirked, though it didn't reach her eyes. 'You better. They're already whispering about how unstable things have become since you left." 'I know," Aaron said, his voice heavy. 'But I came back to fix it." I looked between the two of them, feeling more out of place than ever. LunaVille was their world, their politics, their traditions. My role here felt insignificant in comparison. Luna glanced at me again, noticing my silence. 'Helena, you're part of this too. Your presence is helping more than you realize." Aaron glanced at me immediately, his eyes carrying a weight of emotions. It was like he was saying, 'you're my moral support." My heart fluttered, and I felt a bit of calm. I forced a small smile, but the truth was, I didn't feel like I was helping at all. More like I was an awkward piece in a puzzle that didn't fit. The wolves were united, strong, and purposeful. I was just… human. And I couldn't shake the feeling that they all saw it, even if no one said it aloud. The conversation shifted back to council proceedings, but I was barely listening now. The uncertainty gnawed at me, louder than any words spoken across the table. I didn't belong here. And no matter how much I tried to blend in, there was no changing that.