Chapter 124: She's Mine!

HELENA. The world spun around me, and for a moment, I couldn't see anything. All I could hear was the pounding of my heart and the snarling of wolves. I tried to push myself up, but my body wouldn't cooperate. I was on the verge of a panic attack when a familiar voice filled my ears. Aaron. He was here. I looked up, and there he was, standing over me, his eyes blazing with a fierce determination. He growled, a deep, terrifying sound that seemed to shake the ground beneath us. His eyes glowed a bright red, even more terrifying than the other wolves. He might have been terrifying to others, but I was just in awe. The wolves hesitated, their eyes darting between Aaron and me. I could see the fear in their eyes now, the uncertainty. They weren't sure if they should attack or back off. 'Get back!" Aaron snarled, his voice like thunder. 'She's with me." The wolves seemed to consider this for a moment before slowly backing away, their eyes never leaving us. They didn't retreat entirely, but waited, watching. They didn't make any more movements that could suggest they wanted to attack. I let out a shaky breath, relief flooding through me. I was safe… for now. Aaron turned to me, his expression softening. 'Are you okay?" I nodded, still trying to catch my breath. 'Yeah… I think so. Thank you." He helped me to my feet, his touch warm and reassuring. For a moment, we just stood there, staring at each other. I could see the worry in his eyes, and well….fear. 'Don't scare me like that again," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. He hugged me tightly, and I could hear his heart racing. It was faster than normal, and it made mine flutter. I managed a small smile. 'I'll try not to." The wolf leading the group stepped forward, and I recognized him. He was the same one who had come to us a few nights ago. The one with the sharp amber eyes that stared right into me as if he could see through my disguise. My heart pounded in my chest, and I held my breath, trying to stay still. I did not want to draw any attention. "Alpha Aaron," the wolf spoke, his voice calm but commanding. "It is an honor to find you safe and well." Aaron's body tensed beside me. I felt his arm press a little tighter around my waist, his fingers brushing against my skin like a silent warning. I could tell he didn't like the wolf's tone, even though the words sounded respectful. "I appreciate your concern," Aaron said, his voice equally as calm, but there was a sharpness to it. "But I do not need an escort back to Lunaville." The wolf leader's eyes flicked to me for a moment, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. Why was he looking at me like that? "Alpha," he continued, "the elders are worried. You have been away for too long, and there are concerns... about the company you keep." I felt Aaron stiffen even more beside me. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the wolf. "You mean Helena?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous. The wolf nodded slowly, keeping his guard up. "Her scent is strange. It is not like ours. The elders fear she could be a threat." Aaron stepped forward, shielding me more with his body. "Helena is with me," he said firmly. "And she is not a threat. If the elders have a problem with that, they can speak to me directly." The wolf leader's eyes darkened, and I could see a flash of something…anger, maybe frustration. "Alpha," he said carefully, "our duty is to protect the pack. If she is not one of us, she cannot be trusted." "That's enough," Aaron snapped, his voice cutting through the night air. "I said she is with me, and that should be enough for you. I will return when I am ready. Until then, I expect you to respect my decision." The wolf hesitated, his eyes still fixed on Aaron. I could see the conflict there—the urge to obey his alpha and the need to follow the elders' orders. "Alpha," he said again, his voice softer this time, almost pleading, "please, come back with us. The pack needs you. We need you." Aaron shook his head. "The pack can manage without me for a while. After all, they have. You have your orders. Now go back to Lunaville and tell them what I said." There was a tense silence, the air thick with unspoken words. I could feel the other wolves watching us, waiting for something to happen. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst out of my chest. I wanted to scream, to tell them all to leave us alone, but I knew better. This wasn't my fight. Finally, the wolf leader nodded, though I could see the reluctance in his eyes. "As you wish, Alpha," he said quietly. "But know that this decision will not be taken lightly. The elders will not be pleased." Aaron didn't respond. He just stood there, staring the wolf down until he turned and signaled for the others to follow him. One by one, the wolves disappeared back into the forest, their eyes still lingering on us as they left. As soon as they were gone, I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. My body was still shaking, my heart racing. My fingers and toes were cold. "Aaron," I whispered, looking up at him. "What are we going to do?" He sighed, his shoulders slumping a little. "We keep moving," he said. "They won't give up. Not yet. But I won't let them take you, Helena. Not now. Not ever." I nodded, trying to steady myself, knowing that as long as I was with Aaron, I had a chance. But deep down, I knew this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.