Chapter 5 A Bond Of Secrets

The packhouse loomed around Eva like a living, breathing thing, its walls seemingly pulsing with an energy she couldn't quite understand. Despite the warmth of the fire crackling in the hearth, a cold weight pressed down on her chest as she sat on the edge of the oversized bed.

Dominic stood near the door, arms crossed, his dark eyes boring into her as if trying to unravel her very essence. Lysander leaned against the far wall, silent and brooding, his silver gaze icy and distant. Kael, as always, was the one who broke the tension, sauntering over to sit on the arm of the chair closest to her, his trademark grin in place.

"You've got questions," Kael said, his tone easy but his eyes sharp. "We've got answers. Let's hear it, sweetheart."

Eva flinched at the casual nickname, a reminder of how intimate their situation had already become. She pulled the blanket tighter around her, as if it could shield her from the intensity of the three men before her.

"What do you want from me?" she asked, her voice firmer than she felt.

Dominic's brow furrowed. "It's not about what we want. It's about keeping you alive."

"Alive?" she echoed, her tone dripping with disbelief. "I didn't even know you existed until a few hours ago, and now you're telling me I'm in danger? From what?"

Lysander stepped forward, his movements deliberate and measured, his presence sending a shiver down her spine. "From the rogue that attacked you in the forest," he said, his voice low and cutting. "And from others like him."

Eva's mind reeled. The memory of the rogue wolf-the yellow eyes, the snarling maw, the sheer size of it-flashed before her eyes. Her throat tightened.

"Why would it be after me?" she demanded. "I'm just... nobody."

Kael leaned forward, his grin fading into something softer, more serious. "You're not nobody, Eva. Not to them. And definitely not to us."

Her heart skipped at the way he said her name, as though it were something precious. She shook her head, forcing herself to focus. "That doesn't make any sense. I've lived my whole life under the radar. I've never even seen a wolf before today, let alone a... rogue or whatever you called it."

Dominic moved closer, his imposing frame drawing her attention despite herself. "It's not a coincidence," he said, his voice steady and sure. "That rogue wasn't out for a casual hunt. It was targeting you specifically."

"Why?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Kael glanced at Dominic, who gave a subtle nod. Turning back to Eva, Kael took a deep breath. "There's something different about you, Eva. Something... special. And whatever it is, it's got the rogues' attention."

Her pulse raced as she looked between the three of them. "Different how? What are you talking about?"

Lysander's jaw tightened. "We don't know yet," he admitted reluctantly. "But it's not normal for a rogue to hunt a human like that. There's a reason, and we need to figure out what it is before it's too late."

Eva shook her head, the weight of their words crashing over her like a tidal wave. "No," she said, her voice trembling. "This has to be some kind of mistake. You've got the wrong person. I'm just a nobody from a small town. There's nothing special about me."

Kael's gaze softened. "Sweetheart, you're anything but a nobody. Whether you see it or not, there's something about you that's drawn us-and the rogues-to you."

Her breath hitched at the intensity in his eyes, the sincerity in his voice. She looked away, her hands twisting in the blanket.

"What happens now?" she asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dominic's expression softened, though the weight of his gaze didn't lessen. "Now, we protect you," he said simply. "You stay here, under our watch. No one gets to you without going through us."

Eva's stomach twisted at the finality in his tone. "You're not giving me much of a choice, are you?"

Lysander stepped forward, his silver eyes piercing. "You don't have a choice. If you leave, you'll die."

Her breath caught, and she looked to Kael for some kind of reassurance, but even his easygoing demeanor had hardened.

"He's right," Kael said. "It's not safe out there for you anymore. The packhouse is the best place for you. The only place, really."

Eva's hands clenched into fists. "And what if I don't want to stay? What if I don't want any part of this?"

Dominic's jaw tightened, his gaze unwavering. "You don't have to like it," he said, his voice low and steady. "But until we figure out why the rogues are after you, you're not going anywhere."

A tense silence fell over the room, broken only by the crackle of the fire. Eva's mind raced, her thoughts a chaotic tangle of fear, anger, and confusion. She wanted to fight back, to demand her freedom, but deep down, she knew they were right.

Finally, she let out a shaky breath. "Fine," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll stay. But only until we figure out what's going on. After that, I'm gone."

Dominic gave a curt nod. "Fair enough."

Kael grinned, the tension in the room easing slightly. "Welcome to the pack, sweetheart."

Eva glared at him, but the spark of amusement in his eyes made it hard to stay angry. She looked away, her mind still reeling from everything she'd just learned.

---

The following days passed in a blur.

Eva found herself confined to the packhouse, a sprawling estate nestled deep within the forest. The triplets had taken shifts watching over her, though she wasn't sure if it was for her protection or their peace of mind.

Dominic was all business, his focus on coordinating the pack's defenses and investigating the rogue attack. Kael, ever the charmer, had taken it upon himself to distract her from her worries, regaling her with stories of pack life and his brothers' antics. Lysander, on the other hand, kept his distance, his cold demeanor making it clear he didn't trust her-or perhaps didn't trust himself around her.

Despite their differences, Eva couldn't deny the strange pull she felt toward each of them. It was as if some invisible thread connected them, drawing her closer even as she tried to maintain her distance.

One afternoon, she found herself alone in the library, the sunlight streaming through the tall windows casting a warm glow over the shelves of books. She ran her fingers along the spines, marveling at the sheer number of titles.

"You like to read?"

Eva turned to see Kael leaning against the doorway, his arms crossed and a playful smirk on his lips.

"Sometimes," she said cautiously. "It's a good way to escape."

Kael stepped closer, his eyes scanning the shelves. "What's your favorite?"

Eva hesitated before answering. "I don't know. Something with adventure, I guess. Or mystery."

Kael's grin widened. "A woman after my own heart."

She rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips despite herself. "What about you?"

Kael shrugged. "I'm more of a live-the-adventure kind of guy. But I can appreciate a good story."

Eva couldn't help but laugh at that. "Why am I not surprised?"

Kael's expression softened, and he took a step closer. "You're starting to smile more," he said, his voice low and warm.

Eva's cheeks flushed, and she looked away. "Don't read too much into it," she muttered.

Kael chuckled, but before he could respond, Dominic's voice called from down the hall. "Kael! We need you in the war room."

Kael sighed, giving her a wink. "Duty calls. Don't miss me too much, sweetheart."

Eva rolled her eyes again, but her smile lingered long after he was gone.

As she turned back to the shelves, a shadow moved in the corner of her vision. She froze, her heart racing as she turned to face it.

Lysander stood in the doorway, his silver eyes watching her with an intensity that made her stomach twist.

"Enjoying yourself?" he asked, his tone cold.

Eva straightened, her hands clenching at her sides. "What do you want?"

Lysander stepped into the room, his movements slow and deliberate. "To remind you that this isn't a vacation," he said, his voice low and biting. "You're here because you're a target. Not because you're special. Not because we like you."

His words stung, but Eva refused to let him see it. "Believe me, I haven't forgotten," she said, her voice trembling only slightly.

Lysander's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he turned and walked away, leaving her alone once again.

Eva's shoulders sagged as the door closed behind him. She didn't know what she'd done to earn Lysander's distrust, but his cutting words lingered, their weight pressing against her already fragile nerves.

As much as she hated to admit it, Lysander's presence unnerved her more than his brothers'. Dominic's intensity felt grounded, Kael's teasing had a charm she could fend off, but Lysander's cold detachment was harder to pin down. He watched her like she was a threat, like one wrong move would confirm his worst suspicions.

With a frustrated sigh, Eva turned back to the bookshelves, hoping to distract herself. But the quiet didn't last long. Footsteps echoed in the hallway, steady and purposeful. This time, it was Dominic who entered the library.

He was always composed, his every move calculated. Seeing him now, his face shadowed with the weight of responsibility, Eva felt a flicker of something she couldn't name-respect, perhaps, or even curiosity.

"You and Kael have been getting along," Dominic remarked, his deep voice breaking the silence.

Eva glanced at him warily. "If that's what you call it."

Dominic crossed the room, stopping a few feet away from her. His dark eyes studied her, and though his expression was calm, there was something searching in his gaze.

"He has a way of making people feel comfortable," Dominic said. "Sometimes too comfortable."

"Is that a warning?" Eva asked, arching a brow.

Dominic's lips quirked into the faintest smile. "Consider it advice."

Eva folded her arms. "You're all so different. It's hard to believe you're brothers."

Dominic tilted his head slightly, his expression softening. "Different, yes. But we balance each other out. Kael brings levity, Lysander keeps us grounded, and I..."

"You're the leader," she finished for him.

He nodded. "Someone has to be."

Eva hesitated, then asked the question that had been gnawing at her since their first conversation. "Why do you care so much about protecting me? I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but I still don't understand what I am to you."

Dominic's jaw tightened, and for a moment, she thought he might not answer. But then he spoke, his voice low and steady. "You're important to this pack, even if you don't see it yet. There's something about you, something we can't ignore. Until we figure out what it is, protecting you isn't just our responsibility-it's instinct."

"Instinct," she repeated, the word foreign and strange in this context. "That doesn't make sense. I'm just a human."

Dominic's gaze darkened, but he didn't reply. Instead, he turned and walked to the window, staring out into the forest beyond.

"You say you're just human," he said after a moment, his voice distant. "But there's more to you than you realize. And it's only a matter of time before the truth comes out."

Eva opened her mouth to protest, but before she could, the door swung open. Kael strode in, his usual grin firmly in place, though his eyes flicked between them with interest.

"Interrupting something?" he teased, leaning casually against the doorway.

Dominic shot him a pointed look. "What is it?"

Kael shrugged. "Pack meeting. Elias spotted something near the perimeter. Could be a scout, maybe something worse."

Dominic stiffened, his entire demeanor shifting into focus. "Stay here," he told Eva, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Eva's stomach churned, unease prickling at her skin. "What's going on?"

"It's probably nothing," Kael said, his voice lighter but no less serious. "But we can't take chances."

Dominic moved toward the door, his movements quick and precise. Kael followed, but not before turning to Eva with a wink. "Don't wander off, sweetheart. We'll be back."

And then they were gone, leaving Eva alone in the cavernous library.

---

Time crawled by, the silence in the packhouse stretching thin. Eva paced the room, her nerves fraying with every second that passed. Her thoughts raced, spiraling into worst-case scenarios. What if the rogues were already here? What if the triplets didn't come back?

She shook her head, trying to banish the intrusive thoughts. But the unease refused to leave her.

Finally, unable to stand the quiet any longer, she stepped out into the hallway. The packhouse was massive, its twisting corridors and grand rooms a labyrinth she had yet to fully explore. Her footsteps echoed against the wooden floors as she wandered, her curiosity warring with caution.

She paused at the edge of the grand staircase, the flickering light of the chandelier casting long shadows across the walls. Somewhere in the distance, she heard faint voices, too muffled to make out.

A sudden creak behind her made her jump, and she whirled around, her heart hammering in her chest.

"Lost?" Lysander's voice cut through the silence like a blade.

Eva turned to find him standing a few feet away, his silver eyes gleaming in the dim light. He looked as cold and unapproachable as ever, his expression unreadable.

"I couldn't just sit there," she said defensively.

Lysander's gaze flicked over her, assessing. "You're putting yourself at risk."

"For what?" she shot back. "Wandering around your fancy mansion? Give me a break."

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, she thought he might snap back. But instead, he stepped closer, his presence as unnerving as ever.

"You don't understand what's out there," he said, his voice low and intense. "The rogues aren't just mindless beasts. They're organized, and they're ruthless. If you step outside that door, you won't make it ten steps before they find you."

Eva's throat tightened, but she refused to let him intimidate her. "You think I don't know that? I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be hunted or trapped in your world."

For the first time, Lysander's icy facade cracked, a flicker of something raw and unguarded passing through his eyes. "None of us asked for this," he said, his voice almost a whisper.

Eva stared at him, taken aback by the sudden vulnerability in his tone. But before she could respond, a distant howl shattered the quiet.

The sound was low and guttural, reverberating through the packhouse like a warning. Eva's blood ran cold.

Lysander's expression hardened instantly. "Stay here," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Wait-" Eva started, but he was already gone, disappearing down the hallway with a speed that left her breathless.

Her heart pounded as the howl echoed again, closer this time. Fear clawed at her chest, but so did a strange sense of resolve. Whatever was happening, it wasn't going away.

And she wasn't going to stay helpless forever.

As the packhouse fell into chaos, Eva braced herself for whatever came next.