Chapter 8

• KATIE's POV:
• I woke up with a start, my heart hammering inside of me.
• "It was just a dream. Only a dream" I told myself. I looked down and saw I was drenched in sweat. I was still in Luna Elodia's bed, safe and sound.
• But the nightmares, it's …….. different?
• It's still haunting me but in a whole different way than I could ever imagine.
• I sat up, my breath coming in short gasps as I rubbed my eyes, still trying to shake off the fear and anxiety that gripped my very soul.
• Everything was still the same but something seemed to be different. I looked towards the door and saw that it was open and footsteps could be heard outside.
• It could only be one person, Luna Elodie.
• Letting out a huff, I robbed my eyes while letting my hair drop in waves. I looked at the mirror that was just adjacent to the bed I was lying on and could clearly see my features.
• My auburn shoulder-length hair was thick and wavy, my skin pale and as the sunlight shone through, it almost looked translucent and my hazel eyes were tired and puffy - a testament to an agitated night's rest.
• The nightmares are becoming too much, too different and I had to do something about it. The more I have these dreams, the more I realize that I must have something to do with the killing of Bruce and the other criminals because why was I always covered in blood and their presence whenever they were dead?
• I remembered the last words of Tom as he held onto my hands and screamed that I was the monster, that I had caused everyone here to die.
• That I was the killer.
• Was that true?
• I have to find out.
• I threw off the covers and got out of bed, stumbling over to the ajar door, my heart still rising. "Luna Elodie?"
• I called but there was no answer. Total silence.
• I continued until I walked round the house but I was alone.
• "Katie?" I heard a familiar voice call and I turned to Jace rushing towards me. His eyes locked into mine and were full of concern. "You look tired, are you okay?"
• I shook my head, trying to clear the cobwebs of confusion that clouded my mind. "I-I don't know" I answered truthfully:
• "I-I had a night-nightmare. It….. it" I tried to form a coherent word but my voice seemed to shake and my stammering only got worse.
• Jace's expression changed, and he looked at me with a serious gaze. "Hey, you're alright, Katie" his voice was low and gentle. "Now, let's get you back to the pack houses
• I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself as I nodded. "Okay."
• Together, we walked back to what I was told was the pack house where high-ranking pack members together with the Alpha and Luna usually live.
• "Hey, Katie" Jace stopped me, looking at me with an unusual glint in his eyes.
• I looked expectantly at him, waiting for him to continue.
• "I don't want you close to Caden" he suddenly said, making me confused.
• Why was he hell-bent on me not getting closer to his twin brother? As far as I could see, Caden was the stubborn-headed twin but there was nothing bad with him.
• So why did Jace want me away from Caden so badly?
• "Why?" I asked, my curiosity now piqued. There has to be a reason why he has been insisting on that. "What's wrong with Caden?"
• Jace's eyes narrowed, different emotions passed through his eyes as his jaw clenched. "He's not who you think him to be!"
• I looked at Jace like he was crazy. How do I think Caden could be? I barely even knew any of them, only as of last night.
• As far as I know, they're strangers who helped save my life that day and that's all.
• "He's different. He's not stable." Jace continued and I raised an eyebrow. "Not stable? What do you mean?"
• Jace was hesitant, choosing his words carefully. "You don't want to know. He's dangerous and anyone who gets close to him will always be hurt, and there's darkness always surrounding him. Darkness I never want anywhere close to you"
• A shiver went down my spine at his words but I didn't let that faze me. Yes, I was weak but I was still a trained official. I can't let words dwell on my resolve.
• "I don't want you protecting me, Jace. Why do you even care about me this much? You only met me yesterday" I said, holding my hoodie tighter around my body.
• Jace's eyes locked into mine, his gaze intense. "I care about you because you're my mate. My fated partner I'm to spend the rest of my life with." He stepped closer to me. "I care about you because you're my Luna"
• As much as these kinds of words would have brought me to my knees on normal occasions, this was different. I've been informed everything about what a mate was and their purpose when meeting their other halves but it sounds absurd. Was that fair? To be bound to someone you barely knew or loved.
• And now, Jace says he cares so much about me even after knowing me for a day.
• "I care about you, Katie, and staying far away from Caden is what I can do to keep you protected. I don't want his darkness to consume you" he continued
• We were almost at the pack house, the small clearing filled with people, busy with their attitudes.
• "Promise me now, Katie. Promise you'll stay far away from Caden" Jace held my shoulder, looking Deep into my eyes.
• I didn't know what to answer and a voice both snapped our attention at the uninvited guest.
• "Trying to make her turn against me, I see!" Caden came out of nowhere, dressed in a leather jacket and tight jeans which showed off his muscular physique and he was barefoot:
• "Not a very good characteristic of you, brother"
• Jace narrowed his eyes at Caden. "It's not like I'm lying. You're dangerous and would only cause harm to Katie. She's mine and I'll do anything I can to keep her safe"
• Caden sneered, "You forget that she's also my mate, right?
• "There's nothing you can do to take her away from me. I'm not leaving this pack until Katie is mine and mine alone. And don't even suggest sharing, I don't fancy that" Caden's face was filled with disgust as he said these.
• My eyes widened in surprise as I fully understood what was happening. This brother would tear themselves further apart if this continues. I knew I had to do something.
• But what was so powerful that could make this brother hate themselves this much? They seem to think they were different but they were more similar than they could imagine.
• Jace stepped closer to me, his voice low and dangerous. "Over my dead body would Katie leave this pack with you"
• Caden smirked. "Then are you proposing a duel? The winner keeps Katie as their mate!"
• My eyes widened in shock as I realized what was happening. A duel? Over me? I couldn't believe it. "What are you guys saying? No, stop this right now!" I exclaimed, trying to intervene. I had to stop this madness.
• "This is truly ridiculous. You're brothers, for crying out loud. You shouldn't be fighting over me like I'm some kind of prize." I couldn't believe them, they were talking like I wasn't here, like I was a trophy for them to win.
• But it seems like my words didn't even faze them, they were far too gone now, their piercing gaze locked on each other in a fierce stare filled with hatred.
• "I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe away from this soul-less beast, Katie," Jace growled.
• "And I'll do whatever it takes to claim you as mine," Caden sneered.
• I felt a sudden surge of anger and frustration at this man who was acting like a kid. I knew I had to make a decision.
• "Fine, since you both want to be ridiculous, then so be it. I'm not an object to be won or lost. I'm a freaking person, I'm a police officer with thoughts and feelings. I can't be caught in your stupid brotherly rivalry"
• "Instead I propose a truce. I'm the one to make a decision. I'll spend time with both of you and I'll pick only one of you to be my mate"
• "I'll make my final decision in three months"