Chapter 13: Mazie

13

MAZIE

A s I walked through the pack's common area, the air felt different, almost charged. My fingers brushed against my throat, tracing the delicate curve of the necklace Ajax had given me just a few nights ago. That night had been magical and intimate, but now something seemed off. The laughter and conversations around me seemed forced, their eyes darting away when they saw me approaching.

"Hey, Mazie!" A woman I'd just recently met named Cassie greeted me with a forced smile. Her words were warm, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of distrust.

"Hi, Cassie," I replied, smiling back at her despite the gnawing feeling in my gut. I couldn't pinpoint what was causing this growing unease, but I refused to let it dim the newfound confidence that had taken root within me since joining the pack.

As I moved through the room, an unsettling sensation settled over me. Whispers trailed behind me like a shadow I couldn't shake. Ignoring the subtle actions and comments indicating the pack members' growing distrust towards me became increasingly difficult. But why?

Ajax had been distant during the day, his focus consumed by pack matters. I couldn't decide if it was my imagination or he was intentionally pulling away from me. Our shared nights, however, were achingly passionate and intensely intimate—a stark contrast to the widening gap between us in daylight hours.

"Hey," Ajax said softly, appearing beside me. He placed a hand on my arm, his touch radiating warmth through me. "Is everything okay?"

I hesitated, searching his piercing blue eyes for any hint of the same doubt I felt creeping into my heart. "Yeah, I'm fine," I lied, hoping my smile would mask my turmoil. "Tired."

"Alright." His gaze lingered on me for a moment longer before he nodded and turned away, leaving me alone once more.

The rift between us seemed to widen as the day continued until it felt like an insurmountable obstacle. I yearned for the safety and comfort of our passionate embraces in the dark, but they seemed like a distant memory now. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was teetering on the edge of something significant, yet I had no idea what.

My heart ached with loneliness and doubt as I questioned my decision to stay with the pack. The more time passed, the more convinced I became I didn't truly belong. My love for Ajax warred with the hostility and tension brewing within the pack. As much as I wanted to believe we could overcome this storm together, I couldn't help but wonder if they would be better off without me.

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting eerie shadows across the forest floor. I wandered among the trees, feeling like a ghost in my life. The air was thick with anticipation, and my heart hammered in my chest as if it sensed something I couldn't yet see. It was as though a storm was brewing, but there wasn't a cloud in the sky.

"Hey!" Janica's voice cut through my thoughts like a knife, startling me. She stormed towards me, her face twisted in anger. "Why are you talking trash about Nanny Kae? You've got some nerve!"

"Wait, what?" I blinked, thrown by her accusation. My mind raced, pinpointing any moment I might have even mentioned Nanny Kae. "I said nothing about her. "

Janica sneered, crossing her arms over her chest. "You think we wouldn't find out? Nice try, Mazie. But we don't need someone like you stirring up trouble here."

"I swear, Janica," I insisted, feeling my frustration rise. "I said nothing bad about her. We've barely even spoken! You've got it all wrong."

"Right." Her eyes narrowed, appraising me with open distrust. "Just remember, we're watching you."

As she stomped off, my hands trembled with fury and helplessness. What had I done to deserve this? I felt like an outsider peering in through a window, unable to break through the glass that separated me from everyone else.

It wasn't just Janica; I could feel the distance growing between myself and the rest of the pack, including Ajax. Each day, he seemed more distant, more preoccupied with his duties as pack leader. At night, when we lay tangled in each other's arms, it was as if the world fell away and nothing else mattered. But as soon as the sun rose, that connection seemed to crumble.

Was I imagining it? Was the tension all in my head, or was something happening beneath the surface? My sense of unease grew stronger as I tried to figure it out. I couldn't shake the feeling that change was coming, and whatever it was, it wouldn't be good.

I leaned against a tree, wrapping my arms around myself as if I could hold everything together by sheer willpower alone. But deep down, I knew that no amount of strength could protect me from the storm brewing in my heart.

I watched from behind the gnarled oak tree as Raylene approached Ajax, her silver hair pulled back into a tight bun and her piercing gray eyes fixed on him with determination. I couldn't hear what she was saying, but her gestures were animated, and her lips moved quickly to plant seeds of doubt in his mind. Ajax listened intently, his brow furrowed, and his arms crossed over his broad chest.

"Is everything okay?" I asked myself, swallowing hard as my heart raced in my chest. It felt like an invisible force was pulling me closer, urging me to confront them and demand answers. But I hesitated, torn between my desire for the truth and fear of driving Ajax further away.

"Raylene," I whispered under my breath, my fingers curling into fists at my sides. "What are you up to?"

"Everything all right, Mazie?" Ajax's voice startled me, and I whipped around to find him standing just a few feet away, concern etched across his handsome features.

"Uh, yeah... I was just..." I stuttered, disconcerted by his sudden appearance. "I saw you talking to Raylene and?—"

"Ah." He sighed heavily, running a hand through his short, dark hair. "Mazie, I want to be honest with you. My conversation with Raylene wasn't pleasant. She's been spreading lies about you."

"Lies?" My voice wavered with hurt and confusion. "What kind of lies?"

"Look, it doesn't matter," he said quickly, stepping closer and resting his hands on my shoulders. "You know they're not true, and I know they're not true. That's all that matters."

"Ajax," I murmured, biting my lip as I looked at him. "Are you sure? I mean, if the pack is starting to doubt me?—"

"Listen, Mazie," he interrupted, his blue eyes searching mine. "It's going to take time for you to settle in. You're different, and that scares some people. But I believe in you and know you have a place with us. Just give it some time."

"Okay," I whispered, nodding slowly as I tried to ignore the knot of uncertainty tightening in my stomach. "I trust you, Ajax."

"Good." He smiled softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from my face before pressing a tender kiss to my forehead. "Now, let's get back to the others."

As we walked hand in hand toward the pack, I couldn't help but feel torn between my love for Ajax and the growing tension surrounding us. The lies Raylene had planted festered beneath the surface, threatening to rip everything apart—and I was terrified of what would happen when they finally broke free.

The sound of laughter echoed through the trees as I stood on the outskirts of the pack's gathering, feeling the weight of my loneliness pressing down upon me. My fingers traced the intricate embroidery on my dress, a once-comforting reminder of my life as an influencer, now a stark contrast to the rugged, earthy world of the umbra shifters.

"Hey, Mazie," a voice called out hesitantly. I saw a young woman from the pack approaching with a tentative smile. "I just wanted to say I like your dress."

"Thank you," I replied, smiling as I struggled to remember her name. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't connect with these people—I couldn't shake the feeling that I was an outsider who didn't truly belong.

"Have you been here long?" she asked, looking around at the gathering.

"Only a few weeks," I admitted, my gaze drifting back to the pack members as they laughed and chatted easily. "But it feels like…a lifetime ago."

"Ah, yeah, I remember when I first joined the pack," she said, nodding sympathetically. "Adjusting can be tough, but you'll get there."

"Will I?" The question slipped out before I could stop it, and I bit my lip, regretting my sudden emotional vulnerability.

"Of course!" she insisted, her eyes widening in surprise at my doubt. "Everyone needs time to find their place. Just give it some more time, okay?"

"Sure," I murmured, nodding as I forced another smile. But as she walked away, my heart grew heavier, weighed down by the sense of isolation that clung to me like a shadow.

My thoughts turned to Ajax, his strong arms wrapped around me as we lay entwined beneath the moonlit sky. The passion and intimacy we shared at night felt like a lifeline, but as each day passed, it became harder to ignore the growing distance between us.

"Is it worth it?" I whispered, my fingers curling into fists as I fought against the rising tide of doubt and fear. "Can I make this work?"

"Hey, Mazie," Ajax's voice cut through my thoughts like a knife, and I looked up to see him standing beside me, his blue eyes clouded with concern. "Is everything alright? "

"Fine," I lied, plastering on a bright smile even as my insides twisted into knots. "Just…taking in the scenery."

"Alright," he said slowly, clearly unconvinced but letting it slide for now. "I just wanted to check on you. I'm heading back to the pack house to deal with some things, so I'll catch up with you later, okay?"

"Of course," I replied, watching as he walked away and feeling our rift growing wider.

As laughter and camaraderie filled the air, I stood alone, torn between my love for Ajax and the mounting tension within the pack. And though I tried to hold onto the hope that I could find my place among them, the weight of my doubts threatened to drag me under.

I wandered away from the gathering, seeking solace in the quiet embrace of the woods. The cool breeze whispered through the trees, their leaves rustling like a thousand hushed voices. Despite my love for nature, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched – an unwanted outsider.

"…never should have come out here," a voice drifted to me as if carried on the wind. My heart clenched, and I strained to listen without revealing myself.

"Right? I mean, she's nice enough, but she's not one of us," another woman said. "What if the Hunters find out about her?"

"Then we'd be exposed," a third voice hissed, fear lacing her words. "Everything we've worked so hard to protect would be destroyed."

My breath caught in my throat, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. Were they talking about me? Afraid that I would bring harm upon them all? As much as I wanted to believe it was just paranoia, their fears echoed my doubts.

"Maybe they'd be better off without me," I whispered, the thought taking root in the darkest corners of my mind.

"Did you hear something?" one of the women asked, her voice suddenly nearer.

"Probably just the wind," another replied, though uncertainty lingered in her tone.

"Let's go back," the third suggested, and the sound of retreating footsteps followed .

As they left, I stood frozen, my thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and hurt. How could I stay when my presence threatened the pack's safety? But how could I leave Ajax, the man who had ignited a fire within me, who made me feel alive?

"Damn it," I muttered, my hands balling into fists as frustration surged through me. "Why does everything have to be so complicated?"

But no matter how hard I tried to ignore the truth, it gnawed away at me relentlessly. I couldn't risk the pack's safety for my happiness. No matter how much it hurt, they would be better off without me.

An icy breeze whispered through the trees, chilling my bones as I stood rooted to the spot, unable to shake the words I had just overheard. The pack members' voices echoed in my mind, their fear of the Hunters and my role in exposing them to the world haunting me. I wrapped my arms around myself, seeking warmth and comfort where none could be found.

"Hey," Ajax's voice broke through my thoughts, startling me. "You okay?"

I looked up at him, his dark eyes searching mine for an answer I didn't have. How could I tell him that I might be the reason everything he fought to protect could crumble?

"Fine," I lied, forcing a smile. "Just... cold."

"Come here." He enveloped me in his strong arms, his body heat seeping into my skin. But even then, the frosty tendrils of doubt continued to creep through my veins. I leaned against him, trying to lose myself in the feel of his arms around me.

"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked again, concern lacing his voice. "You seem... distant."

"Everything's fine," I insisted, though my heart screamed the opposite. How could I burden him with the knowledge that I might be the downfall of his pack? That I might bring danger to the people he was sworn to protect?

"Okay," he said, but the furrow between his brows remained, signaling his skepticism.

"Let's go inside," I suggested, my voice betraying my desperation to escape the whispers of the wind and the unspoken accusations that haunted me.

"Sure," he agreed, leading me towards the house with his arm wrapped protectively around me.

As we entered the warmth of the living room, I tried to lose myself in the mundane tasks of everyday life – folding laundry, washing dishes, anything to keep my mind from spiraling into a pit of despair. But the weight of my thoughts bore down on me, suffocating me with every breath.

"Damn it," I muttered under my breath as I dropped a fork onto the floor, the clang jarring in the quiet room. Ajax glanced over at me, his brow furrowed once more.

"Talk to me, Mazie," he implored, slowly approaching me. Whatever's going on in your head... you don't have to face it alone."

"Maybe that's the problem," I whispered, tears filling my eyes. "Maybe I should be alone."

"What?" His voice was filled with confusion and hurt, and it tore at me like claws raking across my soul. How could I explain without shattering the fragile bond between us?

"I heard them talking," I admitted, my voice trembling. They were talking about how I shouldn't have come here, about the danger I pose to the pack."

"Who said that?" He asked, anger flashing in his eyes.

"Does it matter?" I choked out, the tears spilling down my cheeks. "The truth is... they're right. Maybe everyone would be better off if I wasn't here."

"You don't believe that," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Maybe I do," I confessed, heartbreaking with each word. "I can't risk the safety of your pack, Ajax. Not for my happiness."

"Let me worry about the pack," he insisted, pulling me close again. "You belong here, Mazie. With me."

But as much as I wanted to believe him, the doubts continued to gnaw away at me, leaving me lost and vulnerable in the darkness of my mind.