Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

Neville

N eville had always prided himself on his ability to remain calm under pressure. As alpha of the Silver Ridge pack, it was a necessity. He wanted her where he could ensure her safety. As he stood in front of Tamzyn, his every attempt to convince her to come with him to the safety of the compound met with resistance; his patience was wearing thin.

"I'm not going to let you stay here alone," Neville insisted, trying to keep his tone measured. "It's too dangerous."

Tamzyn crossed her arms over her chest, her green eyes flashing with anger. "I've been on my own for a while now, Neville. I don't need you to protect me."

Neville clenched his jaw, trying to quell the frustration building inside him. She was infuriatingly stubborn, and it was clear that appealing to her sense of reason wasn't going to work. He could see the way she bristled at the idea of being taken care of, as if accepting his help was an admission of weakness.

"You don't understand," Neville said, his voice dropping to a softer, more earnest tone. "There are things out there—things you admit neither of us can fully control. We need to work together to figure this out, and I can't do that if I'm worried about you being all alone. Besides, it will be easier for us to collaborate if we're in the same place."

"Then you come here."

"That makes no sense. The compound is bigger and better protected."

Tamzyn's expression softened for just a moment, but then she shook her head. "I appreciate the concern, Neville, but I'm not some helpless damsel. I can handle myself."

Arguing with Tamzyn was getting on his last nerve. He was not accustomed to having his orders questioned. When she refused to listen to reason, Neville's patience snapped. He was done arguing. He moved so quickly that Tamzyn barely had time to react. In one smooth motion, he scooped her up off her feet and tossed her over his shoulder, ignoring her startled gasp and the way she struggled.

"What are you doing?" she demanded.

His grip was strong, and he wasn't letting go.

"Making sure you're safe," Neville replied, his voice firm as he carried her toward her SUV so he could get them to the compound.

Tamzyn glared at him, her cheeks flushing with a mixture of anger and something else—something that sent a thrill of satisfaction through him despite the seriousness of the situation. "Put me down, Neville!"

"Not until you're somewhere safe," Neville said, keeping his gaze fixed ahead.

He reached the SUV and then drove them to the compound quickly. Once he had parked the SUV at the compound, she got out of the car and turned on her heel to start back down the drive. Neville met her at the rear of the vehicle and once more tossed her over his shoulder, turning back to the main house, his strides long and purposeful as he carried her up the stairs and into his room.

He was aware of the pack members they passed, their curious glances and knowing smiles, but he didn't care. Let them talk. Protecting Tamzyn was more important than maintaining his usual calm, controlled demeanor. Tamzyn continued to struggle, her protests growing more urgent, but Neville ignored her. He deposited her on the bed, stepping back just enough to close and lock the door behind them.

"This is ridiculous," Tamzyn snapped, sitting up and glaring at him. "You can't just lock me in here!"

Neville leaned against the door, crossing his arms over his chest as he looked at her with a mixture of exasperation and concern. "I'm locking you in and keeping you here until you see reason."

Tamzyn's eyes narrowed, and Neville could see the fire in her gaze, the fierce independence that had driven her to survive on her own for so long. But there was something else in her eyes, too—something vulnerable, something she was trying desperately to hide. He stepped out of the room and locked it. He would give her some time to cool off.

He walked down to his study, sat behind his desk, and tried to focus on some more routine tasks that needed doing. He didn't have much of a chance as one of the young wolves, who Neville knew to be on patrol, burst into the room. Neville's attention snapped to the door, his senses on high alert.

"Alpha, there's a strange glow coming from your room," the sentry reported, his voice tinged with concern.

Neville was on his feet and charging up the stairs. He tried the door, but when he turned the knob, he realized she'd locked the door from the other side. His instincts screamed that something was wrong. He tried the door again, but it wouldn't budge.

He pounded on the door with his fist. "Tamzyn, what's going on?" Neville demanded; his voice rough with concern.

Silence was the only answer. He didn't have time to think. With a growl, he stepped back and kicked the door with all his strength. The wood splintered and cracked under the force of the blow, and the door swung open, revealing the room beyond.

Neville's breath caught in his throat.

Tamzyn was standing in the center of the room, encased in a sphere of shimmering light. Her eyes were closed, her lips moving in a hurried, whispered spell, and the energy radiating from her was unlike anything he had ever seen. It was raw and powerful, a display of magic that was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

"Tamzyn!" Neville shouted, trying to break through the spell that held her.

Her eyes snapped open, and the light around her flickered. She raised a hand, and before Neville could react, she hurled a ball of magical energy directly at him. Instinctively, he braced himself, but the energy fizzled out just before it reached him, dissolving into harmless sparks.

Tamzyn stared at her hand in shock, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She tried again, and once more, a ball of fire that looked as if it could kill him just disappeared into nothing. Neville could see the horror in her eyes, the disbelief that her magic had failed her.

He couldn't help it—a low chuckle escaped him, the sound rough and almost incredulous. "Well, that's interesting."

Tamzyn's gaze snapped to him, her expression a mix of fear and anger. "Not funny, Neville."

But Neville wasn't laughing at her. He was laughing as he watched realization slowly dawn on her—their connection, the one he had sensed from the beginning, was much deeper than she must have realized or understood. Her magic hadn't failed because of some external force. It had failed because of him.

"You're my fated mate," Neville said, the words feeling strange and powerful as he said them out loud.

Tamzyn's eyes widened, her expression shifting from anger to disbelief. "What? No, that's not possible."

But it was possible. Neville could feel it in his bones, in the way his wolf had responded to her from the moment they met. There was a bond between them, one that was written in the stars, in the very fabric of their beings. And that bond had disrupted her magic, just as his presence had disrupted her life.

"It makes sense," Neville said, taking a cautious step toward her. "The way we've been drawn to each other…"

"I'm not drawn to you."

"Liar. Your magic won't work on me, and it should further your belief that we are meant to fight whatever this rising evil is together… it's all connected."

Tamzyn shook her head, taking a step back. "This can't be happening. I don't want this."

Neville felt a pang of hurt at her words, but he pushed it aside. He knew this wasn't easy for her. It wasn't easy for him either. The idea of being bound to someone, of having a fated mate, was something he had never truly considered. But now that it was here, now that it was real, he couldn't ignore it.

"You don't have to want it," Neville said gently. "But it's still true. We're fated, Tamzyn. And we can't change that."

She looked at him, her green eyes searching his for something—answers, reassurance, maybe even hope. But all he could offer her was the truth, the truth that had been thrust upon them both.

For a long moment, they stood there in silence, the tension between them thick and heavy. Neville could see the conflict in her eyes, the way she was struggling to reconcile what she knew with what she felt. And he understood because he was feeling the same way.

Finally, Tamzyn took a deep breath, her shoulders sagging as if the weight of the world had settled on them. "I need to think," she said quietly. "This is… it's too much."

Neville nodded, stepping back to give her space. "Take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere."

Tamzyn glanced at him, her expression softening just a fraction. "Thank you," she murmured, before turning and walking to the window, staring out at the darkened woods beyond.

Neville watched her, his heart heavy with a mix of emotions. This was not how he had expected things to go. But life had a way of throwing curveballs, and it seemed fate had decided to give them both the ultimate challenge.

As the silence stretched on, Neville's thoughts drifted to the dangers that still lurked beyond the safety of the compound. The prophecy, the dark magic in the woods, the disappearances—everything was connected, and now, so were they. If they were going to face what was coming, they would have to do it together.

And he would protect her, no matter what.

A soft knock on the door drew his attention, and Neville turned to see Garrett standing in the doorway, his expression tense. "Alpha," Garrett said, his voice low, "we need to talk."

Neville glanced at Tamzyn, who remained by the window, lost in her thoughts. He nodded to Garrett, motioning for him to step inside. Neville could feel the weight of his responsibilities settling back onto his shoulders.

"What is it?" Neville asked, keeping his voice low.

Garrett's expression was grim. "We've received word of another disappearance. This time, it's one of our own. A young wolf, barely out of his teens. His scent trail just… vanished."

Neville's heart sank. The danger was escalating, and now it was hitting closer to home. "How long ago?"

"Just before sunset," Garrett replied. "The others are out searching, but I don't think they'll find anything. Whatever's taking people, it's getting bolder."

Neville clenched his fists, anger and frustration boiling beneath the surface. He had to protect his pack, his territory—and now, Tamzyn, as well. But the threat they were facing was unlike anything he had encountered before, and it was growing stronger by the day.

"We'll find him," Neville said, his voice hard with determination. "And we'll find out who's behind this."

Garrett nodded, but there was a shadow of doubt in his eyes. "What about her?" He jerked his head toward Tamzyn who was still standing by the window.

Neville's gaze softened as he thought of Tamzyn, of the bond that had just been revealed between them. "She's my fated mate, Garrett. We're connected, whether we like it or not. And I'm going to protect her, just like I'll protect the rest of the pack."

Garrett studied him for a moment, then nodded slowly. "All right. But be careful, Neville. This is uncharted territory, and we don't know what we're up against."

"I know," Neville replied, his voice resolute. "But we'll face it together."

As Garrett left, Neville followed him through the door and lingered outside the room, his thoughts racing. The bond between him and Tamzyn was undeniable, but it was also new, fragile. They had so much to figure out, so much to face.

But for now, he would focus on keeping her safe. They could deal with the rest later.

As Garrett retreated, Tamzyn turned to face him; her expression still conflicted but more settled than before. She didn't say anything, but the look in her eyes told him that she understood, that she was coming to terms with what they were.

Neville crossed the room, stopping just a few feet away from her. He wanted to reach out, to touch her, to reassure her, but he held back. Instead, he met her gaze and spoke softly, his voice full of the certainty that only an alpha could command.

"There's been another disappearance. I need to know I can count on you and that you understand we're in this together. Whatever happens…"

She held his gaze for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "Whatever happens," she agreed, her voice barely above a whisper.

And as the moonlight streamed through the window, casting their shadows on the floor, Neville knew they were ready for whatever came next.

They had to be.