11. Elisabed

11

Elisabed

After visiting my family yesterday, August and I regrouped with the others and continued on our way, camping for the night in a forest. We’d spent the day traveling and were approaching a human town, where the alphas said there was an inn to sleep at for the night.

Unease crept into my chest as we approached the quiet village. Human territory was dangerous for us, and despite only living a day’s journey from the town, Carlisle pack members always gave it a wide berth.

I had only seen humans up close once in my life, and now, stepping into their world, the risks seemed somehow higher. Werewolves and humans didn’t mingle freely, not anymore. Most humans thought our kind were just myths—stories spun to keep children from wandering too far into the woods. But for those who suspected the truth, the fear was real. Packs who dared to stray too close to human territory risked being hunted, and their heads mounted on walls as proof of the monsters lurking in the dark.

As much as the council kept packs safe from each other, it also helped us stay safe from the humans who wanted us dead. They may not regulate how pack alphas controlled their packs, but they made sure there were consequences for those who messed with humans and brought their wrath to our kind.

If only they could give that same energy to the alphas selling omegas to sadistic humans…

The tension between the alphas was almost palpable as we walked closer to the inn. August led the way, his eyes sharp as he scanned the road ahead, while Marshall remained quiet, his expression dark. A restless energy had replaced Finn’s usual smirk, his fingers tapping idly against his thigh.

“Why stay here?” I asked, watching the alphas exchange cautious glances. “Why not camp again?”

Marshall answered without looking at me. “Because this is human land. If they find us camping, it’ll look even more suspicious. Better to stay where we’re visible.”

His answers were always succinct and well thought out, but that didn’t stop me from questioning him.

“And if they figure out what we are?”

“They won’t,” August said, his tone calm but resolute. “Not if we’re careful. Humans don’t expect to see wolves in places like this. As long as we blend in, there won’t be trouble.”

“Blend in,” Finn scoffed, shaking his head. “Sure. Until one of them decides they don’t like how we smell and gets a mob together.”

“Then keep your mouth shut and don’t draw attention,” Marshall snapped, his patience fraying.

Finn rolled his eyes but said nothing more, and we lapsed into silence again.

Over the past week, the uneasy truce between us had become more than just bearable. It was almost peaceful. My last visit to my childhood house had softened some of the tension, and while I still didn’t trust them completely, I no longer avoided them. My wolf was happier and more active than ever. Even Finn’s sharp tongue and teasing remarks had become slightly warmer towards me.

Still, this stop in human territory felt like an unnecessary risk, and my nerves prickled with every step closer to the inn.

The innkeeper gave us a once-over as we stepped inside, his sharp eyes lingering on each of us in turn. I could see the gears turning in his head, the quiet assessment of whether we were travelers or trouble.

“Two rooms,” Marshall said, sliding a handful of coins onto the counter.

The innkeeper hesitated, studying us suspiciously, but finally nodded. “The rooms are upstairs. Second and third doors on the left.”

We headed up a creaking staircase and quickly found the rooms. They were small and unremarkable, each holding a single bed.

And there are four of us .

I felt dizzy as the implications hit me. I’d been sleeping beside them through the journey, but the thought of sharing a bed with one of them, with barely any space between our bodies, sent a chill down my spine.

Stop. I shook my head, realizing I’d been staring at the bed for far more time than it was proper, and an amused Finn was smirking down at me, probably able to sniff where my thoughts had been wandering.

I dropped my bag onto the bed in the first room and sat down, exhaustion settling into my bones, until August’s head popped in and grunted something about dinner.

Downstairs, we soon found out the kitchen was understaffed. When Marshall asked if food could be brought to the rooms, the innkeeper shook his head. “Meals are served in the main room only,” he said gruffly.

The alphas exchanged wary looks, the unspoken risk clear in their expressions. Sitting among humans wasn’t ideal—especially not when we were trying to avoid attention—but the alternative was going hungry, and none of us were in the mood to argue.

The main room was crowded and noisy, filled with the scent of roasted meat and spiced ale. Humans sat at scattered tables, their conversations blending into a low hum of sound that faltered briefly as we entered. I could feel their eyes on us, some merely curious but most of them suspicious.

We took a table in the corner, our backs to the wall. Marshall and August flanked me on either side, their postures tense and watchful, while Finn lounged in his chair with calculated ease, his eyes scanning the room.

“This is a mistake,” Finn muttered under his breath.

“Then don’t make it worse,” August said sharply, his gaze fixed on the table.

A barmaid approached us with our order, balancing the tray of steaming bowls. Her gaze flicked over the alphas, lingering a little too long on each of them before settling on Finn.

“Well, aren’t you a fine lot,” she purred flirtatiously. She set the bowls down, her smile widening as her hand brushed against Finn’s arm. “Anything else I can get for you?”

Finn arched an eyebrow, a mischievous grin spreading across his face as his eyes flickered to mine for a second. “That depends. What’s on the menu?”

Heat rose to my cheeks, and I clenched my fists under the table. What the fuck is he doing?

The barmaid laughed softly, her fingers trailing along the edge of the table as she looked at him through lowered lashes. “Anything for a handsome man like you.”

My wolf paced with fierce jealousy, and before I could stop myself, I cleared my throat. Loudly.

“That would be all,” I said tightly, forcing a polite nod.

Her smile soured as she turned to look at me, her gaze scanning my face and clothes with a sneer on her face. “I wasn’t talking to you.”

I clenched my jaw at the sheer audacity. “Do I look like I care? I said that would be all.” I planted my hands at the table and snarled at her, surprised by my own reaction. I never had my wolf come out like that.

She quickly turned to Finn, expecting him to intervene for her, but the bastard only chuckled. “What my lady said,” he exclaimed, and his expression quickly turned serious as he added, “And don’t speak to her like that again.”

The barmaid’s eyes darted between us, a flicker of unease crossing her face before she nodded and backed away. I felt my wolf’s satisfaction inside of me and quickly settled into my chair. We were aligned in this, at least, even if it wasn’t the most convenient time for my wolf traits to make an appearance.

The rest of the meal passed in strained silence, the humans’ whispered conversations and furtive glances a constant reminder of how out of place we were.

“We leave at first light,” August said quietly.

“Do you think they know what we are?” I whispered. Had I put us all in danger with my outburst?

“No,” he whispered, his voice steady. “But they’re suspicious. And that’s enough of a risk.”

The implications sat heavily on my chest, and I hurried to finish my dinner, unable to wait a second longer to leave this cursed room. For the first time in my life, I was grateful for how sheltered my old pack kept omegas. At least that meant I never had to deal with humans.