12. Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

Aria

I adjust the strap of the basket in my hand, trying to ignore the whispers that follow me like shadows through the pack house. It isn't just whispers anymore—it's hushed gasps, low chuckles, and the occasional outright sneer.

"Human."

"Can't believe she's his mate."

"Doesn't even belong here."

The words roll off their tongues like venom, but I don't let them see how much they sting. I square my shoulders, chin lifted high, and keep walking. I'm not going to let a bunch of wolves dictate how I live.

Still, my patience is wearing thin. If one more idiot calls me "the human," I am liable to break something over their heads.

I turn a corner too sharply and collide with someone. The basket slips from my hand, the fruits and bread tumbling to the floor.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!"

I look up to see a woman around my age with warm hazel eyes and auburn hair pulled into a loose ponytail. Her face is kind, and she crouches down immediately, picking up the scattered apples.

"It's fine," I mutter, crouching to help.

She smiles as she hands me a bruised orange. "Really, I should've been watching where I was going. Are you okay?"

I blink at her, caught off guard by her genuine concern. "Uh, yeah. I'm fine."

"I'm Lila," she says, standing and holding out her hand. "Pack doctor. Well, sort of. I mostly deal with injuries after sparring sessions and the occasional rogue attack. But it sounds fancier when I say 'doctor.'"

I hesitate, then shake her hand. "Aria."

"I know," she says with a sheepish grin. "Everyone knows who you are. Sorry about... you know."

I raise an eyebrow. "The whispers? The stares? The general cold shoulder?"

Her grin falters, and she winces. "Yeah. That. They're idiots. Most of them don't know any better, and the rest are just stuck in their ways. You're Bane's mate, and that's all that should matter."

"Tell that to them," I say dryly, nodding toward a group of wolves who quickly look away when they realize I've caught them staring.

Lila sighs. "Ignore them. They're like dogs barking at a stranger—annoying but harmless."

I smirk despite myself. "You don't mince words, do you?"

"Not really," she admits with a shrug. "But if you ever need someone to vent to or a distraction, come find me. I'm usually in the infirmary patching up bruised egos."

"Thanks," I say.

As Lila walks me back to my quarters, we chat about life in the pack. She tells me funny stories about the younger wolves, like the time one of them accidentally shifted during a school play, scaring half the audience.

"Sounds like chaos," I say, chuckling.

"It is," she agrees. "But it's home."

When we reach the hallway leading to my room, I stop, turning to her. "Thanks, Lila. Really. It's nice to talk to someone who doesn't look at me like I'm a freak."

She waves me off. "You're not a freak, Aria. You're just new. And you're human, which is rare, but honestly, it's not the end of the world. People will get over it. Or I'll knock some sense into them."

I laugh, shaking my head. "I think I like you."

"Good," she says with a grin. "Because I don't have many friends either."

"Wait," I say impulsively as Lila turns to leave. "Do you need help with anything? I don't have much to do anyway, and it beats sitting here listening to my own thoughts."

Lila's eyes widen slightly in surprise before softening with gratitude. "Actually, yeah. If you don't mind the chaos, I was just about to head to the infirmary. Some of the warriors got a little too enthusiastic during sparring earlier. Could use an extra set of hands."

"Lead the way," I say, dropping the fruit basket in my room and following her.

The infirmary is bustling with activity when we arrive. A few wolves are lounging on beds, nursing minor injuries, while others are helping clean up. The scent of antiseptic mixed with the earthy tang of wolves fills the air. Lila grabs a clipboard and hands me a pair of gloves.

"You're not squeamish, are you?" she asks, flashing me a teasing grin.

"Not unless there's blood involved," I deadpan.

She laughs. "Well, in that case, let's start you off easy. See that guy over there?" She nods toward a tall, grumpy-looking wolf sitting on a bed, holding an ice pack to his swollen cheek. "That's Derek. He's been whining about a split lip for the past hour. Think you can handle cleaning it up?"

I raise an eyebrow. "Whining? I thought wolves were supposed to be tough."

"You'd be surprised," she says with a wink. "Go on. I'll be right here if he gives you trouble."

I approach Derek cautiously, holding up the antiseptic wipes. "Mind if I take a look?"

He glances at me, his brow furrowing. "You're the human."

"Yes, and you're the guy with a split lip," I say evenly. "Do you want help or not?"

For a moment, he looks like he might argue, but then he sighs and removes the ice pack. "Fine. Just don't make it worse."

I roll my eyes and carefully dab at the cut. He hisses in pain but stays still. "So, how'd this happen?"

"Rogue attack," he mutters, wincing as I apply more pressure. "Caught me off guard."

"Sounds rough," I say, genuinely impressed. "But it doesn't look too bad. You'll live."

He snorts. "Thanks for the expert opinion."

I finish cleaning the wound and hand him a bandage. "There. All better. Try not to get hit in the face again."

Lila appears beside me, smirking. "Not bad. He's usually grumpier than that."

Derek mutters something under his breath, but Lila ignores him, steering me toward another patient. This time, it's a young wolf with a sprained wrist.

"You're a natural," Lila says as I help wrap the wrist in a bandage. "Are you sure you haven't done this before?"

I shrug. "I worked in a school with young children back home. Plenty of cuts and burns to patch up."

"See? Told you you'd fit right in," she says with a grin.

We spend the next hour tending to various injuries, from bruises to scratches. The more we work, the more I find myself relaxing. Lila's easygoing nature and the camaraderie in the infirmary make it easier to forget about the stares and whispers outside.

As we finish cleaning up, Lila leans against the counter, her hazel eyes twinkling. "Not bad for your first day on the job. You might just put me out of work."

I laugh. "I think your job is safe. I'll leave the real doctoring to you."

"Suit yourself," she says, tossing her gloves into the trash. "But if you ever want a distraction—or just some company—you're always welcome here."

"Thanks, Lila," I say sincerely. "I mean it. This was... nice."

She smiles, patting my shoulder. "Anytime, Aria. Now go get some rest. You've earned it."

As I make my way back to my quarters, I realize that for the first time since arriving here, I don't feel completely out of place.

As I am walking, I hear laughter coming from the yard. I look and see Bane and Elias playing with a football.

Elias is grinning ear to ear, his small body darting around as Bane chases after him. When Bane finally catches him, he swings Elias up onto his shoulders, and the sound of Elias's laughter fills the air.

But something about it makes my chest tighten. The whispers around the pack, the judgment in their eyes—I can take that. What scares me is anything happening to my son.

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. The pack isn't the only problem. If my father ever finds out I am here...

I turn away and continue walking.

The hallways are quieter than usual, the pack likely busy with their routines. My footsteps echo faintly, and as I pass by the open courtyard, I catch snippets of voices.

"You think he knows yet?"

I stop short, pressing myself against the wall. My heart begins to race. The voices are low, almost conspiratorial, but clear enough to reach me.

"No way. If Vittorio Sorrenti knew where she was, we wouldn't be having this conversation. He'd have razed the pack house to the ground already."

I swallow hard, my hands gripping my clothes.

"Still," the second voice says, a little more cautious. "It's a risk having her here. If he finds out, this pack won't survive it. The guy's a maniac."

"That's why we need to keep things quiet. Bane knows what he's doing."

"Does he? Because bringing a human mate here, especially her, feels like painting a target on all of us. Vittorio's not the kind of man who lets things go."

My blood runs cold. They are talking about my father. About me.

"I get it," the first voice says, lowering to almost a whisper. "But Bane's the Alpha. If he thinks she's worth the risk, it's not our call to question it."

"It'll be all our heads if he's wrong."

"Yeah, but it's not like Bane hasn't dealt with him before," the first voice says, lowering to almost a whisper. "You know how long this feud's been going on. If Vittorio tries to pull anything, Bane won't sit back and watch."

The second voice huffs. "I don't doubt that. But every time they clash, it's carnage. Do you remember what happened last time? Half the forest was burned to the ground, and the survivors were too scared to speak Bane's name for weeks."

"Exactly," the first one says, his voice tinged with grim satisfaction. "And that's why Vittorio doesn't come here. He knows better. Bane's scarier than he is."

"Barely," the second one mutters. "Vittorio's no saint either. The guy's ruthless. If he finds out about her, he'll see it as an excuse to come after us. And this time, it won't just be some skirmish in the woods."

"You think Bane doesn't know that?" The first voice snaps, growing agitated. "Look, I'm not saying it's not risky, but you've seen what Bane's capable of when he's protecting his pack. And now, he's got even more reason to fight."

"What reason?" the second voice asks, his tone sharp.

"She's his mate," the first voice says, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You know what that means. You've seen what happens when someone threatens a mate."

A silence hangs between them, heavy with unspoken tension. Finally, the second voice breaks it. "I just hope he's right about her. Because if he's not, we're all screwed."

The sound of footsteps moving in my direction makes my stomach lurch, but they stop short as the first voice mutters, "If Vittorio wants a fight, he'll get one. And I'm betting on Bane to finish it."

They walk off after that, their voices fading into the distance.

Vittorio. My father. The pack. Bane. It feels like I am standing on the edge of a cliff, one wrong step away from sending everyone I've come to care about into a freefall.

I stay frozen in place, my breath caught in my throat. They are right. My father isn't the kind of man to let things go.

And if he ever finds out where I am, I'm not the only one who'll pay the price.

I have tried so hard to escape him, to keep Elias safe. But now, I can't help but feel like I've led danger right to our door.

And Bane?

If he has a plan to deal with my father, I'm not sure it will be enough.

I start to turn away when faint voices drift from behind the door to Bane's study.

“And if we don’t act fast? He’ll find her first.”

My breath catches in my throat as the conversation continues, low and urgent.

“We’ll make the first move. Vittorio won’t see it coming.”