Chapter 335: Take Me with You
Meredith.
I looked between Draven and Dennis. The silence stretched oddly, as if something had been spoken but not aloud.
Dennis’s eyes flicked to his brother, and Draven’s expression hardened in that quiet, unyielding way of his.
Something was happening—a current running between them that I wasn’t meant to touch. My chest tightened with suspicion. They were planning something.
I reached out with my mind, testing the barrier. But where with ordinary wolves I could slip past their shields, hear the faint threads of thought... with them, I met only stone. Nothing.
My mind pressed against a wall too high, too thick, and it pushed me back.
Frustration pricked. How many secrets passed between them like this? How many conversations happened under my nose, beyond my reach?
For the first time, I found myself wishing—no, aching for the ability to read them, to rip through their walls and hear what they thought, what they plotted. To see them as clearly as they saw me.
And then, her voice.
"Soon," Valmora whispered from within, her tone smooth, curling through me like smoke. "When I’m finally let out, we will do great things together, you and I."
A shiver traced my spine. My fingers curled tightly against my lap to steady myself.
I actually can’t wait for this wonderful day to arrive. I was in desperate need of living a great life.
Draven’s gaze finally broke from Dennis and found mine. The sharpness in his golden eyes softened just enough.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
I forced a smile, though the echo of Valmora’s voice still lingered inside me. "I’m fine."
Dennis and Jeffery exchanged a glance, then both inclined their heads. With murmured excuses, they slipped out, leaving the study quiet again, the fire snapping in the hearth.
I scooted closer to Draven on the sofa, feeling the heat of him at my side. My fingers twisted together before I steadied myself.
"Valmora told me something," I said carefully. "Something I would like to confirm with you."
His brows lifted, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "And what is that?"
I drew a breath, then let it out. "She said... that your Alpha command doesn’t work on me. Is it true?"
For a heartbeat, silence stretched. Draven’s eyes narrowed, searching mine. Then, slowly, the corner of his mouth curved in a smile. "It’s true."
I blinked, surprise breaking into a smile of my own. My heart gave a hard beat, as though a hidden truth had finally been unwrapped.
"How do you know?" I asked softly. "Did you try it on me and fail? Because... how else would you know?"
His smile deepened, shadowed with memory. "Yes. I tried it, I think once or twice and failed, to my greatest shock."
My breath caught in my throat.
"It was back when we used to argue a lot," he continued, his tone low, threaded with amusement. "You would stand there—so small, so stubborn and would throw words at me without fear. You were so disrespectful sometimes," his eyes gleamed, "that I thought a command would silence you."
I felt my cheeks warm, but I kept my eyes on him. "And?"
"To my surprise," he said with a soft chuckle, "it didn’t work. Instead, you grew worse. Louder. Ruder. You rambled more when I tried to silence you."
He sighed then, shaking his head, though the smile remained. "That was when I knew again that you weren’t ordinary. That you weren’t like the others."
The firelight flickered across his face, softening the strength of his jaw. I held his gaze, my chest tightening at his words, which were warm against my skin.
Not ordinary. Not like the others.
The fire cracked, its glow wrapping around us, and for the first time that morning, my chest felt lighter.
Then, I reached for his hand, threading my fingers through his. "Then take me with you," I said quietly, "anytime you go to meet Mayor Brackham or any of Duskmoor’s leaders."
Draven’s brows lifted, curiosity sparking in his golden eyes. "Why?"
I let a smile tug at my lips, careful, a little sly. "I just want to test out my new skills."
He tilted his head, studying me. "And what new skill are you being so mysterious with?"
I shook my head, the smile spreading. "I won’t tell you."
His eyes narrowed, playful but sharp, the way a predator toys with its prey. "You won’t tell me?" he repeated, voice low, edged with mock warning.
"No." I leaned back, still smiling, enjoying the flicker of frustration in his eyes.
The change was sudden — a hand at my side, fingers pressing lightly, then moving. A jolt shot through me, and laughter burst from my lips before I could stop it. "Draven—!"
He didn’t stop. His hands found my ribs, relentless. My laughter rang out, loud and unguarded, filling the study. I twisted, trying to slip away, but he trapped me easily, caging me in with his strength as his fingers teased mercilessly.
"Stop—!" I gasped between laughter, trying to push at his chest. "Please—!"
But he only smirked, his eyes glinting with wicked amusement.
Tears prickled at the corners of my eyes from laughing too hard. My body ached with it, and still he didn’t relent.
Finally, breathless, I cried out between fits of laughter, "Okay—okay, I will tell you!"
At once, he stopped. The sudden silence felt almost strange after the flood of laughter.
He reached up, gently brushing a strand of hair from my face, tucking it behind my ear. His golden eyes softened as he smiled. "You should have given up sooner."
My breath caught, the warmth of his touch lingering against my skin as I drew a steady breath.
"Alright, I will tell you. I can read everybody’s mind. Their thoughts."
Draven blinked, his golden eyes narrowing as if weighing my words, waiting for me to explain further.
"Valmora told me," I continued, keeping my tone calm, measured. "She said I now have the ability to hear people’s thoughts. To break into their minds. But..." I let the pause stretch.
"But what?" His voice was low, curious but edged with caution.