Chapter 28: Back To Blackthorn Pack
Rosalie:
My heart felt dangerously close to bursting out of my chest.
That was the only thought repeating inside my head as the black car moved through the familiar streets of Blackthorn Pack town. Every turn, every building, every shop I passed clawed memories back to the surface no matter how hard I tried suppressing them. The café near the town square where Kaiser once dragged me at midnight because I mentioned craving cake. The bookstore Darien secretly bought novels from whenever he noticed me rereading the same ones. The flower shop Alastor used to stop by every winter because he knew I loved white camellias.
The memories came one after another like cruel little knives. And the worst part was that a piece of me still missed them.
I hated that. I hated how love could survive even betrayal.
The rain had stopped earlier this morning, but dark clouds still loomed overhead, making the entire town feel dim and heavy. The streets bustled with normal daily life around us, pack members moving between stores and restaurants completely unaware of the storm raging inside me.
My fingers curled tighter against the fabric of my coat as the car finally slowed near the massive gates of the Blackthorn Pack House.
Immediately, the familiar security checkpoint came into view. And just seeing it made my stomach twist painfully.
Unlike the town itself, which welcomed outsiders during daytime, the pack house remained heavily guarded at all hours. No one entered without permission or identification. Especially now, considering tensions between packs and rogue territories had only increased these past years.
Two warriors stepped toward the car the moment we stopped.
I recognized both of them instantly. They were senior patrol warriors from the eastern territory division. I used to see them almost every week inside the pack house.
For a second, panic nearly overwhelmed me. What if they alerted the Alphas immediately? What if-
No. I shook my head and inhaled deeply. I couldn’t afford panicking now.
The driver lowered his side window slightly and calmly informed them he was dropping someone off at the pack house. Both warriors immediately frowned because outsiders weren’t simply allowed entry without verification.
I already knew how this would go. So before either of them could question further, I lowered the window on my side and removed the mask covering the lower half of my face.
Both warriors froze. One of them visibly did a double take before his eyes widened in complete shock.
"Miss Hale-"
He immediately straightened and bowed his head politely while signaling his partner to open the gates.
The massive iron gates slowly began sliding apart.
The warrior turned back toward me again, looking like he wanted to say something more. Maybe ask where I had been. Maybe ask if the rumors were true. Maybe ask if I was alright. But I couldn’t afford any conversations right now. So before he could speak, I quietly pulled the window back up.
The car moved forward again.
My pulse only climbed higher. I knew exactly what would happen now. The moment those gates opened for me, someone would notify the alphas. Which meant the clock had officially started ticking.
I had specifically chosen today because both Darien and Kaiser were supposed to attend the monthly territory meeting at Crescent Wolf Pack. They shouldn’t return for several more hours.
Unfortunately, "shouldn’t" wasn’t the same as "won’t."
And even worse, Alastor might come back with them. Just thinking about facing him made my breathing feel uneven.
No.
I only needed the bracelet. Nothing else. I would retrieve my mother’s bracelet and leave immediately. That was all.
The car continued driving deeper into the estate before finally stopping in front of the massive three-story pack house that had once felt like the center of my entire world. Now it looked unfamiliar somehow. Colder. Like a beautiful place stripped of warmth.
My fingers shook slightly as I removed the seatbelt. Before opening the door, I lifted my gaze toward the rearview mirror and met the driver’s eyes and told him quietly, "I need you to stay here."
He immediately frowned. "Miss Rosalie, I’m instructed-"
"I know," I interrupted softly but firmly. "And I also know you weren’t sent here just as a driver."
His expression shifted slightly.
Right. So I had guessed correctly. Whether Zaiden sent him or Eiden did, I couldn’t tell. Probably both. Still, that wasn’t important right now.
"I appreciate it," I continued honestly. "But you following me inside will only create problems. You won’t be allowed beyond the main hall without permission, and I can’t waste time arguing with security."
He looked ready to protest again, but I didn’t let him.
"I need you out here instead," I explained. "Watch for the alphas’ return. If any of them arrive, alert me immediately."
His brows furrowed deeper.
"And listen carefully," I added seriously. "If something goes wrong, you leave and contact your boss. Do not try fighting anyone here."
That clearly surprised him. I saw it plainly in his eyes. Probably because he assumed exactly what everyone else did when it came to me. That I was some fragile, overly emotional woman hidden behind strong men.
And I was the one to be blamed. No one else.
"This is foreign territory for you," I continued calmly. "No matter how strong you are, you’ll still be surrounded by hundreds of warriors if conflict breaks out. If you engage in a fight here, not only will you lose, but it could also become a political issue between packs."
The silence inside the car stretched for several seconds. The driver stared at me like he was seeing me properly for the first time. Then slowly, he nodded once. "I understand."
Only after hearing that did I finally open the car door. The cold air outside immediately brushed against my skin as I stepped out onto the familiar stone pathway leading toward the entrance of the pack house.
Everything felt too familiar - the fountain, the training grounds visible beyond the eastern side, the scent of pinewood drifting through the air.
My chest tightened painfully again, but I forced myself to focus. I climbed the entrance stairs quickly, and the moment the front doors opened, silence spread through the entire foyer.
Servants froze, warriors halted mid-step, and several people openly stared. Shock spread across face after face as recognition hit them.
"Rosalie..."
Someone whispered my name softly from somewhere behind me, while another servant gasped quietly.
I ignored all of it. I ignored the stares, ignored the whispers rapidly beginning around me, and ignored the painful familiarity clawing at my chest with every step deeper into the house.
I walked straight toward the grand staircase without slowing once. Someone called my name again, this time louder. But I still didn’t stop.
I climbed the stairs, walked down the familiar long hallway, and into the room that once used to be mine.
