Falling For The Demon Wolf Chapter 6: Shall We?

I wait.

The party is a complete chaos—drunken laughter, snapping jaws, bodies twisting in dance and challenge. The wolves are distracted, caught up in their own world, their own wildness.

It's the perfect mont.

I don't make a scene. I don't run. I slip through the crowd like smoke, keeping my head low, my steps quiet. Wolf moves with , a silent shadow at my side.

No one stops us.

Not yet.

The edges of the gathering are dark, the firelight fading into the trees. The horses are nearby, tied loosely, unguarded. If I can just—

A hand clamps around my arm.

I twist, bringing my elbow up, but Cian moves too fast. His grip tightens, dragging back before I can even think about reaching for a weapon I don't have.

"Going sowhere, little hunter?"

I snarl, struggling, but it's useless. The mont I'm caught, the mont the wolves around us take notice, I know I've lost.

Laughter ripples through the crowd.

"She actually thought she could escape."

"Should we give her a head start?"

"Let's make it fun. A real hunt."

The words send a chill down my spine.

Wolf growls, teeth bared, but he's outnumbered. One of the wolves grabs him, holding him back as he snaps at their hands.

I lunge toward them, but Cian yanks closer, his breath warm against my ear. "Careful," he murmurs. "You don't want them thinking you care."

I grit my teeth, my pulse hamring.

Cian lets out a sharp whistle, silencing the laughter. His grip on my arm loosens just enough for to breathe. "She's mine," he says easily, like he's claiming a damn piece of furniture. "And she's more useful alive."

A murmur of disappointnt.

Selene steps forward, smiling that sa sharp, knowing smile. "Such a sha," she sighs. "I was looking forward to the chase."

I glare at her. "Sorry to disappoint."

She laughs. "You'll make it up to , I'm sure."

Cian doesn't give a chance to argue. He hauls back into the center of the party, shoving down onto a bench beside him.

I stiffen, every muscle tight with anger, humiliation burning in my chest. I can feel their eyes on , the weight of their amusent.

But I don't break. I can't let them see cry.

I lift my chin, et Cian's gaze head-on, and smile.

"You should've let them chase ," I murmur. "At least then you'd have had a chance to see win."

Cian chuckles, shaking his head. "Oh, little hunter," he says, leaning back. "You have no idea what kind of ga you're playing."

Maybe not.

But I'll learn.

And when I do, they won't be laughing anymore.

The party rages on, but I don't move. I sit stiffly on the bench, my fingers curling into fists against my thighs. I can feel their eyes on , their laughter lingering like a phantom touch against my skin.

But I won't give them the satisfaction of seeing rattled.

Wolf is back at my feet, his body tense, his growls low and constant. I keep my hand on his fur, grounding myself as I watch, listen, wait.

Cian doesn't say anything, but I know he's watching too. Studying. asuring.

I Let him assessnt all he wanted.

I turn my gaze to the fire, watching the way the flas flicker and dance. The wolves drink, fight, revel in their own power. It's a reminder that I'm in their world now. A world where humans are prey.

I refuse to be prey.

A heavy hand lands on my shoulder.

I don't flinch. I don't even look.

"Drink," a voice orders.

A wooden cup is shoved into my hands, the liquid inside dark and thick. I don't need to taste it to know it's laced with sothing ant to dull my senses.

I glance up, eting Selene's expectant gaze.

"I'd rather not be poisoned," I say dryly.

She laughs, the sound rich with amusent. "If we wanted to kill you, little hunter, you'd already be dead."

"Comforting."

Cian leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he watches us. "Drink," he says, though there's no real command in his voice. "Or don't. But if you refuse, they'll take it as weakness."

I hesitate.

Then, with slow deliberation, I lift the cup to my lips.

I don't drink much—just enough to satisfy their twisted sense of hospitality. The liquid burns as it goes down, thick with spice and sothing wilder beneath it.

Selene hums in approval. "See? That wasn't so hard."

I set the cup down. "I've had worse."

She smiles like she knows sothing I don't. "Oh, I doubt that."

Sothing in her tone prickles under my skin, but I don't rise to it. Instead, I look back at the fire, pretending I don't feel the slow warmth curling in my veins, the telltale sign of whatever they slipped into that drink.

Damn it.

I glance at Cian, but his expression remains unreadable.

The night stretches on, the wolves growing louder, wilder. Fights break out—so playful, so less so. I watch it all, noting their movents, their patterns. If I'm going to survive this, I need to learn their weaknesses.

And then, just when I think the night can't get worse—

A deep, guttural howl splits the air.

The mood shifts instantly. The laughter dies. The wolves still.

Even Cian's expression sharpens as he rises to his feet.

"What was that?" I ask, my voice steady despite the unease crawling down my spine.

Cian doesn't answer. He just stares into the dark, his golden eyes glinting like a predator catching a scent.

Then—

He smirks.

"Looks like the party's over."