Stuck with the enemy

Chapter 51: Not Totally Over You

The room went silent, and I wasn't the only one caught off guard. This was the second time I'd seen Deniz fight. The first was against Leo, and now here.

"Well," David said, breaking the silence in my head, "so much for your 'weak Luna' excuse. She's actually amazing."

"She's still the enemy's daughter," I shot back, though my words carried a weight I didn't expect.

Regret. It can't be.

The murmurs from below snapped me out of my thoughts. Among the excited voices, one rang out louder than the rest.

"Jacob!" I said to David.

Of course. Was there ever a moment when he wasn't involved?

It had been so long, and yet I still hadn't figured out who this guy was to her, or why he always seemed to be around. Every time I saw them together, something inside me churned, threatening to boil over. But I couldn't ask her—I had no right. And yet, the mere sight of him made me feel like I was losing my grip.

I descended the stairs just as Paul declared Deniz the winner of her match. My steps were quick, deliberate, though my pulse raced uncontrollably. By the time I reached the arena, I was barely holding it together. I needed to stay calm, to make sure no one noticed how much she affected me.

As I entered, my expression hardened into something unreadable. The chatter died down, and every pair of eyes turned toward me. But I wasn't paying attention to them. My focus was locked on one person.

Her.

Those piercing green eyes met mine, freezing me in place for a moment longer than I intended. Deniz didn't flinch, but there was a flicker of something?—before my gaze dropped.

And that's when I saw it.

Jacob's arms were wrapped around her.

Around Deniz.

My Deniz.

I looked away quickly, pretending not to notice. My jaw clenched as I turned to face Paul, trying to channel the storm raging inside me into something productive.

"I need to speak with the leader of the new team," I said sharply, my tone leaving no room for argument. "Send them to my office. Now."

Paul gave a small nod, understanding the urgency in my voice. Without waiting for a response, I strode out of the room, not sparing a second glance at anyone else.

I told myself I was being rational, that this was protocol. Of course, I needed to evaluate the new team. This was my responsibility as Alpha.

But deep down, I was really hoping the leader is Aras and not her or Jacob...

He was clearly the most experienced of them, older than me by at least five years. It made sense for him to take charge. I could deal with Aras. I needed it to be him.

Because if Deniz walked into my office instead...

I wasn't sure I could trust myself to stay in control.

Deniz's Story

"Are we in trouble?" I asked Derya, half-joking, half-serious. I knew this moment would come. I knew he'd find out we were here, and I had prepared my speech for it. So why did I feel like I was walking into the lion's den?

"Deniz, I can go instead if you want," Aras offered, his voice steady, protective as always.

"No," I said, shaking my head. "I'm fine. Everything's fine. I'll handle it."

"If you say so," he replied, his brow furrowing slightly, though he didn't push the matter further.

I turned to Paul. "Is my team dismissed now?"

"Yes, you're free to go. You can all head to lunch," he said.

I nodded, glancing back at my team. "You heard him. Go eat. I'll meet you later," I said, my voice firmer than I felt.

Then I turned and walked toward the Alpha's office.

When I reached the door, I knocked lightly. A deep voice from the other side answered, "Come in."

I opened the door cautiously and stepped inside, the tension in the room hitting me like a wall.

"Alpha, you wanted to see me?" I said, standing just inside the doorway.

His eyes locked on mine, tired but sharp, like they were dissecting me. "What are you doing here, Deniz?" he asked, his voice heavy with irritation and something else—something that cut deeper.

He didn't like that I was here, and he didn't bother hiding it.

"I'm leading a team," I said plainly. "It was the only way for those from the suburbs to join the patrols. This was Alpha Lucian's decision."

"Why would he make such a decision?" Derek pressed, leaning forward slightly.

I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. "Because Tommy saved him. And as Tommy's sister, I was asked to speak with him. That's why I was at your house that day," I said, my voice steady despite the tension.

His jaw tightened at my words. "Then why couldn't my father create a team without you on it? Why did you have to be here? Didn't we agree to stay away from each other?"

He wasn't wrong, and I knew it. My explanation wasn't strong enough to defuse his frustration.

"Yes, we agreed," I said, my voice soft but resolute. "But in the end, it's my right to be part of the team. Maybe you don't know this, but I'm the most capable among them."

His eyes narrowed, and I added, "You wouldn't know, though—you judge based on appearances." My voice turned sarcastic, the tension feeding my defiance. "Besides, we need to move on. Both of us. We can't keep avoiding each other forever. I've accepted that, you should do that too."

He didn't reply immediately, but his gaze lingered, heavy with unspoken words. It was clear this conversation was far from over.