Disguised Before The Alpha Prince

Chp 16

As the door swung open, a mysterious man dressed in grey entered the room. His face was hidden behind a mask, and his cold eyes locked on Demyan. I instinctively moved into a corner, my body tensed. I didn’t want to attract attention—something about this man felt dangerous.

Demyan, on the other hand, stood completely still, his expression unreadable. But I knew something was wrong. His usual calm demeanor was gone. Today, his entire posture changed—as if he had come face-to-face with a nightmare. The tension in the room was so heavy, it made it hard to breathe.

He stepped forward and spoke, his tone sharp. “What brings you here at this time?”

The masked man smirked beneath the fabric. “You won’t get away so easily, Demyan. I’ll make sure you pay for what you’ve done.”

The man began to approach, but then, suddenly, a voice rang out from outside. Demyan’s eyes darted toward the window. I followed his gaze—and in that blink of an eye, the masked man was gone. Vanished. Like smoke.

“What just happened here? Where did that man go, Demyan?” I asked, stepping cautiously toward the door. I peered out, but there was nothing. The night was still and pitch black, like the forest itself was holding its breath.

I couldn’t shake the eerie feeling in my chest. That man wasn’t normal. My thoughts were spinning when I felt a firm hand on my shoulder—it was Demyan. He was right behind me.

“Let’s get inside. It’s cold,” he said quietly, but his tone carried a weight that made my heart sink. He didn’t look at me. His eyes stayed locked on the forest beyond us, as if he expected something—or someone—to return.

I followed him inside, not saying a word. I knew he wasn’t in the mood to talk. The bed was broken, so we had no choice but to sleep on the cold wooden floor. Fortunately, we found a pile of thick blankets nearby. I began preparing the bedding in silence.

I glanced up and noticed Demyan still standing, unmoving. He looked as if he’d seen a ghost. What was going on inside his mind? The Moon Goddess only knows.

The blanket was large enough for two, and to create a little barrier, I took two of the pillows and made a partition between us. At least that gave me a sense of space.

“Let’s sleep. It’s too late, and we have to move again tomorrow. We still need to win this game,” I said softly, lying down on one side and turning my back to him.

I heard the shuffle of blankets as he lay down too. But tonight, there were no sarcastic remarks, no teasing. Just silence. Heavy, unspoken silence.

I rolled over slightly and peeked at him. His back faced me. He didn’t move. Didn’t speak.

Who was that man? What had he meant by making Demyan “pay”? And why… why did Demyan look so haunted?

I stared at the ceiling, but my mind refused to rest. There were too many unanswered questions. One thing was certain—this wasn’t just a game anymore.

*______*_____

Demyan

The cold seeped into my bones, but it wasn't the chill that kept me awake—it was the look in his eyes. That masked bastard. I stared up at the dark ceiling, my arm folded under my head, and the flickering image of that man's stare wouldn't leave me. The past never truly stays buried. That bastard was here again! How should I get rid of that man—that betrayer? He doesn't deserve to live.

I clenched my jaw, my hand slowly balling into a fist against the blanket. There was a storm building inside me, silent but raging.

I got up from the bedding and sat for a while. I noticed that Perin was fast asleep, sleeping so peacefully that it made me jealous of him. He has no tension, no responsibility—unlike me. Even now, curled up under that thick blanket with his hair slightly messy and lips parted slightly in sleep… he looked innocent, unaware of the shadows I carried.

I sighed and quietly got up from the bedding and walked toward the door. I closed it gently behind me so Perin wouldn’t wake up.

The forest air was colder now, the kind of cold that had sharp edges. Karl, one of my close soldiers, was standing in front of me. He was Seren’s son. His mother had passed away after giving birth to Karl, and since then, he had grown up motherless. He’s going to be my future Gamma once I become Alpha. He had a mask on his face, and he knelt on one knee, bowing before me.

“Stand, Karl. Tell me what news you have,” I said as I folded my arms across my chest.

Karl stood but avoided eye contact, his voice low. “I tried to track him, but I lost him, sir.”

A muscle in my jaw ticked. “He was bold enough to enter the cabin and threaten me. He’s playing a game… and I don’t like games I’m not winning.”

Karl hesitated, then spoke, “There’s one more thing. That masked man… his scent was masked, but there was something else beneath it. Familiar. Like someone from the old pack. Possibly someone we knew.”

I didn’t answer. The weight of that possibility pressed hard on my chest. Someone from the inside.

A twig snapped in the forest behind us, and instantly, Karl reached for his weapon. I held out my hand.

“Don’t. It’s nothing,” I said, though I wasn’t sure. My senses were screaming, but I didn’t want to worry Karl more than needed.

My eyes flicked to the cabin window, where the faint glow from the fireplace flickered. Perin was safe… for now.

But if that man ever laid a finger on him again—friend or not—I wouldn’t hesitate.

I know that man, and I'm aware of what he is capable of doing. He has still not seen the dark version of me—I've been too lenient with him. I'm going to track him down and make him pay for what he has done.

I soon opened the door and walked inside. Perin was still asleep, and this time, he wasn't facing his back. I laid on my side, placing my hand beneath my head for support while I looked at him.

His lips are so soft that I felt like touching them. Slowly, I moved my fingers toward his lips. “It’s softer than it looks,” I said in a soft voice. Then my hand moved toward his cheeks—damn, so, so soft.

Why is he so soft?? Men are usually not like this, but why is he??

I soon shook my head. s**t, I'm thinking too much. I've never felt like this for a man, then why am I having these different feelings that I can't explain toward Perin? My heart was beating faster.

“Calm down—he’s not a girl. Why are you beating for a guy? I’m not into guys. I'm straight, and I’m sure of this,” I said to myself while I placed my hand on my chest.

I then pulled the blanket over my face, but suddenly, I felt something heavy on my body. I immediately removed the blanket from my face, eyes wide with shock—I noticed it was Perin’s legs.

And not only did he keep his legs over me, but he was also hugging me like I’m his pillow.

What the actual moon curse is he doing?

I tried to take off his leg, but he kept putting it back again and again as I removed it.

At one point, he mumbled in his sleep, “No... warm pillow... stay...” and hugged me tighter.

“Seriously?! Am I a person or a teddy bear to him now?” I whispered under my breath.

I sighed, defeated, lying back down with his limbs draped all over me like a clingy octopus.

“If I survive this night without accidentally cuddling back, it’ll be a miracle,” I muttered, staring at the ceiling.