Tangled Hearts - The Alpha's Baby Mama-Chapter 290: The trap...

Selene POV

The nursery was quiet now, except for the soft, rhythmic breathing of our newborn son. The peace in the room was a stark contrast to the storm brewing outside these walls. Kragen had left to make arrangements for our departure, but the tension remained, settling deep in my chest. I could still feel the weight of Noah’s arms around me, but even his touch couldn’t chase away the anxiety gnawing at me.

Noah had been silent since I’d decided to leave. He was brooding, his body tense with barely contained frustration. I knew he hated the idea of me leaving, of abandoning our pack. He was a Lycan and—retreating wasn’t in his nature.

I sighed, leaning back against Noah’s chest, my mind racing with everything Kragen had revealed. The council... the prophecy... the idea that they saw me as a threat. It felt unreal, like a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from. But it was real, and the danger was closing in around us faster than I could comprehend.

"I should’ve seen this coming," Noah muttered, breaking the silence.

I glanced up at him, frowning. "What do you mean?"

He hesitated for a moment, his jaw tightening before he spoke. "There were four men... they came to the border a few days ago. They were asking about you."

I froze, my heart skipping a beat. "What?"

Noah nodded, his eyes dark and unreadable. "They showed up just beyond the boundary, late at night. Kurtis and I went to meet them. At first, they were just standing there, watching us like they were waiting for something—or someone. But when Kurtis asked what they wanted, they said they were there for a conversation. About you."

My stomach dropped. "Why didn’t you tell me?"

"Because I didn’t want to worry you," Noah said, his voice tight. "Not when we didn’t know what they wanted or who they were besides, you weren’t back home then."

I pulled away from him slightly, turning so I could see his face. "And now?"

"Now..." Noah let out a slow breath, his eyes flicking away from mine. "Now I’m wondering if they were from the council. Or if they were something worse."

My mind raced as I tried to process his words. Four men, asking about me. Just days ago. "What did they say, exactly?" I asked, my voice trembling.

Noah’s expression darkened as he recalled the encounter. "One of them, the one who seemed to be in charge, had this... look about him. He was tall, with dark hair, and he smiled like he knew something we didn’t. He said they were only there to talk, but when Kurtis pressed him, he mentioned you by name. He said they had been looking for you for a long time."

A chill ran down my spine. "Looking for me? Why?"

"That’s what I asked them," Noah said, his voice low, dangerous. "But they wouldn’t answer. They just kept saying they wanted to talk, that they needed to have a conversation with you. Kurtis wasn’t having it—he told them to leave before things got ugly. But they didn’t back down."

I could see the tension in Noah’s face as he relived the memory. He was furious and protective, and I knew that whatever had happened at the border had shaken him more than he was letting on.

"What happened next?" I whispered.

Noah’s jaw clenched. "The leader... he said something that didn’t sit right with me. He said, ’She can’t hide forever. The council isn’t the only one interested in her.’"

My blood ran cold. "What... what does that mean?" fгeewebnovёl.com

"I don’t know," Noah said, his voice tight with frustration. "But it was a threat. They were trying to intimidate us, to make us feel like they had power over us. And the worst part is... they didn’t even seem worried about it."

"What do you mean?"

"They weren’t afraid of me. Or Kurtis. Most outsiders, especially those who come to our borders uninvited, would be nervous facing the Lycan King. But these men? They didn’t flinch. It was like they knew we couldn’t touch them."

I swallowed hard, trying to make sense of what Noah was telling me. If these men weren’t afraid of him or Kurtis, that meant they had power—power they were confident we couldn’t challenge. But who were they? Were they truly from the council, or was there something else going on here? Something darker?

"What did you do?" I asked, dreading the answer.

Noah’s eyes flickered with barely restrained anger. "We stood our ground. Kurtis wanted to fight them, to show them we wouldn’t be intimidated. But I held him back. There was something off about them, Selene. Something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. They didn’t come for a fight—not that night, at least. But they wanted us to know they could come back."

I exhaled shakily, my mind swirling with fear and confusion. "Do you think... do you think they’ll come back?"

Noah’s gaze was steady, but I could see the uncertainty in his eyes. "I don’t know. But Kragen’s right—You can’t stay here. Not with those men lurking on the outskirts, waiting for their chance."

My stomach twisted. Leaving our home, our pack, felt like surrender. But what choice did we have? If these men were as dangerous as Noah believed, then staying would only put everyone at risk—our children, our pack, and each other.

"I’m scared," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. It was the first time I’d allowed myself to say it out loud, and the words felt heavy, laden with all the fear and uncertainty I’d been trying to bury.

Noah’s hand found mine, squeezing gently. "I know," he said softly. "But we’ll get through this. I won’t let anything happen to you or our family."

His words were reassuring, but I could feel the weight of the unknown pressing down on me. We were about to leave everything we knew behind, and for what? A prophecy I didn’t fully understand? A threat from men I’d never even met?

"What if they’re right?" I whispered, voicing the fear that had been gnawing at me since Kragen had mentioned the prophecy. "What if I am the one they’re afraid of?"

Noah’s grip tightened on my hand. "Then they should be afraid," he said, his voice firm. "Because you’re stronger than they could ever imagine."

I looked up at him, my heart swelling with both love and fear. Noah believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. But was that enough to stop whatever was coming?

Before I could respond, there was a soft knock at the door. I tensed immediately, my heart leaping into my throat. Noah’s body went rigid beside me, his protective instincts flaring as he rose to his feet and moved toward the door.

"It’s me," came Kragen’s voice from the other side.

Noah hesitated for a moment, then opened the door, allowing Kragen to step inside. His expression was serious, his usual calm demeanour replaced by something far more urgent.

"We need to leave now," Kragen said without preamble, his eyes locking onto mine. "There’s been movement near the southern border. It’s not safe here anymore."

My heart raced as I stood up, cradling our newborn son in my arms. "What kind of movement?"

"Scouts," Kragen said, his voice low. "I don’t know who they are, but they’re too close for comfort. If we wait any longer, we won’t be able to leave without being seen."

Noah cursed under his breath, his jaw tightening. "How much time do we have?"

"Not much," Kragen replied. "We need to be gone before they realize we’re onto them."

I felt a surge of panic rises in my chest, but I forced myself to stay calm. We had to move quickly, but I couldn’t let fear paralyze me. My children were depending on me.

"Alright," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "Let’s go."

Kragen nodded, his expression grim but determined. "I’ll get the car ready. We’ll head north, toward the safe house. It’s remote enough that they won’t be able to track us easily."

Noah was already moving, gathering a few essential items and preparing me to leave. His movements were quick and efficient, but I could see the tension in his body.

"Kragen," Noah called, his voice low. "If those scouts get too close..."

"They won’t," Kragen replied firmly. "We’ll be gone before they realize what’s happening."

I glanced between the two men, feeling a surge of gratitude for both of them. As much as Noah distrusted Kragen, I knew that he was here to help. He always had been, and despite the tension between them, I trusted Kragen with my life.

With one last look around the nursery, I gathered Maeve and Vina, who had been sleeping soundly in their room, unaware of the danger that was closing in on us. I whispered reassurances to them as I bundled them up, trying to keep my voice calm despite the fear gnawing at me. They were still young, too young to understand what was happening, and I wanted to shield them from as much of this nightmare as I could.

By the time we were ready, Kragen had the car waiting just outside. Noah helped me load the children into the back seat, his movements quick but gentle, as if trying to reassure them through his touch.

As we pulled away from the house, I couldn’t help but glance back, a lump forming in my throat as the only home I’d ever known faded into the distance.

And as the moonlight cast long shadows over the road ahead, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of the storm.