He Knows the Door to My Soul and Who Forgot to Novel 34

Damon firmly refuses to attend a hunt on the moon, but his Beta warns that declining the invitation would damage their pack’s reputation and invite challenges from rival packs. The Beta stresses the importance of maintaining strength and perception to protect their territory and the twins. Although reluctant, the narrator acknowledges the truth in this and understands that showing weakness could endanger their family.

The Beta reassures them that the hunt will involve multiple packs and other Alphas, making it safer than a private meeting, especially under a treaty forbidding wolf-on-wolf violence on that land. Grace offers to watch the twins while they are gone, which feels almost ironic given their recent discussions about hiring her as a nanny. The narrator reflects on their responsibility to keep Max and Jane safe, even if it means facing danger directly.

After some hesitation, the narrator agrees to attend the hunt despite concerns about revealing too much about the twins or their fragile lies. Damon reluctantly agrees, warning that they will be ready if anyone tries anything. They send a messenger to accept the invitation from Alpha Andrei. Then, unexpectedly, the narrator hires Grace immediately to care for the twins during their absence, surprising both her and Damon.

Once Grace leaves, Damon and the narrator exchange tense looks over the invitation and discarded applications. Damon suspects the invitation is a trap, but the narrator is uncertain. Despite their dread of dealing with Andrei again, they realize they have little choice but to attend the event.

“Yeah, well, I don’t care if it’s on the moon,” Damon snapped. “We’re not going.”

His Beta hesitated, clearly choosing his words carefully. Finally, he said slowly, “Alpha, refusing a hunt invitation will send a message. The other packs will think we’re afraid of Moonshadow. That we’re too intimidated to compete.”

“Let them think what they want,” I said, but even as the words left my mouth, I’knew he was right. Again. In our precarious world, perception mattered. Strength mattered. If we showed weakness now, it would invite challenges from other packs who might see opportunity in our fear.

“It would damage our standing,” the Beta continued gently. “Other Alphas might question our strength, our right to hold territory. For the pack‘ sake…”

He didn’t need to finish. Both Damon and I understood what he was really saying. If we wanted to protect the twins, we needed to maintain our position. A weak pack attracted predators, and we couldn’t afford that kind of Lattention.

“The hunt format means multiple packs will attend,” the Beta added. “You wouldn’t be alone with them. There would be witnesses, other Alphas. Not to mention the treaty–no wolf–on–wolf bloodshed on that land. It might actually be safer than meeting privately.”

Grace had been silent throughout this exchange, but now she spoke up. “I could watch the twins while you’re gone. If you decide to go, that is.”

I almost laughed at the timing. Here we were, debating hiring her as a nanny, when a situation arose that required exactly what she offered. The Moon Goddess certainly had a sense of humor,

I thought about Max and Jane, asleep in their beds upstairs. Everything I did was for them, to keep them safe. But sometimes keeping them safe meant facing the very dangers I wanted to avoid.

“He’s right. Maybe we should go,” I admitted. “We Grace, not wanting to reveal too much abou

Can’t show weakness. Not now, not when…” I glanced at

our concerns.

Understanding passed between Damon and

“Fine,” Damon said through gritted teeth. “We’ll go. But if he tries anything…”

His voice trailed off, but he didn’t need to finish. I nodded curtly and turned to the messenger. “Tell Alpha Andrei we’ll attend,” I said.

The messenger bowed and quickly departed. Grace stood, gathering her things.

“I’ll let you discuss this,” she said tactfully. “About the nanny position-”

“You’re hired,” I said abruptly. Both Grace and Damon looked surprised at my quick decision. “We’ll need someone here with the twins while we’re gone. Can you start immediately?”

Grace nodded, smiling slightly. “Of course. Thank you, Luna.”

+25 Bonus

After she left, Damon and I stood facing each other across the table littered with applications we no longer needed. The invitation sat on top of the pile.

“This is a trap,” Damon said flatly. “You know it’s a trap.”

“We don’t know that for certain.” I picked the invitation up again and studied Andrei’s neat signature; he always perfectly spelled out each letter in the most beautiful cursive I’d ever seen, and his signature always looked the exact same no matter how many times he wrote it. Typical.

Damon’s jaw ticked, clearly not liking this any more than I was, but he finally sighed and sank down into his chair.

It was clear we were both dreading another interaction with Andrei. But what else were we supposed to do?

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The weight of responsibility settled heavily between Damon and me as we faced the inevitable decision. Our desire to protect the twins clashed with the harsh reality that strength and perception governed our world, and sometimes that meant stepping into the very dangers we wished to avoid. Yet, amidst the tension and uncertainty, a quiet understanding passed between us—our unity was our shield, and together we would confront whatever lay ahead, even if it meant walking into a trap.

Grace’s unexpected offer to watch the twins brought a small but significant reprieve, a reminder that we were not alone in this fight. With her acceptance as their guardian in our absence, a fragile thread of hope wove through the gathering storm. Though doubts lingered and the path forward was fraught with risk, our resolve was clear: for the sake of our family and pack, we would stand firm, ready to face the challenges that awaited us beyond the door.

The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the tense dynamics between Damon, the narrator, and the other packs, especially under the looming shadow of the Moonshadow hunt invitation. As they prepare to attend, the weight of potential traps and hidden agendas will likely test their trust in each other and their ability to protect the twins. The delicate balance of power and perception among the packs may shift, bringing new challenges that could threaten their safety and unity.

Emotionally, the decision to accept the invitation despite their fears will stir a mix of anxiety, determination, and perhaps unexpected alliances or confrontations. Grace’s new role as the twins’ caretaker adds another layer of complexity, hinting at evolving relationships and the possibility of unforeseen support or conflict. Readers can anticipate a chapter rich with suspense and subtle power plays, where every interaction carries the risk of revealing too much or exposing vulnerabilities.

Sara Lili

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.