The forest around him was quiet now, the adrenaline from the encounter with Kael slowly fading into a warm, restless ache. He shook his head, trying to focus, trying to remind himself that Kael was dangerous and that he had no interest in being caught again.
But he didn't get a chance to think too long.
As he emerged from the treeline near the pack's main clearing, he froze. A few of his packmates were gathered around, whispers sharp enough to carry. Among them stood Joren, a tall, burly wolf with a reputation for overprotectiveness, and one that seemed to grow worse whenever Eli was involved.
"Eli!" Joren said, striding toward him with that mixture of suspicion and fury Eli hated so much. "Where have you been?"
Eli's ears twitched, immediately on guard. "Out patrolling. Why?" he said casually, though every muscle in his body tensed.
Joren's brown eyes narrowed. "Don't play games. I saw you. With him." His jaw was tight, voice low, dangerous. "Kael. From the Draven pack. You two were--" He stopped, glaring, but the accusation hung heavy in the air.
Eli blinked, taken aback. "I wasn't with him!" he said quickly, hands raised defensively. "We weren't… doing anything. He chased me, and I ran. That's all."
Joren snorted, skeptical. "You think I don't see it? You were close. Too close. He's the alpha of a rival pack, Eli. You know what that could mean."
"Iknow what it could mean," Eli snapped, tail flicking irritably. "And I also know what actually happened. Stop twisting it."
The whispers around the clearing grew louder. A few of the younger wolves leaned closer, eyes wide, trying to catch every detail. "He was flirting with you," one murmured. "You were… Letting him."
Eli's ears flattened, and he stamped a paw sharply on the ground. "No! That is not what happened!" he barked, voice rising. "He was annoying me. I was running from him! I didn't do anything!"
Joren's glare softened, though not entirely. "You'd better be telling the truth," he warned. "Because if this blows up, if your 'games' give him an excuse to cross into our territory, we'll all be in trouble."
"I'm telling the truth," Eli said firmly, straightening his shoulders.
The pack murmured, some still doubtful, others relieved, but the seed of gossip had already been planted. Eli's ears twitched, irritation prickling through him. Kael's relentless teasing had just followed him home, and now the forest, and his own pack, seemed to hum with whispers he didn't want to hear.
"You're supposed to trust me..." Eli muttered, voice tight, trying to keep the hurt from spilling out. "I've never lied to you, Joren. Not once."
Joren's jaw tightened, but he didn't look away. "I saw you," he insisted. "I know what I saw."
Eli's tail lashed, sharp and agitated. "Do you even hear yourself? You're just assuming the worst because you don't want to think about who it is! Kael is dangerous! He chased me! You think I'd let myself get caught?!"
"But you were close!" Joren insisted, stepping slightly forward. "Too close. You were laughing, smiling… you were—" He hesitated, then clenched his fists. "I don't know. You were enjoying yourself, Eli."
Eli froze, blinked, and stared at him in disbelief. "Enjoying myself? Are you serious right now?" He ground his teeth, tail flicking sharply. "You think I'd enjoy being hunted like prey by some alpha jerk?"
Joren's expression faltered for a moment, something flickering in his eyes that Eli didn't understand.
Eli took a deep breath, trying to calm the heat rising in his chest. He had known Joren was impulsive, quick to judge, but he hadn't realized how fast he could jump to conclusions. The fact that it came with that odd undertone, something possessive, made Eli's stomach twist. He didn't have time to parse it, though; the hurt was real.
"I thought… I thought you trusted me, Joren. I thought we were friends. Guess I was wrong."
Joren flinched at the words, and Eli felt a small, fleeting pang of guilt, but it was drowned out by frustration. He turned around, walking away from the clearing.
"Eli!" Joren called after him, but Eli didn't slow. "I… I just..."
"Save it," Eli snapped over his shoulder. "I don't need excuses."
The forest seemed quieter now, almost oppressive, and for the first time, Eli felt the sting of being truly misunderstood. Not by a rival, not by Kael, but by someone he had trusted.
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I hope you're enjoying this story so far! I'm still not sure about the next events, I only have a general idea, so feel free to leave suggestions about things you'd like to read about!