Chapter 2—Shadows in the Dark

Willow walked through the village with purpose, her steps steady, her posture unshaken. To anyone watching, she looked strong—calm, even. Just another day as Luna, overseeing the pack, ensuring everything was in order.

But inside, her mind was in turmoil.

The rogue attack wasn’t sitting right. Rogues didn’t just attack like that—not in numbers, not with coordination. And they certainly didn’t retreat after delivering a message.

“They knew my name,” she reminded Nova, as if she hadn’t replayed those words a hundred times already.

Nova was silent for a moment before murmuring, “I know.”

Willow exhaled slowly, schooling her features as she passed a group of pack members tending to repairs near the training grounds. A few of the warriors nodded respectfully. Others gave her a reassuring glance, as if they were the ones trying to keep her from worrying.

She managed a small smile in return before continuing on.

“You’re overthinking,” Nova said. “We don’t know enough yet to start spiraling.”

“You’re not worried?”

Nova hesitated. “I didn’t say that.”

Willow sighed, rubbing a hand over her face. She had barely slept, her mind replaying every moment of the attack, every possibility of what could have happened. If the rogues had pushed harder, if more of them had come—

She forced the thought away. No. The pack was strong. They were safe. And she wasn’t about to let herself crumble just because some rogues whispered her name in the dark.

But Theo knew.

Of course he did.

She wasn’t surprised when Theo found her a few minutes later.

She was standing near the pack’s storage building, checking inventory with Elden, one of the older wolves who managed supplies. Elden was chatting easily about the winter reserves, but Willow was barely hearing him.

She felt him first—his presence brushing against her mind like a warm current. Then, his voice slipped through the link.

“Willow.”

She didn’t respond. Not immediately.

Theo wasn’t impatient, but she felt the weight of his attention settle on her like a warm, steady force.

She turned, unsurprised to find him leaning against a nearby post, watching her with those piercing blue eyes.

Elden, oblivious, continued talking. “I’d say we have enough stored to last well into winter, but—”

“I trust your judgment,” Willow said, cutting in with a polite smile. “Make the call for extra reserves if you think it’s necessary.”

Elden nodded, pleased, and walked off, leaving her alone with Theo.

Willow sighed, crossing her arms. “You’re hovering.”

Theo didn’t move. “I call it checking in.”

She narrowed her eyes. “I’m fine.”

His expression was unreadable, but she wasn’t fooled. She felt the concern radiating through the bond.

Atlas rumbled in the back of Theo’s mind, and Nova picked up on it immediately.

“They don’t believe you either,” Nova muttered.

Willow huffed. “I don’t need to be comforted, Theo.”

Theo’s lips twitched slightly, but his eyes remained sharp. “Didn’t say you did.”

There was something infuriating about the way he looked at her—like he could see right past the mask she’d carefully put in place. She wanted to snap at him. She wanted to argue. But she knew he was right.

She was tired. She was worried. And the weight of it was pressing down harder than she wanted to admit.

But she wasn’t going to crack.

She refused.

Instead, she turned, pushing past him. “I have things to do, Theo. If you want to talk, talk while I work.”

Theo didn’t stop her. He just fell into step beside her, keeping pace effortlessly. “Fine,” he said. “Then let’s work.”

They were walking toward the patrol barracks when Luka found them.

“Alpha, Luna,” Luka said, his tone clipped but urgent. “One of our scouts picked up something.”

Willow’s stomach tightened. “What do you mean?”

Luka hesitated before holding out a crumpled piece of paper. “One of the spies trailing the rogues heard them talking about a message. He managed to take this before they moved again.”

Theo took it, unfolding the worn page. Willow stepped closer, reading over his shoulder.

The message was written in sharp, jagged handwriting.

“The one with the fire hair. The wolf with two souls. She is the key. Find her. Bring her. Or he will come.”

Silence stretched between them.

Two souls? What does that mean?

Willow’s pulse pounded. She glanced at Theo, mumbling through their mindlink.

“I don’t understand. Two souls? Every werewolf has one soul. Two souls is impossible. How would that even work?”

Theo’s grip on the paper tightened, his blue eyes darkening. “This isn’t just about rogues looking for a fight.”

Willow swallowed hard. “They want me.”

A muscle in Theo’s jaw twitched. He exhaled sharply, his free hand reaching for her without hesitation. His fingers curled gently around her wrist, grounding her.

“Willow.” His voice was quieter now. Lower.

She looked up at him, trying to keep her expression calm.

Theo’s grip tightened just slightly, as if he could feel the way her mind was spiraling.

“They’re trying to rattle you,” he murmured. “That’s all this is. Some cryptic message to scare you.”

But his voice was tense. She felt the way Atlas prowled inside his mind, restless.

He was worried.

She wanted to pretend it didn’t bother her—to act like it didn’t make her stomach twist, like it didn’t set her nerves on edge.

But it did.

“I don’t understand,” she admitted, forcing the words out. “What does it mean? He will come? Who the hell are they talking about?”

Theo didn’t answer right away.

Instead, he reached up, brushing his fingers along the side of her face, tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear. His touch was warm, steady. “We’ll figure it out,” he said firmly.

Willow exhaled slowly, leaning just slightly into his touch.

“Theo,” Nova murmured, sensing the shift. “He’s tense. He’s trying not to show it.”

Willow glanced at him, at the way his jaw was still clenched, at the tight set of his shoulders.

He was tense.

For her.

She sighed, shaking her head. “I hate this.”

Theo smirked, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I know.”

They stood there for a moment, the message crumpled between them.

Whatever was happening—whoever was behind it—one thing was clear.

This wasn’t just about rogues.

Something bigger was coming.

And it was coming for her.