Chapter 4

After Kade’s growl: “Mine”, the world seemed to tilt on its axis. My heart was beating like a wild drum, echoing against the walls of my ribs in a way I hadn’t felt before. The forest around us was quiet now, almost expectant, like it was holding its breath with us.

I looked up at Kade, he was half-man, half-beast, still catching his breath from the fight. His eyes, fierce and golden, searched mine with an intensity that made me feel like I was suddenly the most important person in the universe, and also the most fragile.

The bite on my arm stung, but it was nothing compared to the strange heat spreading through my veins. I didn’t understand what was happening, but I knew deep inside that something had shifted. Something ancient and unbreakable had started to weave itself between us.

“Why?” I whispered, voice shaky.

“Because you’re mine,” he said again, softer this time, but no less certain. “And no pack law can change that.”

I wanted to believe him, but the weight of everything, the pack, the traditions, the secrets I hadn’t yet uncovered, pressed down on me like a storm cloud ready to burst.

Still, I couldn’t deny the pull. The way my breath caught when his hand brushed mine, the way my skin seemed to tingle wherever he looked.

Whatever this was, it wasn’t just about survival anymore. It was about something more, something dangerous, something real.

The morning after the attack, Shadowpine felt different. The usual quiet was heavier, like the forest itself was shocked, waiting. I sat on the porch of my cabin, nursing my arm where Kade had licked the bite, the sting still fresh but fading into a dull ache.

I tried to shake off the feeling that I’d just stepped into something way bigger than me. But every time I looked toward the edge of town, I saw shadows, watchful eyes and hushed whispers that vanished when I caught them.

Maggie’s café was no different. The usual friendly chatter was replaced by sideways glances. When I entered, a hush fell over the room. The regulars exchanged worried looks. I caught a snippet of conversation about “the wolf girl” and “the alpha’s claim.”

I clenched my fists, heart hammering. I wasn’t sure what it meant exactly, but I knew I was in deeper than ever.

That afternoon, I ran into Ronan, one of Kade’s closest packmates, near the market. He gave me a long, appraising look.

“Not many humans survive what you did,” he said quietly. “And even fewer get claimed.”

I forced a smile. “I don’t even know what that means.”

He shrugged. “It means you’re part of this world now. Whether you like it or not.”

I held my breath for a few seconds, the weight settling on my shoulders like cold stone. Whatever the claim meant, it wasn’t just about Kade and me.

It was about the whole pack, with the rules that kept us all tied together.

The days after the attack felt like walking a tightrope stretched over a stormy sea. Every step I took was uncertain, and every glance from the townsfolk or pack members felt like a test I wasn’t sure I could pass.

Kade kept his distance, which only made the silence between us louder. I wanted to ask him everything, the wolf, the claim, the strange pull I couldn’t shake, but the words got stuck in my throat whenever he was near.

One afternoon, I found myself wandering near the edge of the pack’s territory. The trees thickened, shadows deepened, and the world grew quiet in a way that made my skin prickle. I wasn’t supposed to be there, not really. But something drew me forward, like a whisper I couldn’t ignore.

Suddenly, a voice cut through the silence. “You don’t belong here.”

I spun around and found Luna Marisol standing not far off, eyes sharp and cold. The woman was every inch the fierce she-wolf I’d heard about, the kind who followed pack laws like they were sacred scripture.

Her gaze held no warmth, only warning.

“This is pack land,” she said. “ Humans like you aren’t welcome.”

I squared my shoulders, fighting the tremble in my voice. “I’m not just some human. Kade claimed me.”

Luna’s eyes narrowed, lips curling into a sneer. “Claimed or not, you’re still an outsider. And outsiders don’t get to decide the rules.”

I wanted to argue, to tell her that love didn’t care about rules. But the words felt small against the weight in her stare.

For the first time, I realized this fight wasn’t just about me and Kade. It was about the whole pack, and whether I could ever truly belong.

After my tense meeting with Luna, the forest felt colder somehow, even though the sun was out. I walked back to town with my heart pounding, like I’d just stepped on thin ice that might crack any second.

Kade was waiting near the diner when I got there, leaning against the wall like he owned every shadow in town. When he saw me, his face softened a little, just enough to remind me he was human beneath all that wolf.

“You ran into Luna,” he said, voice low.

I nodded. “She made it clear I’m not welcome.”

He stepped closer, eyes darkening. “She’s protecting the pack, but that doesn’t mean you’re not part of it.”

I wanted to believe him, but the words felt fragile.

“How do I prove it?” I asked, voice barely above a whisper.

Kade’s gaze flicked toward the forest. “You don’t. Not yet.”

“But I want to. I need to.”

He hesitated, then reached out, brushing a wet strand of hair from my face. The simple touch sent a shiver down my spine.

“We’ll take it one step at a time,” he promised. “But you have to trust me.”

It wasn’t just a request. It was a lifeline. After all this, maybe trust was exactly what I needed most.