Chapter 6: Whispers and Warnings

The morning light was pale and unforgiving as Mira slipped from the cabin, her body still humming with the memory of Lucian’s touch. But the warmth she carried within was shadowed by a cold knot of dread. The forest felt different now—watchful, tense, as if the trees themselves whispered warnings on the wind.

She hadn’t expected the pack to remain blind to her closeness with Lucian for long. Rumors spread like wildfire in the tight-knit community, and she could feel the weight of eyes on her, heavy with suspicion and judgment. Every step she took seemed to echo louder than usual, and even the birdsong felt muted, as if the woods themselves were holding their breath.

Anya met her at the edge of the clearing, her face drawn with worry. “Mira, you need to be careful. People are talking.”

Mira’s jaw tightened. “I know. But I can’t stop.”

Anya’s voice dropped to a whisper. “The pack won’t just talk. If the council finds out… you could be exiled. Or worse.”

Mira glanced away, her chest tight. The threat was real—she’d seen what happened to those who broke the pack’s rules. Still, the thought of denying what she felt for Lucian was unbearable.

Before Mira could answer, a sharp bark echoed from the trees. Lucian emerged from the shadows, his expression stormy and unreadable. He looked as though he hadn’t slept, tension radiating from every line of his body.

“We don’t have much time,” he said, voice low. “The council is calling a meeting tonight. They felt something last night—a shift. They’re looking for answers.”

Mira’s heart sank. The council was the pack’s ruling body, fierce defenders of tradition and order. If they discovered her and Lucian’s secret, it could mean the end of everything.

Lucian took her hand, his grip fierce and protective. “Whatever happens, we face it together.”

The day crawled by, tension coiling tighter with every passing hour. Conversations stopped when Mira entered a room. Old friends avoided her gaze. Even the children played quietly, their laughter subdued. She tried to lose herself in chores, helping Anya with herbs and tending the fire, but her mind raced. She caught glimpses of Lucian in heated discussions with the elders, his jaw set, his eyes dark with worry. The pack was restless, the air thick with anticipation and fear.

By dusk, the entire community gathered in the clearing. Torches flickered, casting long shadows across anxious faces. The council sat in a semicircle, their expressions grim and expectant. Mira stood at the edge, her hands clenched at her sides, Anya a silent anchor at her shoulder.

Whispers rippled through the crowd, suspicion thick in the air. Mira heard her name more than once—sometimes with envy, more often with warning. She felt the weight of every glance, the pressure of every expectation. Her heart pounded as she searched the faces around her, wondering who would stand with her if the truth came out, and who would turn away.

The pressure for the Alpha to name his mate had reached a fever pitch. If Lucian chose someone else, Mira knew the consequences for her would be dire. She tried to steady her breathing, focusing on the warmth of Anya’s hand on her arm, grounding her in the moment.

Lucian stood tall at the center of the clearing, his gaze sweeping over the pack before settling on Mira. His voice was steady, but there was an unmistakable edge beneath the calm. “I have something to say.”

All eyes turned to him. Mira’s breath caught. The moment of reckoning had arrived.

Lucian’s gaze lingered on her for a heartbeat, longing and regret flickering in his eyes. Then he turned to the council, shoulders squared. “Tonight, I will name my mate.”

A collective gasp rippled through the pack. Mira’s heart hammered in her chest, hope and dread warring within her. She searched Lucian’s face for a sign, but his expression was unreadable.

The eldest council member rose, her voice ringing clear through the night. “Let it be done, Alpha. The pack awaits your choice.”

The world seemed to narrow, the crowd fading until only Lucian remained in Mira’s vision. She felt the weight of tradition and longing pressing down, the wild hope that he might choose her battling the fear of what would happen if he didn’t.

Lucian drew a breath, the silence stretching, the future of the pack hanging in the balance. Mira’s heart whispered a single, desperate plea: Choose me.

And as the flames flickered and the pack held its breath, Mira knew that whatever Lucian decided, everything was about to change.