Strangers Among the Pines

Chapter 5

Strangers Among the Pines

The four days leading up to the Full Moon Festival passed in a blur.

Jade barely had time to think.

From sunrise to sunset, she worked.

The packhouse kitchen needed supplies transported from storage buildings. Lanterns needed hanging. Festival tables needed cleaning. Decorations needed putting up throughout the territory.

And somehow, every unpleasant task seemed to find its way to her.

Not that she was surprised.

By now, she expected it.

What she didn't expect was how difficult it became to avoid the whispers after Alpha Devin intervened at the training field.

The encounter should have been forgotten.

Instead, it became gossip.

"...heard Alpha Devin stepped in."

"...probably felt sorry for her."

"...must be embarrassing."

Jade ignored every word.

Or at least she tried to.

Unfortunately, Sabrina Carter seemed determined to make sure everyone remembered.

Three separate times over the next few days, Sabrina found new ways to remind Jade that she didn't belong.

The worst happened while decorating the main festival grounds.

Jade was hanging lanterns when Sabrina strolled over with several friends.

"You should hurry," Sabrina said pleasantly.

Jade didn't look down from the ladder.

"Why?"

"With forty Blackthorn wolves arriving, we'll need everything perfect."

Jade continued working.

Sabrina sighed dramatically.

"Then again, maybe nobody will notice if you're missing."

The girls laughed.

Jade climbed down the ladder slowly.

Meeting Sabrina's gaze.

"You seem very concerned about me lately."

The laughter stopped.

Sabrina's smile tightened.

"Trust me. I'm not."

"Good."

Jade picked up her toolbox.

"That would've been weird."

For a brief second, Todd's sister looked genuinely speechless.

A small victory.

But Jade would take it.

She always would.

---

By the time the morning of Blackthorn Pack's arrival arrived, Jade was exhausted.

Which was exactly why she was running through the forest before dawn.

Most wolves might have considered sleep the logical choice.

Jade preferred training.

The forest behind the cottage was quiet.

Peaceful.

The air carried hints of pine and damp earth from an overnight rain.

Her boots crunched softly against fallen needles as she ran.

One mile.

Then two.

Then three.

By the time she reached her training clearing, sweat dampened her shirt.

Perfect.

She dropped into a fighting stance.

Punch.

Kick.

Spin.

Recover.

Again.

The movements were instinctive now.

Years of training had made them second nature.

The wooden post absorbed blow after blow.

Her knuckles stung.

She welcomed it.

Every strike brought her one step closer to becoming stronger.

Closer to becoming someone people couldn't dismiss.

The sound of a branch snapping behind her froze her in place.

Someone was there.

A stranger.

Her wolf immediately became alert.

Jade turned.

An older man stood at the edge of the clearing.

Tall.

Broad-shouldered.

Silver threaded through his dark hair.

Everything about him radiated power.

Not the loud, aggressive kind some Alphas carried.

Something quieter.

More controlled.

His scent was unfamiliar.

Definitely not Silverwood.

The stranger watched her with thoughtful eyes.

"You have good instincts."

Jade straightened immediately.

"You're on pack land."

The man's eyebrow rose.

"That obvious?"

"Very."

A smile touched his face.

"Good."

Instead of feeling reassured, Jade became more suspicious.

Most strangers did not wander into secluded forest clearings before dawn.

"Who are you?"

The man folded his arms.

"Alpha Gideon Blackthorn."

Jade nearly forgot to breathe.

Well.

That explained the authority.

Alpha Gideon was supposed to arrive with the Blackthorn delegation later today.

Not alone.

Not before sunrise.

And definitely not in her training clearing.

The older Alpha seemed amused by her surprise.

"I assume you're from Silverwood."

"Jade Sullivan."

For a moment something flickered in his expression.

Recognition.

Gone so quickly she wasn't sure she'd seen it.

"Sullivan."

His voice lowered slightly.

"Interesting."

Jade frowned.

"You know my family?"

"Years ago."

That wasn't exactly an answer.

Before she could press further, Gideon glanced at the battered wooden training post.

"You've been practicing for some time."

Jade crossed her arms.

"I'm trying to improve."

"Most wolves your age train in groups."

"I prefer this."

The Alpha studied her quietly.

The silence stretched long enough to become uncomfortable.

Finally he nodded.

"I can see that."

For reasons she couldn't explain, his approval felt significant.

And irritating.

She didn't need approval from strangers.

Even Alpha strangers.

"You should be careful," Gideon said suddenly.

Jade blinked.

"About what?"

His gaze drifted toward the forest.

"The days before adulthood can be unpredictable for young wolves."

A chill ran through her.

The comment felt oddly personal.

Before she could ask what he meant, another scent reached the clearing.

Pack wolves.

Several of them.

Approaching quickly.

Gideon noticed it too.

"I should return before your Alpha realizes one of his guests disappeared."

Jade almost laughed.

Something told her Alpha Rowan would not be pleased.

Gideon started toward the trees.

Then stopped.

When he looked back, his expression had changed.

Become more serious.

"Continue training, Jade Sullivan."

She frowned.

"Why?"

The Alpha's gaze held hers.

"Because I think you're stronger than most people realize."

Then he disappeared into the forest.

Leaving Jade alone in the clearing.

Staring after him.

Minutes later, Liam emerged between the trees carrying two travel mugs.

"Found you."

He stopped.

His eyes narrowed.

"You look like you've seen a ghost."

Jade accepted the mug automatically.

"Not a ghost."

"Then what?"

She looked toward the place where Alpha Gideon had vanished.

A strange feeling settled in her chest.

Not fear.

Not quite curiosity.

Something else.

"I think," she said slowly, "I just accidentally met the Alpha of Blackthorn Pack."

Liam nearly dropped both mugs.

"You what?"

For the first time that morning, Jade smiled.

The Full Moon Festival hadn't even started yet.

And things were already becoming interesting.