Shadows of the Pack

LIORA'S POV

I woke to the sound of laughter, Serena’s high-pitched, melodic chirp followed by Mom’s softer, amused chuckle. It was the sound of a "real" family starting their day. I lay still under my worn wool blanket, staring up at the cracked, flaking white paint of the ceiling. Another morning in the Voss pack as an outsider, always someone else.

In the Voss pack, I was the girl found in a storm, the "miracle" the Hale family adopted before their own blood daughter came along five years later. Then this miracle became a burden.

I swung my legs out of bed. The floorboards were ice-cold against my feet, sending a prickle of goosebumps up my legs. I dressed quickly in a pair of faded jeans and a gray t-shirt. I pulled my hair into a messy ponytail, I caught a glimpse of myself in the crooked mirror at the corner. My blue eyes looked back, they were sharp but tired.

I traced the faint scar along my jawline, a souvenir from a fall I had when I was ten. Dad hadn’t hug me or check for a concussion; he’d just told me it " it builds character."

I headed downstairs. Mom was at the stove, flipping eggs with practiced ease, while Serena sat perched on a stool, her legs swinging happily as she talked. Dad was at the table, his head down, methodically running a whetstone over the blade of a hunting knife.

"Morning," I said, trying to force a bit of life into my voice.

Mom didn't turn around. "Morning, Liora. Coffee’s in the pot, go help yourself."

Serena didn’t even look at me. "So Mom, Jax was saying the Shadow Pack spies were spotted by the eastern ridge again. That’s the third time this month. Everyone at the store was talking about it."

"Ronan has it under control. The boy’s got a strategic mind. When he takes the throne tomorrow, I’ll be proud to call him our King." Dad chirped in.

I poured a mug of black coffee, the steam warming my face. I leaned against the counter, even though I knew Serena hated it when I "loitered."

"Spies on the eastern ridge?" I asked.

"That’s less than two miles from the village. That's hitting a bit close, isn't it?"

Serena swiveled her stool around, a mock-teasing smile on her face that didn't reach her eyes. "Oh, please, Liora. You spend your days at that little herb-station by the boundary. What would you know about actual patrol patterns?"

"Serena," Mom murmured, though there was no warning in her tone.

I took a sip of the bitter coffee, letting it ground me. "I’ve been on the border patrols before. I know the terrain better than most." That was true, I've been there most times with Ronan.

Serena snorted, reaching for a piece of bacon. "Mending fences and picking weeds doesn't count as patrolling, sweetie. Leave the warrior work to the people who are actually... you know, capable."

Dad looked up from his knife, his gaze heavy. "The border is for warriors, Liora. Stick to what you're good at."

The dismissal stung more than the insult. I looked down at the table. Serena, sensing she’d won, nudged a plate of eggs toward herself. "You want some, Liora? Or are you too busy being 'broody' to eat?"

"I'm fine," I said, my appetite vanishing.

"Good," Serena said, her voice dropping into a more serious, gossipy tone. "Dad, do you think Ronan’s choice tomorrow will finally lock in the alliance with the Crowes? Isolde’s been glued to his side for weeks. She’s practically already acting like the Luna."

Dad nodded. "It’s the only move that makes sense. Her family has the warriors we need if the Shadow Pack keeps pushing. It’s about territory, power, and survival."

Marriage, power, strategy. That was all anyone talked about. But as they chatted, my mind drifted to the way my skin buzzed whenever Ronan walked into a room. It was a steady, pulsing hunger, a bond I had tried to ignore for years until that night. I thought while smiling to myself.

"Pass the salt," Serena nudged my shoulder, snapping me back.

I slid it over. "So, you’re excited for the ceremony then?"

She shrugged, her eyes flicking to mine with a predatory glint. "Why wouldn't I be? Ronan finally gets a mate who can actually contribute something to the pack. Not just someone who hangs around on... hope."

Mom set a plate down. "Serena, that's enough."

"I'm just being honest," Serena said, leaning back. "Some people get their hopes up for things that are never going to happen. It’s pathetic to watch."

I stared at her. "No hopes here, I'm just curious who he picks.” I knew I didn't have a chance, Isolde's practically up there while me, I barely even get recognized by my own family.

Dad coughed loudly, ending the conversation. "Stop it. Both of you. Finish eating and get to the training yard. We need everyone to be sharp."

We ate mostly in silence, the sound of forks the only thing louder than the ticking clock. I finished my plate, rinsed it and went outside.

The village was already bustling, children rushing around nimbly, elders huddled by the fire pit, warriors heading for the yard.

I headed for the yard, I needed to hit something to cool off. Jax was already there, whistling as he swung a heavy wooden training staff in wide, rhythmic arcs. When he saw me, his face split into a grin.

"Liora! Are you here to watch the boys play, or are you going to show me how it’s done?"

"Grab a staff, Jax," I said, kicking a spare one up into my hand. "I’m not in the mood to talk."

"Ooh, grumpy. I love it," he teased, settling into a defensive stance.

We moved in a slow circle, our feet scuffing the dirt. I lunged first, a quick, snapping jab toward his ribs. He blocked it, the thwack of wood on wood echoing through the yard.

"You hear about the spies?" I asked, ducking a counter-swing.

"Hard not to," Jax grunted, sweeping his staff low. I leaped over it, my movements were swift. "Ronan’s doubling the shifts. Tensions are high due to the ceremony tomorrow."

I landed and spun, striking him lightly on the shoulder. "Should we be worried? Truly?"

"Maybe," Jax said, his voice losing its playful edge. "But everyone’s mostly focused on the choice. If he picks Isolde, the Shadow Pack might back off once they see our numbers and alliance grow."

I went for his thighs, but he drifted back immediately. "You and Ronan go way back, Liora. The pack calls it pity, they say Ronan’s looking out for the stray but I don't know… I see the way he looks at you."

My face heated up instantly. "Different how?"

Jax lowered his staff an inch, his expression softening. "He’s lighter around you. When he’s with the Council or Isolde, he looks like he’s carrying the weight of the world. But with you? He smiles. Like, a real smile."

"It’s not the same with me," I muttered, though my heart was racing.

"Isn't it?" Jax asked.

Before I could answer, a deep, resonant voice cut through the air. "You two at it already?"

Ronan was standing at the edge of the yard, his hands on his hips. He was built like the Alpha he was born to be, with broad shoulders, steady eyes, and a presence that seemed to pull the oxygen out of the air. When his gaze landed on me, I felt that tickling sensation in my skin again.

Jax smirked, leaning on his staff. "She just handled my ass, Ronan becareful, she's dangerous today."

Ronan walked toward us, his eyes never leaving mine. "Doesn't surprise me," he said softly. "Morning, Liora."

"Morning," I said, trying to hide the tremor in my voice.

"The spies were back last night," he said, his tone turning serious as he reached us. "I assume Jax told you?"

I nodded. "They’re testing the perimeter. Seeing how long it takes us to respond."

"Exactly," Ronan agreed. "And we’re going to show them we don't sleep. Care to walk with me for a bit? I need a break from all the Council's bickering."

"Sure," I said, ignoring the curious stares from the other warriors.

We left the yard and headed for the forest path, the one we’d walked a thousand times since we were kids. The silence between us wasn't awkward, it was heavy, we had a lot to talk about.

"You're quiet today," Ronan said after a few minutes. "Thinking about the ceremony?"

I looked at him sideways. "Hard not to. It’s all anyone talks about. Are you ready for it?"

He sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "The pack needs strength, Liora. The Shadow Pack is getting bolder. Isolde’s kin... they have lots of warriors ready to move."

"Isolde," I repeated, the name tasting like ash. "An arranged marriage for the sake of the border… yh, very heroic." I replied sarcastically.

Ronan stopped walking and turned to face me. The bond had become louder the more I listened to his voice than I even remembered, it was a physical pull that made me want to step into his space. "It isn't that simple. You know it isn't."

"Then tell me what it is," I challenged, my voice trembling. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're choosing a map over a person."

He reached out, his hand hovering near my arm before he dropped it. "Liora, there’s something I’ve been trying to tell you…"

SNAP!

The sound of a breaking branch had us both spinning around. Jax came jogging up the path, breathless. "Ronan! Emergency meeting. The border update is in. They left a mark on the north gate. The Council is losing their minds."

Ronan cursed under his breath. He looked at me, a flash of regret in his eyes. "I have to go. We'll finish this later?"

"Later," I whispered, watching as he went away.

The rest of the day was filled with random activities. I repaired a section of the nursery fence and spent three hours grinding dried herbs for the healers, all while the village whispers followed me. “Liora’s always trailing after him... it’s a pity friendship... she really thinks she has a chance.”

By the time I got back to the cabin, the sun was already set, painting the sky in shades of purple and gold.

Serena was leaning against my bedroom doorframe as I walked in to fold the laundry. “Big night tomorrow,” she said, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. “Are you ready to watch Ronan pick Isolde? I hear the dress she's wearing costs more than this whole cabin.”

I kept folding. “Why do you care so much, Serena?”

She stepped into the room, her perfume cloying and sweet. “Because you’ve been crushing on him since we were kids. It’s pathetic, Liora. You’re a stray, you aren’t even a 'real' family here, let alone pack royalty."

I turned slowly, my eyes cold. “Back off, Serena.”

She laughed, a sharp, ugly sound. “Or what? You’ll growl at me? You don't belong here. Once Ronan mates with Isolde, there won't be room for 'charity cases' in the inner circle anymore.”

"Girls! Dinner!" Mom’s voice drifted up the stairs.

At dinner dad talked about the Shadow Pack's aggression. "They’re getting bold, they even left a slaughtered stag at the north gate. Ronan’s choice better bring us the numbers we need, or we’re looking at a bloodbath by the next moon."

Serena nodded eagerly. "Isolde’s brothers are some of the best fighters in the region. It’s the only choice."

I ate in silence, the food like cardboard in my mouth. As soon as I could, I slipped out the back door and headed for the river.

There was a specific willow tree where the roots dipped into the water, our spot. Ronan and I had carved our names into the bark when we were twelve. I sat on the bank, watching the water flow .

We had our little moment the night Ronan found out his dad wanted him to be with Isolde. I could still remember his lingering touches, his scents engulfing all of my senses. I knew we could have stopped but my wolf wasn't helping either.”

"Couldn't sleep either?" I was snapped out of it immediately.

I didn't have to turn around to know it was him. Ronan sat down beside me, smelling of woodsmoke and rain. He took a flat stone from his pocket and skipped it across the surface. One, two, three.

"Thinking about choices," he said quietly.

"What choices? It sounds like the Council already made them for you."

He looked at me then, his eyes dark and intense in the moonlight. "Liora. The bond, I feel it. I’ve felt it since I turned 18. Every time you’re near, it’s like my soul is trying to jump out of my chest to get to you. About that night… yes I was drunk, it was an accident but I still had the choice to stop but I couldn't. My wolf wants you, all of you."

My breath hitched. He reached for my hand, his thumb brushing over my knuckles, sending sparks up my arm.

"I know," I whispered. "I feel it too. Every second."

“But the duty...” he started, his voice breaking. “The pack is scared. If I don't provide security, people will die. I just wished things could be different…”

Suddenly, a loud BANG echoed from the direction of the village, the sound of the scout's warning flare.

"Shadow Pack," Ronan said, standing instantly. His entire aura shifted from a boy in love to a King at war. "Stay here. I need to go check it out."

"No way," I said, standing with him. "I'm not sitting here while you run into a fight."

Before he could argue, I let the shift take me. It was a familiar, violent heat. My bones snapped and reformed, gray fur erupting over my skin. I dropped to four paws, my blue eyes sharpening in the dark. Beside me, Ronan shifted into a massive, dark timber wolf.

We ran together and came to a halt at the boundary line. Jax and three other warriors were already there, circling a lone wolf huddled in the dirt. The intruder had an arrow buried in its throat, its breathing ragged.

"A spy," Jax said, shifting back to human form and wiping sweat from his brow. "They’re testing the response time. He didn't even try to fight; he just wanted to see how fast we’d get here."

Ronan shifted back, standing tall and naked, unashamed in his power. "Double the sentries tonight. Nobody sleeps until the sun is up. Ceremony or not, our people come first."

As the warriors began to disperse, Ronan walked over to where I stood in my wolf form. He placed a hand on my head, his fingers lingering in my fur. "You didn't have to come, Liora."

I shifted back, pulling my shirt from where I'd stashed it in a hollow log. "I told you. I’m not helpless."

He smiled, a small, genuine thing that reached his eyes. "I know. I never thought you were."

He walked me back to my cabin in silence. At the doorstep, he paused, the moon catching the sharp angles of his face.

"Sleep well, Liora. Tomorrow will be a huge day."

"Uh, yeah," I said. "Yeah," I whispered, my heart heavy, it's indeed a huge day."

As I lay in the dark that night, staring at the ceiling. I thought about the bond, he’d finally admitted it. He felt it just as strongly as I did. But as it was almost daybreak, I wondered: would he choose the girl he loved, or the pack he was born to save?