MasukOakley opens the door, and the hallway is no longer empty.Three wolves stand there—two men, one woman. All young, maybe early twenties, but not inexperienced. Their wolves sit close to the surface, watching me with bright, assessing eyes. Not hostile. Not welcoming. Just… curious. And cautious.The tallest one steps forward first. He’s broad‑shouldered, sandy‑haired, with a posture that says he’s used to being listened to. Beta‑in‑training, maybe. Or someone who thinks he should be.“We heard the Alpha brought someone new,” he says, eyes flicking over me like he’s trying to figure out what box to put me in.His gaze shifts to Oakley, then back to me.My wolf rises inside me, tall and steady. Not aggressive. Not submissive. Just present.Oakley’s magic hums beside me, warm and protective.“Yeah,” I say, lifting my chin. “He did.”The woman steps forward next. She’s smaller than the others, dark‑haired, sharp‑eyed. Her wolf is curious—ears forward, tail neutral. She studies me
The hallway stretches ahead of us, long and warm and filled with the scent of wolves. Not just one or two—dozens. Maybe more. Every breath I take is layered with unfamiliar signatures: dominance, youth, curiosity, irritation, amusement. My wolf sorts through them instinctively, cataloging each one, deciding which are threats and which are simply… present.Oakley walks close enough that his arm brushes mine every few steps. His magic hums in a steady rhythm, like a heartbeat I can feel through the air. It keeps my wolf from bristling too hard, keeps her from pushing forward or retreating. She’s alert, but she’s not panicking.Colton leads us down the hall, his steps confident but not rushed. He’s not trying to impress me. He’s not trying to intimidate me. He’s just… being Alpha. And somehow, that’s worse. Because it’s real. Because it’s not a performance.Lenox trails behind us, hands in his pockets, posture relaxed. But I can feel his attention sweeping the hall, catching every mov
The forest feels alive.Not in the peaceful, nature‑is-beautiful way. No — this is different. This is the kind of alive that comes from dozens of wolves sensing something unfamiliar on their land. The air hums with it, thick and charged, brushing against my skin like static.My wolf lifts her head, ears pricked, tail low but steady. She’s not afraid. She’s alert. Curious. Ready.Colton steps forward first, not turning his back on me, but leading the way with a confidence that settles the air around us. His presence is a quiet command — not directed at me, but at the territory itself.Oakley stays at my side, his magic a warm pulse against my senses. It’s not loud, not flashy. Just steady. Like a heartbeat. Like a reminder that I’m not walking into this alone.Lenox falls into step a few paces ahead, hands in his pockets, posture relaxed. He looks like he’s out for a casual stroll, but I can feel the alertness under his skin. He’s scanning the tree line, the shadows, the wind. Wat
The SUV goes quiet the moment Colton turns off the engine.Not silent — quiet. The kind of quiet that feels like the world is holding its breath, waiting to see what happens next.My wolf is pressed right against my skin now, ears forward, tail low but steady. She’s not afraid. She’s alert. Focused. Ready.Oakley moves first.He always does.Before I can even reach for the door handle, he’s already unbuckled, already pushing the door open. The cool air rushes in, carrying the scent of pine, earth, and wolves. A lot of wolves.My wolf stiffens, but Oakley steps out like he’s walking into a library instead of pack territory. Calm. Controlled. His magic hums faintly around him — warm, steady, protective. It rolls off him in soft waves, brushing against my senses like a hand on my shoulder.He’s not doing it on purpose. He’s just… Oakley.He closes the door behind him and circles around the SUV, his boots crunching softly on the gravel. He doesn’t look nervous. He doesn’t look int
Lenox’s car stays a steady distance ahead of us, his taillights blinking through the trees as he takes the familiar turns with practiced ease. He’s always been a confident driver—smooth, fast, but never reckless. I don’t have to worry about him. He knows the territory better than anyone, and he knows exactly what we’re walking into.I’m not concerned he’ll do something unpredictable. If anything, I’m counting on him to keep things steady.But even with him leading the way, my attention keeps drifting to the backseat.Kieara sits behind me, posture straight, eyes fixed on the forest outside the window. She’s trying to look composed, but the bond gives her away—small pulses of tension, flickers of instinct, her wolf pacing under her skin. Not fear. Not panic. Just… alertness. A wolf preparing for unfamiliar ground.Oakley sits beside her, quiet and steady. His magic hums faintly in the air, warm and controlled, like a soft current running beneath the surface. He’s not doing anything
The road home is familiar—every bend, every stretch of trees, every patch of sunlight flickering through the branches. I’ve driven it more times than I can count, but today it feels different. Not bad. Just… heavier. Like the air knows something important is happening.I keep one hand on the wheel, the other tapping lightly against my thigh. Not out of impatience—just habit. The forest is quiet, calm, and the steady hum of the engine gives me too much time to think.I glance in the rearview mirror. I can’t see Colton’s SUV clearly, but I know he’s back there. I can feel the tension rolling off him even from this distance. He’s trying to keep it together, trying to be the calm, collected Alpha he always is, but I know him too well.He’s worried. Not about the pack. Not about the logistics. About her.Kieara.She’s… something else. Strong, guarded, sharp around the edges but not brittle. The kind of person who stands her ground even when the world tries to shove her into a corner.







