Among Shadows

Morning arrived with the scent of pinewood and rain.

For a long moment, I lay still, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling above me.

Everything that had happened over the past few days crashed back into my mind all at once.

The ballroom.

The mate bond.

The escape.

The battle.

The silver light that had burst from my hands.

Caleb.

Instinctively, my fingers drifted to my neck.

The bite mark was still there.

Warm.

Alive.

The moment I touched it, a gentle pulse answered beneath my fingertips, followed by a strange feeling of calm that spread through my chest.

The bond.

I still wasn't used to it.

A knock sounded against the bedroom door.

Before I could answer, the door opened.

The scarred woman from the battlefield stepped inside carrying a wooden tray filled with food.

Fresh bread.

Eggs.

Roasted meat.

Fruit.

The delicious smell made my stomach growl loudly.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

"So the Moonborn does eat."

Heat rushed into my cheeks.

"I... I'm sorry."

"You'll stop apologizing for existing eventually."

She placed the tray on the table beside the bed before folding her arms across her chest.

"I'm Reyna."

"I know."

"I doubt you know much." Her gray eyes studied me carefully. "I'm Beta of the Shadow Pack. I've known Caleb since we were children."

She paused.

"And before you ask..."

"He hasn't left your side much."

My eyes widened.

"He stayed?"

"For two days."

I looked down at my hands.

"Why?"

Reyna gave me a look that suggested I had asked the most ridiculous question imaginable.

"Because you're his mate."

Silence settled between us.

Finally, she sighed.

"Eat while it's hot."

Only after she left did I realize how hungry I really was.

I finished every bite.

...

An hour later, I stepped outside for the first time.

The Shadow Pack looked nothing like Blackwood.

There were no frightened Omegas avoiding eye contact.

No warriors shouting orders.

No servants rushing through the streets with their heads lowered.

Instead...

Children raced across the training grounds laughing.

Women carried baskets filled with herbs.

Several warriors repaired a wooden fence together while joking loudly with one another.

People looked tired.

Scarred.

Strong.

But they weren't afraid.

Some noticed me immediately.

Their conversations stopped.

Curious eyes followed me.

Not hatred.

Not exactly.

Curiosity.

Whispers floated through the air.

"Is that her?"

"The Alpha's mate..."

"She looks so young."

"I heard she destroyed a silver net."

"I heard she healed the Alpha."

"I heard she's Moonborn."

I lowered my eyes.

Old habits refused to die.

"Ignore them."

Caleb's voice came from behind me.

I turned.

He crossed the courtyard wearing black training clothes, his movements as confident as ever despite the faint stiffness in his shoulder.

His wounds hadn't completely healed.

"You shouldn't be walking around," I said before thinking.

One dark eyebrow lifted.

"Worried about me already?"

"I asked because you're injured."

His lips almost smiled.

"Better."

The warmth in my face returned.

Why did every conversation with him feel like he could hear thoughts I hadn't spoken?

He stopped beside me.

"The healers cleared you this morning."

"They cleared you too?"

"They stopped trying."

I blinked.

"They've learned arguing with their Alpha rarely ends well."

Before I could answer, Reyna appeared carrying two wooden practice swords.

She tossed one toward Caleb.

The other landed at my feet.

I stared at it.

Caleb nodded toward the weapon.

"Pick it up."

"What?"

"You need to learn to defend yourself."

"I've never held a sword."

"Then today is your first lesson."

"I thought we'd be training my powers."

His expression became serious.

"No."

"No?"

"You survived six years because you learned how to endure."

He stepped closer.

"Power can't replace survival."

"If your abilities disappear tomorrow..."

He picked up the second sword.

"...you still need to live."

Something about those words settled deep inside me.

He wasn't trying to turn me into a weapon.

He was trying to keep me alive.

I bent down and picked up the wooden sword.

It felt awkward in my hands.

Too heavy.

Too long.

Caleb walked around me once before stopping behind my shoulder.

"Your stance."

His hand gently adjusted my elbow.

Then my wrist.

Then my feet.

His touch was careful.

Respectful.

Every place his fingers brushed sent tiny sparks dancing beneath my skin.

The bond stirred.

"So that's what distracted you."

I frowned.

"What?"

"The bond."

His deep voice held unmistakable amusement.

"It reacts whenever we're close."

"I noticed."

"Good."

He stepped back.

"Now try to hit me."

I laughed.

He didn't.

"You weren't joking."

"No."

"I've never fought anyone."

"You stabbed a tracker."

"That was different."

"It was."

He twirled his practice sword once.

"This is safer."

I took a nervous breath before swinging.

He blocked it effortlessly.

Again.

Blocked.

Again.

Blocked.

Within minutes I was breathing hard while Caleb hadn't moved more than a few steps.

"You're smiling."

"I am."

"You enjoy this."

"I enjoy watching you refuse to quit."

I blinked.

Was...

Was that a compliment?

Before I could ask, a sharp crack echoed across the training yard.

One of the younger warriors had dropped his spear.

Everyone turned.

The frightened young man stared directly at me.

"No..."

His voice shook.

Silver light flickered across my fingertips.

Just once.

Like a tiny flame.

I gasped.

The light disappeared almost instantly.

But everyone had seen it.

Silence spread across the courtyard.

Caleb slowly stepped in front of me.

Not possessively.

Protectively.

Reyna looked toward the watching warriors.

"Training's over."

No one argued.

They quietly returned to work.

Still glancing back.

Still whispering.

My stomach twisted.

"They're afraid."

"They're uncertain," Caleb corrected gently.

"There's a difference."

Before I could answer, hoofbeats thundered through the front gates.

A lone rider entered the courtyard wearing dark blue armor marked with a silver wolf crest.

Every warrior stopped working.

The rider dismounted and walked directly toward Caleb.

Without speaking, he held out a black envelope sealed with dark crimson wax.

No name.

Only the ancient symbol of a crown surrounded by thirteen stars.

Even Reyna's expression hardened.

Caleb accepted the letter.

He broke the seal.

His silver eyes moved quickly across the page.

With every line, the warmth disappeared from his face.

"What is it?" Reyna asked quietly.

He folded the letter.

Very carefully.

Then looked at me.

The bond carried a single emotion.

Concern.

"The Council of Alphas knows about you."

My heart skipped.

"What do they want?"

For a long moment, Caleb didn't answer.

When he finally spoke, his voice was calm.

Too calm.

"They have summoned you."

I swallowed.

"When?"

His eyes never left mine.

"In seven days."

The entire courtyard fell silent.

And somehow...

The seven days ahead suddenly felt far more dangerous than every battle we'd survived so far.