Chapter 2 Whispers of Fate

Seventeen years later, the village nestled on the edge of the forest bustled with life. Rosetta stood at the window of Thomas's small cottage, watching the marketplace bloom with vibrant colors and the hum of chatter. The breeze that swept through the open shutters carried with it the familiar scent of pine and earth, mingling with the sweetness of baked goods and the metallic hint of the blacksmith's forge.

Thomas, a sturdy man with graying hair and eyes as sharp as a hawk's, was busy at the workbench, sharpening a set of hunting knives. His brow furrowed in concentration, and the sound of metal scraping against stone filled the cozy room. To the world, Thomas was her father-a man hardened by the woods and the solitude of his life. To Rosetta, he was the only family she'd ever known.

But there was a restlessness inside her, an ache she could never name. The village felt both like home and a cage, safe yet suffocating. She had never ventured past its borders, never dared to step into the woods that whispered to her in dreams.

"Rosetta," Thomas said without looking up. His voice, deep and rough, always commanded attention. "I need you to head to the market and pick up supplies. The list is on the table."

Rosetta pushed away from the window, her hair catching the sunlight and gleaming like spun gold. She grabbed the parchment, glanced at the familiar scribble, and nodded. "I'll be back soon."

As she stepped outside, the late afternoon sun warmed her skin, but a shiver ran down her spine. The market was lively, filled with laughter and bartering, yet there was an undercurrent of tension that pricked at her senses.

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Meanwhile, on the outskirts of town, four pairs of eyes surveyed the scene. Farkas, Adolphus, Fridolf, and Lucian-the Alphas of the Midnight Ridge pack-had come under the guise of businessmen, their presence masked by sharp suits and the air of authority that clung to them like a second skin. They stood side by side, dark hair swept back, their physiques imposing and identical at first glance, but each carried an aura that set him apart.

Farkas, the eldest and most commanding, narrowed his ice-blue eyes as he observed the villagers. His voice was calm but laced with an edge. "We're only here for business. Let's not draw attention."

Adolphus, whose green eyes held a spark of mischief, smirked. "Come on, brother. We could use a bit of entertainment."

Fridolf, the hotheaded one with amber eyes that seemed to burn, grunted. "Focus, Adolphus. We're not here to play."

Lucian, the youngest and most easygoing of the four, often likened to a golden retriever in temperament, chuckled. His gray eyes softened as he surveyed the scene. "Relax. We can get in, get out, and maybe enjoy the day while we're at it."

Their banter fell silent when a breeze carried a scent that caught them all off-guard. It was soft, warm, and tinged with the wild-a scent so intoxicating that their wolves stirred within, restless and howling.

Farkas's jaw clenched, and he exchanged a sharp glance with his brothers. "Did you feel that?"

Before any of them could answer, their gaze landed on the girl moving through the market with an air of grace and curiosity. Rosetta's golden hair seemed to shimmer under the sunlight, and her pale skin glowed with a natural beauty that drew every eye, though she seemed oblivious to it.

Lucian was the first to break the silence, his voice hushed, almost reverent. "She's... she's ours."

---

Rosetta felt the weight of unseen eyes, and her heart quickened. She glanced around, searching for the source of the sensation. It felt like an invisible tether had pulled taut, drawing her gaze to a group of men at the edge of the market. They were strangers, yet something in the way they stood, their dark hair and piercing eyes, struck a chord deep within her.

The tallest among them, with ice-blue eyes, held her gaze. For a moment, time seemed to still. A flutter of something unknown sparked in her chest-a warmth that left her breathless.

She blinked, the spell breaking, and turned away, shaking off the strange feeling. The men continued to watch her, the intensity of their stares enough to make the hair on the back of her neck stand.

Farkas's voice was low, controlled, but there was an unmistakable tremor beneath it. "We need to know who she is."

Adolphus's green eyes darkened as he nodded. "Agreed. We need to know why a human girl smells like our mate."

Fridolf's fists clenched, the fire in his amber eyes blazing. "This changes everything."

Lucian's usual smile was absent, replaced by a look of quiet determination. "Then let's find out."

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