Chapter 3 Tension in the Pack

"You look like you've seen a ghost," she said, her tone light but curious.

Zach narrowed his eyes, his jaw tightening as he stepped closer to her. The room felt smaller, suffocating even, as the air between them thickened with unspoken tension. Every fiber in his body screamed to demand answers, yet her guarded expression made him pause. Instead, he spoke low and firm.

"Who are you, really?" His voice was steady, but the storm in his chest raged on. "You show up here, knowing things no one else should know. You talk about the curse like it's yours to solve. What is your game?"

Lyorine tilted her head slightly, her lips curving into a faint, almost sad smile. "I told you, I don't remember much about my past. But what I do know-" She stepped forward, her eyes locking onto his with surprising intensity. "-is that your curse and I are connected. I can feel it."

Zach's fists clenched by his sides. Her words only deepened the unease he felt. He wanted to believe her, wanted to trust that she wasn't here to hurt his pack. But the doubt lingered, gnawing at him like a festering wound.

Before he could respond, the door behind them swung open with a loud crash. Marcus stormed in, his face flushed with anger.

"Zach!" Marcus's voice was a sharp blade cutting through the room. His eyes darted to Lyorine, narrowing with suspicion. "What the hell is she still doing here? The pack's restless. They're talking, questioning your judgment."

"Let them talk," Zach snapped, his voice laced with authority. He turned to face his younger brother, his broad shoulders blocking Lyorine from Marcus's accusatory gaze. "I'll handle it."

"You don't get it, do you?" Marcus growled, stepping closer. "She's a witch. A stranger. And you're letting her stay here, in our territory, like it's no big deal. Do you even know what she's capable of?"

Lyorine stiffened at his words, her hands balling into fists at her sides. "I'm standing right here, you know," she said, her voice icy. "If you have something to say, maybe try addressing me directly."

Marcus scoffed, crossing his arms. "Fine. What are you even doing here? What do you want from us?"

"I didn't ask to be here," Lyorine shot back, her eyes narrowing. "If it were up to me, I'd be far away from all of you. But I'm here because of him." She pointed to Zach. "Because whether you like it or not, your Alpha and I are tied together."

Marcus's laugh was humorless, sharp. "Tied together? You're delusional."

"That's enough!" Zach's voice boomed, silencing the room. He glanced between the two of them, his chest heaving with restrained anger. "Marcus, I said I'll handle it."

"You better," Marcus muttered, shaking his head as he stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

The silence that followed was deafening. Zach rubbed a hand over his face, exhaling heavily. He turned back to Lyorine, who stood with her arms crossed, her expression unreadable.

"I'm sorry about him," he said quietly, his voice softer now. "The pack's on edge. I don't blame them for being wary."

"I don't need your apologies," Lyorine replied, her tone clipped. "You think I don't feel their stares, their whispers? I know I don't belong here. But I didn't choose this."

Zach studied her face, searching for something-anything-that might give him clarity. Instead, all he saw was the same mystery that had plagued him since the moment she showed up.

"Maybe you didn't choose this," he said finally, "but you're here now. And until we figure out what's going on, you'll stay under my protection. No one in this pack will touch you. Understood?"

Lyorine hesitated, her expression softening just slightly. "Understood."

The cold night air bit at Zach's skin as he stepped outside the cabin. The moon hung heavy in the sky, its pale light casting long shadows over the clearing. He could hear the low murmurs of the pack gathered near the edge of the woods, their unease palpable even from a distance.

Marcus was there, standing with a group of wolves, his arms gesturing wildly as he spoke. Zach's jaw tightened. He knew his brother meant well, but his constant questioning of Zach's decisions was starting to wear thin.

As he approached, the group fell silent, their eyes turning to him. Some looked away quickly, while others held his gaze, defiance flickering in their expressions.

"Is there a problem?" Zach asked, his voice calm but firm.

Marcus stepped forward, his expression hard. "They're worried, Zach. We all are. You're risking the safety of the pack for a stranger."

"I've made my decision," Zach said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Lyorine stays."

"And what if she's the reason for the curse?" Marcus pressed. "What if keeping her here puts all of us in danger?"

Zach's hands curled into fists at his sides. "I said I'll handle it."

"Handle it how?" Marcus shot back, his voice rising. "By ignoring the fact that she's hiding something? By pretending like everything's fine while the pack falls apart?"

"Enough!" Zach's voice thundered, silencing the murmurs around them. He stepped closer to Marcus, his towering frame casting a shadow over his younger brother. "You're my Beta, Marcus. That means you support me, not question me in front of the pack. Do I make myself clear?"

For a moment, Marcus said nothing. Then he let out a frustrated sigh, shaking his head. "Crystal."

He turned and walked away, leaving Zach standing alone in the clearing. The rest of the pack quickly dispersed, their whispers fading into the night.

The forest was bathed in silver light, the trees casting eerie shadows that danced in the wind. Zach stood in the middle of a clearing, his breaths coming in short, shallow bursts. He didn't know how he got here, but something about this place felt familiar.

"Zach."

The voice was soft, almost a whisper, but it sent a shiver down his spine. He turned, his eyes scanning the darkness until he saw her.

A woman stood at the edge of the clearing, her figure illuminated by the moonlight. Her long hair cascaded down her back, and her eyes glowed with an otherworldly light. She was beautiful, but there was something haunting about her presence.

"Who are you?" Zach asked, his voice shaky.

The woman tilted her head, a sad smile playing on her lips. "You know who I am."

"I don't," Zach said, taking a step closer. "Tell me."

The woman raised a hand, pointing to the moon above them. "We're bound by it," she said. "You and I. The curse, the prophecy-it's all connected. But time is running out, Zach. You have to choose."

"Choose what?" he demanded, his heart pounding in his chest. "What are you talking about?"

She didn't answer. Instead, she began to fade, her figure dissolving into the silver light until she was gone.

Zach jolted awake, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. The dream clung to him like a shadow, the woman's words echoing in his mind.

"You have to choose."

The sun had barely risen when Zach stepped out of his cabin, his mind still reeling from the dream. He found Lyorine sitting on the porch steps, her knees drawn to her chest as she stared out at the clearing.

"You're up early," he said, his voice breaking the silence.

She glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "Couldn't sleep."

"Me neither," he admitted, sitting down beside her. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the quiet stretching between them.

"I had a dream," Zach said finally, his voice low. "There was a woman. She said we were bound by the moon, and that I had to choose."

Lyorine turned to him, her eyes narrowing. "What did she mean?"

"I don't know," Zach said, running a hand through his hair. "But I think it has something to do with the curse. And you."

Lyorine's gaze softened, a flicker of fear crossing her face. "Zach... what if the choice you have to make isn't one you can live with?"

He looked at her, his jaw tightening. "Then I'll make it anyway."

Her next question came out as a whisper, her voice trembling. "And what if it destroys you?"