Chapter 3 The Pack's Shadow

Sera stood frozen in the dim light of the cabin, her heart still racing from the exchange between Lucian and the stranger. The door had slammed shut, leaving her alone in the eerie silence. The wind, howling outside, seemed to have taken on a life of its own-its howls now punctuated by the occasional snap of a tree branch, as if the forest itself was watching her.

Her breath came in shallow gasps, her thoughts tumbling over one another in a chaotic mess. The world outside her door was suddenly a place she didn't understand, and the man-Lucian-had become a figure of both danger and protection. He had told her to stay inside, but a part of her wanted to leave. To run. The urge to escape was strong, but it wasn't the right choice. She could feel it, deep in her bones, that something was about to happen, something she couldn't outrun.

Sera glanced out the window, her eyes narrowing as she watched the shadows in the trees shift. The wolves were near. She could feel their presence, as though the entire forest was alive with their watchful gaze. The howls echoed again, closer this time, their sound vibrating in her chest like a low hum. Her heart thudded in time with the rhythm of the calls, and for the first time since moving to the town, she felt a strange pull-one that she couldn't explain, but it felt like it had been there her entire life, hidden beneath the surface.

Before she could fully process her thoughts, a soft knock at the door pulled her from her reverie. It was a hesitant sound, as if the person on the other side wasn't sure if they should disturb her. A flash of panic shot through her, but she forced herself to breathe and move toward the door.

When she opened it, she wasn't sure what she expected. A wolf, perhaps? Or maybe Lucian, come back with answers. But it wasn't either of those things.

The stranger-tall, dark-haired, and wearing a leather jacket that seemed to blend with the night-stood on the other side. His presence was commanding, even though he wasn't as imposing as Lucian. He had an aura of calm about him, but his eyes-his eyes were cold, almost calculating.

"Lucian told me to check on you," the man said, his voice smooth and measured. "You're not safe here."

Sera blinked, confusion clouding her thoughts. "You're one of them," she whispered, unable to keep the shock from her voice. Her eyes scanned him quickly, as though his very presence had shaken something loose inside her.

The man tilted his head, his lips curling into a faint smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "One of them," he repeated softly, as if testing the words. "Yes, I'm part of the pack. But I'm not here to threaten you." He stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, his movements fluid and effortless, like he belonged there, like he had every right to be in her space.

Sera instinctively stepped back, her fingers curling into the fabric of her sweater. "I'm not... I'm not a part of your pack," she said, her voice shaky but defiant. "I don't belong here."

The man's expression softened, just a fraction, and he sighed. "No, you don't belong here yet. But you will. The question is, whether you're ready for it."

Sera's chest tightened. "What's going on? What do you mean, 'ready for it'? What is this pack? Why are you all-" She stopped herself, biting her lip. "What are you, exactly?"

The man's eyes flashed a brighter gold for a moment, the light from the lamp flickering as though it too recognized something dangerous in the air. He reached up, running a hand through his dark hair, before looking back at her with a gaze that seemed to pierce right through her.

"You've already started to feel it, haven't you?" he asked, his tone softer now, almost contemplative. "The connection. The call. It's not something you can ignore, Sera. Not anymore."

Sera's breath caught in her throat. He was right. She had felt it, that strange pull, the desire to step outside and into the forest, to answer the call of the wolves, even though she knew nothing about them. It was like the wind itself was coaxing her, urging her forward, and she couldn't deny that it was growing stronger by the hour.

Her gaze flickered to the window, but the night outside seemed to be watching her-pressing in on her.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, trying to steady her voice. "None of this makes any sense."

The man nodded, as if he understood. "It will. Soon enough. But until then, know this-" He stepped closer, his face suddenly serious. "The pack is not to be trifled with. They will come for you, whether you're ready or not. You can fight it, try to run, but eventually, you'll have to face what's inside you. You are part of us now."

Sera's knees weakened, and she had to steady herself against the doorframe. Part of her was terrified, but another part of her-the part that had always been restless, the part that had always longed for something she couldn't explain-was beginning to feel the truth of his words, like an old song echoing inside her.

"And Lucian?" she managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper. "Where does he fit into all this?"

The man's expression hardened at the mention of Lucian's name. "Lucian is... complicated," he said, the words clipped, like he was choosing them carefully. "He's the leader of the pack, but not in the way you think. There's more to him than meets the eye."

Sera felt a flicker of curiosity, but she didn't know if she wanted to dive any deeper into the mystery surrounding Lucian. She wasn't sure if she could trust anyone, not after everything that had happened since she'd arrived.

"Why are you telling me all of this?" she asked, a bitter edge creeping into her voice. "What's your interest in me?"

The man paused for a moment, his gaze intense as he regarded her. "Because you're not just any outsider, Sera. You're the one the pack has been waiting for. The Luna's blood runs through you. Whether you accept it or not, it's time to face the truth."

The words hit Sera like a physical blow, the weight of them settling heavily on her chest. She felt the room spin, the ground beneath her feet suddenly unsteady. "I don't want this," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I don't want to be part of your pack. I just want a normal life."

The man sighed, a low, almost sorrowful sound. "I understand, believe me. But what you want doesn't change the facts. You are already part of this world. You just don't know it yet. And no matter how much you resist, it won't let you go."

Sera's vision blurred for a moment, the fear and confusion threatening to overwhelm her. She wanted to escape-to run far away and never look back. But the truth was, she was already caught. There was no escape.

Before she could respond, the man turned and walked toward the door, pausing only to glance back at her. "Be careful, Sera. The pack is watching. And they don't take kindly to outsiders who refuse to accept their place."

With that, he was gone, leaving the door slightly ajar, and Sera standing alone in the quiet cabin.

Outside, the wind howled once again, louder this time, almost like a warning.