Chapter 4
The morning sun had barely crested the hills when a commotion at the pack border drew everyone's attention. I was helping Jared organize medical supplies in the clinic when the alarm sounded—three short howls that signaled an unexpected visitor.
"Stay here," Jared said, his amber eyes serious as he squeezed my hand. "I'll check what's happening."
But I couldn't just wait. Something pulled me toward the border—an instinct I couldn't explain.
By the time I reached the gathering crowd, Jared was already standing tall beside his father, Alpha Samuel Meyer. Across the boundary line stood a familiar figure that made my blood run cold.
Marcus. Sebastian's Beta.
"—demand the immediate return of Emily Price," Marcus was saying, his voice carrying across the clearing. "Alpha Duncan considers her presence here unauthorized and potentially hostile."
My mother gasped beside me, her hand clutching my father's arm. "What does he mean? What has Emily done?"
I stepped forward before I could stop myself. "I'm not his property, Marcus. I left of my own free will."
Marcus's eyes found mine, and I saw something flicker there—regret? Apology? But his next words were cold and formal.
"Alpha Duncan demands your return within forty-eight hours, or he will consider this an act of aggression against Silver Moon Pack." His gaze shifted to Samuel. "He will personally come for her if necessary."
The threat hung in the air like a thundercloud. My father's face drained of color, and whispers rippled through the gathered pack members.
"We cannot afford war with Silver Moon," someone murmured behind me.
Jared stepped forward, his voice steady and clear. "Under pack law, a patient cannot be moved during active medical treatment. Emily is under my care for Soul Wasting syndrome."
Marcus's eyebrow arched skeptically. "Convenient timing for such a diagnosis."
"Medical records are available for review," Jared countered, his professional demeanor unshaken. "I challenge any healer to examine her and disagree with my assessment."
The tension crackled between them like electricity. Finally, Marcus nodded curtly.
"Forty-eight hours. Then all bets are off."
---
"Pack your things," Jared said quietly as we walked back to the clinic. "You're moving to my cabin."
I stopped walking. "Why?"
"Because it's the safest place for you right now." His eyes met mine, warm and determined. "My cabin is protected by ancient healing wards that even an Alpha can't easily breach."
The cabin sat at the edge of the woods, a rustic one-story structure with a stone chimney and wide windows. Inside was surprisingly spacious—a living area with comfortable furniture, a small kitchen, and two bedrooms.
"I'll take the couch," Jared said immediately, as if reading my thoughts. "You'll have the guest room."
That evening, he cooked dinner—a thick steak with roasted vegetables and herbs from his garden. The aroma filled the small cabin as he moved confidently around the kitchen.
"Your wolf needs protein and iron," he explained, setting a plate before me. "This will help strengthen your connection to her."
I took a bite and closed my eyes at the flavor—simple, honest food that somehow tasted better than anything I'd eaten in Sebastian's mansion.
"Good?" Jared asked, his own plate forgotten as he watched me eat.
"Amazing," I murmured, taking another bite.
Firelight danced across his features as he smiled—a genuine smile that reached his eyes. Outside, the wind whispered through the trees, but inside we were cocooned in warmth and comfort.
"I could get used to this," I said softly, then blushed when his eyes met mine.
---
The storm came suddenly that night—thunder cracking like whips across the sky. I jolted awake in the unfamiliar bed, my heart pounding painfully against my ribs.
"Emily?" Jared's voice called through the door. "Are you okay?"
Another crash of thunder answered for me. The door opened slowly, revealing Jared's silhouette against the hallway light.
"May I come in?" he asked.
I nodded, pulling the blankets up to my chin. He sat on the edge of the bed, his weight creating a comforting depression in the mattress.
"Storms always scared you, even as a pup," he said gently. "Do you remember how I used to sit with you during thunderstorms?"
I didn't remember, but I wanted to. The thought of this man caring for me even then made something warm unfurl in my chest.
Jared reached for something on the floor beside him—a heavy blanket that he draped carefully over me.
"A weighted blanket," he explained. "It helps with anxiety."
As he adjusted it around my shoulders, his fingers brushed against my neck. A jolt of electricity shot through me—so powerful that we both gasped.
"Did you feel that?" I whispered.
Jared nodded, his eyes wide with surprise. "I've never—"
Before he could finish, another thunderclap shook the cabin. I flinched instinctively, and Jared moved closer, one hand beginning to rub slow circles on my back.
"Shh," he soothed. "You're safe here."
His humming—a low, rhythmic sound—vibrated through his chest against my shoulder. The tension began to ease from my body as his touch anchored me to the present.
And then it happened.
Inside my mind, a pair of golden eyes opened—eyes I hadn't seen in six years. My wolf, dormant for so long, whimpered softly and wagged her tail, responding specifically to Jared's touch.
"Jared," I breathed, tears filling my eyes. "She's awake."
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