Zane watched Zara leave, a frown creasing his brow. He had intended to reassure her, to make her feel safe and welcome. But his words seemed to have the opposite effect. He knew he had to tread carefully. Zara was wary, and he respected that.
He turned to Liam, his beta, who had been observing the exchange with a knowing glint in his eyes. "Liam, I need you to do something for me," Zane said, his voice low and serious. "Find out everything you can about Zara. Her family, her past, anything that might shed light on her situation."
Liam nodded, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Consider it done, Alpha."
Zane watched Liam disappear into the shadows, a thoughtful expression on his face. He knew he had to be patient. Pushing Zara too hard would only drive her away. He had to earn her trust, show her that he was not a threat, but a friend.
Meanwhile, back at the Moonlit Howl, Zara was helping Emily tidy up the bar, preparing to close for the night. Emily, ever curious, couldn't resist asking about the commotion earlier.
"What was all that noise about, Zara? You looked like you were about to wrestle a bear!"
Zara chuckled, trying to downplay the incident. "Oh, just a disagreement between some patrons. Nothing to worry about."
Emily, however, was not easily dissuaded. "Disagreement? More like a full-blown brawl! I heard growling and snarling. Did someone get hurt?"
Zara hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "No, no one was hurt. It was just… an altercation."
Emily's eyes widened. "An altercation? Zara, you were shaking like a leaf when you came out! What really happened?"
Zara sighed, knowing she couldn't keep the truth hidden from her friend forever. "I… I think I saw something that I shouldn't have."
Emily leaned closer, her eyes wide with curiosity. "What did you see?"
Zara hesitated, unsure how to explain what she had witnessed. "I… I saw something… supernatural."
Emily gasped. "Supernatural? Like ghosts?"
Zara shook her head. "No, not ghosts. Something else. Something… more."
Emily's eyes widened. "Werewolves?" she whispered, her voice barely a breath.
Zara stared at her friend, surprised by her suggestion. "How did you…?"
Emily shrugged. "Just a hunch. There have been strange things happening around town lately. Animals acting strangely, unexplained noises… It all feels… off."
Zara looked at Emily, her mind racing. Could Emily be right? Was there something more to the strange occurrences around town than she realized? And what did it all mean for her?
As she locked the door to the bar, Zara felt a shiver run down her spine. The world was suddenly a much more mysterious and dangerous place. And she had no idea what to expect next.