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Caleb's POV
The forest was quiet, its usual symphony of rustling leaves and distant birdcalls muted under the weight of Caleb's thoughts. He crouched in the shadows, his wolf senses attuned to every movement in the woods. Somewhere, not far from here, Elena was returning to her cabin after another day of wandering too close to the truth.
She doesn't belong here.
The thought had circled his mind relentlessly since the moment she arrived. Yet, no matter how much he told himself to stay away, something about her drew him back. It wasn't just her curiosity or her kind heart—it was the way she looked at the world, like she wasn't afraid of its shadows.
But Blackwood Hollow wasn't like anywhere else. It didn't forgive outsiders who strayed too far.
He couldn't let her become another victim of the town's secrets.
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The pack's den was nestled deep in the heart of the forest, a sprawling underground network of tunnels and chambers hidden beneath the roots of ancient trees. It was both a sanctuary and a prison, a place where their kind could live safely but not freely.
Caleb entered the central chamber, his footsteps echoing softly. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and the faint musk of wolves in their shifted forms.
Owen was waiting for him, leaning casually against the wall with his arms crossed. His dark eyes narrowed as Caleb approached.
"You've been spending a lot of time watching her," Owen said without preamble.
Caleb growled low in his throat. "Don't start."
"I'm not starting anything. Just stating the obvious." Owen pushed off the wall, his expression hardening. "The pack's noticed, Caleb. They're asking questions. And Victor's been sniffing around the edges of the Hollow. If he finds out you're protecting a human—"
"She's not involved," Caleb interrupted sharply.
"Yet," Owen shot back. "But how long until she is? Humans like her don't just show up in places like this without a reason. She's asking questions, poking around where she shouldn't. If you're not careful, she's going to get herself killed—or worse, she'll bring trouble right to our doorstep."
Caleb clenched his fists, his claws threatening to break through his skin. "I'll handle it."
"You'd better," Owen said. "Because if you don't, the pack will. And you know what that means."
Caleb didn't respond. He didn't need to. The warning was clear: if the pack decided Elena was a threat, they wouldn't hesitate to eliminate her.
---
As the moon rose high above the forest, Caleb found himself near Elena's cabin again. He told himself it was just to make sure she was safe, but deep down, he knew it was more than that.
From the shadows, he watched her move around inside, her silhouette visible through the curtains. She was pacing, her hand running through her hair as she muttered to herself.
She's frustrated, he realized.
He couldn't blame her. Blackwood Hollow wasn't an easy place to understand, even for those who had lived there their whole lives. For someone like her—an outsider—it must have felt like walking into a maze with no map.
Still, he couldn't let her get too close to the truth. The wolves, the pack, Victor—if she uncovered any of it, she'd be in danger.
As he turned to leave, a familiar voice stopped him.
"You're pathetic, you know that?"
Caleb spun around, his instincts flaring. A young woman stepped out of the trees, her golden hair catching the moonlight.
"Lila," he said, his tone flat.
She smirked, her sharp canines glinting in the light. "What are you doing out here, Caleb? Watching your little human again?"
"She's none of your business," Caleb growled.
"Oh, but she is," Lila said, stepping closer. "You're the Alpha. Everything you do is the pack's business. And right now, the pack's worried you're letting your... feelings cloud your judgment."
Caleb's jaw tightened. "Stay out of it."
Lila tilted her head, her eyes narrowing. "You know as well as I do that humans don't last long in Blackwood Hollow. They either leave, or they become a problem. Which one do you think she'll be?"
Caleb didn't answer. He didn't trust himself to speak.
Lila's smirk widened. "Careful, Caleb. You wouldn't want the pack to think you've gone soft."
She disappeared into the trees, her laughter echoing behind her.
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Elena's POV
Elena couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her. It wasn't the first time she'd felt it, but tonight it was stronger, more insistent.
She pulled the curtains closed and sat down at the small table by the window. Her laptop was open in front of her, but she couldn't focus on the screen. Her mind kept drifting back to the man in the woods, the warnings from Maria and Sheriff Boone, and the strange stories she'd read at the library.
What am I missing?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. She jumped, her heart racing.
Grabbing the kitchen knife again, she approached the door cautiously. "Who is it?"
"It's Dr. Langston."
Relieved, Elena opened the door to find the older man standing on her porch, his hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket.
"Sorry to bother you so late," he said, "but I wanted to check in. Maria mentioned you'd had some... unusual experiences."
Elena stepped aside to let him in. "I wouldn't call them unusual, exactly. Just... unsettling."
Dr. Langston nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Blackwood Hollow has a way of doing that to people. It's an old place, full of history. Some of it good, some of it... less so."
"Do you believe in the legends?" Elena asked, watching him closely.
He hesitated, then gave her a small smile. "I believe every legend has a grain of truth. But I also believe that what we choose to believe shapes the world we live in."
It was a cryptic answer, but Elena didn't press him. Something told her he knew more than he was letting on.
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Caleb's POV
From the shadows outside, Caleb listened to the conversation inside Elena's cabin. He hated eavesdropping, but he needed to know what Dr. Langston would say. The old man had always been good at walking the line between truth and secrecy.
When Langston finally left, Caleb stayed where he was, his eyes fixed on Elena as she sat back down at her table.
She deserves to know, a small voice in the back of his mind whispered.
But he couldn't tell her. Not yet.
With a sigh, he turned and disappeared into the woods, his heart heavy with the weight of his secrets.
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