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Caleb's POV
The sharp, earthy scent of pine filled Caleb's senses as he prowled through the woods. Every step felt heavier than the last, his thoughts clouded with indecision.
Elena had crossed into dangerous territory, and now the balance he'd worked so hard to maintain was slipping through his fingers. The clearing she'd discovered wasn't just a place of old rituals—it was tied to the pack, to the very heart of their existence.
"She wasn't supposed to find it," Caleb muttered under his breath, his claws extending involuntarily as frustration bubbled to the surface.
"Talking to yourself again?"
Caleb spun around to see Owen leaning against a tree, his arms crossed and an irritatingly smug expression on his face.
"She's trouble, Caleb," Owen said without waiting for an invitation to speak. "You know it, I know it, and the pack definitely knows it."
Caleb's lips curled into a snarl. "Leave her out of this."
Owen stepped closer, his posture relaxed but his tone sharp. "I can't, and neither can you. You're the Alpha. If you can't protect the pack, someone else will. And protecting her? That's not your job."
Caleb's hands balled into fists, his claws retracting with effort. He hated the truth in Owen's words but refused to accept it. "She hasn't done anything wrong."
"She's asking questions, poking around where she shouldn't. She found the clearing, Caleb. If she keeps going, she'll find out about us."
"Then I'll handle it," Caleb growled.
Owen scoffed. "You're handling it so well already." He paused, his tone darkening. "Victor's back in the Hollow. If he catches wind of this, he won't hesitate. You know what he's capable of."
Caleb felt a chill run through him at the mention of Victor's name. The rival Alpha had been circling Blackwood Hollow for months, waiting for any sign of weakness. If he found out about Elena...
"I said I'll handle it," Caleb snapped, his voice low and dangerous.
Owen studied him for a moment, then shrugged. "Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you."
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Elena's POV
The morning air was crisp as Elena stepped onto her porch, her thoughts still consumed by what Maria had said the night before. She couldn't shake the look of fear in the woman's eyes when she'd seen the sketch of the symbols.
What aren't they telling me?
Determined to get more answers, Elena decided to head into town. The library had been helpful before, but today she had a different plan. She wanted to talk to the people—the shopkeepers, the farmers, the ones who'd lived in Blackwood Hollow their entire lives.
She started at the general store, where the scent of freshly baked bread mingled with the sharp tang of herbs and spices.
"Morning, Ms. Carson," said an older man behind the counter, his warm smile wrinkling his weathered face.
"Good morning, Mr. Hale," Elena replied.
He chuckled. "Just call me George. What brings you in today?"
"Actually, I was hoping you could help me with something." Elena hesitated, then pulled out her notebook, flipping to the page with the symbols. "Have you ever seen these before?"
George's smile faltered, his brows knitting together as he studied the sketch.
"Where'd you find this?" he asked, his tone suddenly cautious.
"In the woods," Elena said, choosing her words carefully. "Near an old clearing. It looked like some kind of ritual site."
George set the notebook down and shook his head. "You shouldn't be wandering around out there alone, miss. Those woods... they're not safe."
"That's what everyone keeps saying," Elena said, her frustration seeping into her voice. "But no one will tell me why."
George glanced around the store, as if making sure they were alone, before leaning in closer. "Blackwood Hollow's got a history—a dark one. Folks here don't talk about it because we've learned it's better to leave certain things alone."
"What kind of things?" Elena pressed.
George hesitated, then sighed. "Legends, mostly. Stories about creatures that walk like men but aren't men. About the forest being alive, watching us. But legends or not, people have gone missing over the years. Good people. And whenever it happens, there's always talk of the Hunt."
"The Hunt?"
He nodded, his expression grim. "It's what they used to call it. A group of... beings... that would take anyone who strayed too far into the woods. They say the symbols are connected to them, like a warning—or a claim."
Elena's stomach twisted.
"I'm not saying I believe it," George continued, "but I'd stay away from those woods if I were you."
---
Elena spent the rest of the day talking to anyone who would give her the time, but most people either didn't know anything or refused to say more than George had. By the time the sun began to set, she was more frustrated than ever.
As she walked back toward her cabin, her mind buzzed with questions. The Hunt. The clearing. The wolf. It all felt connected, but she couldn't see how.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of rustling leaves. She stopped, her pulse quickening.
"Hello?" she called, her voice trembling.
No answer.
She took a cautious step forward, her eyes scanning the shadows. That's when she saw it—a glint of amber in the darkness.
The wolf.
It stood at the edge of the trees, watching her with an intensity that made her heart race.
"What do you want?" she whispered, as if expecting it to answer.
The wolf didn't move, its gaze locked on hers. Then, slowly, it turned and padded deeper into the woods, pausing to look back at her as if beckoning her to follow.
Every instinct screamed at her to turn around and go home, but something about the wolf's demeanor made her take a step forward.
And then another.
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Caleb's POV
Caleb felt his heart pounding as he led Elena deeper into the forest, his wolf form blending seamlessly with the shadows. He hadn't meant for her to see him, but once she had, he couldn't ignore the pull to guide her away from danger.
What am I doing?
If the pack found out, they'd call it betrayal. If Victor found out, it could mean war. But as he glanced back at Elena, her face a mix of fear and determination, he knew he couldn't stop.
She had to see the truth—just enough to scare her away from Blackwood Hollow for good.
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Elena's POV
The wolf led her to another clearing, smaller than the one she'd found before but no less eerie. At its center was a massive tree, its gnarled branches reaching out like twisted arms.
As Elena stepped closer, she noticed something carved into the bark: the same symbols she'd seen in the clearing. But here, they were more elaborate, more intricate.
She reached out to touch the markings, her fingers grazing the rough surface.
"Why are you showing me this?" she whispered, turning to look at the wolf.
It stared at her for a moment, then tilted its head as if listening to something she couldn't hear.
Before she could question it further, the sound of snapping branches made her spin around.
A figure emerged from the trees—a man, his piercing green eyes fixed on her.
"Elena," he said, his voice deep and steady.
"How do you know my name?" she demanded, her heart racing.
The man stepped closer, and for the first time, she noticed the faint glow of amber in his eyes.
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