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Caleb's POV
The door slammed against the wall, splinters flying as three figures stormed into the cabin. Caleb's sharp eyes adjusted instantly, his body instinctively shifting into a defensive stance. Owen was the first to step through, his dark coat dusted with rain and mud. Behind him loomed Carter and Fiona, two of the pack's most ruthless enforcers.
"Owen," Caleb growled. "You don't want to do this."
"We don't have a choice," Owen said, his voice cold. His amber eyes flickered to Elena, who stood frozen behind Caleb, clutching a broken lamp like a lifeline. "She shouldn't be here."
"She's under my protection," Caleb snapped.
"Your protection?" Fiona spat, her tone dripping with disdain. "She's a human, Caleb. An outsider. You know what the rules say about this."
"I don't care about the rules," Caleb said, his voice low and dangerous.
Carter stepped forward, his broad shoulders filling the narrow doorway. "The rules are what keep us alive. You're the Alpha—you can't just ignore them because of... her."
Elena flinched at the venom in his voice, but Caleb didn't waver.
"She hasn't done anything wrong," he said, his eyes narrowing. "She doesn't know what we are. I've made sure of that."
Owen scoffed. "Don't insult our intelligence. She's been poking around, asking questions, drawing attention to things that should stay buried. If you won't deal with her, the pack will."
A low growl rumbled in Caleb's throat, his wolf instincts rising to the surface. "You'll have to go through me first."
---
Elena's POV
Elena's breath came in short, shallow gasps as she watched the confrontation unfold. She didn't understand everything they were saying, but one thing was clear: Caleb was protecting her, and the others wanted her gone—or worse.
Her grip tightened on the lamp. "Stop this!" she shouted, her voice trembling but determined.
All eyes turned to her, and she felt the weight of their stares.
"You don't have to fight," she said, looking directly at Owen. "I don't want to cause trouble. I'll leave if that's what it takes."
"No," Caleb said sharply, not taking his eyes off the others. "You're not going anywhere."
Owen sneered. "Listen to her, Caleb. She's willing to walk away. Let her go, and this doesn't have to get ugly."
Caleb shook his head. "If she leaves now, she's unprotected. Victor's pack is out there, and they won't hesitate to kill her. Is that what you want?"
"Victor's pack is your problem," Fiona said, her voice icy. "Not hers."
"I said no," Caleb growled, his voice deepening.
Elena watched in shock as his body began to shift, his muscles rippling beneath his skin, his hands elongating into claws. His transformation was quick, but it was enough to make Owen and the others hesitate.
"Last chance," Caleb said, his voice a guttural growl. "Leave. Now."
---
Owen's POV
Owen's jaw clenched as he stared at Caleb. This wasn't the Alpha he knew—the calm, strategic leader who always put the pack first. This was someone else, someone reckless and blinded by... what?
He glanced at the girl again. She didn't look like much. Fragile, scared, human. But there was something about her, something that had Caleb willing to risk everything.
"Stand down, Caleb," Owen said, his voice steady but firm. "We're not here to hurt her. Not unless you give us a reason."
Caleb's growl deepened, and Owen knew they were seconds away from a fight.
"Don't do this," Owen said quietly. "You're making a mistake."
Caleb didn't respond, his eyes glowing with feral intensity.
Fine. If Caleb wanted a fight, Owen would give him one.
---
Elena's POV
The tension snapped like a rubber band as Owen lunged at Caleb. The two collided with a force that shook the cabin, their movements blurring as they shifted mid-air.
Elena stumbled back, her heart racing. She watched in horror as Caleb, now fully transformed into his wolf form, grappled with Owen, claws slashing and teeth bared.
Carter and Fiona hesitated for a moment before joining the fray, their own forms shifting as they moved.
The small cabin was chaos—furniture splintered, glass shattered, and the air was filled with snarls and growls.
Elena pressed herself against the wall, desperately trying to stay out of the way. Her eyes darted to the open door, but her legs refused to move.
I can't just leave him.
Gathering her courage, she grabbed a heavy iron poker from the fireplace and stepped forward.
"Stop it!" she shouted, swinging the poker wildly.
To her surprise, it worked—at least for a moment. Fiona yelped as the poker clipped her shoulder, and she turned her glowing eyes on Elena, a snarl curling her lips.
Elena raised the poker again, her hands shaking. "Stay back!"
Fiona hesitated, but only for a second. She lunged, and Elena braced for impact—
Only to see Caleb slam into Fiona, knocking her to the ground.
"Get out of here!" Caleb shouted, his voice barely human.
---
Caleb's POV
Caleb's focus narrowed to one thing: keeping Elena safe. He fought with everything he had, his claws tearing into Carter's side as he dodged a strike from Owen.
"Enough!" he roared, his Alpha command cutting through the chaos like a whip.
The others froze, their bodies tense and ready to fight but unwilling to disobey.
"This isn't over," Owen said, his voice low and dangerous.
"Yes, it is," Caleb growled. "Leave. Now."
Carter and Fiona exchanged a glance before retreating, their forms shifting back to human as they disappeared into the night.
Owen lingered, his eyes flickering with anger and something else—pity?
"You're choosing her over us," Owen said quietly. "Over your pack."
"I'm protecting what's mine," Caleb replied, his voice hard.
Owen shook his head. "You're making a mistake."
And then he was gone.
---
Elena's POV
The silence that followed was deafening. Elena stood frozen, her chest heaving as she tried to process what had just happened.
Caleb, still partially shifted, turned to her. His glowing eyes softened, and he took a cautious step forward.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice rough but gentle.
Elena nodded numbly, her grip on the poker loosening.
"You need to leave Blackwood Hollow," Caleb said. "Tonight."
"No," she said, surprising herself with the force of her own voice. "I'm not going anywhere. Not until I know the truth."
Caleb sighed, running a hand through his hair as he shifted fully back to human.
"The truth," he said quietly, "is more dangerous than you realize."
"Then let me decide that," Elena said.
For a long moment, Caleb just looked at her, his expression unreadable.
"You're stubborn," he said finally, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"And you're hiding something," she shot back.
Caleb chuckled, but the sound was tinged with exhaustion. "Fine. You want answers? I'll give you answers. But not here."
"Where, then?"
"Somewhere safe," he said. "But first, we need to make sure they don't come back."
Elena nodded, her resolve hardening. Whatever was happening in Blackwood Hollow, she was determined to uncover the truth—even if it meant standing her ground in a world she barely understood.
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