The morning air was cool and crisp, laced with the earthy scent of pine and damp soil. A perfect day for fresh starts, clean slates, and absolutely no unnecessary drama.
I walked toward Havenwood's clinic, clutching my travel mug of coffee like it was a lifeline. Ethan had opted to stay back, which was probably for the best. I'd rather introduce myself to my new packmates without my brooding, emotionally scarred brother glaring daggers at every werewolf in sight.
Jasmine had given me the grand tour last night. The packhouse, training grounds, the small town square, and her personal favorite, The Drunken Wolf, which she described as "the best and worst decisions you'll ever make in one night."
I had my doubts about how much peace we'd actually find here, but I wasn't going to be the one to poke fate with a sharp stick.
I reached the clinic and pushed the door open. Inside, the space was warm and clean, with well-stocked shelves and the faint antiseptic scent that told me this place was actually used. Good. Some packs viewed healers as an afterthought, only showing up when they were really dying.
Jasmine was already inside, sipping coffee and looking way too cheerful for this early in the morning. "You're early," she noted. "Either you're dedicated, or you have no life."
I took a sip of my own coffee. "Bit of both."
Before she could respond, the front door slammed open. A young wolf stumbled in, blood soaking through his shirt.
Because of course my first day couldn't be boring.
Jasmine sighed. "And so it begins."
I rushed forward as the injured shifter swayed on his feet. "What happened?"
"Training," he groaned. "Beta Liam doesn't hold back."
Jasmine shot me a knowing look. "Translation: he mouthed off, and Liam made him regret it."
I rolled up my sleeves. "Let me guess—did you call him something creative, or did you just insult his mom?"
Aiden, as he introduced himself through clenched teeth, looked both guilty and pained. "I may have said that being Beta is just being a glorified babysitter for an emotionally constipated Alpha."
I snorted. "Oh, well, then you absolutely deserved this."
Aiden groaned. "I regret everything."
As I cleaned the deep claw marks on his ribs, the clinic door swung open again, and suddenly, the entire damn room shifted.
A presence filled the space—powerful, commanding, Alpha as hell.
I didn't even have to look up to feel it.
But when I did glance up, my breath caught.
Oh.
Tall. Broad-shouldered. Dark tousled hair. And those eyes—sharp, golden, assessing. His gaze locked onto me, and for a split second, I felt… seen. Not in the oh no, I just embarrassed myself in front of a hot guy way. No, this was something deeper, something primal.
This was their Alpha. My Alpha, now.
And the universe, in all its cruel humor, had made him stupidly attractive.
Jasmine smirked. "Ellie, meet Alpha Killian."
Oh, Great. He's Hot. That's Unfortunate.
Killian's gaze flicked to Aiden. "Why is my warrior bleeding in the clinic before breakfast?"
Jasmine spoke before Aiden could. "Because he ran his mouth. Again."
Killian exhaled sharply. "Of course he did."
I cleared my throat. "Alpha, your warrior here decided to test his mortality. I'm just making sure his vital organs stay inside his body where they belong."
Killian's eyes snapped to me. "And you must be Dr. Ellie Carter."
"That's me." I finished wrapping Aiden's wound, arching a brow at the Alpha. "And you must be the guy who encourages combat injuries before sunrise."
Jasmine choked on her coffee. Aiden looked at me like I had just committed social suicide.
For a long moment, Killian just stared at me. The kind of stare that made my skin prickle with awareness, like he was trying to figure me out.
Then, to my absolute shock, he smirked.
A slow, amused, infuriating smirk.
Something dark and warm curled in my stomach.
Oh, hell no.
I refused to find that attractive.
Killian crossed his arms, and I refused to acknowledge how that simple motion made his biceps flex in a way that definitely did not distract me. "We train hard here, Doctor."
"And I stitch hard," I shot back. "Let's hope we don't test who runs out of patience first."
A low hum of approval rumbled in his chest. "Noted."
Jasmine shot me a look. The what-the-hell-are-you-doing kind. I had no answer for her.
Killian turned to leave but paused at the doorway. "Aiden, next time, use your brain before your mouth."
Aiden groaned. "Yes, Alpha."
Killian left, and the room finally breathed again.
Jasmine grabbed my arm. "What the hell was that?"
"That," I said, definitely not flustered, "was me securing job security."
"Right," she said, drawing out the word. "And the mutual smirking of sexual tension was just a side effect?"
I groaned. "I don't have time for romance. Or complications. Or Alpha-shaped problems."
Jasmine snorted. "Oh, honey. You are the problem now."
After the adrenaline of the morning, I needed air. That night, I took a walk near the packhouse, letting the crisp mountain breeze cool my thoughts.
That's when I heard it.
Two warriors stood near the packhouse, talking in hushed voices.
"Serena's been trying to contact him again," one muttered.
My stomach dropped.
No, it can't be the same Serena. I'm just hyper-sensitive to that name.
No!
No!
No!
My mind just is imaging things. It's another Serena.
Ethan's ex. The woman who had shattered him.
The second warrior scoffed. "Like he'd take her back. She made her choice."
A cold wave of unease crawled up my spine.
I forced myself to keep walking, pretending I hadn't heard a thing.
It didn't mean anything. It couldn't mean anything.