The Alpha's Songs

the village. Callan paced along the edge of the woods, mind heavy with the memory of the rogue woman's son

the quiet. The Beta stood behind him,

inn's knowing smirk. "I c

Alpha leaves his bed to wander the forest b

and through his dark hair.

t up. "A rogue? And

oom for argument, though he knew Finn

ening. "You know how the pack feels about out

f human hunters lurking too close to their borders and rumors of silver weapons forged to harm their kind. Allowing a

soft on us," Finn jokes, his

k. "She's not a threa

forest. "Not every threat comes with bared tee

e the truth in Finn's words. "But I trust my inst

" Finn muttered, "but the

n assured him, though he wasn

s Liana emerged from the shadows, her face unreadable but her eyes sharp and steady. She s

Callan noted, keepi

ed, a hint of challenge in her voic

arms. "You mentioned last night you'd he

ion in her posture. "Word gets around

gaze didn't waver. "Wh

eeting his gaze without flinching. "That you've got a strong pack. One

Callan. They all knew the risks of being discovered by those outside t

n, his voice laced with suspicio

ss smile. "Maybe I was just looking for a

. There was a weight to her words, something unspoken that hi

those who think we're better off in chains or worse." Her voice held a f

signaling him to stop. He could see the truth in her eyes,

uth before he could think it th

her expression, raising an eyebrow. "Didn't expect that

under his breath, though he was

steady on Liana. "You can s

arms, mirroring hi

ce. If you're serious about finding somewhere to stop ru

ssed her face, though she quickly masked it with h

tension ease from his shoulders, though a slive

le breaking through her defen

ash of movement in the trees. A shadow-silent,

ad been l

. The pack's suspicion, already simmer

oo well how rumors could infect a pack, how suspicion could poison trust faster than any enemy. He needed

uth pressing into a grim lin

ne held a resolve born of experience, not hope.

s gleaming with a mix of curiosity and caution. "Everything alright?" she asked, though there was

ted, then nod

her arms. "I'm guessing that's as

, his gaze steady. "You said you'd help, so prove

able flashed across her face, like an old wound barely hidden under

Callan almost wanted to ask, to pull those stories from her and understand what drov

onight. There's a patrol route along the

challenge flickering in her eye

kind. There was a test in his words, an invitation for

lifting her chin.

his lips, though his eyes remained cautiou

she turned and headed back toward the village, disappearing into the winding path that led to th

and he turned to Finn, who was studying

" Finn asked, his voice l

y as the trees around them. "But I'm

s gaze. "If the pack hears about this... if they even

ing no room for argument. "And if they do, I'll

his voice barely more than a wh

knew all too well how fragile the peace within Silver Hollow was, how easily it could shatter under the press

had listened and slipped away in silence-was the

e low and firm. "Anyone watching the patrols, an

adable but resolute. "I'll keep

is tone carrying the unyielding authority that had k

leaving Callan alone in the silence of the forest. He stood there for a momen

ed back into the shadows, following