The Alpha's Songs

lage as Callan waited by the old watchtower, his stance tense but alert. He could hear the distant murmurs of the pack as they moved about t

rth and wild herbs, with something sharper woven in, like a hidden edge. She emerged from th

marked, masking his rel

nwavering. "I said I'd b

the northern border. It's the most isolated area, closest to where hunters migh

y, lifting her chin. "I d

they made their way along a narrow trail that wound through dense clusters of trees and thickets. They moved in silence, their st

e horizon. Liana joined him, her expression calm but watchful. "Is this w

e distance. "Hunters usually keep to the lower paths, but latel

d, a flicker of worry clou

" he said grim

gaze fixed on the darkening landscap

uth set in a hard line. "You've dealt with them before,"

ted, then added, "They're relentless. Once they find even a hint of us, they d

ce edged with a quiet, unyielding resolve. "No

ughtful. "Your loyalty runs deep," she sa

alley, his expression shadowed. "Duty. Loyalty. Protecting

smile. "I remember what that felt like," she

icker of something raw and hidden. "What happened?" he ask

nto steel. "What always happens," she said, her voice tight. "People bet

n't expected. He knew betrayal, though he rarely spoke of it; he'd seen trust sha

d from below, sharp and unmistakable. They both froze,

passing between them. In an instant, they shifte

whispered, her voi

w, all traces of their earlier vulnerabili

d instinctively went to his side, where a blade lay hidden. He gestured fo

uttered, but she only sm

han one alone," she whispered, h

se of movement ahead. A figure, cloaked and crouching, lingered at the edge of their

, silently awaiting his signal, and he gave a sharp nod. Together, they close

commanding. "You're on restricted land," he announced, his words slici

g in his eyes. He muttered something under his breath, then spun on h

from her shoulders as she met Ca

on hardened. "Mor

eavy around them, both acutely awar

on the spot where the intruder had vanished, his jaw clenched, thoughts racing. The mere presence of a stranger this deep into their territory

quiet, her tone low. "

dge in his voice. "Hunters don't give up eas

ruder had slipped away. "Then it's a warning.

s were relentless, yes, but not reckless. This felt more like a signal, a silent pro

his thoughts. "If he comes

her expression. "You don't owe this pack anythin

"Maybe I don't owe them anything," she said, her tone steady. "But I'm not one to

es. He knew better than to argue with someone who had their m

rner of her mouth. "You

hink I've learned that if I tell you t

r tone light but her gaze unwaverin

g about her defiance, the way she met every challenge head-on. It reminded him of his own younge

the trail. "We'll finish the patro

couldn't deny the comfort of her presence, an unexpected ease that balanced his constant watchfulness. The sile

echoed from the direction of the northern border. Callan's

tense. Without another word, he broke int

other wolves, their forms half-shifted, faces grim and eyes alert. One of the wol

Alpha," Jarek said, h

scanning the ground around th

unspoken worry. "Tracks, fresh ones. Human

cing. The tracks were deep, heavy-someone had been watching, lurking just beyond their bo

owing as she examined the tracks. "Th

her eyes that mirrored his own. "Then it's time to make it c

e resolve in his gaz

orders. No one leaves or enters without being accounted for." His gaze flicked to Lian

ubtle strength in her postu

t of the decision, the risks they were taking by engaging, but he knew they had no choice. Protecting Si

caught a final glimpse of the tracks, each one a p