By the time they reached the pack house, Ava could feel it.
Eyes.
Everywhere.
The moment she stepped across the boundary, conversations dipped—then stopped entirely. Wolves lingered in small groups, their attention snapping toward her in a way that made her skin prickle.
Not curiosity.
Not anymore.
This was something else.
Awareness.
Recognition.
And for some—
Wariness.
“They know,” Ava murmured under her breath.
Kael didn’t slow beside her. “They felt it.”
“Felt what?”
His gaze flicked briefly toward her wrist—the mark hidden beneath her sleeve, still warm, still pulsing faintly like it had its own heartbeat.
“The shift.”
Ava frowned. “That doesn’t explain why they’re looking at me like I might explode.”
“For some of them,” Kael said, “that’s a possibility.”
“Great. Very reassuring.”
But despite her words, she didn’t shrink under their attention.
Didn’t step back.
Didn’t hide.
If anything, something inside her straightened—subtle, instinctive. Like her body refused to be small under their gaze.
Kael noticed.
Of course he did.
His hand brushed lightly against the small of her back as they walked, not pushing—just there. Present. Solid.
Claiming, without saying a word.
That didn’t go unnoticed either.
Ava caught the shift immediately.
The way some wolves lowered their gaze.
The way others stiffened.
Respect.
Or submission.
To him.
And now—
Possibly to her.
The thought was unsettling.
They hadn’t made it more than a few steps toward the main building when someone stepped directly into their path.
A woman.
Tall. Poised. Beautiful in a sharp, deliberate way that felt more like a weapon than a gift.
Her eyes locked onto Ava instantly.
Assessing.
Cold.
“A human,” she said, her voice smooth—but edged. “In the center of the pack.”
Kael’s expression didn’t change. “Move, Lila.”
So.
That was her name.
Lila’s gaze flicked to him briefly—then back to Ava.
“That’s what this is about?” she asked. “The disturbance we all felt?”
Ava crossed her arms slightly, lifting her chin. “I’d love to answer, but I’m still figuring that out myself.”
Lila’s lips curved faintly.
Not kindly.
“Of course you are.”
The dismissal in her tone was subtle—but sharp enough to cut.
Ava felt it.
And for a second—
Old instincts rose.
The ones that told her to step back. To deflect. To avoid confrontation.
But something else rose with it.
Stronger.
Hotter.
Her mark pulsed.
And suddenly—
Backing down didn’t feel like an option.
“I’m guessing you’re not a fan,” Ava said evenly.
Lila tilted her head slightly. “You walked into something you don’t understand.”
“Yeah, I’ve been getting that a lot.”
“And yet,” Lila continued, her gaze narrowing slightly, “you’re still here.”
Ava held her gaze. “So are you.”
That did it.
The shift was immediate.
Subtle—but unmistakable.
Tension snapped tight between them, something deeper than simple dislike threading through the space.
A challenge.
Kael stepped forward slightly, placing himself just enough between them to break the direct line.
“Enough,” he said.
Lila’s eyes flicked to him again, something unreadable passing through her expression.
Then—
A softer tone.
Carefully controlled.
“You’re risking the pack,” she said.
“I’m protecting it.”
“With her?” Lila’s gaze sharpened again. “You don’t even know what she is.”
“No,” Kael said calmly. “But I know she’s mine.”
The words landed like a stone dropped into still water.
Everything stilled.
Ava felt it.
The ripple.
The reaction.
And Lila—
For the first time—
Lost that perfect composure.
Just slightly.
Her jaw tightened.
Her eyes darkened.
But she didn’t argue.
Didn’t challenge him.
Because whatever position she held in the pack—
Kael’s word still outranked it.
“Then I hope,” Lila said quietly, her gaze sliding back to Ava one last time, “she’s worth it.”
And with that—
She stepped aside.
The path cleared.
But the tension didn’t.
Not even close.
Inside the pack house, the atmosphere didn’t ease.
If anything—
It grew heavier.
Ava exhaled slowly as they moved deeper inside. “Please tell me that’s the worst of it.”
Kael didn’t answer right away.
Not a great sign.
“She’s strong,” he said finally. “Loyal to the pack.”
“And she hates me.”
“She doesn’t trust you.”
“Same difference.”
Kael stopped walking.
Ava nearly ran into him.
When she looked up, his gaze was already on her.
Focused.
Intent.
“You didn’t back down,” he said.
Ava blinked slightly. “Was I supposed to?”
“No.”
There was something in his tone.
Approval.
More than that.
Something deeper.
His hand lifted again, brushing lightly against her arm—not accidental. Not casual.
“You felt it again,” he said.
Ava hesitated.
Then nodded.
“Yeah,” she admitted. “It’s… stronger now.”
“It will keep getting stronger.”
“That’s not concerning at all.”
“It shouldn’t be.”
Ava let out a quiet breath. “Easy for you to say. You seem very comfortable with all of this.”
Kael stepped closer.
That same shift in the air.
That same pull.
“You think I’m comfortable?” he asked quietly.
Ava frowned slightly. “You don’t look exactly overwhelmed.”
“That’s because I know what it means.”
“And I don’t.”
His gaze dropped briefly—to her lips again—before returning to her eyes.
“That’s why you stay close to me.”
The way he said it—
Wasn’t a suggestion.
Ava’s pulse quickened slightly. “You really don’t do subtle, do you?”
“No.”
There was no hesitation.
No apology.
Just certainty.
Ava let out a small breath, shaking her head slightly. “You’re impossible.”
“And you’re still here.”
She opened her mouth—
Then paused.
Because again—
He wasn’t wrong.
Her gaze lingered on him for a second longer than it should have.
And something shifted.
Not confusion.
Not fear.
Something quieter.
More dangerous.
Acceptance.
“This whole thing,” she said slowly, “whatever it is… it’s not just in my head, is it?”
“No.”
“And it’s not going away?”
“No.”
Ava exhaled.
Then—
Very deliberately—
She stepped closer.
Closing the space herself this time.
Kael didn’t move.
Didn’t interrupt.
Just watched.
Ava met his gaze, her voice quieter now—but steadier.
“Then you better start explaining faster,” she said. “Because I’m not walking around your pack like some mystery object everyone wants to fight over.”
Kael’s hand slid to her waist again.
Firm.
Steady.
Grounding.
“You won’t have to,” he said.
Ava raised a brow slightly. “And why’s that?”
His thumb brushed lightly against her side.
“Because no one will touch you without my permission.”
There it was again.
That possessiveness.
That certainty.
And instead of pushing it away—
Ava felt something inside her respond.
Not submission.
Not exactly.
But not resistance either.
Something in between.
Something new.
“Good,” she said quietly. “Because I’m not exactly in the mood to be kidnapped by rogue wolves today.”
A faint smirk touched his lips.
“Then stay close.”
Ava held his gaze.
And this time—
She didn’t argue.
