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Jemima Steele POV...The Pack's Territory

Adrian and I walked through the trees, each lost in our thoughts. It had been days since the voice in the clearing. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was coming.

“Do you ever feel like we’re being watched?” I asked.

Adrian glanced at me. “All the time. That’s our life. Always being watched.”

But this felt different. There was something heavy in the air. Even Kiona, my wolf, felt uneasy. The trees seemed alive today, creaking like they were talking. The sun shone, but it didn’t feel warm.

We reached the clearing where the stones stood. They were old, silent, and strange. I stared at them. I couldn’t understand why they pulled me in. The glow at night, the hum—they didn’t feel right.

Adrian stopped beside me. “You’re thinking about the voice again, aren’t you?”

I nodded. “It felt too real. Like it was meant for me.”

“We’ll find out what it was,” he said quietly.

I wanted to believe him. But what if we were already too late? What if the danger was already here?

“Adrian,” I said, my voice shaking, “What if this has to do with my mom? What if she’s connected to all of this?”

He looked at me with soft eyes but stayed quiet for a moment. “We don’t know that yet. We have to stay calm.”

I didn’t say anything. The more I thought about my mother’s disappearance, the more I felt a connection to the stones. Maybe the past was finally catching up to me.

We searched the area, but the woods were quiet. Too quiet. No tracks. No strange smells. Just silence. The kind of silence that made my skin crawl.

When we returned to the pack house, everyone was already inside. Garrett spoke first.

“The patrols found something,” he said. “Fresh tracks near the north border. They’re getting closer.”

Adrian’s face tightened. “How close?”

“They’re careful, but they’re not hiding anymore,” Garrett answered. “They’re close.”

I felt the air grow heavy. The hunt was closing in. Whatever it was, it wasn’t just after the pack. It was after me. I could feel it.

“We have to act,” Adrian said. “Double the patrols. Keep watch at all times.”

Everyone nodded. My chest tightened. It wasn’t just about the pack anymore. It was about me. And I couldn’t escape it.

That night, I couldn’t sleep. The house felt too quiet. Kiona was restless, pacing inside me. I couldn’t calm her. The unease was everywhere. I got out of bed, wandering through the house. It was dark, and the silence echoed around me. I stepped outside onto the porch, hoping the cool air would help.

Adrian stood in the doorway. “You’re awake?”

I nodded. “I can’t sleep. Something’s wrong.”

He came out and stood next to me. “We’ll figure it out. We’re not alone in this.”

I didn’t say anything, but I wasn’t sure if I believed him. It didn’t feel like we were in control anymore. Something was coming. I just didn’t know what.

The next morning, the house felt tense. The air was thick with worry. Garrett came in with news.

“The patrols found more tracks,” he said. “They’re near the north edge, close to our territory.”

Adrian stood up quickly. “We can’t let them get any closer.”

“What do we do now?” I asked.

Adrian’s eyes softened for a moment. “We wait. But we don’t let our guard down.”

I nodded. The storm was coming. We could feel it. We didn’t know what would happen, but we had to be ready.

Later that night, we stood in the clearing again. The stones pulsed with an energy I didn’t understand. Adrian and I stood close together. The air felt thick, like something was watching us.

And then the voice came again. “Leave.”

I didn’t flinch. “We’re not leaving,” I called out. “Try harder if you want us to go.”

The air grew colder. The stones glowed brighter. A shadow moved in the trees. It was no longer a warning. It was a challenge.

Adrian took my hand, his grip tight. “Stay close.”

The tension grew so thick it felt like the world had stopped moving. Kiona spoke to me in my mind. “This might be a trap.”

“What do they want?” Adrian called out. His voice was steady, but I could hear the strain.

There was no answer. Just rustling leaves. It didn’t sound like the wind. It felt like eyes were watching us, waiting for something.

“We can’t stand here,” I whispered. “If they wanted to attack, they would have already.”

Adrian nodded. “You’re right. Let’s go.”

We moved carefully, walking away from the clearing. The stones pulsed again, like they were angry. When we returned to the pack house, Adrian gathered everyone in the main room.

“They’re testing us,” Adrian said. “They’re not done. Stay alert. No one goes out alone.”

Everyone nodded. I felt a twist in my stomach. This wasn’t just about the pack. It was about me. I knew it.

Later, I sat on the porch, thinking about the stones, the voice, and the fear that wouldn’t leave me. Kiona spoke again. “You’re stronger than you know.”

“I hope so,” I whispered.

Adrian came out and sat beside me. We didn’t speak, but his presence was a comfort. We sat in silence, watching the dark forest. It felt alive, watching us.

The next day, things felt different. The house was quieter, but there was an energy in the air. At breakfast, Garrett spoke again.

“The patrols found fresh tracks,” he said. “They’re getting closer.”

Adrian stood up. “Where?”

“Near the north edge of our territory,” Garrett replied. “They’re moving closer.”

I felt everyone’s eyes on me. My chest tightened, but I kept my face calm. “What do we do?”

Adrian looked at Garrett. “Double the patrols. Scouts need to be out there at all times.”

“And us?” I asked.

Adrian’s gaze softened, but his voice was firm. “We wait. But we stay alert. If they’re getting closer, they’ll make their move soon.”

I nodded. It wasn’t over. And I knew we were running out of time.