Chapter Nine

The oppressive hush that blanketed the kitchen was suffocating, pressing in on Lucia's senses as she stepped through the doorway. Shadows clung to the corners, lending an air of menace to the normally bright and airy space. Her heart pounded in her ears, pulse quickening as she took in the tense expressions of Aiden and Declan.

Swallowing hard, Lucia eased onto one of the stools, the heat and discomfort of her ongoing heat cycle a persistent ache. "What's going on?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Aiden's gaze shifted, locking with hers. "There's a rumour," he said, the words heavy with unspoken dread. "An unknown Alpha has been spotted near the pack grounds."

Lucia's breath caught in her throat, a familiar fear clawing at her insides. "Ryder?" The name left her lips like a curse, tongue twisting around the syllables.

Declan nodded, the muscles in his jaw tightening. "We believe so. He's been sniffing around the borders, and we can't seem to pin him down."

A tremor ran th