I swing the ax, the blade biting into the wood with a satisfying thud. The rhythm of the task is soothing, a welcome distraction from the turmoil in my mind. The sun is high, the light filtering through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The scent of pine fills the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of the forest floor.

I lift the ax again, my muscles straining, and then I bring it down, splitting the log in two. I set another piece of wood on the chopping block, repeating the process, losing myself in the physicality of the task.

And then I hear it. The soft crunch of footsteps on the forest floor. I look up, my heart skipping a beat, and I see her.

Lyla.

She's standing in the doorway of the cabin, her eyes wide, her hair catching the sunlight and turning it black as night. She's wearing my clothes, the shirt and pants hanging loose on her frame, but she makes them look like they were made for her. The fabric clings to her curves, the sleeves too long, the hem of the shirt brushing her thighs.

She's beautiful. Even more so than when she was in wolf form. My breath catches in my throat, my heart pounding in my chest. I can't look away.

But then I catch her scent, and my blood runs cold. It's faint, masked by the pine and the herbs I've been using, but it's there. And if I can smell it, so can they.

My pack.

I glance around, my senses on high alert. I can hear them, the distant sounds of their movements, their voices carried on the wind. They're close, too close. If they see her, if they catch her scent...

"Lyla," I say, my voice low, urgent. "You need to go back inside."

She frowns, her eyes narrowing. "Why? I'm feeling better. I need to move, to stretch my legs."

I take a step toward her, my heart racing. "It's not safe. If someone sees you..."

She crosses her arms over her chest, her chin jutting out. "I'm not a prisoner, Kalen. You can't keep me locked up in there."

I reach her, my hand closing around her arm. "Please, Lyla. You don't understand. If they find out you're here..." If the elders find out I lied . . .

She jerks her arm away, her eyes flashing. "What? What will they do?"

I open my mouth to answer, but then I hear it. The rustle of leaves, the snap of a twig. I turn, my heart in my throat, and I see them. Two of my pack members, walking through the trees, their heads down, their voices low.

Lyla follows my gaze, and I see the realization dawn in her eyes. Her expression softens, her shoulders relaxing. 

I turn back to her, my hand on her arm again. "Please," I say, my voice urgent. "Go back inside. I'll explain everything later. But right now, you need to hide."

She nods, her eyes meeting mine. "Okay," she says. "Okay, I'll go."

I watch her turn and walk back into the cabin, my heart pounding in my chest. I wait until the door closes behind her, and then I turn back to the wood, lifting the ax again.

I need to protect her. I need to keep her safe. And that means keeping her hidden, keeping her scent masked. I can't let anyone find out she's here.

What am I going to do with her? Her own pack rejected her. But she can’t stay here.

I bring the ax down. I have to be careful. I have to be vigilant. Because if they find out...

I don't want to think about what will happen if they find out.

But I can't stop thinking about her. About Lyla. About the way she looked at me, the way her eyes softened, the way she trusted me.

I breathe a sigh of relief when I see the pack moving through the forest, their movements casual and unhurried. They're not on high alert, not searching for anything. Just enjoying the day, the sun filtering through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor.

But my relief is short-lived. Because while they're relaxed, I'm not. I can't be. Not with Lyla so close, her scent still lingering in the air. I glance back at the cabin, my heart pounding in my chest. She's hidden, but for how long? How long before someone catches her scent, before someone sees her?

I have to keep them away from here. I have to keep them distracted.

I focus on the pack, on their movements. Most of them don't notice me, their heads down, their voices low. But a few glance my way, nodding in greeting as they pass. I nod back, my hands tightening on the handle of the ax. I count them, noting their positions, their proximity to the cabin. I'm hyper aware of them all, but my gaze keeps returning to one in particular.

Liam.

My Beta. My second in command. 

And once my friend.

He walks with the others, his posture relaxed, his movements fluid. But there's something in his eyes, a sharpness, a focus. I see the way his nose twitches, the way his eyes narrow as he scans the area. He's alert, more so than the others. 

More so than me.

I watch him, my heart in my throat. I know Liam. I know his keen senses, his sharp mind. He's always been the best at tracking, at noticing the little details. And he's always been suspicious of me, always questioning my decisions, my motives.

Especially since Elara. 

I never should have bedded her.

I can't let him find her. I can't let him find Lyla.

I see him pause, his head tilting to the side. He sniffs the air, his nostrils flaring, and my heart stops. I grip the ax tighter, my knuckles turning white. He takes a step closer, his gaze fixed on the cabin, and I know he's caught her scent. It's faint, but it's there. And Liam doesn't miss anything.

I force myself to breathe, to stay calm. I can't let him see my panic, my fear. I have to act normal, like nothing is wrong. Like there's nothing out of the ordinary.

But inside, I'm screaming. I'm begging him to stop, to turn around, to leave. Because if he finds her, if he sees her...

"Alpha."

I jump, my head snapping up. Liam stands in front of me, his expression unreadable. I swallow hard, my pulse racing. "Liam," I say, my voice steady. "What brings you out here?"

He looks around, his gaze sweeping the clearing. "I was looking for you. You've been spending a lot of time out here by your cozy little cabin lately."

I shrug, forcing a casual tone. "I like the solitude. The quiet."

He nods, but I see the doubt in his eyes. "It's unusual for you. You're usually more involved with the pack, with the lodge. But lately, you've been... distant."

He looks around again, his eyes narrowing. "But there's something else."

I force myself to breathe. "What do you mean?"

He doesn't answer, his gaze fixed on something behind me. I turn, following his line of sight, and I see the cabin. My pulse quickens, and I take a step forward, blocking his view. "I just needed some time alone."

His gaze sharpens. "Come now, Kalen. You can't hide from me. You're my Alpha. I've known you since you were a pup. I know your habits, your routines. But lately, you've been... different."

I shift my weight, my heart pounding in my chest. "Different how?"

Liam steps closer, his voice lowering. "You're avoiding us. The pack. You spend hours out here, alone. You don't eat with us, you don't sleep in the lodge. You don't even check in with the patrols. It's like you've become a ghost."

I open my mouth to respond, but he holds up a hand. "Don't try to deny it. I've seen it with my own eyes. And I hear the whispers. The pack is worried. They don't understand why their Alpha has abandoned them."

I bristle at his words, my chest tightening. But I’m also defensive. If the entire pack has noticed . . . What rumors are circulating about my self-imposed isolation? "I'm not abandoning them. I'm just... taking some time for myself. Is that a crime?"

He shakes his head, his expression hardening. "No, it's not. But it's out of character for you. And it's making the pack uneasy. They need their Alpha. They need your leadership. Or . . . Someone else’s. Someone . . . More reliable."

I glare at him, my anger rising. "And you think you're fit to lead them in my stead?"

His eyes flash with a challenge. "You know I am. I won't let the pack suffer because of your personal issues."

My anger boils over, and I take a step closer to him. "You're out of line, Liam. I'm still the Alpha. And I don't need you questioning my every move."

He doesn't back down, his jaw clenching. "I'm just pointing out the facts. You're not acting like yourself. And it's affecting the pack. If you need to take a moment to wallow in self-pity, lick some emotional wounds, fine, but don’t drag the rest of us down with you."

I can feel the tension between us, the air crackling with energy. We both know what this means. What it always means when an Alpha and his Beta clash.

I take a deep breath, my eyes never leaving his. "If you think you can do better, then challenge me."

His eyes widen, and I see the flicker of surprise in them. But it's quickly replaced with determination. "I don't want to fight you, Kalen.” The words leave his mouth, but the hungry anticipation in his eyes says otherwise. “But I can't ignore what's happening. The pack comes first."

I nod, my muscles tensing. "Then let's settle this. The old way."