Chapter 5

"Gabriel," he said, voice cold. "Thought I'd drop by. See how your... travel plans are coming along."

The air crackled with tension as Gabriel invited him in, his posture calm but alert. I knew the signs—he was ready to fight if necessary.

"What's with the sudden road trip to Moon Shadow?" Warren asked, pacing our living room.

"Just catching up with old friends," Gabriel replied evenly. "Been too long since I've seen Jace."

Warren's eyes swept the cabin, clearly searching for something—or someone. For me. I shrank back into the shadows of the upstairs hallway.

"And taking your... adopted stray with you?" The way he said it made my skin crawl.

Lucas appeared at the bottom of the stairs, positioning himself protectively between Warren's line of sight and where I stood. "We go as a family," he said firmly.

Warren studied them both before nodding. "I'll send some guys to escort you to the border tomorrow. For protection."

"We can manage," Gabriel said.

"I insist." Warren's smile didn't reach his eyes. "We'll be here at nine to see you off."

After Warren left, Gabriel closed the door and locked it—something he rarely did. He and Lucas exchanged a worried look that confirmed my fears.

Later that night, Lucas knocked softly on my bedroom door. When I opened it, his usual teasing grin was replaced with a serious expression.

"Ready for the big move, squirt?" he asked, sitting on the edge of my bed.

I shrugged, trying to seem braver than I felt. "Ready as I'll ever be to ditch the only home I remember."

"Hey," he said, bumping my shoulder with his. "Home is wherever your family is. And Gabriel and I are stuck with you for good."

"Tell me about Moon Shadow," I said. "What's it like?"

Lucas's expression lightened. "It's massive compared to Black Forest. Way more territory, covers most of the mountain range." He leaned in conspiratorially. "And get this—you know what they say about their Alpha?"

I shook my head.

"They say Jace Carter has Primal Wolf blood running through his veins. His wolf form, Phantom, is twice the size of a normal werewolf. Never seen him shift myself, but Gabriel has. Says it's insane."

"Do you know anyone there?" I asked.

"Gabriel and I visited a few times when you were little. I know some of the warriors there." He stood to leave. "Get some sleep, Aria. Tomorrow's a fresh start."

He hugged me tightly before leaving, and I tried to draw strength from his confidence.

A noise woke me sometime after midnight. Slipping quietly from my bed, I crept down the stairs and froze at what I saw. Gabriel and Lucas were in the living room, checking weapons—knives, a crossbow, even a gun with what I recognized as silver bullets.

"He won't just let us walk away," Gabriel was saying in a low voice. "Not with how obsessed he is with Aria."

"We'll be gone before his guys show up," Lucas replied. "Hit the border before they realize we've split."

Gabriel noticed me then, but didn't scold me for eavesdropping. Instead, he beckoned me closer and pressed a small knife into my hand.

"Hope to God you never need this," he said, his eyes serious, "but just in case."

The weight of the blade felt strange in my palm. Until that moment, I don't think I'd truly understood how serious our situation was.

"We're out of here at six," Gabriel said. "Earlier than we told Warren. Pack everything tonight and be ready to go."

The three of us embraced, a family circle that had weathered many storms and was about to face its biggest challenge yet. As I returned to my room, the knife secure in my pocket, I wondered what awaited us at Moon Shadow Pack—and whether Alpha Warren would let us go without a fight.

JACE

I sat at my desk looking over reports, feeling the pressure of leadership. The eastern border disputes were getting worse. Two hundred werewolves depended on me to keep them safe, and leading Moon Shadow Pack wasn't getting any easier.

In the quietness of my office, my thoughts drifted to the call I'd received from Gabriel Silverbrook three days ago. His voice had been tense, controlle.

Such family ties are admirable, I thought. Gabriel and Lucas rebuilt their lives around a human girl after losing Bree. The Whitmans embraced Aria completely, forming a bridge between them all despite their loss.

A firm knock interrupted my thoughts.

"Come in," I called, my voice automatically carrying the authority expected of an Alpha.

Hunter stepped inside, closing the door behind him. We'd grown up together, and there was no one I trusted more as my Beta. His practical, level-headed approach to problems made him indispensable to me and to our pack.

"I spoke with the Whitman family," he reported, standing tall with his hands clasped behind his back. "They're preparing for their son-in-law's arrival. Gabriel confirmed they'll try to make it here tomorrow."

Several days earlier, my secure line had rung well past midnight. Few people had that number, and calls at that hour never brought good news.

"Jace Carter," I'd answered, instantly alert.

"Jace. It's Gabriel Silverbrook from Black Forest Pack." His voice was low, urgent.

I hadn't heard from Gabriel in years, though I'd never forgotten the warrior who once saved my life during a territory dispute. "Gabriel. What's wrong?"

"I need sanctuary," he said without preamble. "For myself, my son Lucas, and my adopted daughter Aria."

Phantom, my wolf, went instantly alert at the tension in Gabriel's voice.

"Warren's been stalking Aria," Gabriel continued, his voice hardening. "She's just seventeen - human, yes, but my family. He called me to his office and offered me Head Warrior position if I'd hand her over as his mate."

I felt my blood boiling with rage. Phantom was out for blood. An Alpha forcing himself on a warrior's daughter? That's not just breaking our code - it spits in the face of everything pack stands for.

"After Bree died in that rogue attack five years ago," Gabriel said, his voice heavy with grief, "Aria became our heart. Lucas and I rebuilt our lives around her. Warren knows this. He's using her to control me."

"He's forty-three," Gabriel added with disgust. "Using his position to force a girl... I need to get her out."

I didn't hesitate. "Come to Moon Shadow. All of you. We'll protect you."

There was a moment of silence before Gabriel spoke again, his voice lower. "Warren won't let us go easily, Jace. He's got eyes everywhere. If we try to leave, he'll know."

"I'll send warriors to meet you," I said immediately. "Give me your route and timing. We'll provide escort from your pack's border."

Gabriel's relief was palpable even through the phone. "Thank you, Jace. I won't forget this."

"The Whitmans are here," I reminded him. "They'll be waiting for you."

"I promise you," I said, meaning every word, "you'll all be completely safe here. I'll personally ensure it. Warren won't set foot on my territory."

-FLASHBACK END-

I nodded, leaning back in my chair. "Good. Prepare a dwelling for them. See if there's anything available near the Whitmans' place."

"I'll handle it," Hunter assured me. "I've also notified the warriors on patrol for the next few days, just in case."

I smiled slightly, appreciating his foresight. "Thank you. That's good thinking."

This was why Hunter made such an excellent Beta—he anticipated problems before they arose and required minimal direction. Our friendship only strengthened our working relationship. I was lucky to have him by my side, especially with the challenges we constantly faced.

The door to my office suddenly burst open without a knock, interrupting my conversation with Hunter.