Chapter 1: The Rogue’s Arrival

Under the pale glow of the full moon, the forest in Silver Hollow stood shrouded in a hushed, almost sacred silence. Shadows stretched across the twisted roots and dense underbrush, casting long, silvered shapes that flickered with each whisper of the wind. The air was crisp, charged with an energy that could only mean one thing—the hunt was close.

Callan Grey moved through the woods with quiet precision, each step careful, deliberate. Even in human form, he possessed the fluid grace of a predator, every muscle tuned to the rhythm of the wild. Tonight, something felt different. A faint sound, nearly indiscernible at first, reached his ears—a melody woven so softly into the forest’s symphony that he almost missed it. It was haunting, pulling him deeper into the shadows.

He paused, listening, as the song wound its way toward him, a single voice in a language he couldn’t place. There was an ache to it, a sadness that settled into his bones like a memory. Instinct prickled along his spine. He’d learned not to ignore these moments, those primal stirrings that were seldom wrong.

He drew in a steady breath, and for a moment, he questioned himself. Was this song real, or merely a trick of the forest, something conjured by his own mind on a restless night? But then it grew clearer, winding through the trees with an almost magnetic pull.

Tightening his jaw, he turned sharply and began moving toward the sound. As he slipped through the dense trees, the song grew stronger, more distinct. The notes rose and fell like waves against the shore, carrying with them a feeling he couldn’t quite place—familiar yet foreign, like a half-remembered dream.

Then he saw her.

A woman stood in a small clearing, her back to him. Moonlight washed over her, illuminating a cascade of auburn curls that spilled down her back. She was humming, low and steady, her voice merging seamlessly with the night. She wore simple clothes—a dark tunic and pants that hinted at a life lived on the road—but she held herself with a defiant grace, like someone who’d learned to stand her ground.

Callan stopped at the edge of the trees, his eyes narrowing as he took in every detail. There was something unsettlingly familiar about her, a recognition he couldn’t place. But one thing was clear—she didn’t belong here. A rogue, by the look of her.

He stepped forward, breaking a twig underfoot. The sound was slight, but enough. She turned, and in an instant, her gaze met his. Green eyes, fierce and watchful, locked onto his, and for a heartbeat, neither of them moved.

“Who are you?” His voice came out rougher than he’d intended, and he held his stance, arms at his sides but ready to defend if necessary.

She didn’t answer right away, her eyes measuring him with a guarded intensity that told him she was no stranger to confrontation. “Shouldn’t you introduce yourself before demanding my name?” she replied, her tone sharp, with an edge of mockery.

His eyes narrowed further. “You’re trespassing in Silver Hollow,” he replied, his voice cold. “That alone is reason enough.”

She tilted her head, the hint of a smile playing at the corner of her mouth. “Trespassing? Interesting word, considering the forest doesn’t exactly belong to anyone.”

“Except it does.” He took a step closer, holding her gaze. “And you’re in it.”

For a moment, something flickered in her eyes—a hint of recognition, perhaps, or maybe it was defiance. Whatever it was, she didn’t back down. Instead, she crossed her arms over her chest, her posture relaxed but unmistakably bold. “Fine, then. If introductions are so important to you—Liana Hale.” Her voice softened, though the wariness remained. “Now, what’s your excuse for spying?”

Callan’s jaw tightened, resisting the tug of amusement that flickered at her tone. “I’m not the one singing in the middle of a pack’s territory,” he countered, voice edged with a warning. “Rogues don’t last long here.”

Her expression shifted, a shadow crossing her face, but she held his gaze. “I’m not looking for trouble,” she replied, her voice quiet yet firm. “I’m just passing through.”

“Passing through?” He raised an eyebrow, studying her face for any hint of deception. “In a place you shouldn’t even know exists?”

She looked away for a brief second, breaking the intensity of her gaze. “I heard there was a pack hidden in these woods. Thought I’d see if the stories were true.” Her eyes flicked back to his, challenging once more. “Now I know.”

A muscle ticked in his jaw as he considered his options. Rogues were rarely allowed to wander freely in Silver Hollow. They were a threat—a risk he couldn’t afford to take. Yet, something in her expression, the way she held herself with that guarded resilience, stayed in his hand.

“You have until dawn,” he said finally, the words tasting like a compromise he hadn’t meant to make. “After that, I’ll make sure you’re gone.”

Liana’s face didn’t betray any surprise, but there was something softer in her eyes as she nodded. “Dawn, then.” She turned away, resuming her song, a quieter tune this time, though its melody held a strange power, as if calling him to stay.

But Callan didn’t wait. He forced himself to step back, to leave the clearing and return to the shadows. Yet, the haunting strains of her voice followed him, lingering in his mind, stirring something deep within him he couldn’t name.

As he moved through the forest, he knew this was only the beginning.