Chapter Three: Trial by Fire

The fire crackled in the center of the clearing, casting flickering shadows across the pack’s rugged faces. Sera felt the weight of their stares like a physical force as she stood beside Kael, her hands stuffed in her jacket pockets to keep them from trembling.

“She’s human,” one of the shifters said, his tone dripping with disdain. He was broad and muscular, his golden eyes glowing faintly in the firelight. “You’re seriously bringing a human into the Hollow?”

Kael leaned against a tree, his posture deceptively relaxed. “You have a problem with that, Marcus?”

Marcus bared his teeth, his partial shift revealing sharp fangs. “Yeah, I do. Humans don’t belong here. They’re weak. And they’re a liability.”

Kael didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he looked at Sera, his storm-gray eyes sharp and calculating. “What do you think, little human? Are you a liability?”

Sera swallowed the retort bubbling on her tongue. The pack was watching her, their expressions ranging from curiosity to open hostility. She couldn’t afford to show weakness.

“I think I wouldn’t be here if I couldn’t handle myself,” she said evenly.

Marcus snorted. “Is that right? You think you can handle this world?”

“I know I can,” she replied, meeting his gaze. “You’re not as scary as you think you are.”

A ripple of amusement passed through the pack, though Marcus’s expression darkened. He took a step toward her, his movements deliberate and predatory.

“Prove it,” he growled.

A Test of Strength

Before Sera could react, Kael stepped between them, his presence like a storm cloud rolling into the clearing.

“That’s enough,” he said, his voice calm but laced with authority. “You’re not touching her, Marcus.”

Marcus glared at him, his muscles taut. “You’re protecting her already? She’s not even pack.”

“Not yet,” Kael replied, his tone sharp.

Sera blinked. Not yet?

The words seemed to diffuse some of the tension, though Marcus didn’t look entirely convinced. He backed away, his jaw tight.

“This is a mistake,” he muttered, turning and stalking off toward the edge of the clearing.

Kael turned to the rest of the pack, his gaze sweeping over them like a challenge. “Anyone else want to question my decisions?”

The silence was immediate and absolute.

“Good,” Kael said, his voice cool. He turned back to Sera, his expression unreadable. “Follow me.”

Into the Hollow

Sera followed Kael deeper into the woods, the firelight fading behind them. The trees seemed to close in around her, their twisted branches forming a canopy that blocked out the moonlight.

“What was that about?” she asked, breaking the silence.

Kael glanced at her over his shoulder. “You’re an outsider. They’re not going to trust you just because I say so.”

“Then why did you say it?” she pressed.

Kael stopped abruptly, turning to face her. His expression was cold, but there was something else in his eyes—something she couldn’t quite name.

“Because if you’re going to survive this, they need to see you as one of us. That won’t happen overnight.”

Sera crossed her arms, refusing to back down. “And what about you? Do you see me as one of you?”

Kael smirked, the faintest glimmer of amusement breaking through his stoic exterior. “Not yet. But I’m willing to give you a chance. Don’t make me regret it.”

The Den

They reached a hidden cave entrance, half-covered by moss and twisted roots. Kael pushed aside a thick curtain of vines, revealing a steep path that led downward into the earth.

“This is the Hollow,” he said, stepping inside.

Sera followed hesitantly, the air growing cooler as they descended. The narrow path opened into a cavernous space lit by flickering torches. Rough-hewn tables and chairs filled the room, and more shifters moved about, their sharp gazes flicking to her as she entered.

It wasn’t what she had expected. It was raw and unpolished, more survivalist than she had imagined.

“This is where your pack lives?” she asked.

Kael shrugged. “It’s not much, but it’s ours. We don’t need anything fancy.”

She nodded, her eyes taking in every detail. These weren’t wolves accustomed to luxury or even stability. They were survivors, hardened by whatever had driven them from their former lives.

A woman approached, her dark hair tied back in a braid and her amber eyes assessing Sera with open curiosity.

“Is this her?” the woman asked Kael.

“This is her,” Kael replied.

The woman looked Sera up and down, then smiled faintly. “She’s smaller than I expected.”

Sera bristled. “You’d be surprised what I’m capable of.”

The woman’s smile widened. “I like her.”

An Uneasy Welcome

Kael led Sera to a small room at the back of the cavern, its walls lined with furs and shelves stocked with supplies.

“This is yours for now,” he said. “Don’t wander off. The Hollow’s not as safe as it looks.”

Sera raised an eyebrow. “It doesn’t look safe at all.”

Kael chuckled, the sound low and surprisingly warm. “Good. Maybe you’ll last longer than I thought.”

As he turned to leave, Sera called after him. “What now?”

Kael paused at the doorway, his expression hardening. “Now, you prove you’re worth the trouble.”

The Pack’s Secrets

That night, Sera lay on the makeshift bed, staring up at the uneven stone ceiling. Her body was exhausted, but her mind wouldn’t rest.

Kael’s pack was fractured, held together by loyalty to their alpha and little else. Marcus’s hostility wasn’t just about her—it was a symptom of something deeper, a crack in the foundation.

And then there was Kael himself. He was everything she had expected—dominant, dangerous, and guarded—but there was something beneath the surface. A vulnerability he tried to bury beneath his stoic exterior.

She needed him to trust her. But more than that, she needed him to believe in her. Because without him, she was as good as dead.

As she drifted into a restless sleep, one thought lingered in her mind.

She had stepped into the wolf’s den. Now, she had to survive it.