PIPER


    It was only now that the figure turned out of the fire, said something with his hand high in the air, shining differently in the firelight then walked away.


    The next day, Standing next to each other, meanwhile, the girls went into simultaneous motions in sparring movements in the training arena, L, a quiet, mysterious wolf who joined the pack after Alina’s exile has been working to integrate herself into pack life, focusing on training and bonding with Rowan.


    Her reserved nature has earned her trust from some, but her deep connection to Ca who was a former ally of Alina who escaped exile but was maniptive and ambitious, much like Alina, and aimed to destabilize the pack from the darkness and once threatened to reveal secrets about L’s past if she doesn’tply with her ns had been a major concern.


    That morning, she was light withughter as she grinned at Rowan and the friendship ever improving with each new day.


    I watched them, forcing the twist in my stomach aside. It wasn’t like I had a thing for Rowan I didn’t. But there was something about how he’d slipped so easily into a ce of respect amongst the pack, the way L seemed to hang off every word he spoke that stirred up something ufortable inside of me.


    “Piper?” Warrick’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. He stood behind me, his arms crossed and a knowing look in his eyes. “You’ve been staring for a while now. What’s going on?”


    I forced augh, shaking my head. “Nothing. Just keeping an eye on the session.”


    His brow furrowed, and he stepped closer. “You sure? You’ve been. distanttely.”


    “I’m fine,” I said too quickly while passing by him to fall in line with the rest. I felt his gaze on me like some unspoken weight of concern as I went on.


    The sun beat overhead as I arranged a group sparring, matching the wolves in pairs to perfect their skills.


    Again, Rowan and L stood off, some case with each other that made them suspicious. I bit back irritation bubbling just beneath my skin and called out instructions, my tone sharper than usual.


    “Rowan, focus!” I snapped when his attention wandered, my voice slicing through the arena.


    His eyebrows shot upwards in surprise, and the pack silenced. The weight of tension hung thick in the air. “I was focused,” he said smoothly, his face a mask of confusion.


    “Doesn’t look like it,” I returned, frustration spilling over. “If you’re not taking this seriously, then leave.”


    His jaw clenched, and he stepped forward, his voice low but firm. “I’ve been doing everything I can to prove myself. What’s your problem?


    Heat rose to my cheeks as the pack murmured around us, their eyes darting between Rowan and me.


    “My problem is wolves who think they’ve earned everybody’s trust just because they show up and smile.”


    Rowan’s eyes slitted, and he dropped his voice. “If you’ve something to say, Piper, just say it.”


    I turned my back on the session and stamped away before saying anything I couldn’t take back.


    Later, when the sun had long buried itself under the horizon, Rowan found me at the edge of the riverbank where water reflected my shaking form.


    “Piper.” The softness of his tone still managed to hold a sign of sharpness within.


    I didn’t turn around. “What do you want?”


    “To understand why you’re acting like this.”


    I sighed, finally turning to face him. “It’s not you. Not really. It’s just. seeing how easily you’ve found your ce again, how everyone is so quick to forget


    “Forget what?” he cut in, his voice sharp. “Did I make mistakes?


    That I let Alina manipte me? Trust me, Piper, no one’s forgotten. Least of all me.”


    The words cut deeper than I had wished, and I turned away, my voice softer now. “I didn’t mean it like that.”


    “Then what did you mean?” he pressed, stepping closer. “Because it feels like you’re holding something against me, and I don’t understand why.”


    I hesitated, the words catching in my throat. “It’s.plicated. Maybe I’m just trying to figure things out.”


    The tension went out of Rowan’s eyes and he nodded. “Then figure it out, Piper. But don’t take it out on me.”


    As he turned and walked away shoulders were stiff.


    Muchter that night, finally retiring to my quarters, Warrick was waiting, arms crossed, face annoyed.


    What was that about?” he asked, tone even, but threaded with curiosity.


    I sighed, pushing past him onto the edge of the bed. “Nothing. Just a misunderstanding.”


    Warrick didn’t budge, eyes still on me. “Didn’t look like anything.”


    “It’s not what you think,” I said, sharper than I had meant to.


    He cocked his head, his voice even but marked. “And what do I think?”


    I stammered, my mind racing for the words. “Look, Rowan and Lat’s nothing, okay? Just pack stuff.”


    Warrick stared at me a beat longer before nodding slowly. “If YOU SAY SO,”


    But even as he looked away, the doubt stayed there, in the unease suspended in the air.


    The silence of my room was suffocating, even heavier with the soft click shut of the door behind Warrick; the air seemed to lean in on me. I sat down on the bed and started rubbing my body. While my thoughts were whirling like crazy, the words of Rowan reyed themselves over and over again far too much frustration and honesty that was deeper than I was ready to admit.


    I leaned back, letting out a heavy sigh, and felt something brush against my hand. My fingers instinctively closed around it a piece of paper, folded in haste. I frowned, lifting it into the light, and unfolded the crumpled note.


    The handwriting was hurried; the letters were slightly uneven, as if written in a rush:


    “Choose carefully who you align yourself with. Not everyone deserves your loyalty.”


    I read the words once, then again, and once more. Each time it


    was like a wave of unease washing over me.


    My eyes darted to the door, half expecting someone to burst in, but the room was silent.


    Who could have left it? And what did they mean?


    My gut feeling was toward Warrick, but something didn’t quite click into ce because it didn’t feel like him.


    If Warrick had something to say, he’d say it, not leave some vague note slipped under a door.


    It could’ve been Rowan, the timing of events was suspicious, he’d been pretty quick to attack me earlier but again, this just didn’t feel like him.


    Then there was Alina.


    It was a thought that twisted my stomach. She was in exile, yet her shadow loomed over the pack. Was this her way of sowing discord from a distance? Or was someone else trying to warn me about her lingering influence?


    I stood abruptly, pacing the room, the note clutched in my hand, while my mind turned over possibilities, one more unsettling than thest.


    I thought of going to Warrick, but thest conversation we’d had reyed in my mind. His doubt, his silent questioning, was too raw, too fresh. Too new.


    Instead, I decided to tell Aurora. She would know what to do, at least she’d help me unravel this mystery.


    1 pocketed the note and continued toward her quarters, my footsteps weighing heavier and heavier with every step. I reached out, pounding softly upon the door, so loud in that silence of night.


    Aurora opened the door and frowned, taken aback. Surprised for an instant, it showed on her face before she calmed.


    “Piper? What is it?”


    or


    I pulled the note out and handed it to her wordlessly. She read it quickly, her brows furrowing together in a mixture of confusion and rm.


    “Who gave you this?” she asked.


    “I don’t know,” I said honestly. “But I have a feeling we need to find out.”


    Aurora’s lips thinned, her eyes drifting to the darkened vige beyond.


    “We will. But this… this changes things.”