Chapter 119

Abigail

The air smelled different tonight—sharper, like the kind of cold that only comes with a storm, or maybe just my terrible sense of smell. I don’t know, maybe I was just nervous.

Okay, definitely nervous.

Everything felt way too big tonight, like the forest clearing and the pack were all auditioning for some big reality show, and I was somehow the awkward contestant who didn’t even know the rules. It was all happening, and it felt like everything was about to explode into a dramatic soap opera.

I looked over at Owen, his eyes sparkling, wide with excitement, though he was controlling it, hiding it. His walk was strong, tall, confident, just like Dad’s. But I could tell he was practically vibrating, and I had to admit, I felt the same way.

This was our first official pack meeting. A rite of passage. I mean, kids our age are supposed to start attending—but somehow, it felt too soon, especially with everything going on.

But I wanted to be here. I wanted to learn. And most of all, I wanted to prove I belonged.

But then there were the adults—Mom and Dad, both standing a little too close to us. I could see the tension in their postures, the way their eyes darted around, watching every little movement, every little shift in the pack.

It was a crazy time to be joining the pack norms.

Looks like it wasn’t just me and Owen who were nervous tonight. Mom and Dad were too, but for completely different reasons.

I shifted uncomfortably, feeling the weight of the pack watching us, even though no one had said anything yet. They were just... waiting. The warriors were on edge, the Betas whispering among themselves, the elders watching, calculating.

Owen nudged me, his grin wide like he was trying to calm me down. “Bet you a hundred bucks I can beat anyone in the clearing tonight.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, nudging him back with my shoulder. “You? With your legs like noodles? You couldn’t even catch a rabbit.”

“I could catch you if I wanted to,” he teased, and I rolled my eyes.

“You’re such a dork.”

Mom’s hand rested on my shoulder, squeezing gently. I looked up at her, but she wasn’t looking at me. Her eyes were focused on the gathering in the clearing, and I could see the way her jaw tightened, the way her fingers clenched at her side. It wasn’t just worry for us. It was... fear.

Dad, standing close beside her, looked the same. His eyes were narrowed, watching the Betas and the warriors like they were potential threats. He wasn’t one to show fear, but I knew it when I saw it. And right now, he was on guard.

I glanced over at Owen again. He was just as clued in, but when he met my eyes, his head thrown back in laughter, pointing at something one of the older wolves was doing.

He was a good brother like that.

The clearing started to fill with people. Warriors, Betas, Elders... they all came together, the weight of their stares pressing on me. It was too much—like I was just a speck in a giant ocean of pack.

And I knew Owen felt it too, even if he didn’t admit it.

Mom pointed off to the side as a man approached, waving us off. “Why don’t you guys go play with the other pups before the meeting. But don’t stray far.”

We nodded, heading away for the kids towards a few other kids, mostly teens, and mostly older than us.

I lowered my head a bit. It wasn’t like we’d met them before, and it wasn’t easy being the new fresh meat.

Then, as if reading my mind, a voice cut through the air as we neared them—sharp, mocking. “Well, well, look who it is. The heavily guarded pups. ‘Heaven sent,’ they say. Too good to hang with the pack for years, and now you just show up? Gotta say, you ain’t much to look at for all the hype.”

I narrowed in on the voice immediately, a deep growl already forming in my chest. I recognized him from Dad’s study, the photos of our pack. Bruise—the son of the Beta, and apparently a jerk.

He had that smirk, that look of superiority that made my blood boil, much taller then us, looming with the other smirking teens. His eyes locked on Owen.

“I don’t care if you're the Alpha’s kids,” he sneered. “You’re not one of us.”

I stood up straight, my fists clenched so tight my knuckles cracked, the blood pumping hard in my ears. Every inch of my body screamed to defend Owen, to knock that cocky smile off his face, to make him regret ever opening his mouth. “You want to say that again?” My voice came out low, a growl deep in my chest, dangerous and raw.

The Beta’s son didn’t even flinch. Instead, he took a step forward, puffing out his chest like he owned the damn clearing. “What are you gonna do about it, little girl?” He sneered, like he knew he had the upper hand.

But Owen—always trying to play the hero—stepped between us, holding up his hands like some kind of peace offering. “It’s fine, Abs. Let’s just—”

Before he could finish, the Beta’s son lunged. The air rushed past me, and Owen hit the ground hard, his body slamming against the dirt, bouncing and slamming into a tree, the leaves puffing off its branches.

The young pack around us erupted in laughter, like this was some twisted game. Like they were all just watching to see who would break first.

I felt my heart pound in my throat. Rage surged through me like fire, and I opened my mouth to scream, to shout at them to stop. But before I could get a single word out, something—someone—moved through the crowd faster than I could track.

Mark.

I hadn’t even realized he had followed us. But the moment Owen nearly blasted through the tree, Mark was there—his huge body a blur of motion.

My breath caught in my throat. Mark didn’t say a word. Not a single sound. His body like a wall, blocking my view, and in that instant, the power he carried with him felt like a storm.

The Beta’s son’s sneer faltered as Mark snatched the Beta’s son by the throat, lifting him off the ground with ease, his grip like iron. The boy’s hands clawed at Mark’s wrist, struggling, but he couldn’t break free.

Everything went quiet. No laughter. No jeers. Just the sharp sound of the Beta’s son’s breathing, gasping for air, his feet kicking helplessly as Mark held him there, effortlessly.

The young crowd was paralyzed, some unsure if they should intervene, others too scared to move before one of the girls screamed.

I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but nothing came out before I yanked on his side. “Mark! Stop! Let go of him!”

I heard mom’s voice break through the crowd as the rest of the pack clued into the mess. “Mark!” She yelped, pushing through the bodies. “Stop it now! Put the kid down! Now!”

The wolf that must have been the kid's father howled in outcry, plummeting forward.

Finally, Mark let go, dropping the Beta’s son like he was a ragdoll. The boy crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath, his face pale with fear.

Mark seemed to realize his mistake, his hands moving to his chest wide eyed, taking steps back.

“Hey!” I tired to get his attention. “Just calm down! Wait—”

But he turned on his heel, his heavy footsteps thundering as he took off like the wind into the trees, his presence still hanging over us like a storm cloud.

“Mark! Mark come back— Ah!” I recoiled as a whiplash of air blasted past me, the kid’s enraged father and a few others. Dad right on there heels in a blast of fur.

Mom skidded to a stop in front of me, grabbing my shoulders. “Are you okay!?” Her eyes snapped to her groaning son. “Owen!”

“I’m fine!” Owen sat up with a grunt, pushing out of the cracked branches and leaves. “Just save Mark!”