Chapter 3 Shadows of the Pack

The sun had barely risen when Selena found herself back at the edge of the woods. Sleep had been elusive, her dreams leaving her restless and full of questions. The crisp morning air bit at her skin, but she barely noticed as she stared into the trees, searching for answers she couldn't articulate.

Gabriel's face haunted her-the way he'd looked at her in the diner, the way his presence seemed to fill every corner of the room. And those men who had come for him... Who were they? What did they want? Her thoughts swirled as she stepped cautiously onto the forest path.

The woods felt different in the daylight. The shadows weren't as me nacing, and the sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves made it seem almost peaceful. But Selena couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched.

As she moved deeper into the trees, a sound stopped her in her tracks-the snap of a branch. She spun around, her heart pounding. "Hello?" she called, her voice trembling slightly.

No answer. The forest was silent again, but the feeling of being watched remained. Selena's instincts screamed at her to turn back, but curiosity drove her forward.

It wasn't long before she came across a clearing. The grass was trampled, and claw marks marred the trees. Something had happened here, something violent. Her pulse quickened as she stepped into the space, her eyes scanning for any sign of what had caused the destruction.

"You shouldn't be here."

Selena gasped and whirled around. Gabriel stood at the edge of the clearing, his expression unreadable. He was dressed in the same black jacket and jeans, but there was a tension in his stance that hadn't been there before.

"Gabriel," she breathed. "What is this place? What happened here?"

He didn't answer immediately, his amber eyes studying her intently. Finally, he sighed. "This is pack territory. You're trespassing."

Selena frowned. "Pack? What do you mean? Are you talking about wolves?"

Gabriel's jaw tightened. "Something like that."

She took a step closer. "I've been dreaming about this place. About wolves. And about you."

His eyes narrowed slightly. "Dreams can be dangerous."

"What does that even mean?" she demanded, frustration creeping into her voice. "I don't understand any of this, Gabriel. Who are you? What's going on?"

He hesitated, as if debating how much to tell her. "You're in over your head, Selena. This isn't your world."

"Maybe not," she said, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her. "But I'm here now. And I think I deserve some answers."

Gabriel stepped into the clearing, his presence commanding. "You want answers? Fine. But they come with a price."

Selena's breath caught. "What kind of price?"

Before he could respond, a low growl rumbled from the trees. Gabriel's head snapped toward the sound, and his entire demeanor shifted. He moved in front of Selena, his body tense and ready, like a predator preparing to strike.

"Stay behind me," he ordered.

Selena barely had time to process his words before a wolf emerged from the shadows. It was massive, its fur a dark gray that almost blended with the trees. Its eyes glowed a menacing yellow as it bared its teeth, snarling at Gabriel.

"You shouldn't have brought her here," the wolf growled, its voice deep and guttural. Selena's heart skipped a beat. The wolf had spoken.

Gabriel didn't flinch. "She came on her own. She doesn't know."

The wolf's gaze shifted to Selena, and she felt a chill run down her spine. "Ignorance won't protect her." "That's enough," Gabriel snapped, his voice laced with authority. "She's under my protection."

The wolf growled again but didn't move closer. After a tense moment, it turned and disappeared back into the woods, leaving Selena and Gabriel alone in the clearing.

Selena's legs felt like jelly, and she sank to the ground. "What the hell was that?"

Gabriel knelt beside her, his expression softer now. "That was a member of my pack. And now you've seen too much."

She looked at him, her eyes wide. "Are you saying you're... one of them? A wolf?"

He nodded slowly. "I'm the Alpha. And you... you've just become part of a world you can't escape."