The forest scene was burned into Seline’s mind as she sat on her bed, staring blankly at the phone in her hands. She had washed her face, scrubbed her hands, and changed her clothes, but the scent of the forest and the image of the shifter’s lifeless eyes wouldn’t leave her. She had to do something, but she didn’t know what. Calling the town sheriff felt logical, but she wasn’t sure they could handle something like this—most of the local law enforcement weren’t equipped to deal with the complexities of Other affairs, especially those involving shifters.
The other option was Austin, the Alpha of the pack. The thought of calling him made her stomach churn. He’d only just accused her of being jealous the last time they spoke. Would he even listen to her without immediately assuming the worst?
Seline groaned, running a hand through her hair. The tension coiling in her chest threatened to suffocate her. She didn’t want to deal with Austin, but she didn’t have many choices. With trembling fingers, she scrolled through her contacts and called one of the juveniles working in the bar’s kitchen.
“Hey, Darren,” she said when he picked up.
“Seline? Are you okay?” Darren’s voice was tinged with surprise and concern.
She hesitated for a moment before responding. “I need you to get in touch with Austin for me. Tell him to meet me near the edge of the forest, close to the lake. It’s important.”
Darren didn’t ask questions, though she could sense his curiosity. “Okay, I’ll let him know. Are you sure you’re all right?”
“I’m fine,” she lied. “Just hurry.”
---
Fifteen minutes later, Seline stood near the edge of the forest, shivering slightly in the cool night air. She could hear the distant rustle of leaves and the occasional hoot of an owl, but her focus remained on the path leading from the town. When Austin finally appeared, flanked by two of his pack mates, her stomach twisted in knots.
His expression was hard as he approached, his sharp gaze locking onto her immediately. “What’s going on, Seline?”
Wordlessly, she motioned for him to follow her. The two pack mates hung back, allowing them a semblance of privacy as Seline led Austin to the spot where she had found the body.
When they reached it, Austin’s eyes narrowed, and he crouched down to examine the corpse. His expression darkened as he took in the sight, his jaw clenching.
“I was walking through the forest when I found her,” Seline said quietly, her arms crossed defensively over her chest.
Austin didn’t respond immediately. He stood, turning to face her, and his nose twitched slightly as if catching a scent. “Why is your scent all over the body?” he asked, his voice low but accusing.
Seline stiffened. “I don’t know,” she admitted honestly.
His eyes narrowed further. “You don’t know?”
Her hands curled into fists at her sides. “I didn’t touch her, Austin. I swear.”
He tilted his head, his expression unreadable. “Are you sure about that?”
The accusation hung in the air, and Seline felt her temper snap. “You think I did this?” she asked incredulously.
“It’s a legitimate question,” he said bluntly. “You’ve been hostile to my pack since the beginning. Maybe you were jealous.”
Seline’s mouth fell open, a mixture of disbelief and fury rushing through her. “Jealous?” she repeated, her voice rising. “You really think I’m capable of something like this because I was jealous? I’m not like you, Austin.”
His eyes flashed with something unreadable, but he didn’t respond.
“You don’t believe me,” she said, her voice breaking slightly. “Of course, you don’t.” She turned on her heel, prepared to leave, but his next words stopped her in her tracks.
“Why would your scent be here if you weren’t involved?”
She whipped around, her eyes blazing. “Why would you think I give a crap about what happens to someone in your pack? Were you involved with her? Is that why?”
Her question seemed to catch him off guard, and for a brief moment, his silence spoke volumes.
Seline felt her stomach churn as the realization hit her. She shook her head, disgusted. “I don’t even know why I bothered to call you,” she muttered before turning away and walking off.
---
The forest seemed darker as Seline made her way back toward town. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess, anger and sadness warring for dominance. She couldn’t believe the nerve of Austin—to accuse her, to assume the worst about her yet again.
As she neared the edge of the forest, she spotted a familiar figure lingering nearby. It was Darren, the juvenile she had called earlier, and he was with a couple of his friends. They appeared to be trying to look inconspicuous, but their curiosity was obvious.
“Seline?” Darren called out hesitantly as she approached.
“What are you doing out here?” she asked, her voice sharper than she intended.
“We... uh, heard there was something going on,” Darren admitted, glancing nervously toward the forest. “I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
Seline sighed, her anger dissipating slightly. “I’m fine,” she said, though her voice lacked conviction.
Darren hesitated, then stepped forward. “Do you want me to walk you home? It’s not safe out here right now.”
She considered declining, but the earnest look in his eyes made her relent. “Fine,” she said with a small nod.
As they walked, Darren glanced at her nervously. “I, uh... I heard about the woman,” he said quietly.
Seline’s chest tightened. “What about her?”
“She was one of the candidates for the Alpha pair,” Darren explained. “A lot of the pack liked her. She was... popular.”
Seline clenched her fists, the weight of his words sinking in. “Why are you telling me this?”
Darren seemed to panic slightly, his words tumbling out in a rush. “I just—wanted you to know that not everyone wanted her to be the Alpha pair. Some of us think you’re... you’re better. Even if the elders don’t like you.”
Seline blinked, caught off guard by his words. She didn’t know how to respond.
Before she could say anything, Darren cleared his throat awkwardly. “Anyway, I should get going. Be safe, Seline.”
With that, he hurried off, leaving her standing in front of her house.
---
That night, Seline lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Her mind raced with everything that had happened—Austin’s accusations, Darren’s words, the corpse in the forest. Nothing made sense, and the unease in her chest refused to fade.
She turned over, trying to force herself to sleep, but something outside her window caught her attention.
Sitting at the edge of the forest was a wolf, its glowing eyes trained on her house.
Seline’s heart skipped a beat, but she quickly realized it wasn’t Austin. This wolf was smaller, its fur a darker shade.
She watched it for several long moments, unease curling in her stomach. Who was it? What did they want?
The wolf didn’t move, and after a while, Seline turned away from the window. But the feeling of being watched lingered, and for the first time in a long while, she felt genuinely worried.