Chapter 6 Alaric
ALARIC
The wind cut through the trees, carrying snow in horizontal sheets.
Alaric moved through it like a ghost, his wolf's senses sharp despite the storm.
He'd been patrolling for two hours, checking the perimeter, making sure nothing had slipped through the Veil while the town's attention was focused on the journalist.
His route took him past the Hearth and Hollow Inn. Again.
Third time tonight.
He told himself it was part of the patrol pattern. Told himself he was just being thorough. But his wolf knew better, and so did he.
A light burned in the second floor window. Her window. He could smell her from here, even through the snow and wind. The scent made his wolf restless, demanding he get closer, demanding he check on her, demanding he do something about the mate bond screaming in his chest.
He forced himself to keep walking.
"You're going to wear a path in the snow if you keep circling back here."
Alaric stopped. Callum Cross stepped out from behind the apothecary, arms crossed over his broad chest. The lion shifter looked amused, which was never a good sign.
"I'm patrolling," Alaric said.
"Right. Patrolling. That why you've passed the inn three times in the last hour?" Callum fell into step beside him. "Emmett asked me to check in. See how the situation with the journalist was developing."
"There's no situation."
"That's not what Twyla said. She mentioned you two had an interesting conversation at the café."
Alaric clenched his jaw. "Twyla talks too much."
"Twyla sees too much. There's a difference." Callum stopped at the very edge of the square, scanning the empty streets. "So what's the verdict? Is she a threat?"
"Too early to tell."
"But you have an opinion."
Alaric watched the light in her window. "She's smart. Persistent. Knows there's something different about this place and won't stop digging until she figures out what."
"That's a threat."
"Maybe."
"Maybe?" Callum's eyebrows rose. "Since when do you deal in maybes? You're the most black and white wolf I know. Either she's dangerous or she's not."
"She's human. Completely human. No magic, no abilities, just questions and a notebook."
"Human didn't stop Katniss from nearly getting Emmett killed five years ago.
Human didn't stop Sera from almost blowing our cover wide open.
" Callum's voice hardened. "Humans are dangerous precisely because they don't have magic.
They compensate with technology, with exposure, with bringing the whole damn world down on our heads. "
"I know that."
"Do you? Because you're looking at that inn like you're thinking about going back there."
Alaric turned away from the window. "I'm doing my job."
"Your job is to watch her and eliminate the threat if necessary. Not to circle her like a lovesick pup." Callum studied him. "What happened at the café?"
"Nothing."
"Try again."
Alaric said nothing. His wolf snarled, wanting to tell Callum to back off, wanting to defend what was his. But nothing was his. Especially not her.
Callum's expression shifted. Understanding dawned, followed quickly by concern. "Oh hell. You felt it."
"I don't have a clue what you're talking about."
"Yes, you do. I've seen that look before. Saw it on Emmett when he met Katniss. Saw it on my own face when Cora stumbled into town." Callum stepped closer. "She's your mate."
The words hung in the cold air between them.
"It doesn't matter," Alaric said finally.
"Doesn't matter? Are you insane?"
"She's human. She's here to expose us. And I have orders to silence her if she becomes a problem." Alaric met Callum's eyes. "So no, it doesn't matter what my wolf thinks it felt."
"Your wolf doesn't think. It knows." Callum shook his head. "You can't just ignore a mate bond, Alaric. That's not how this works."
"Watch me."
"And what happens when she starts asking the wrong questions? When she gets too close to the truth? You going to eliminate your own mate because Emmett gave you an order?"
"If I have to."
Callum stared at him. "You're either the most disciplined shifter I've ever met or the most stubborn jackass. Haven't decided which."
"Can be both."
"This isn't a joke." Callum's voice dropped. "I know you follow orders. I know you're loyal to the Council, to the town. But a mate bond trumps all of that. You can't fight it. Trying to will destroy you."
"Then I'll deal with that when it happens."
"Alaric."
"What do you want me to say, Callum? That I felt it? Fine. I felt it. The second I looked at her, my wolf recognized her. Happy now?"
"Not particularly." Callum glanced back at the inn. "What are you going to do?"
"My job. Watch her. Figure out what she knows. Keep her far from anything that could compromise the town."
"And if she finds out anyway? If she discovers what we are?"
"Then I'll handle it."
"How?"
Alaric didn't answer. Because he didn't have an answer. The idea of hurting her made his wolf howl in rage. But the idea of letting her expose Hollow Oak, of putting every person in this town at risk, was equally impossible.
"You need to tell Emmett," Callum said. "He should know about the mate bond."
"No."
"Alaric, he's going to find out anyway. Better it comes from you."
"I said no. The bond doesn't change anything. She's still a threat. I'm still going to do what needs to be done."
Callum was quiet for a long moment. "I can't tell you what to do. You outrank me in the Council's eyes. But as someone who's been exactly where you are, I'm telling you this doesn't end well if you keep fighting it."
"You and Cora worked out."
"Because I stopped treating her like a problem to solve and started seeing her as a person worth protecting. Worth trusting." Callum started walking again. "Humans aren't the enemy, Alaric. Fear is. And right now, you're letting fear make your decisions."
"Fear keeps this town safe."
"So does trust. Think about that."
Callum disappeared into the snow, heading back toward his home on the edge of town. Alaric stood alone in the square, wind howling around him.
He looked up at her window. The light still burned. Was she still writing? Still documenting everything she'd seen, every conversation she'd had? Or was she lying awake, wondering about this strange town and the people in it?
His wolf wanted to know. Wanted to climb those stairs, knock on her door, make sure she was warm and safe and protected.
His duty demanded he stay away. Stay focused. Stay ready to do whatever it took to keep Hollow Oak hidden.
Alaric turned his back on the inn and continued his patrol.
But even as he moved through the storm, checking the wards and scanning for threats, part of him stayed in that second floor room.
With her. With the mate he couldn't claim.
With the woman who might force him to choose between his heart and his honor.
The snow fell harder. The wind picked up. And somewhere deep in the woods, his wolf howled at the injustice of finding exactly what he'd been missing, only to be told he couldn't keep it.
By dawn, the storm would ease. But the one building inside him had only just begun.