Chapter 6-Rosalind
I enter Daniel Devlin’s office quietly, shutting the door behind me with care.
The Head Enforcer of the Barvale Clan is exactly where he always is—behind his desk, shoulders broad enough to block out the light from the window at his back.
Daniel Devlin is a mountain of a Bear, carved from experience and authority. He’s never wasted words in his life.
I don’t mind.
Actually, I appreciate it.
Small talk makes me twitch.
He looks up from the tablet in his hand. “Any progress?”
“On?” I ask, folding my arms loosely across my chest.
His mouth twitches. Barely.
“Hope Orson. Things still stable there?”
“Yes,” I answer without hesitation. “Hope’s doing fine. Better than some Bears who’ve known their whole lives what they are.”
That’s not opinion. It’s fact.
She’s adjusting quickly—learning control, learning restraint, learning how to listen to her instincts without letting them rule her.
“Good,” Daniel says. “And Miles?”
“He’s a solid mate,” I reply. “Protective. Patient. He’s good for her.”
Daniel grunts, satisfied.
“And the brother?” His eyes sharpen. “Still in the dark?”
“As far as I can tell,” I say. “But that’s part of why I’m here.”
That gets his full attention.
“There’s been activity behind the house,” I continue. “Strange activity. Noises at night—growling, panting. I’ve gone into the woods a few times, but I haven’t had the time to do a deep search.”
“Growling? Rosalind, you’re there to ensure the brother stays in the dark. I’ll have a more experienced team check out the woods when they become available.”
I hesitate, then add, “It’s not just growling. Something’s marking the trees. Scrapes. Scents. There are territorial signs and they are getting closer to the house.”
Daniel’s jaw tightens.
“Okay, that’s not ideal, but it’s too early to tell. Not your assignment though,” he mutters.
I clench my jaw.
A shiver runs through me.
It’s not nerves.
It’s focus.
Determination. Excitement—yes—but also the unshakeable knowledge that I’ve earned this.
The title may still come with an asterisk—probationary Enforcer—but it’s a start.
And in Barvale, where the old guard still side-eyes the idea of a female enforcing anything beyond etiquette, that’s saying something.
So I sit tall across from Daniel Devlin, Head Enforcer and living legend in the Clan, refusing to let even a flicker of doubt show on my face.
“No,” I agree, tapping the aerial map on his desk with a gloved finger. “Especially since those woods are technically Barvale Clan land.”
He doesn’t respond right away. Just scrolls through the file in front of him, the subtle crease between his brows deepening as he scans.
“Hope and Miles chose to remain in the house she bought from her mother. Miles recently paid off the mortgage in full,” he murmurs. “They’ve submitted plans to extend the property.”
“Yes,” I nod. “But the house sits at the edge of a large wooded tract. There’s a larger, vacant plot next door—been for sale for years. No buyers. No construction.”
Daniel looks up from his screen, meeting my gaze.
“That land’s been quiet a long time.”
“Too quiet,” I say, the words rolling off my tongue like a hunch that’s taken root. “And from what I’ve seen and told you, it looks like someone noticed.”
He finally sets the tablet aside and gives me his full attention.
The weight of it is palpable.
“Do exploratory runs,” he says after a beat. “Daylight cycles only. If you scent anything unusual, inform Miles immediately.”
“Of course,” I say with a respectful nod. But inside, frustration starts to simmer.
“We’ve had problems before,” he continues. “Hunter Vamps have tested our borders in the past. But so have other Shifters. I don’t want you stumbling on a nest or some volatile rogue.”
“But sir—” I start, my Bear rising a little in my chest.
She hates being underestimated. And so do I.
“No.” His voice snaps like a tree branch. “Escalation of any kind is inadvisable, Rosalind. And you poking around will only provoke whoever it is.”
“I’ve been trained, sir.”
I keep my tone even, respectful—but there’s steel in my spine.
“I graduated top of my training class. I’ve shadowed the veterans. I know the protocols. I didn’t claw my way into this position just to run messages and sniff around the perimeter.”
Daniel’s jaw tightens.
“Yes, you have. And I signed off on your placement because you earned it. But what if it turns out to be an entire group of rogues? The most trained Shifter can’t handle a Pack alone.”
“I’ve read the files. I know what possibilities are out there.” My voice drops low. “I can handle myself.”
His eyes narrow. The desk creaks as he braces his forearms on the edge and leans forward.
“No,” he says again, and this time it’s not just a word—it’s an order thick with authority and worry. “You will not enter the deep woods at night alone. That’s final.”
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from growling.
Because part of me wants to argue. Wants to prove I can hold my own in a fight, even if I have ovaries instead of balls.
But I also hear the truth under his words. It’s not that he doesn’t believe in me—it’s that he doesn’t want to risk me.
All males with alpha instincts have one thing in common. Protecting females is ingrained in their DNA.
I get it.
So I nod.
One short, sharp motion.
“Yes, sir.”
I will obey his command. For now.
But my Bear still bristles, instinctively offended.
Even if my human side understands.
Daniel’s voice softens just a fraction.
“You’re an asset to this Clan, Rosalind. I won’t risk losing you to curiosity or pride.”
Curiosity has bested many a Bear Shifter, so I get it.
I incline my head. “Understood.”
As I turn to leave, unease curls low in my gut.
Because whatever is out there isn’t random.
It’s watching. Waiting.
Hope is new to this world, but she has Miles to protect her.
Her brother is entirely unaware.
And I have the sinking feeling that the longer Honor D’Amato stays unaware, the closer danger will creep.