The morning air hit me like ice when I stepped outside. Rain had soaked the ground, puddles reflecting the dull gray sky. My boots squelched with every step and I cursed under my breath. I had thought surviving the last attack would make me feel safer, but now I felt exposed, like the pack had eyes everywhere. Maybe they did.

Dominic appeared beside me silently, as if he had been there all along. He didn't ask if I was okay, nor did he soften his gaze, he just looked. My stomach clenched, and I reminded myself I hated him, I hated the way his presence made me tremble, the heat that burned in my chest, the way my pulse spiked every time he was near.

"Keep your guard up," he said. "Today's not a training day, but for you to learn control."

I wanted to roll my eyes, to mutter something snarky. Instead, I nodded, keeping my voice swallowed because I knew arguing wouldn't help. Not here, not with him watching.

Rafe jogged up from behind a corner, grinning. "She's awake, boss," he teased. "Ready for round two?"

I gave him a flat look. "Round two? You mean survive another day of torture?"

He chuckled, not offended. "Maybe, but you'll learn fast or you'll regret it."

Selene appeared then, stepping lightly through the wet grass. She gave me a small smile. "I told you, you're stronger than you think, but watch your pride. The pack will test you in ways you aren't ready for yet."

I swallowed, wishing I had her confidence but I didn't. I wasn't ready for anything except maybe running away.

Dominic moved ahead, and I had no choice but to follow him. He led us through a narrow passage into the training yard. The tension in the air made me want to scream but I couldn't.

"You'll spar with multiple partners today," he said, with a sharp voice. "You'll learn to anticipate attacks, read movements, and survive. This isn't optional."

I squared my shoulders, gripping the wooden practice sword. My arms burned from last night, and my lungs were screaming as well. But I wasn't going to back down, not yet.

The first opponent stepped forward. A tall and fast man, a smirk plastered on his face like he had won before the fight started. I dodged the first swing, barely.......,  rolling to the side. 

Dominic was watching, silent, and every instinct told me he was measuring me, testing me, pushing me without a word. I hated it and loved it all at once. I hated the way my heart pounded when he gave even the smallest look, the way his presence made my body burn.

Rafe stepped in laughing, taking the man down with ease, then glanced at me. "Keep up newbie or you'll embarrass yourself."

I glared, lunged again, and this time managed to land a solid strike. My opponent stumbled back, widening his eyes as he was surprised. 

As we were training, these guys came in again. Dominic had to come for me. He grabbed my arms. " Stay close and watch everything." 

"Thought I should drop by again,". "The new pet is looking stronger than I expected," Jax said. 

Dominic's eyes locked on Jax. Silent, deadly, unyielding. I felt the tension like electricity. I didn't have time to think. One of Jax's men lunged but Dominic intercepted instantly. 

My hands found a fallen stick and I swung it blindly, hitting someone very hard. I had no choice but to participate to survive. 

Rafe grabbed my other arm. "Focus, Lila! Eyes on the moves!" I nodded, biting back fear and panic. Through it all, Dominic moved near me, protecting me with all he has.

I hated him, I hated what he did to me. And yet, my chest ached for his presence, for the control he had over me, for the way his gaze made me feel both safe and exposed at the same time.

Someone yelped behind me, and I swerved to dodge a strike that was aimed at my head. My chest was burning from running here and there, but I had to fight. I gripped the stick like it was my lifeline.  

Out of nowhere, a shadow moved closer from the tree line, it was fast and silent. Dominic's hands brushed mine as he held my hands so tightly, drawing me closer to him, he wasn't giving any chance for me to be taken by Jax's men. 

There I realized this is just the beginning of a life I never bargained for. Jax wanted me so bad that he isn't stopping for anybody, not even Dominic. From the look of things, he's waiting for the perfect moment to strike and I was trapped in the middle of it all.

Dominic stepped closer to me, close enough that I had to tilt my head up to hold his stare. The anger in his eyes wasn't wild, it was cold and controlled. 

That was the part that made my stomach twist. He wasn't reacting out of panic, he was thinking and planning something that didn't feel safe for me at all.

"Tell me the truth," he said. "When you saw Jax last night, did he say anything strange to you?"

My mouth opened but nothing came out. Not because I was hiding something but because the question hit me sideways. "Strange how."

"Answer it," he said.

Rafe shifted beside us like he wanted to interrupt but didn't dare. Selene froze a few steps behind him, watching us with that quiet fear she tried to hide.

"He didn't say anything, he  just stared at me like he wanted me to speak first." I swallowed. " And besides, I was with you the whole time. You wouldn't let go of my hands."

Dominic's jaw tightened. "And you didn't?"

"No, why would I? He looked like he wanted to fight you right there."

Rafe scratched the back of his neck. "He actually did. If you weren't with him, they would have torn into each other."

Selene glanced at me. "That man doesn't look at people, but he looked at you like he knew you."

I felt a shiver crawl up my arms. "Well, I don't know him."

Dominic watched my face carefully, like he was searching for lies I didn't even have. Something in his expression softened for a second before hardening again. "We are moving you," he said. "You won't stay in that room anymore."

My heart sank. "To where?"

"You will stay in the main house, on the second floor which is near my room."

My brain short-circuited. "Why near yours?"

"Because you are not safe anywhere else."

Rafe lifted his eyebrows. "She can stay in my room, that's closer to the stairs."

Dominic didn't bother looking at him. "No."

Selene folded her arms. "You could at least pretend you're not being controlling." Dominic ignored that too. His eyes stayed on me. 

"Are you serious," I asked him. "You barely tolerate me, now you want me near you like I'm some kind of bag you need to keep locked up."

"Not locked up," he said. "Protected."

"I am not helpless."

"Right now you are."

The words hit like a slap. I stepped back as hurt was flushing through my chest. Rafe grimaced like he wanted to defend me but held himself back.

Dominic exhaled, the sound frustrated. "I didn't mean it like that."

Selene shot him a glare. "You always mean it like that."

He closed his eyes for a moment then looked at me again, calmer. "Something is happening, something we didn't expect. And it revolves around you whether you like it or not. Until we understand why, you stay where I can reach you first."

My pulse sped up. "Reach me for what?"

"To stop anyone else from reaching you first."

He stepped aside and nodded toward the house. "Get your things, now."

I didn't move. A part of me wanted to argue, but another part of me knew he wasn't making this up, something was wrong and I had to follow his instructions.

Rafe touched my arm gently. "I'll come with you, just breathe, everything will be fine."

I let him guide me toward the small building where my things were. As soon as we entered, I dropped onto the bed. Rafe stood near the door, rubbing his hands together like he was trying to decide if he should speak.

"Say it," I muttered.

He sat beside me. "Jax came back different, he was more focused on you as he kept staring like he had a reason to. And Dominic hates that he can't explain it."

"I don't know Jax," I said again, quieter this time. "Why would he look at me like that?"

Rafe tilted his head. "Sometimes wolves sense things before we do, maybe he smelled or recognized something."

"Recognized what?"

He shrugged. "I don't know, but Dominic does not get this protective unless the threat is real."

I looked at the floor. "It feels like everything is turning upside down."

Rafe bumped his shoulder softly against mine. "Then hold onto something."

I let out a shaky breath and started packing only a few clothes, my notebook, and a bottle of lotion. 

I glanced across the yard as we left the room and Dominic was standing near the house entrance talking to two wolves in their human form. His eyes kept flicking towards the trees like he expected someone to come out of there any moment.

When he saw me walking toward him, his whole body sharpened like he was preparing for a fight even though I was the one approaching.

He took my bag without asking and walked inside. I followed him up the stairs, Rafe behind me. The hallway felt warm in a suffocating way, the air heavy with the scent of pine and smoke.

Dominic stopped in front of a door on the right. "This is yours now," he said.

The room was bigger than the old one, cleaner and brighter, and was close to his room as well. I could feel his presence even without turning around.

Rafe stood in the doorway. "If anything happens, call, shout, or even throw something that would make a sound for us to hear."

Dominic shot him a look....,  a dangerous one that signaled he didn't like what Rafe said. Rafe had to raise his hands like he was innocent.

I placed my bag on the bed. "So what now?"

"Now I will explain what I didn't want to say outside," Dominic said as he leaned on the wall with his arms crossed.

"What is it?"

He stood there for a few seconds without saying a word. This was strange as Dominic never hesitates in saying anything. 

"There is a mark," he said finally. "Not on you, not yet, but someone out there is trying to force a bond with you. A bond that would tie you to them against your will."

My mouth went dry. "A bond?, Like claiming me?"

"Yes."

"Who?"

"We think it is Jax, or someone connected to him. But the way he looked at you last night... it wasn't normal."

I grabbed the edge of the bed to steady myself as my heartbeat felt too loud in my ears.

"So what does that mean for me?"

Dominic pushed off the wall and stepped closer to me. In a low voice he said, "It means you are the center of a fight you didn't start, and if someone is trying to bind you, they will come again. They always do."

I swallowed hard. "And you think keeping me here will stop them."

"No," he said. "But it means I will get to them before they get to you."

The words made my skin prickle. I didn't know if he meant them to comfort me or scare me into obeying. Rafe cleared his throat softly. "Dominic, she needs some rest, this is a lot."

Dominic didn't take his eyes off me. "You can rest but do not leave this floor." I nodded. My voice wasn't strong enough to reply.

They both stepped out and closed the door behind them.

I sat on the bed, my hands were trembling in fear and my heart was beating so fast as I was scared of what was coming. " Why me, why is this all happening at once?" I kept asking myself questions I had no answer to.

As the silence settled around me, I realized something sharp and cold. The kind that crawls under your skin and refuses to leave. If someone truly wanted to claim me, then they weren't going to stop. They would push hard and keep trying till they succeed.

I didn't sleep, I didn't even try as I was scared they would come when I was deeply asleep. I just sat on that bed staring at the walls like they were supposed to explain why my life was suddenly the prize in some wolf war. The silence of the house felt unnatural. Too clean and calm. 

I kept thinking of Dominic's eyes, the seriousness in them. He wasn't bluffing, something real was happening and I was stuck in the center of it without even knowing how to defend myself.

It was barely morning when I heard footsteps in the hallway. Not fast or loud, but firm and confident.The kind of steps that made your heartbeat react before your brain did.

A soft knock came next. "Lila. Open." It was Dominic.

I pushed myself up and walked to the door. My hand hesitated on the knob and I didn't know why, maybe I just needed one second to steady myself. I opened it and found him standing there in black jeans and a dark shirt, his hair was slightly messy like he had been running his hands through it all night.

His eyes scanned my face. "You didn't sleep."

"No," I said. "Not exactly in a sleeping mood."

He nodded once. "Come with me."

"Where."

" To have breakfast first then we talk."

I wanted to tell him I wasn't hungry but my stomach gave a low growl at the exact wrong time. He heard it, of course, he did. His eyes flickered with something that looked like concern.

"Come downstairs," he said gently. "You need strength." That softness threw me off more than the threats from last night.

I followed him down the hallway, passing his room without looking inside. Rafe was sitting on the stairs like he was waiting for us. As soon as he saw me, he stood up and stretched dramatically.

"Morning. You look like you didn't blink once."

"Thanks," I muttered.

He grinned. "I meant it in a supportive way."

Selene was already in the kitchen, humming to herself as she stirred something in a pot. The smell of warm eggs and toasted bread filled the space, almost comforting. She looked at me and smiled.

"Sit, sweetheart. Eat something."

I sat but Dominic didn't, He stood near the counter like he didn't trust the room to stay peaceful.

Rafe placed a plate in front of me and whispered, "If you pass out after two bites, I'll carry you upstairs like a hero."

I nudged him with my elbow. "Relax, I'm not fragile."

Dominic cut him a sharp look. "Let her eat."

Rafe raised his hands. "I am literally letting her eat."

Selene sighed the kind of sigh people release when they babysit grown adults. "Both of you be quiet."

Halfway through the meal, Dominic said, "There's something else we need to discuss."

Everyone froze.

Then he continued. "I checked the northern border this morning and there were footprints."

Selene swallowed. "Human."

"No," Dominic said. "Wolf. But the scent on them did not belong to our pack."

Rafe's face changed instantly, he wasn't smiling anymore.  "Jax."

"Maybe," Dominic replied. "Or someone working with him, they were close."

My heart started beating faster. "So they came here last night."

"Yes," Dominic said. "They were watching the house." The fork nearly slipped from my hand. Selene put her hand over mine, steady but warm.

Rafe growled under his breath. "Say the word and I'll track them."

"No," Dominic said. "Not yet."

"Why not," Rafe snapped. "They breached our land."

Dominic's eyes flicked to me before returning to Rafe. "Because whoever came wasn't trying to fight. They were scouting, they just wanted to see her location."

The room went quiet all over again. The fear settled under my skin, poking at every nerve like pins. I tried to breathe but it felt like my chest was too tight.

Dominic moved closer. "This is why you stay close, no wandering and no going outside alone. Not until we understand what they want with you."

My throat was dry. "I didn't ask for any of this."

"I know," he said softly.

Selene squeezed my hand. "You're not alone, Lila."

Rafe nodded. "We've got you."

Dominic didn't say it, but the look in his eyes said he meant it too.

I swallowed hard. "What do I do now?"

Dominic hesitated, then pulled a wooden chair close to mine and sat. "I need to ask you something and I need you to answer honestly."

"Okay?"

"In the last month, before you came here, did you ever feel watched?"

I blinked. "What?"

"Think," he said. "Anything unusual. Someone following you, staring too long, or even a strange scent around your house. Anything."

I frowned as memories pushed forward. One in particular. "There was this guy I kept seeing near our street."

Dominic leaned forward. "Describe him."

"He is very tall, dark, with short hair, and he always wears a hood most time. I thought he was just some neighbor. I  never saw him speak to anyone, he just stood there and kept looking."

Selene whispered, "That doesn't sound normal."

Rafe muttered, "This is bad."

Dominic locked eyes with me. "Did he ever get close to you, within arm's reach?"

I nodded slowly. "Once. He brushed past me at the market but I thought it was an accident."

Dominic shut his eyes for a moment like he was putting pieces together he didn't want to accept.

"What," I asked. "What does that mean?"

"It means," he said quietly, "that whoever is trying to bind to you didn't start last night. They started before you ever entered our territory."

My stomach dropped from hearing those words from his mouth. "You think he marked me somehow," I asked.

"Not marked," Dominic said. "But he may have left a trace, something subtle or something Jax recognized immediately."

I felt cold all over. "So I've been a target for weeks."

"Yes."

Selene reached for my shoulder. "We will protect you."

Rafe nodded firmly. "You're under our roof now, they won't touch you."

Dominic stood up. "Eat and rest, then come to the training field."

"Training," I echoed.

"You need to learn how to defend yourself. I won't have you walking around blind." He walked to the door like the matter was settled.

But right before he left, he paused and looked back at me. His eyes held something sharp and heavy, something that almost felt personal.

"If they come again," he said, "you must stay close to me. If you run, I cannot reach you in time." The warning tightened the room.

When he walked out, Rafe let out a long breath and rubbed his face. "Well, that's  our morning ruined."

Selene swatted his arm lightly. "Stop it."

I pushed my plate away. "I'll start training soon."

"You will," Rafe said. "But first, breathe. Your face is pale."

I tried to breathe, but the truth was sitting on my chest like a weight. Someone had followed me in the human world, had brushed against me on purpose, and also left a trace on me that wolves could sense. And if that was true, then this fight wasn't new but it started long before I stepped into this pack.

I stood up and my legs were shaking but I forced them steady.

"Rafe," I said quietly. "Can you show me the training field before Dominic comes back?"

He smiled, but it wasn't playful this time. It was protective and solid. "Of course."

As I followed him outside, the cold air hit my face, but it didn't clear the fear building inside me. The pack grounds looked peaceful but I could almost feel eyes watching from the trees.

Rafe glanced at me. "You're tough, Lila. You'll handle this."

"I hope so."

"You will."

We reached the field. It was wide and open with training dummies and targets scattered around. My stomach twisted when I realized this wasn't for show, it was preparation for real danger.

I took a breath and stepped onto the grass.

That was when the wind shifted. A faint scent that was sharp and strange that didn't belong to Dominic or Rafe. Rafe froze beside me, narrowing his eyes. 

"Get behind me," he whispered.

"Why?"

"Because that scent isn't ours."

And right then, I knew the quiet wasn't calm. It was the warning before something broke, something was coming.