The next morning came too quickly.
I barely slept.
Every time I closed my eyes, my mind returned to yesterday.
Kieran falling backward.
The look on Callen's face.
The strange burst of strength that I still couldn't explain.
And Lysandra's warning.
There are things inside us we never imagine that we have the ability to use.
I had tried to convince myself it meant nothing.
Maybe she was simply reminding me that everyone was capable of surprising themselves.
Maybe it had been adrenaline.
Maybe Kieran had simply been off balance.
That explanation was much easier to accept.
I preferred easy explanations.
They didn't make me wonder whether there was something wrong with me.
By the time I reached the central grounds, most of the pack had already gathered.
The morning air was cold against my skin.
Wolves stood in groups, talking quietly among themselves.
The atmosphere was different from yesterday.
There was nervousness, but also preparation.
Everyone knew what was happening now.
The new patrol teams would begin today.
Warriors and patrollers would work together.
The elite warriors would lead the dangerous routes.
Nobody would patrol alone.
Nobody would cross the borders without authorization.
And most importantly—
Nobody knew what had happened to the four missing wolves.
I stood near the back.
Of course I did.
Old habits were difficult to break.
I folded my arms and waited.
My eyes moved across the crowd.
Kieran was standing near Callen.
Both were dressed for patrol.
Callen looked completely awake.
Kieran looked like he hadn't slept much.
I quickly looked away.
My wolf immediately noticed.
You saw him.
"I have eyes."
You like looking at him.
"I do not."
You do.
I sighed.
"Please be quiet."
She laughed inside my head.
You can't make me.
I ignored her.
Beta Garrick eventually stepped forward.
The conversations slowly died.
He stood beside Alpha Roran and several of the elite warriors.
"Yesterday, we established the new patrol structure."
His voice carried across the grounds.
"Today, those groups will begin their first assignments."
A few wolves shifted nervously.
Garrick continued.
"The groups have been created based on experience, territory knowledge, combat ability, and compatibility."
I almost smiled at that last word.
Compatibility.
I doubted anyone had considered mine.
I wasn't expecting anything.
I wasn't even sure why I had been told to attend.
Lysandra had insisted.
"You're part of the pack. You should know what is happening."
So here I was.
Standing among wolves who probably wouldn't notice if I disappeared into the crowd.
Garrick began calling the teams.
"Team One."
Several names were announced.
The group moved forward.
"Team Two."
Another group.
"Team Three."
More wolves stepped forward.
One after another, the teams gathered.
I listened carefully.
My name never came.
Team Four.
Team Five.
Team Six.
Still nothing.
I wasn't surprised.
By the time Garrick announced the final group, I had already decided I would simply return to the healer's hut and help Lysandra.
The final team moved away.
The central grounds began emptying.
I waited.
Nobody called me.
Nobody looked for me.
I glanced toward the forest.
Then toward the healer's hut.
Maybe there had been a mistake.
That seemed likely.
I started walking toward Beta Garrick.
He was speaking with one of the elite warriors when I approached.
"Beta Garrick?"
He turned.
His eyebrows rose.
"Yes?"
"Can I ask you something?"
He smiled.
"Of course."
I hesitated.
"I don't know which team I'm supposed to be with."
There was a brief silence.
Then Garrick laughed.
Not cruelly.
Actually laughed.
I blinked.
"What?"
"I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to ask."
I frowned.
"I thought my name wasn't called."
"It wasn't."
My confusion deepened.
"Then..."
He folded his arms.
"I thought you might simply leave without asking."
I looked down.
"That was my plan."
"I know."
He smiled again.
"That's why I was curious."
I didn't know how to respond.
Garrick shook his head.
"You're surprisingly predictable, Elara."
My eyebrows lifted.
"You know my name?"
"Of course I know your name."
I suddenly felt awkward.
I wasn't used to people of his rank knowing who I was.
He was Beta Garrick.
Kieran's father.
One of the most respected wolves in Silvercrest.
And he knew my name.
"Then why wasn't I called?"
"Because your assignment is slightly different."
My stomach tightened.
"Different how?"
"You've been assigned to a team."
I stared at him.
"Which one?"
Garrick's smile became almost mischievous.
"You're really asking?"
I narrowed my eyes.
"Yes."
"Good."
He paused.
Then—
"My son's team."
I blinked.
"Your..."
I stopped.
I already knew where this was going.
"Kieran?"
Garrick nodded.
"Kieran's team."
I stared at him.
For several seconds, I couldn't form a response.
My wolf was practically screaming.
Mate.
"No."
Yes.
"No."
Garrick looked amused.
"Something wrong?"
I quickly shook my head.
"No."
"Good."
He continued.
"You'll be working with Kieran, Callen, and the rest of their assigned warriors and patrollers."
I stared at him.
"Why me?"
Garrick's expression became more serious.
"Because you're familiar with the territory around the river and eastern woods."
I opened my mouth.
He continued before I could answer.
"You've spent more time there than most people realize."
That made me uncomfortable.
"I only patrol."
"I know."
He studied me.
"That's exactly why you're useful."
Useful.
The word felt strange.
I wasn't used to hearing it directed at me.
Garrick smiled again.
"And before you ask, no, I didn't make the assignment because of my son."
My face immediately became warm.
"I wasn't going to ask that."
"You were thinking it."
I looked away.
"I wasn't."
He laughed.
"Relax, Elara."
Then his expression shifted slightly.
"Your assignment was based on what the team needs."
I nodded.
"Okay."
"Good."
He gestured behind me.
"And speaking of the team..."
I turned.
Callen and Kieran were walking toward us.
My heart immediately began beating faster.
Callen was smiling.
Of course he was.
Kieran wasn't.
He looked surprised.
Actually surprised.
His eyes moved from Garrick to me.
Then back to his father.
"Father?"
Garrick smiled.
"I was just telling Elara about her assignment."
Callen looked at me.
"She finally found out?"
I frowned.
"Apparently."
Callen laughed.
"I was wondering how long it would take."
"You knew?"
"Yesterday."
I stared at him.
"You knew?"
He shrugged.
"Kieran knew too."
I turned toward Kieran.
"You knew?"
Kieran looked slightly uncomfortable.
"I was going to tell you."
"When?"
He hesitated.
"Yesterday."
I crossed my arms.
"You had plenty of opportunities."
Callen laughed.
"She's got you there."
Kieran glared at him.
"Not helping."
"I'm just observing."
I looked between them.
"So everyone knew except me."
Garrick cleared his throat.
"Essentially."
I sighed.
"Wonderful."
Callen smiled.
"Welcome to the team."
I gave him a suspicious look.
"Don't make it sound exciting."
"It might be."
"It won't."
Kieran looked at me.
"You'll be fine."
I glanced at him.
"I know."
His expression softened slightly.
"I wasn't worried about whether you could handle yourself."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Then what were you worried about?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Callen looked between us.
Then grinned.
"This is going to be interesting."
Kieran sighed.
"Callen."
"What?"
"Nothing."
We started walking toward the preparation area.
Callen moved ahead while Kieran stayed beside me.
I could feel the awkwardness slowly settling between us.
Not the same awkwardness as before.
Something different.
Yesterday, we had sparred.
We had laughed.
We had spoken without an audience.
And somehow, that had made things easier.
Still...
Being assigned to his team was different.
This wasn't a few minutes of training.
This could mean days together.
Patrols.
Long walks.
Danger.
The eastern forest.
The river.
The place where four wolves had disappeared.
I looked toward Kieran.
"What's our assignment?"
"Eastern route."
My stomach tightened.
Of course.
The eastern route.
The same direction where the patrol had vanished.
Kieran noticed my expression.
"You okay?"
"Yes."
"You sure?"
I nodded.
"Just thinking."
"About what?"
"The missing patrol."
His expression became serious.
"Me too."
Callen turned around while walking backward.
"Everyone is."
He looked toward the forest.
"We're going to find out what happened."
Kieran nodded.
"We will."
I looked ahead.
The trees stood quietly in the distance.
For a moment, I remembered the figure I'd seen there.
Watching me.
Waiting.
My wolf became still.
We are going back.
I swallowed.
Apparently, we were.
And I wasn't sure whether that frightened me...
Or made me curious.
As we reached the others, I noticed several wolves looking at me.
Some seemed surprised.
Others curious.
A few whispered.
I couldn't hear everything they said.
But I heard enough.
"Her?"
"Why would they put her with them?"
"Maybe she knows the eastern territory."
"Still..."
I ignored them.
I had spent too many years listening to whispers.
They didn't matter.
Not today.
Kieran stopped beside the group.
"Everyone ready?"
The warriors nodded.
Callen looked at me.
"You ready?"
I looked toward the eastern forest.
Then at the wooden sword hanging from my belt.
Then at my hands.
The same hands that had somehow sent Kieran flying yesterday.
I took a breath.
"Ready."
Kieran gave me a small nod.
The team began moving.
I followed.
For the first time in my life, I wasn't walking behind everyone.
I was walking with them.
And I couldn't tell whether that was a good thing.
Because somewhere beyond those trees was the place where four wolves had vanished.
Somewhere beyond those trees was the strange symbol.
Somewhere beyond those trees, I had felt something familiar.
And if my instincts were right...
The forest had been waiting for me to return.
This time, I wouldn't be alone.