RAYNA POV
Mistwood was unusually quiet that morning.
I walked toward the training rooms, planning to practice shifts again, when I heard hushed voices behind a half-closed door.
Asha.
And… Caden?
I paused.
"I told you I'm fine," Asha whispered urgently.
"No, you're not," Caden whispered back. "You need to tell him."
Tell who?
Before I could back away, the door swung open, and Caden nearly walked straight into me.
His expression froze.
"Rayna."
Like a warning. Like a problem he didn't want to deal with.
Asha appeared behind him, eyes wide. "Rayna! It's not - wait -"
Caden sighed sharply. "I'm leaving before someone else overhears."
He brushed past me, tension radiating off him.
Asha's fingers wrapped around my wrist.
"Can we go outside? Please?"
Her voice shook.
Asha never shook.
I nodded.
She pulled me toward the back garden far from ears, far from Rowan and only when we were surrounded by quiet did she stop.
Her blue eyes glistened.
"Rayna… please don't tell anyone what you heard."
"I didn't hear anything," I said gently. "Not really."
Asha bit her lip, then whispered
"I'm pregnant."
My heart paused.
"Asha…"
She covered her mouth with trembling hands, tears slipping through.
"I'm planning on telling Rowan," she said softly. "Soon. Before the full moon. But the rest of the pack… Rowan…" She swallowed. "They'll be disappointed. They'll say I'm too young. That I'm not ready."
I stepped closer.
She looked so small. So scared.
"Asha… Rowan loves you more than anything," I said. "He'll be shocked, yes. But disappointed? Never. You're his sister."
She wiped her cheek. "Caden said I should tell him today."
"So tell him," I whispered. "Before the full moon tension makes everything worse."
She nodded slowly, hugging me.
I stiffened at first but then relaxed and held her back.
"You're the only one I feel safe telling," she whispered.
And something inside me warmed.
A strange, unfamiliar feeling.
Belonging.
ROWAN POV
The pack house felt… strange today.
Tense, but quiet.
Shift energy prickled in the air. The full moon always made emotions volatile, instincts sharper, tempers shorter.
I noticed Rayna entering the hallway, Asha beside her.
Asha's eyes looked red like she'd been crying.
I stiffened.
Rayna immediately stepped in front of her, protective.
My wolf liked that.
Too much.
"Everything okay?" I asked slowly.
Asha nodded quickly. "Yes just girl stuff."
I raised a brow.
Asha was a terrible liar.
But Rayna gave me a tiny shake of her head behind her.
Not my business.
Not yet.
I forced myself to step back.
"Alright," I said softly. "But if either of you need anything… tell me."
Asha hugged me briefly before hurrying off.
Rayna turned to leave too but I caught her wrist gently.
"Walk with me?" I asked.
She hesitated a moment… then nodded.
RAYNA POV
We walked through the quiet courtyard, evening sunlight spilling through the stone arches. Every step made my heart beat faster. I hated how Rowan made me feel warm and nervous and seen.
But a part of me loved it too.
Rowan broke the silence first.
"You've been… distant today."
"I've been thinking," I said honestly.
"About what?"
"The full moon," I answered. "And how everyone is on edge."
His jaw tightened.
He was worried not about himself, but his pack.
"They're jumpy because of you," he said carefully. "Not in a bad way. You're unpredictable. And powerful. They don't know how to act around you yet."
"Do you?" I challenged.
He stepped closer too close.
"No," he answered quietly. "But I'm trying."
The space between us crackled.
Tension.
Heat.
Something dangerous in its softness.
"Rowan," I began, "the pack"
"Doesn't matter right now," he murmured, stepping even closer. "I need you calmer before the full moon hits. If your emotions spike like yesterday, you could hurt yourself."
"Hurt myself?" I scoffed. "You think I'd lose control?"
He closed the last bit of distance between us.
My breath caught.
"Rayna… you already did."
His hand brushed my cheek gentle, grounding, warm.
My chest ached from how soft he looked at me.
"I'm not your responsibility," I whispered.
He leaned down, forehead nearly touching mine.
"You're not," he said. "You're my mate."
My heartbeat punched through my ribs.
Everything in me wanted to step closer
to lean into him
to let him kiss me
But I stepped back instead.
Barely.
"Stop saying that like it fixes everything," I whispered.
"It doesn't fix everything," he said. "But it's real."
I hated how much I wanted him to kiss me anyway.
ROWAN POV
She looked away but not far.
Never far.
"Rayna…" I said softly.
Her eyes lifted to mine, slow and hesitant.
"I'm trying," she whispered. "I really am. But every time I think I'm getting comfortable here… something reminds me I'm not one of you."
"Yes, you are," I said firmly. "You're Mistwood now. Whether you accept it or not."
She swallowed hard.
Then voices erupted from across the courtyard.
Bren and Daven arguing loudly, shoving at each other.
"Enough!" Rayna barked, stepping between them faster than I could.
They froze.
Rayna stood between two fully-grown warriors without flinching, eyes sharp, posture demanding obedience.
"Fight each other on the full moon," she snapped. "Not now."
The courtyard went silent.
Then Bren muttered, "Sorry, Alpha."
Rayna's jaw flexed.
But she stepped back.
The pack was staring at her.
Not with suspicion this time.
With respect.
RAYNA POV
When they finally dispersed, I turned to Rowan.
He was already watching me.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked.
"Because," he said, taking a slow step forward, "every day you prove me right."
"About what?"
"That you're not a threat."
He touched my chin gently, tilting my face to his.
"You're a leader," he whispered. "You just don't see it yet."
Heat flushed through me.
"Rowan"
He leaned in
but before our lips touched
Asha's voice called from the balcony.
"Dinner's ready!"
I exhaled shakily. Rowan stepped back slowly, eyes lingering on mine.
We walked inside together…
close enough to feel each other's warmth,
far enough to pretend we weren't thinking about that almost-kiss.