Chapter 10

The dawn’s soft light flickered through the trees as Kade padded along the town’s border, his senses heightened in his wolf form. An enforcer, a burly gray wolf named Jax, trotted beside him, ears perked for any signs of trouble. Kade couldn’t shake the growing unease that had settled in his gut over the past few weeks. The magical disturbances were becoming more frequent, more deliberate.

As they approached the northern boundary, Kade’s hackles rose. He shifted back to his human form, Jax following suit. “Do you smell that?” Kade asked, his voice low and rumbling.

Jax nodded, his brow furrowed. “Dark magic. The wards here have been tampered with.”

Kade crouched, examining the faintly glowing runes etched into the tree bark. They pulsed with a sickly green light, the edges frayed and unraveling. “This was no accident. Someone’ is still trying to weaken our defenses.”

They spent the next hour reinforcing the wards, but the damage was done. Kade’s mind raced with possibilities, none of them good. Who would want to leave Whispering Pines vulnerable?

By the time Kade returned to the Lone Wolf Café, the morning rush was in full swing. He barely had time to grab a coffee before Thorne, his trusted second, pulled him aside.

“We’ve got a problem,” Thorne grunted, his dark brows knitted together. “An unknown shifter was seen lurking near the town’s edge last night.”

Kade’s grip tightened on his mug. “Did anyone get a good look at them?”

Thorne shook his head. “They were gone before the patrol could investigate. But I don’t like it, Kade. First the wards, now this? Something’s brewing.”

Kade couldn’t agree more. He clapped Thorne on the shoulder. “Double the patrols. I want eyes on every inch of our border. And Thorne? Keep this quiet for now. No need to cause a panic.”

As Thorne left to organize the patrols, Kade slipped into the kitchen, his mind whirling. He needed answers, and he knew just where to start looking.

The Whispering Pineslibrary was a labyrinth of towering shelves and dusty tomes, presided over by the resident ghost historian and librarian, Jasper Moon. Kade found him hovering near the restricted section, his translucent form flickering in the dim light.

“Kade! To what do I owe the pleasure again so soon?” Jasper asked, adjusting his spectral bow tie.

“I need your help, Jasper. I’m looking for information on any historical threats to the town, particularly ones involving dark magic and shifters.”

Jasper’s eyes gleamed behind his round spectacles. “Ah, a mystery. Let’s see what we can uncover.”

They spent hours poring over ancient records and crumbling scrolls. Kade’s eyes were starting to blur when a particular passage caught his attention. It spoke of a prophecy, one that foretold a powerful witch and a wolf shifter uniting to thwart a great evil.

Kade’s heart stuttered in his chest. Could it be referring to him and Celeste? The thought of her being involved in this, of putting her in danger, made his blood run cold. He couldn’t let that happen. He wouldn’t.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Kade called a town meeting. The community gathered in the town square, their faces etched with worry and curiosity. Kade stood before them, his shoulders squared and his voice steady.

“I know there have been concerns about the recent magical disturbances,” he began, choosing his words carefully. “I want to assure you that we are doing everything in our power to investigate and maintain the safety of Whispering Pines.”

He met the eyes of the shifters, the witches, and the various supernatural beings that called this town home. “In the coming days, you may notice an increased presence of our enforcers. This is merely a precaution. If you see or hear anything unusual, please report it immediately. Together, we will weather this storm as we always have.”

The crowd dispersed, some looking reassured, others murmuring amongst themselves. Kade caught Celeste’s eye across the square, her green gaze filled with questions. He gave her a small nod, a silent promise that he would keep her safe, no matter the cost.

The night was dark and still, the only sound was the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze. Kade ran through the woods, his powerful wolf form cutting a path across the undergrowth. His paws pounded against the earth, the rhythm of his strides echoing the beat of his heart.

He pushed himself harder, faster, his muscles straining with the effort. He needed to be ready, to be at the peak of his strength for whatever threat was coming. The weight of responsibility lay heavily on his shoulders, the knowledge that the safety of his pack, of his town, rested in his hands.

As he ran, Kade’s mind raced with possibilities, strategies, and plans. He was so focused on his thoughts that he almost missed the prickling sensation at the back of his neck, the feeling of eyes watching him from the shadows.

He skidded to a halt, his claws digging into the soft earth. His ears swiveled, searching for any sound, any hint of movement. His nose twitched, catching a scent on the breeze that made his hackles rise.

There, in the darkness between the trees, a pair of glowing amber eyes stared back at him. Kade shifted, his form rippling and changing until he stood on two legs, ready to confront the intruder.

“Hello, Kade. It’s been a long time.” The voice was chillingly familiar, a ghost from his past that sent a shiver down his spine.

Kade’s blood turned to ice in his veins. He knew that voice, that scent. It belonged to an old rival, one he thought he’d left behind years ago. “Damien. What are you doing here?”

Damien stepped into the moonlight, his dark hair glinting like a raven’s wing. His smile was sharp and cruel, his eyes glinting with malice. “Oh, you know, just passing through. Checking up on old friends.”

Kade growled, the sound low and warning in his throat. “We were never friends. Why are you really here?”

Damien circled him, his movements fluid and predatory like a shark scenting blood in the water. “Let’s just say I’ve heard whispers. Whispers that the great Kade Blackwood has gone soft. That he’s more interested in playing house with a pretty witch than protecting his own kind.”

Kade’s hands clenched into fists at his sides, his nails biting into his palms. The wolf inside him stirred, begging to be let out, to put this upstart in his place. But he held himself in check, knowing that Damien was trying to provoke him.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he snarled, his voice low and dangerous.

Damien threw his head back and laughed, the sound sending shivers down Kade’s spine. “Don’t I? Word is there’s a reckoning coming for the shifters of Whispering Pines. And when it does, we’ll see where your loyalties truly lie.”

With that, Damien stepped back, his form shimmering and shifting until a sleek black wolf stood in his place. He gave Kade one last mocking look before turning and melting into the shadows, his parting words hanging heavy in the air.

Kade stood there for a long moment, his heart racing, his mind whirling with the implications of Damien’s threat. A planned attack. A reckoning. The words echoed in his mind, filling him with a sense of dread.

He shifted into his wolf form, his paws pounding against the earth as he tore through the woods, back toward town. He needed to warn the others, to prepare for whatever was coming.

But first, he needed to check on Celeste. The thought of her in danger made his blood run cold, his heart seizing in his chest. He couldn’t lose her, not now, not ever.

As he raced through the streets of Whispering Pines, Kade’s mind was a whirlwind of fear for his people, anger at Damien and whoever was behind this threat, and a fierce, overwhelming need to protect Celeste, to keep her safe no matter the cost.

He wouldn’t let anything happen to her. He couldn’t. She was his mate, his love, his everything. He’d die protecting her.

Kade skidded to a halt outside the Bewitched Bakery where he knew Celeste would be with Molly. He shifted into his human form, his hand raised to knock on the door.

But before he could, the door swung open, revealing Celeste standing there, her green eyes wide with surprise and concern.

“Kade? What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Kade swallowed hard, his gaze locking with hers. “Celeste, there’s something I need to tell you. Something you need to know.”

“Come on inside and talk to me.”

Kade followed Celeste into the cozy warmth of the bakery, the scent of cinnamon and vanilla enveloping him like a comforting hug. But even the familiar surroundings couldn’t ease the tension in his shoulders, the knot of worry in his gut.

Celeste led him to a small table in the corner, her brow furrowed with concern as she sat across from him. “You’re scaring me. What’s going on?”

Kade took a deep breath, his hands clenching and unclenching on the tabletop. “I had a visitor in the woods tonight. An old rival from my past, Damien.”

Celeste’s eyes widened, her lips parting in surprise. “Damien? I’ve never heard you mention him before. Who is he?”

Kade’s jaw clenched, the muscle ticking beneath his skin. “Damien and I have a history. While I believed in using our strength to protect and serve our community, Damien was always more interested in power for power’s sake.”

He paused, his gaze distant as he lost himself in memories. “We butted heads constantly, always on opposite sides of every issue. When I became alpha of the pack, Damien challenged me for the position. I defeated him, and he left town soon after. I thought I’d seen the last of him.”

Celeste reached across the table, her hand covering his. Her touch was warm and reassuring, anchoring him in the midst of the chaos swirling in his mind. “But now he’s back? What does he want?”

Kade’s eyes met hers, dark with worry. “He came to deliver a warning. He said there’s a reckoning coming for the shifters of Whispering Pines. That there are those who think I’ve gone soft, that I’m not fit to lead the pack anymore.”

Celeste’s brow furrowed, her grip on his hand tightening. “What do you mean, a reckoning? Is he planning something?”

Kade nodded grimly. “I think so. Damien’s always been ambitious, ruthless. If he’s back in town, it’s not for a social call. He mentioned whispers of discontent among some of the shifters, those who disagree with my leadership. I fear he may be rallying them to his side, planning to overthrow me and take control of the pack.”

Celeste’s eyes flashed with anger, her lips thinning into a hard line. “We won’t let that happen. The pack is loyal to you. They know you’re a good leader, a fair and just alpha.”

Kade growled, his wolf wanted to kill something, and all he wanted was to keep his mate safe. “Damien is cunning, and he knows how to exploit weaknesses. He mentioned you specifically, Celeste. Called you a complication that could be dealt with.”

Celeste stiffened, her eyes widening in surprise. “Me? But why? I’m no threat to him.”

Kade’s gaze softened, his hand coming up to cup her cheek. “But you are a threat to his plans. He knows how much you mean to me. He thinks he can use you to get to me, to weaken my resolve.”

Celeste’s chin lifted in defiance. “Well, he’s got another think coming. I’m not some pawn to be used against you, Kade.”

Love and pride for her filled him. A fierce protectiveness expanded inside that made his wolf howl within him. “I need you to be careful. We don’t know what Damien is planning, or who he may have on his side. Promise me you’ll stay close to town where it’s safe. At least until we figure out what’s going on.”

Celeste nodded, her expression solemn. “I promise. But you have to promise me something in return. Don’t try to handle this alone, Kade. Let me help. Let the pack help. We’re stronger together.”

He agreed and rushed to the Lone Wolf. He burst into the café, startling Thorne and a handful of his most trusted enforcers. “We need to mobilize, now. There’s a threat coming, one that could destroy everything we hold dear.”

As Thorne and the others leaped into action, Kade took a moment to steady himself, to picture Celeste’s face, her warm smile, her sparkling eyes. He would do whatever it took to keep her and Whispering Pines secure.

Even if it meant facing the demons of his past.

Even if it meant sacrificing everything.