Chapter 1

Zoe

I step out of Liam's car, my stomach a knot of nerves. The backyard is filled with people I don't know, and I immediately feel out of place. My hand goes to my pale pink hair, a nervous habit.

Liam, seemingly oblivious to my discomfort, strides forward with his usual confidence. I trail behind him, forcing a smile as we approach a group near the grill.

"Hey, everyone! Hope you don't mind, I brought a plus one. This is Zoe," Liam announces, gesturing to me.

I can feel the weight of their gazes. Despite this, they make an effort to welcome me warmly, though their greetings to Liam seem noticeably cooler.

"Sorry we're late," Liam says, his tone unapologetic. "Traffic was a bitch. Oh, hey, new face!"

I follow his gaze to a woman I don't recognize, standing close to a man with his arm around her. The man tightens his hold as he speaks, "Liam, this is Sarah. Sarah, Liam."

Sarah offers a small wave. "Nice to meet you."

Liam grins, clearly about to say something, but I step forward, sensing the tension. "Hi, I'm Zoe," I say, trying to sound warm and friendly despite my nerves. "I hope it's okay that I came. Liam assured me it would be fine."

The group exchanges glances, making my heart sink. But then a man with an air of authority speaks up. "Of course, Zoe. You're more than welcome. Why don't you both grab a drink?"

I nod gratefully at the man's suggestion and make my way to the drink table, Liam following close behind. As I survey the various bottles and mixers, I can't help but feel a bit overwhelmed. I'm not much of a drinker, and the array of options is daunting.

"Here, let me fix you something," Liam offers, reaching for a bottle of vodka.

I shake my head, "Thanks, but I think I'll just have a soda for now."

Liam shrugs, pouring himself a generous drink. "Suit yourself."

As he saunters off to mingle, leaving me alone at the drinks table, I can't help but notice he didn't bother to introduce me properly. The realization sends a pang of awkwardness through me, intensifying my feeling of being an outsider.

"I guess I'll grab some food," I mutter to myself, feeling adrift in this sea of unfamiliar faces.

I make my way to the buffet, my focus solely on the array of dishes before me. The aroma of grilled meats and savory sides makes my mouth water, momentarily distracting me from my discomfort. I'm so engrossed in deciding what to try first that I don't notice how close I'm getting to someone else at the table.

Suddenly, I feel a presence beside me, and I look up to find myself face to face with a tall, imposing man. His chiseled jawline is set in a stern expression, dark stubble accentuating his strong features. Dark hazel eyes meet mine, framed by thick brows furrowed in concentration. His broad shoulders stretch the fabric of his dark henley, hinting at a muscular physique beneath. A few strands of his short, dark hair fall across his forehead, giving him a rugged, untamed look that makes my heart skip a beat.

"Looks like we're out of forks," he growls, his voice deep.

I glance around, spotting a bowl of potato chips nearby. Without thinking, I grab a chip and use it to scoop up some potato salad.

"Problem solved," I say with a grin, holding up the improvised utensil.

He looks skeptical, his brow furrowing. "That can't possibly work."

In a moment of playful defiance, I lift the chip to his lips. "Try it."

He hesitates for a moment. Then, to my surprise, he leans forward and takes the bite. His lips brush against my fingers, and I feel a rush of heat to my cheeks.

"Well?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

He chews thoughtfully, then swallows. "It works," he admits gruffly, his expression remaining stern and unyielding. Not even a hint of a smile crosses his face.

His perpetually serious demeanor only makes him more intriguing. He's exactly the type of guy I love to tease, to try and crack that stoic exterior. It's a challenge I can rarely resist.

We stand there for a moment, the air between us charged with something I can't quite name. I notice his nostrils flare slightly as if he's taking in my scent, and a look of surprise flashes across his face. But before I can ponder what it means, Liam's voice cuts through the tension.

"Zoe! There you are. Come on, I want to introduce you to some people."

Liam saunters over, slinging an arm around my shoulders. He eyes the man with a smirk. "Hey, big bro. Not boring Zoe with your work stories, are you?"

"We were just talking, Liam."

"Sure, sure," Liam says, rolling his eyes. "Because you're such a sparkling conversationalist." He turns to me, grinning. "Don't worry, babe. I'll rescue you from Mr. Dullsville here."

I feel a flicker of annoyance at Liam's dismissive tone. "Actually, we were having an interesting chat—"

"Come on," Liam interrupts, tugging at my arm. "There are way cooler people you should meet."

The man's expression darkens. "Liam, maybe you should let Zoe decide for herself."

"Oh, lighten up," Liam scoffs. "Not everything has to be so serious all the time. Live a little!"

The tension between the brothers is palpable. I glance between them, torn between my curiosity about the man and my obligation to Liam as my date.

As Liam leads me away, I can't help but glance back at the man. He's watching us go, his expression unreadable. I turn back to Liam, trying to focus on the introductions he's making, but my mind keeps drifting back to that moment at the buffet table.

"This is Derek," Liam says, gesturing to a gruff-looking man tending the grill. "He's our host tonight. And over there is Ryan, our pack alpha."

I nod politely, trying to keep track of names and faces. A question burns on the tip of my tongue, and I can't help but ask, "What about the guy I was talking to earlier? By the buffet?"

Liam's expression sours, his tone dripping with annoyance. "Oh, that's just Marcus. My brother. He's the pack beta."

I raise an eyebrow at Liam's reaction. "Just Marcus? He seemed... interesting."

Liam rolls his eyes. "Trust me, he's not. He's a total buzzkill."

As Liam continues his introductions, his casual dismissal of his brother and the way he interacts with the other pack members strikes me. It's as if I'm seeing him clearly for the first time, and I'm not sure I like what I see. The charming facade seems to slip away, revealing someone more immature than I'd realized. I find myself wondering if I've misjudged him all along.

I nod politely, trying to keep track of names and faces. I find myself gravitating towards Sarah, the woman I was introduced to earlier.

"First time at one of these gatherings?" Sarah asks, settling next to me.

I nod, relieved to have someone to talk to. "Is it that obvious?"

Sarah laughs softly. "Only because I'm in the same boat. I'm Sarah, by the way."

"Zoe," I reply, then glance around, voicing a concern that's been nagging at me. "I get the feeling I wasn't supposed to be here."

Sarah hesitates before responding. "I think... it's more that Liam wasn't supposed to bring anyone without asking first. But don't worry, everyone seems glad you're here."

I feel myself relaxing a bit at her reassurance. "Thanks."

"So, how did you meet Liam?" Sarah asks.

"Would you believe me if I said he was a walk-in client at the salon where I work? He came in for a trim and left with my number."

Sarah chuckles. "That sounds like quite the meet-cute. How long have you two been seeing each other?"

My smile falters as I consider how to answer. "Oh, we're not really... I mean, it's just casual. We've only been on a couple of dates."

Sarah nods, and I'm grateful she doesn't pry further. "I see. Well, I'm glad you came tonight. It's nice to have another 'outsider' to talk to."

"I'm here with Lucas," Sarah explains, her gaze drifting across the yard. I follow her line of sight to a handsome older man talking with Ryan and the man from the buffet table. As if sensing our attention, he glances over, his eyes meeting Sarah's. The warm smile that spreads across his face is unmistakable.

"Ah," I say, noticing Sarah's reaction. "The silver fox. Nice catch."

Sarah blushes visibly. "He's... yeah. He's pretty amazing."

I can't help but grin at her obvious infatuation. "I can tell. You've got that whole 'heart-eyes' thing going on."

Seeing her embarrassment, I soften my tone. "Hey, no need to be shy about it. It's sweet." I glance at our empty cups, sensing Sarah might need a moment. "How about I grab us some refills? Give you a moment to cool that blush?"

Sarah laughs, looking grateful. "That would be great, thanks."

As I stand to head towards the drinks table, I'm still smiling at Sarah's reaction. It's nice to see such genuine affection.

I pause for a moment, taking in the scene around me. Despite the initial awkwardness, there's something warm and inviting about seeing friends and family gathered like this. The easy laughter, the casual touches, the sense of belonging – it's all so foreign to me. Growing up in the foster system, I never experienced anything quite like this. A pang of longing hits me, unexpected and sharp. For a moment, I allow myself to imagine what it might be like to truly belong somewhere, to have a family of my own.

Lost in thought, I don't notice Marcus until it's too late. I bump into him hard, spilling my drink all over his shirt. Horror washes over me as I realize what I've done.

"I'm so sorry," I exclaim, frantically trying to dab at the wet spot on his shirt. "It was an accident, I didn't mean to—"

"Watch where you're going." He jerks away from my touch. "You could have knocked over the grill. Do you have any idea how dangerous that would be?"

His words hit me like a slap. I feel the heat rising in my cheeks. My eyes narrow as I meet his gaze, my chin tilting up defiantly.

"It was an accident," I bite back, my voice equally sharp. "And in case you hadn't noticed, I'm already apologizing and trying to clean it up. Back off!"

"Hey, man," Derek says, his tone light but with an underlying edge. "It was just a spill. No harm done, right?"

Marcus's jaw clenches, and for a moment, I worry things might escalate further. But then Ryan steps in, his presence commanding attention.

"Accidents happen," he says, his voice calm but authoritative. "Let's get this cleaned up and get back to enjoying the evening, shall we?"

The rest of the night passes in a blur of awkward small talk. By the time Liam announces we're leaving, I'm more than ready to go.

The drive home with Liam is tense, the silence between us thick and uncomfortable. I stare out the window, watching the streetlights blur past, trying to process the events of the evening. Liam's grip on the steering wheel is tight, his knuckles white.

"Well, that was a disaster," Liam finally says, his voice bitter. "I can't believe Marcus made such a scene over a little spilled drink."

I turn to look at him, surprised by his take on the situation. "I think we were both at fault there. It was an accident, but his reaction was... intense."

Liam scoffs. "That's Marcus for you. Always so uptight, like he's got a stick up his ass." He glances at me, a smirk playing on his lips. "You know, you're pretty feisty when you're riled up. I liked seeing that fire."

His comment makes me uneasy, but I try to brush it off. "I don't enjoy confrontation. I just... reacted."

"Well, it was hot," Liam insists. "You showed them you're not just some weak human to be pushed around."

"What do you mean by that?" I ask, trying to keep my voice neutral.

Liam shrugs. "Come on, Zoe. You know how it is. Humans are... well, they're not as strong or capable as shifters. It's just a fact."

I feel my temper rising again. "That's a pretty broad generalization, don't you think? Humans have their own strengths."

"Sure, sure," Liam says dismissively. "I'm just saying, it's good that you showed some backbone. You'll need it if you're going to hang around the pack."

The rest of the drive passes in uncomfortable silence. I find myself questioning why I agreed to go out with Liam in the first place. Sure, he's charming and good-looking, but there's a callousness to him that I hadn't noticed before. Or maybe I just hadn't wanted to see it.

As we pull up to my apartment building, Liam turns to me with a grin. "So, you're still coming to the pack BBQ next weekend, right? You already agreed, remember?"

I frown, caught off guard. "Another BBQ? You guys sure love your meat, huh?"

Liam chuckles. "What can I say? We're animals at heart. But this one's different – it's for the whole pack. It'll be bigger, better."

I hesitate, torn between my growing discomfort with Liam and my curiosity about the pack. A part of me wants to back out, but I've never been one to go back on my word.

"Right, I did agree," I say finally, trying to muster some enthusiasm. "I'll be there."

Liam's smile widens. "Great! I'll text you the details." He leans in for a kiss, but I turn my head slightly, so his lips land on my cheek instead. If he notices my reluctance, he doesn't comment on it.

I climb out of the car, waving goodbye as Liam drives off. As I walk up to my apartment, I can't shake the feeling that I've made a mistake agreeing to another outing with him. But I've already committed, and I'm not one to back out of plans without a good reason.

As I approach my door, I notice something stuck to it. At first, I think it might be a flyer or a note from a neighbor. But as I get closer, my heart starts to race. It's a plain white envelope, unmarked except for my name scrawled across the front in messy handwriting.

With shaking hands, I pull the envelope off the door and open it. Inside is a single sheet of paper with a typed message:

"YOU DON'T BELONG HERE. LEAVE NOW, OR YOU'LL REGRET IT."

I read the words over and over, my mind struggling to process their meaning. Who would send me something like this? And why?

My heart pounds in my chest, adrenaline surging through my veins. For a split second, I consider calling Liam or even the police. But then a familiar calm settles over me, born from years of facing adversity alone.

I take a deep breath, squaring my shoulders. I can handle this. I have to.