Chapter 3

Zoe

I sigh, steeling myself for what I know I have to do. The moment with Marcus shatters, reality rushing back in. "I should go," I tell Marcus. "I need to talk to Liam."

Marcus nods, his expression unreadable. "Good luck," he says softly. His hand brushes against mine as I move to leave, and I have to suppress a shiver at the contact. The brief touch sends sparks racing up my arm, and I have to force myself to walk away.

I make my way through the crowd, spotting Liam near the drinks table. His earlier anger seems forgotten, replaced by a sloppy grin that does nothing to improve my mood. The contrast between his behavior and Marcus's steady presence is stark.

As I approach Liam, a realization hits me like a bucket of ice water. I don't want this anymore. The casual dating, the hot-and-cold behavior, the lack of real connection – it's all suddenly, glaringly clear. I need to end things with Liam, and soon. Maybe after the BBQ, when we can have a private conversation. It's the mature thing to do, right?

But as I reach Liam, my resolve is put to the test. He slings an arm around my waist, pulling me close. "There you are, babe," he slurs, his breath reeking of alcohol. "Was starting to think you'd run off with some other guy."

I try to step back, but his grip tightens. "Liam, ease up a bit," I say, keeping my voice low.

He laughs, too loud, drawing attention from nearby guests. "What's the matter, Zoe? Embarrassed to be seen with me?" His eyes narrow, a mean glint appearing. "Or maybe you're just pissed that I'm not my brother."

The cruel accusation ignites a fire in my chest. All thoughts of waiting, of being mature, evaporate in an instant. "Liam, we need to talk. In private."

His smile falters, but he follows me to a secluded spot near the edge of the property. Once we're out of earshot of the other guests, I turn to face him.

"Liam, this isn't working," I say firmly. "I think we should end things."

For a moment, he looks genuinely hurt. Then his expression hardens. "Fine," he spits. "I didn't want to date you anyway. You're just a human, after all."

His words sting, but they also confirm what I've been suspecting – that Liam's interest in me was never genuine. I stand my ground, meeting his gaze steadily. I've faced worse than this in my life, and I refuse to let him see how much his words have affected me.

"If that's how you really feel, then I guess we're done here," I say, my voice steadier than I feel. "Goodbye, Liam."

I turn to leave, but Liam grabs my arm, his grip tight enough to make me wince. Fear flashes through me, but I push it down, drawing on the strength I've cultivated through years of self-reliance. "Wait, Zoe, I didn't mean—"

"Let go of me," I hiss, trying to wrench my arm free. But Liam's grip only tightens, his eyes wild.

"You can't just walk away from me," he growls, his voice low and dangerous. "You don't get to decide when this is over."

My heart races, but I refuse to show fear. "I said, let go," I repeat, my voice sharp as steel.

Before Liam can respond, a large hand clamps down on his shoulder, and suddenly Marcus is there, his presence solid and reassuring. I feel a rush of relief at his appearance.

"You heard her, Liam," Marcus says, his voice calm but with an undercurrent of threat. "Let. Her. Go."

For a tense moment, Liam doesn't move. Then, with a frustrated growl, he releases my arm and stumbles back. "Whatever," he mutters, glaring at both of us before storming off towards the house.

I let out a shaky breath, rubbing my arm where Liam's fingers had dug in. Marcus turns to me, concern etched across his features. "Are you okay?"

I nod, not trusting my voice just yet. Marcus's eyes narrow as he notices me rubbing my arm. "Did he hurt you?"

"I'm fine," I say quickly, dropping my hand. "Really. Thank you for stepping in." I hate feeling vulnerable, hate that I needed help, but I can't deny the relief I feel at Marcus's presence.

Marcus looks like he wants to say more, but we're interrupted by a commotion near the main house. Hannah, Ryan's sister, bursts out of the back door, her face pale and her eyes wide with fear.

"Ryan!" she calls out, her voice shaking. "Ryan, I need you!"

Ryan is at her side in an instant, with Marcus and I close behind. The tension in the air is palpable, and I can't shake the feeling that something is terribly wrong.

"What is it, Hannah?" Ryan asks, his voice laced with concern.

Hannah holds out a crumpled piece of paper, her hand trembling. "I found this on my car," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "It... it was under the windshield wiper."

Ryan takes the paper, his brow furrowing as he reads it. His expression darkens, a low growl rumbling in his chest. "Where did this come from?" he demands, his voice sharp with anger.

Hannah shakes her head, tears welling in her eyes. "I don't know. It wasn't there when I arrived, I swear."

Ryan pulls Hannah into a protective embrace. "What does it say?" I ask, dreading the answer.

Ryan hesitates, then holds out the paper for Marcus and me to see. In block letters, it reads: "LEAVE NOW OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES."

My breath catches in my throat as I read the words. They're so similar to the note I found on my door earlier in the week. I'd convinced myself it was just a prank, a cruel joke from someone with too much time on their hands. But now...

"I... I got one too," I admit. All eyes turn to me. "A few days ago. On my apartment door. I thought it was just a stupid prank."

Ryan's eyes narrow. "Why didn't you say anything?"

I shrug. "I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. I thought I could handle it on my own."

Marcus takes a step closer to me, his presence oddly comforting. "You shouldn't have to handle it on your own," he says softly. "Not here. Not with us." His words, and the gentleness behind them, catch me off guard.

Before I can respond, Chloe approaches us hesitantly. "I... I found one too," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "In my mailbox this morning. I was going to tell you after the BBQ, Ryan. I didn't want to ruin the party."

The atmosphere at the BBQ shifts instantly. The laughter and chatter die down. Ryan takes charge, his alpha presence filling the space.

"Everyone, remain calm," he says, his voice carrying across the yard. "We're going to get to the bottom of this. Marcus, gather the notes. We need to examine them."

As Marcus collects the threatening messages, Ryan leans in, his nostrils flaring as he scents the paper. His expression grows grim.

"Howling Pines," he growls. "I'd recognize that scent anywhere."

I turn to Marcus, my curiosity piqued. "What's the deal with Howling Pines? Why would they target us?"

Marcus's jaw tightens. "It's complicated, Zoe. The Howling Pines pack has always been... territorial. They don't like how our pack interacts with humans. They think we're betraying our wolf nature."

"But that's ridiculous," I argue. "You're not hurting anyone."

"I know," Marcus sighs. "But they see our openness as a threat. They believe it puts all shifters at risk of exposure."

Sarah steps forward, her brow furrowed. "But why target Zoe? She's not even part of the pack."

Lucas wraps an arm around Sarah's waist, his expression thoughtful. "Good point. Let's look at who received threats. Zoe, Chloe, and Hannah..."

Ryan's eyes narrow. "All single women associated with our pack. They're trying to intimidate us, make us feel vulnerable."

"But why?" I ask, fear and anger mixing in my gut. "What do they hope to gain?"

Marcus runs a hand through his hair, frustration evident in every line of his body. "Control, maybe. Or they're trying to drive a wedge between us and the humans in town. If people start getting scared, they might turn against us."

"We can't let that happen," Ryan declares. "We need to take immediate action to protect our pack members. Hannah, Chloe, you'll both be assigned guards. No one leaves the pack grounds alone until we resolve this."

My heart races as Ryan turns to me. "Zoe, as a human, you're particularly vulnerable. We'll need to assign you a protector as well."

Instinctively, I take a step back. The thought of giving up my hard-won independence, even for my own safety, makes me feel claustrophobic. "No, that's not necessary. I can take care of myself." The words come out more sharply than I intended, a knee-jerk reaction to feeling cornered.

Ryan's eyes soften slightly, but his tone remains firm. "This isn't up for debate. The Howling Pines are dangerous, especially to humans. You need protection."

I open my mouth to argue further, but the words die on my lips as I see the genuine concern in his eyes. I think about my life, the independence I've fought so hard for since leaving the foster care system. The thought of giving up even a fraction of that freedom makes my chest tighten, but I know Ryan's right. This isn't just about me.

"Fine," I concede, my voice tight. "But I have a job, clients. I can't just stay on pack grounds all the time."

Ryan nods. "We'll work something out. Now, we need to assign you a protector."

"I'll do it," Liam's voice pipes up, and I turn to see him stumbling forward. "I can protect Zoe."

Ryan shakes his head. "No, Liam. You're not trained for this kind of situation. We need someone with experience."

I watch as disappointment and anger flash across Liam's face, but before he can argue, Ryan continues.

"Marcus," he calls out. "You'll be responsible for Zoe's protection."