Chapter Four

Cal

"Well, that's strange…" I murmur to myself, as the rhythmic tap of my knuckles echoes once again in the quiet of the night, but with the same result. The soft glow of the lantern nearby casts a warm pool of light on Rock's doorstep. But even after a few moments of waiting, I realize that there will be no response from within.

He didn't mention going anywhere. I furrow my brow, as a sense of concern takes root inside of me.

"Rock, are you in there?" I call out. As I listen to the sound of my own voice, I notice a note of uncertainty. I listen intently, hoping for some sign of movement or a reply from within the cottage. Nothing.

I've already passed through the square. He wasn't there, although I expected him to be. Now, his cottage was the next place I was told to search for him, but the only response I'm getting is the rustling of leaves in the night breeze.

This shouldn't worry me at all. Rock probably stepped out briefly, or perhaps something unexpected came up. With this looming danger on the horizon, it's not a good idea for him to be roaming the woods all alone. As I keep thinking where he could be, a subtle sense of worry creeps in. I glance around, but there is no sign of him.

Just as I'm thinking what I should do next, Rock emerges from the shadows, his features illuminated by the lantern's glow. As always, his expression is unreadable, but there is something about him, something I can't quite put my finger on.

"Where have you been?" I ask, watching him approach me.

His reply, usually just an explanation, now catches me off guard. "I don't need someone checking up on me, Cal. I can handle myself just fine." His reply is unexpectedly defensive, his gaze hard and unapologetic.

I inhale deeply. There is a scent about him, a scent I can't quite place. It intrigues me all the more because I know it has something to do with his behavior.

"I know that," I answer, still taken aback by his unexpected and unnecessary hostility. "We're out here together, all of us. You know that with everything happening, it's not safe to be wandering out alone, especially at night."

Rock's jaw tightens, and a flicker of aggression colors his tan. "I don't need a babysitter, Cal. I know this place better than anyone. I can take care of myself."

This surprises me even more. I know his character is stern and aloof, but he's never been like this with me. We've been like brothers our entire lives, keeping everyone else out, but we've never been like that with each other.

"I'm not trying to babysit you, Rock. That's the last thing I'd ever want to do. I was just… worried. We're a team, right?"

The defensive edge in Rock's posture doesn't change. "I know what I'm doing."

Then, it hits me. A subtle shift in the breeze carries that same scent to my nose and my senses sharpen as I inhale. It's that same fragrance that lingers on Rock. My eyes narrow slightly, and I know.

"Rock," I ask, not sure why he would hide this from me, "were you with Elena?"

I notice him swallow heavily. "Maybe."

His words surprise me, but not as much as my own reaction. I feel a twinge of jealousy that I can't entirely shake. I stare at him, and he doesn't even need to tell me that something happened. I'm not sure exactly what, but they obviously shared a moment together. It stirs a bunch of emotions I wasn't expecting nor am willing to discuss right now. I try to mask my feelings with forced nonchalance.

"Listen, Cal…" he suddenly starts, raking his fingers through his hair. "I don't know why, but I went to see her."

I lift my eyebrow at him. "That's a lame excuse. You always know why you do something."

"Not this time," he corrects me. For some reason, I believe him. "I… I just wanted to go see if she would be alright. Then one thing led to another."

As I look at him, a strange sense of calm washes over me. I know that the thought of making Elena his mate crossed his mind. I know, because it crossed my mind as well. The thing is just… she's human. It's not usually done that way, taking a human mate, but it's been done before. It wouldn't be the first time. However, Rock is our leader. How would the others see it? And me… I wonder where I fit in there as well, with those same thoughts.

"It's been a while since we talked about mates," I tell him.

"Yeah," he nods, that simple answer carrying a hint of introspection.

"Sometimes, it gets lonely here, even with everyone around," I tell him, and I'm sure he knows what I mean. "Having someone to share it with could make everything more meaningful."

Rock nods in agreement, a thoughtful expression crossing his features. "That's the trouble," he reveals something I already know. "Finding the right person. Someone who understands this life."

"Elena is human." My words echo around us.

"I'm not saying she is that someone," he retorts defensively.

"But she might be," I correct him.

He shakes his head. "Too complicated."

"Why?" I shrug. "You're obviously drawn to her. You wouldn't go back there otherwise."

He doesn't say anything to that. Instead, he tilts his head a little, as if to take a closer, better look at me. "You are, too."

That is the unspoken truth we've come to share.

"We don't know her at all," I remind him.

"But you feel it, too, don't you?"

"Feel what?" I pretend I don't know what he's referring to.

"You're drawn to her as well and you don't know why, when we've only just met her," he explains, but instead of making things more clear, his explanation only convolutes everything even more.

"Yeah, she's something, huh?" I smirk, realizing that there is now an unspoken competition over Elena that is hanging between us and neither of us really knows how to react.

"I advised her to go to the village again," he tells me. "If we're lucky, she will go back to where she came from very soon. She will be nothing but a memory and we'll be able to focus on the real task at hand."

I know what he means. There are more important things to take care of now, but then again, why are we focusing more on Elena than on that?

"Has anything happened?" I ask, determined not to talk about her.

"Not yet," he replies. "But I'm afraid that the boundaries might start getting blurred. That's how it happens, they will start encroaching on our territory," he explains, his voice carrying a sense of urgency.

"We can't let them compromise the safety of our people and the wildlife around here," I assure him of something he already knows.

Rock thinks about it for a moment, his eyes narrowing in focus. "We should have a meeting tomorrow, the day after tomorrow… as soon as we have everyone here, at the village. We should strategize and figure out the best course of action. It is crucial that we defend our territories while avoiding unnecessary conflict."

I shake my head at him. "Conflict can't be avoided."

He inhales deeply almost as if it pains him. "I'm afraid that's true. I'm just saying that we need to be smart about this." He pauses for a moment, then he pats me on the shoulder. "Can we pick this up tomorrow? It's pretty late."

"Sure," I nod, stepping aside to let him pass, as I'm still standing between him and the entrance to his cottage. "We'll talk tomorrow."

I don't wait for him to go inside. Instead, I make my way back to my cottage, the soft crunch of leaves beneath my boots echoing. The moon casts a silvery glow over the clearing, and I hear the chatter coming from the square.

As I enter my cottage, the flickering flame of a single lantern illuminates the rustic interior. I take a quick glance at the walls adorned with maps and trinkets that tell stories of countless wilderness adventures. I pass them by without a second glance, and settle into a worn but comfortable chair, as the events of the night keep replaying in my mind.

My thoughts keep drifting to Elena, the mysterious girl we've encountered. I have no idea why she left such an impression on me. I know that it's the same for Rock. There is something about her, something that's pulling me, refusing to let go, although I know it makes no sense. I've barely spoken to her properly. But that's how it is in the bear shifter world. When you meet someone for the first time, you can smell who they are, what they want, and most importantly, if you want to be around them.

That rarely happens with humans. They're different from us. That's why we've always kept our distance. They don't understand our way of life and we don't understand theirs. Such misunderstandings always breed aggression and trouble, and it's best to simply avoid it.

Only sometimes, you can't avoid threats. They find you on their own. The realization that there is another bear clan threatening to attack leaves us all in a state of panic, as our very existence becomes unpredictable. But Rock is always there, steady as a… well, rock.

I chuckle to myself, remembering how even Elena thought that he was talking about actual rocks when he introduced himself. She awakened something in him, something I haven't seen before. And now, all those defensives… it has to mean something. I know it does.

I can't help but wonder what the new day will bring. As I extinguish the lantern, leaving the room bathed in almost pitch darkness, a mix of anticipation and apprehension settles in my chest. With a sigh, I close my eyes, embracing the solitude of the night. Tomorrow is a new day, full of challenges and unknowns, especially in light of everything that has happened.

I slowly drift off into restless sleep, as the wilderness outside remains at bay, keeping its secrets.