Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

KNOX

K nox stood on the porch, his gaze sweeping across the compound with the sharp acuity of a predator. His men, all grizzly-shifters with senses as keen as his own, gathered around him, their bodies tense and alert. The air was thick with the scent of pine and an undercurrent of unease; the kind that settles in the bones before a storm.

"Double up on patrols," Knox commanded, his voice low but carrying the weight of his authority. "I want eyes on every inch of this territory by sundown. Ensure the elders and our she-bears are secure within the compound. No one goes out alone."

A chorus of affirmatives met his orders, and his men dispersed swiftly, each moving with purpose to carry out their alpha's directives. Knox knew the impending threat wasn't just another pack encroaching on their land—their scouts had been too strategic, too calculated. Might it be personal? Whatever it was, every instinct in him roared to protect his clan, especially the most vulnerable.

As the last shifter disappeared to fulfill his duty, Knox turned, catching sight of Ruby standing in the doorway. Her wavy brown hair glinted in the morning light, and her posture was defiant even in the face of danger. Although new to Silver Falls, he knew she was as fierce as any of the rest of them, despite being human.

He strode toward her, his movements betraying none of the racing thoughts in his head. When he reached her, he didn't hesitate, hauling her into his arms with the possessive strength that came from both man and beast. Her eyes, a deep shade mirroring the earth they stood upon, widened slightly, but she didn't pull away.

"Knox...” she began, but he silenced her with a hard kiss that spoke of urgency and all the unsaid things he knew needed to be said.

His mouth moved over hers with an urgency that conveyed everything he didn’t have time to say out loud at that moment. It was a kiss that tasted of wildness and an unspoken pledge of protection. Ruby responded with equal intensity, her hands clutching at his shoulders, grounding him against the turmoil that threatened to engulf them.

Breaking the kiss, he rested his forehead against hers for a moment, allowing himself the briefest respite in the storm he felt brewing. "Coco will look after you," he said. "Promise me you’ll stay inside until I return."

Ruby's eyes searched his, a silent understanding passing between them. She nodded once, her jaw set with the same stubborn refusal to back down from a fight that had first drawn him to her. He could see the questions she wanted to ask, the concern etched in the furrow of her brow, but now wasn't the time for explanations.

"Be careful," she murmured, her voice steady despite the chaos that loomed on the horizon.

Knox brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, allowing himself the luxury of tenderness for a heartbeat longer, before turning on his heel and striding out to join his men.

With the encroaching light of the day, he opened his phone and called the sheriff. The hard-packed earth felt solid under his heavy boots as he moved with purpose toward the perimeter where his men were already positioned in a kind of silent vigil. The scent of pine and impending rain mingled in the air, nature herself tensing for what was to come.

"Beckett," he said, his voice low and even as the call connected, "this is Knox."

"Knox?" came the sheriff's cautious reply. "What's got you calling at this hour? Trouble brewing?"

"Could be," Knox answered, his gaze sweeping over the shadowed tree line, alert for any sign of movement. "We've spotted unfamiliar scouts on our land. They're not from around here."

"You think they're a threat?" Beckett's tone sharpened with concern.

"Can't say for sure yet," Knox replied, his eyes narrowing as he caught the faintest rustle in the underbrush. "But I wanted to give you a heads-up. If this escalates, it may not be contained just to the bears."

“Do you think it’s treasure hunters?”

“Could be. Could also be sniffing around looking for mates or a rogue group of males just looking to take over. Whatever it is, we’ll handle it."

"Damn," the sheriff muttered. "Anything you can tell me about them? These bears that are headed your way?"

"Nothing concrete." Knox paused, his instincts honing in on the quiet dissonance of the forest. "We’ve seen signs of scouts for months, but this time it’s a small unit. They’ve been secretive and have avoided engagement. They’ve just been watching. We're ready for them, though."

"Fine, but this needs to be brought before the town council," Beckett said. There was a tension in his tone, a blend of concern and formality.

"We can talk all we want," Knox snarked, his eyes scanning the dense tree line. He really didn’t have time for procedural debates. "All their talking won't turn the tide of what's coming."

Beckett paused for a moment, the silence stretching between them like a tightrope. "I’ve spoken to Mavis. What about Ruby? How much does she know?"

"Enough." Knox's answer was terse as his mind flickered back to Ruby and the way she had seemed to accept the reality of shifters. "She knows about Silver Falls... about all of us. She also suspects her aunt's death wasn't natural. She's not wrong."

"Damn," Beckett exhaled, "that complicates things. Are you sure she can handle...”

"Ruby's tough," Knox cut in, an unbidden sense of pride warming his chest despite the chill in the morning air. "She's part of this now. We’re going to have to figure it out. We owe Ruby, not to mention Lorraine, that much."

"Agreed,” Beckett said after a moment. “Keep me posted, Knox. I don’t need to remind you how quick these situations can go sideways. If you need, I can rally some of the others, and we can join you."

"We should be able to handle it on our own, but I appreciate the offer."

“Just remember you are a clan alpha now, not a lone sniper. Lord knows you and your clan have come to the aid of others…”

“Understood, but I think it’s only a small scout group. We’ll greet them and send them on their way.”

“Sure you will,” laughed Beckett, “because bears are so well known for their sunny dispositions.”

Knox snorted. “We’ve got this, but I do appreciate knowing you’ve got my back.”

“Always. I wouldn’t be standing here if it weren’t for you.”

Knox ended the call before Beckett could go further. During their time in the military, Knox had, on more than one occasion, saved Beckett’s ass and vice versa. He didn’t understand why the wolf-shifter made such a big deal of it. Knox had no more time for pointless conversation; the sun was shining its light on the threat of danger, and his every sense was attuned to the defense of his people and their territory.

He reached the first watch post where his men acknowledged him with curt nods, their postures rigid with anticipation. Their alpha had arrived, and with him, the unspoken promise of a leader who would protect his own until his last breath. Knox felt the familiar surge of adrenaline, the primal force of his bear at the edge of his consciousness, ready to rise and fight.

"Stay sharp," he commanded, his deep voice barely above a whisper but carrying the weight of a battle cry. With a final glance back at the compound, where Ruby and the others waited, a steely commitment to those he held dear settled over him.

By tonight, the enemy would come to understand the true danger in threatening his clan.

For most of the day, he moved through their territory, checking with patrols and outlooks alike. They’d lost sight of the scouting party, but Knox knew better than to think they had retreated. Coming as a group was a bold move, and it was not the act of someone who didn’t have ulterior motives.

One of the patrols spotted them at last and radioed Knox, who now stood watching them, his muscles tensed as the scent of the intruding bears grew stronger. They were pretty brazen as they moved through one of the lower meadows. They might be feeling a little cocky, as no one had engaged them at this point, but being a sniper had taught Knox the value of observation and patience.

Night was beginning to gather, and the darkness shrouded their position like a thick cloak that hid both predator and prey. He motioned to his men, a silent command that had them spread out in a semi-circle, their forms blurring as they prepared to shift.

"Take them alive if you can, but don't let them near the compound," he rumbled, the growl that rumbled through his chest barely human.

As the mists that accompanied a shift coiled and twisted around them, Knox's men transformed into their true selves—towering grizzlies with coats that seemed to swallow the moonlight. The forest erupted into chaos as the intruders became aware of their presence and charged through the underbrush. Claws ripped through flesh, teeth snapped against bone, and savage roars echoed through the air.

Knox charged at the leader of the invaders, his strength undeniable. Each strike of his massive paw was precise, each bite aimed to disable without killing. He was the alpha, the protector of his clan, and he would not allow these outsiders to threaten his territory.

His men fought with equal ferocity and skill, driven by their loyalty to their clan and their home. It was a brutal, primal battle of dominance and survival. But under Knox's leadership, they were an unstoppable force, and soon, their enemies realized they would not be the victors and retreated back into the shadows.

Panting, Knox shifted back to his human form, his skin glistening with sweat and the remnants of battle. The silence of victory was heavy, punctuated only by the ragged breaths of his warriors. While it might have been nice to capture and question one, Knox wasn’t willing to risk it. This group might have been some kind of distraction or feint.

"Let's get back," he said, his voice gravelly with exertion. "We need to make sure everyone's safe."

As they returned to the compound, the burden of leadership weighed heavily on Knox. While they hadn’t lost anyone, some of them had been injured, though not nearly as severely as their opponents. After checking to ensure anyone injured was being cared for and sending out patrols to ensure their continued safety, Knox texted Beckett that all was secure, but they knew little more than they had before.

As he entered his lodge, Coco came down the stairs to greet him. “Everyone okay?” she asked.

“Some a little worse for wear, but nothing serious.”

“Who were they? What did they want?”

“Still unknown. Where’s Ruby?”

“I sent her to your room. She was exhausted. I thought maybe she’d lie down after dinner, but I think mainly she’s paced the floor, worried about you.”

“Did she have dinner with the rest of the clan?”

Coco nodded. “She insisted. She told Agatha she didn’t want to make extra work for anyone and didn’t need special treatment. Come to think of it, she’s made herself useful all day. She joined Agatha and her people in the kitchen and cooked right alongside of them. When Agatha found out she liked to bake, she put her in charge of the cookies.” Coco laughed. “She became very popular with the children, and she makes the best oatmeal butterscotch cookies.”

Knox grinned. Leave it to Ruby to find a way not only to fit in but to help. “Thanks Coco. I’ll be in my room.”

Climbing the stairs, he wondered why the simple task seemed to take so much longer than it usually did. Inside the safety of his private chambers, he faced Ruby. Her eyes held a mixture of fear and awe.

"Are you okay? Your people?”

“We’re all fine. I understand you pitched in and helped. Thank you for that. It’s tough on everyone who isn’t in the thick of it. Baking cookies helped probably more than you know. Grizzlies have a notorious sweet tooth.”

“I never knew… I mean I have some novels that talk about shifters, but…" she started, but he raised a hand to stop her.

"There's a lot you don't know—about me, about this place, about what happened to your aunt. Can we deal with the easy stuff tonight and let the more complicated things wait until tomorrow?” he asked, his gaze steady. She nodded, and he continued. "As you probably figured out, I'm the alpha of my clan. That means it’s my job to keep our people safe, to keep our existence hidden.”

“How long have you been alpha?”

“Since my father was murdered by poachers. My responsibility is something I've carried alone ever since I became alpha."

Ruby stepped closer, her presence a warmth he'd unconsciously craved. "Why alone?"

"Because relationships are difficult when you’re alpha and being called to a human complicates things exponentially.” She raised her eyebrow in question but let him continue. “Humans put us at risk," Knox confessed, his voice a low rumble. "Even if they mean us no harm, they can inadvertently share our secret with those that do. You've seen what we are, what I am…"

He paused, the truth of his past and his duties laid bare before her. "My life, my past, it's full of battles and secrets. I've kept my distance to protect the clan, to uphold the legacy of Silver Falls, and in some ways to protect you. But instead of running for the hills, you’re still here. You not only stayed, but you pitched in. So, standing here with you, I'm beginning to question if all my reticence has been worth it. I should have said something…"

“We haven’t known each other that long. There was no way for you to know if you could trust me. Although if you’d peeked at my Kindle, you might have given me the benefit of the doubt.”

He reached out to draw her close, lowering his head to kiss her and to find solace in the warmth and comfort she offered. When he raised his head and looked down into her eyes, Knox realized that the fiercest battle he'd ever faced wasn't against another clan or the outside world. It was the fight within himself, to allow someone to share in the burden he'd borne for so long. And as the moonlight filtered through the window, casting a silver glow over both of them, he felt the walls around his heart begin to crumble.