Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

C aleb Blackwood stood in the heart of the pack’s headquarters, his boots scuffing against the polished stone floor. The large hall, constructed with thick wooden beams and high vaulted ceilings, hummed with life as pack members gathered around. Their voices, low and steady like the murmur of a forest at dusk, filled the space. Warriors—both men and women—stood shoulder to shoulder, their eyes sharp and focused, each one a protector of the pack. The elders, their wisdom and years etched into their faces, watched from a raised platform at the edges of the room, their silent presence a reminder of the strength that had kept the Ironwood pack united for generations. There was a quiet power in the air, a shared understanding that they were more than just individuals—they were a family bound by blood, loyalty, and the instinct to protect what was theirs.

The pack's Alpha approached Caleb, his dark eyes solemn. “Caleb Blackwood, you’ve proven yourself loyal, vigilant, and steadfast. I see no one more fit to take on the role of chief of security and territorial defense.”

A rush of pride surged through Caleb’s veins, his wolf stirring beneath his skin at the honor. His senses sharpened. He heard every shift of movement in the room, every heartbeat echoing against the wooden walls. His gaze flicked briefly to his family, to the proud faces of his pack mates. Maize, his sister-in-law, stood beside his brother, Gideon, her dark eyes gleaming as she raised a glass of mead high in the air.

“To Caleb,” Gideon’s voice boomed, a wide grin splitting his face as he lifted his glass.

“Here, here,” came the echoed agreement of his pack mates.

Caleb smiled, his heart swelling with the warmth of their support. Elijah, his middle brother, clapped him on the back, the force of it nearly knocking him off balance.

“About time, little brother,” Elijah said with a grin. “You’ve been ready for this since the day we were pups.”

Elijah’s mate, Celine, pulled Caleb into a tight embrace. “We’re so proud of you, Caleb,” she whispered in his ear before releasing him with a radiant smile. “The pack couldn’t be in better hands.”

Even Liza, Alpha Rylan’s mate, approached with a warm congratulations. “You’ve earned this, Caleb. And we all know you’ll do great.”

Had it been only one month since his brothers and Alpha were mated? Their soul mates, who were all outsiders, had come into the mountains and wound themselves so seamlessly into the pack. More pack mates pushed into the community center where the celebration was being held. There were so many familiar faces around.

One face was notably absent.

As the warmth of the pack's praise settled over him, Caleb’s grin began to feel heavy. The handshakes, claps on the back, and murmurs of approval washed over him like a familiar tide, but it did little to ease the tension coiled in his chest. His gaze swept across the room—warriors standing proud, the elders nodding with approval, each face reflecting the trust they placed in him. Yet no matter how hard he tried to soak in the moment, one absence weighed on him like a stone, dragging his accomplishments down.

She hadn't come. But when had she ever? She had never once made a public show of affection toward him in all the years since the moon whispered in their ears that they were meant for each other.

Rylan stepped forward and gestured for Caleb to follow him. A frown tugged at the corners of the Alpha’s mouth. The knot of tension Caleb had pushed down slowly unraveled.

Rylan led Caleb to the far side of the hall, where the noise of the gathering faded into the background and the scent of the wood smoke was stronger, more pungent. The Alpha’s broad shoulders blocked most of the fire’s warmth as he turned to face Caleb, his blue eyes sharp with the weight of what was about to be said.

“I have something I need to ask you, Caleb,” Rylan began, his voice low, almost hesitant. He folded his arms across his chest, the movement subtle but charged with authority. “Are you absolutely certain you’re ready for this?”

The question took Caleb by surprise, a flicker of confusion passing through his gaze. “You just said I was.”

Rylan’s jaw tightened, and he glanced over Caleb’s shoulder, where the pack still celebrated, unaware of the quiet tension brewing between their leader and the man he was about to promote.

“You’ve proven yourself capable. You’ve always been reliable. But this… this position ties you to the heart of the pack. To home base. It’s a lot of responsibility, and I need to know if your head is really in this, especially with Rochelle potentially moving.”

The mention of her name was like a punch to the gut. Caleb swallowed hard, forcing the emotions that came with it back down, deep where they belonged. He straightened his shoulders, meeting Rylan’s gaze with calm certainty.

“She’s not going anywhere,” Caleb said firmly, though the flicker of doubt still clawed at his chest. “Rochelle’s been back for years now. She’s settled. We have an understanding.”

Rochelle’s fierce independence was one of the things he admired most about her—and one of the things that had kept them apart for so long. But she was his fated mate. She’d always be his mate, no matter how much space she put between them.

Rylan’s gaze softened, showing a rare glimpse of the man beneath the title. “You’ve waited a long time for her.”

Caleb clenched his jaw, the familiar ache of longing settling deep in his chest. “She's worth it.”

Rylan looked at his own mate. “I trust you, Caleb. You’ve never let the pack down before, and I don’t believe you will now. Just… make sure this doesn’t tear you in two.”

Caleb forced a smile, the familiar mask of calm slipping back into place. Rylan’s hesitation lingered in the air like smoke, but with a final nod, he turned and walked back into the crowd. Caleb stayed where he was, letting the noise of the celebration wash over him.

He let his gaze drift to the window, where the world outside was painted in the deep blues and silvers of the approaching night. The thick forest surrounded the pack’s headquarters, a fortress of trees that had always made him feel safe, anchored. But his mind wasn’t on the celebration or the responsibilities that came with his new position.

It was on her.

Though he couldn’t see her from here, Caleb knew exactly where she was. His wolf always did. It had been this way for years, ever since that first moon festival when they were children, and he’d felt the unmistakable pull—the bond that linked them, unshakable, undeniable. She’d been his ever since. Even if she didn’t accept it. Even if she never would.

She’d be at the bank right now, finishing up the last of her paperwork. Rochelle never left anything undone, never pushed things off for tomorrow if they could be completed today. She was relentless like that, focused, driven. And though she’d fought the bond for years, determined to make her own way, Caleb had never stopped watching over her. He knew when she would walk out those doors, heading toward her small home on the edge of town. And tonight, like every night, he’d slip out of the celebration soon to follow her, ensuring that she made it home safely.

Not that she would know.

She wouldn’t approve, of course. Rochelle never liked feeling caged, never liked the idea that someone might be protecting her when she didn’t ask for it. But Caleb couldn’t help it. It settled his wolf knowing she was safe, that she was home. He’d done it that first night when they were kids and the moon had told them they belonged to each other, and he would keep doing it.

Always.

He’d built his entire life around her. From being stationed near where she went to college to finding reasons to be near where her family vacationed in the summers and over winter holidays. She wanted her independence, her freedom. She wanted to be her own person without the weight of a mate tethering her.

Caleb respected that. He always had. He just respected it so long as she was within his line of sight.

She was his. And no matter how far she ran, he would always watch over her.

Caleb’s eyes narrowed as he pushed off the wall, silently excusing himself from the celebration. The familiar pull in his chest grew stronger with each step toward the door. Rochelle was wrapping up for the night—he could feel it, could sense the way she would gather her things, her mind already racing toward tomorrow’s to-do list.

He slipped into the night, the cool air wrapping around him like a cloak. The sounds of the celebration faded behind him, replaced by the soft rustle of the trees, the distant chirping of crickets. Caleb moved swiftly, silently, his every sense heightened as he made his way toward the bank.

She wouldn’t see him. She never did. But it didn’t matter.

As long as she was safe, as long as she was within his reach, Caleb would always be there.

Because she was his fated mate; the only woman for him.