3. Ryan

Something was wrong. I couldn't work out what the fuck it was, but there was something off in the Pack bonds.

"Ryan, are you listening to me?"

I glanced across the table at my brother Derek. What was he babbling on about? "What?"

"The Bridgetown Pack, they're recruiting again."

We were "out" to the humans, but we weren't supposed to draw attention to ourselves. The Bridgetown Pack had turned their town into a top tourist destination, with humans flocking there hoping to see and, more often than not, sleep with a Shifter. They were up to something, though. The humans never saw behind the screen that Michael, the Bridgetown Pack Alpha, wanted them to see, but it wasn't an adult Disneyland over there. They'd been recruiting humans and wolf Shifters for the last year. I couldn't help the feeling he was building an army.

"Any intel on what their end game is?" I asked Derek. At twenty-three, he and his twin Sam were the youngest of the four of us Shaw brothers, but he'd risen up the ranks quickly. His time in the army had taught him skills we'd needed in the last year.

"No, but I've got an asset inside. We should know more soon."

I grunted, that feeling of unease sweeping over me again.

"You alright? You've been acting funny since yesterday."

I leaned back in my chair and tapped the desk absentmindedly. "You don't feel anything? In the bonds?"

Derek went still for a moment, and I knew he was paying attention to his bond to the rest of the Pack.

"I don't pay much mind to it these days, not with Hayley causing trouble," he said softly, though I could tell his mind was still elsewhere. He was right; I knew most of the Pack tried to block the bond these days. The sooner we came up with a solution to Hayley, the better. It weakened us as a Pack.

Derek shook his head. "No, I don't feel anything. You think something's wrong? Well, more wrong than usual?"

I nodded. "I can't shake this feeling. It's a warning; something dangerous is coming. It's pulling me, getting more urgent."

Derek's expression turned serious as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Alright, let's assume something is wrong. What's our move?"

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. "I don't know." I could hear the frustration in my voice. "I can't pinpoint where it's coming from. Is it Hayley? The Bridgetown Pack? Something new?" I resisted the urge to stand up and start pacing. I knew it would make Derek worried.

Derek looked at me for a moment, and I knew he was weighing up what I'd just said. He was always the thoughtful one of us four Shaw brothers. It was why he'd been so good in military intelligence.

"I'll double the patrols. As for the Bridgetown Pack… We need to gather more intel on what they're up to."

I nodded in agreement. "We can't let them build up an army without knowing their intentions."

Derek nodded, standing up from the table. "I'll call in the asset and see what they've got. In the meantime, listen to your Pack bonds; see if you can narrow it down. If you get anything, let me know."

I watched my brother leave the room, feeling a slight sense of relief knowing we were taking action. But the unease was still there, gnawing at me. I tried to focus on the Pack bonds, reaching out with my mind to feel for any broken currents.

That's when I felt it. A sudden jolt of pain, like a knife to the gut, followed by a need so urgent that it took my breath away. My wolf was howling inside of me, demanding release. He wanted out. He needed something that was vital to his very essence. He hadn't been this agitated since Mai left.

Wait, what if—

"Ryan!"

I turned to see Jem in the doorway. He looked tired, more so than usual, but there was a fierce light in his eyes.

"Have you found her?" Jem barked at me.

I frowned, confused. "Who?"

"Mai! She's back."

And just like that, the bottom dropped out of my world.