Chapter 16: Shadows Beneath the Surface

Calla's POV

I stood quietly behind the kitchen, drying my hands with a cloth that was worn from use. The cool morning breeze drifted through the open window, carrying the familiar scent of the woods. Pine, earth, and something else—something I had started to recognize lately. A scent that lingered longer than the others, one that seemed to settle over my skin like a second layer. I didn't know what it meant yet, but my wolf stirred every time it reached me.

"I swear, Kael's looking this way again," Mika whispered beside me, nudging my side with her elbow. She grinned, mischief dancing in her eyes.

I glanced over my shoulder toward the pack training grounds, where Darien stood tall, arms crossed, observing the group in front of him. Kael stood beside him, dark-haired, always serious. His sharp eyes flicked around the area like he was always on alert, a protector through and through.

"He's probably just doing his job," I muttered.

Mika snorted. "Or maybe he's noticed you."

I rolled my eyes. "Don't be silly."

But still, I couldn't help stealing another glance. Not at Kael—but at Darien. He looked calm, powerful, his stance easy yet commanding. His short dark hair was tousled from the wind, and the scar near his left temple caught the light briefly. He didn't smile much, but his presence was like a magnet. I didn't know why I noticed these things. I didn't know why his voice lingered in my mind sometimes, even when I tried to focus on chores or helping in the gardens.

They didn't know who I really was—what I was hiding, even from myself.

The bond still hadn't shown itself. No flutter in my chest. No sudden heat. Nothing like the stories Mika used to whisper to me late at night when we were younger, about mates who knew with just one look. I thought it would be easy to recognize if it happened. But maybe... maybe it was different for omegas. Maybe the stories were just that—stories.

Darien's POV

"She's quiet," Kael said beside me.

I followed his gaze and found Calla standing near the garden shed, wiping her hands and avoiding our direction. She always looked like she was trying not to be seen.

"She blends well," I said. "But there's something about her I can't place."

Kael nodded. "She's observant. Alert."

"She doesn't act like the others."

"She's stronger than she knows," Kael added. "Or maybe stronger than we know."

I didn't reply to that. Something in my chest twisted slightly. I didn't know why I kept watching her, why I felt like I needed to keep her close—safe. But I chalked it up to instinct. Protection. I was Alpha. I protected everyone under my roof.

Still, my wolf stirred whenever she passed. Not with desire. Not with rage. Just... curiosity. Deep, gnawing curiosity.

Calla's POV

Later that day, I sat near the edge of the meadow, watching the sun dip below the trees. Golden light bathed the forest, making everything glow.

I looked down at the ring on my finger. Plain, silver, smooth. All omegas wore them in this pack. They weren't just ornaments. They were marks. A reminder of status. A way for the pack to keep track of who we were—where we belonged.

Each ring was different depending on your place in the pack. Warriors had intricate carvings. Betas had bold designs. The Alpha's ring was shaped from obsidian and silver, with the mark of the Kaelstrom line. Ours—the omegas—were simple. Almost forgettable.

I turned mine slowly on my finger. I didn't hate it. But sometimes, I wondered what it would feel like to wear something else. Something chosen, not given.

"Calla."

I turned, surprised to see Kael walking toward me, his hands in his pockets.

"Hi," I said quietly.

"I noticed you didn't eat much today."

I blinked. "I wasn't that hungry."

"You need to keep your strength up."

I nodded.

There was silence between us for a moment. Then he sat down beside me, but not too close.

"Darien's been restless lately," Kael said.

"Because of the patrols?"

"Maybe. Or maybe something else."

His eyes met mine briefly. "There's change in the air."

I swallowed. "What kind of change?"

He didn't answer directly. Just looked toward the forest, where the last of the light was fading. "The kind you can't stop once it begins."

And in my chest, my wolf stirred again—just for a moment, like it was listening.

Like it understood something I didn't.