A Threat He Can’t See

Rowan’s POV Something shifted. I felt it before I understood it. A faint disturbance in the air—subtle, distant… but enough to put my instincts on edge. I stood on the balcony overlooking the territory, my gaze fixed on the forest beyond. The wind moved through the trees, calm and quiet… Too quiet. My wolf stirred. Alert. Watching. She’s not alone anymore. My jaw tightened. I didn’t need to ask who. Seraphina. Ever since she arrived, nothing had felt… normal. And now— This. “Something’s wrong,” Lucian said as he stepped beside me. “I know.” His eyes scanned the forest. “Rogues?” I shook my head slowly. “No.” This felt different. More controlled. More dangerous. Lucian glanced at me. “Another Alpha?” I didn’t answer. But the silence said enough. Because there was only one reason another Alpha’s presence would reach this far— Interest. My gaze darkened slightly. In her. Later that evening, I found her in the garden. Alone. The soft glow of lantern light fell across her face as she sat quietly, her fingers brushing absentmindedly against the petals of a flower. She looked… peaceful. Too peaceful. Like she didn’t realize what was coming. Or who might be looking for her. “Seraphina.” She turned at the sound of my voice, and for a moment—just a moment—her face lit up. Before she hid it. But I saw it. And something in my chest tightened. “You’ve been avoiding me,” she said softly. Straight to the point. I respected that. “I’ve been busy,” I replied. The same answer. The same distance. Her lips pressed together slightly. “You said that before.” A flicker of frustration. Of hurt. Good. Not because I wanted to hurt her… But because it meant she noticed. Because it meant I mattered. Dangerous. I stepped closer anyway. Closing the distance I had been trying to keep. “You shouldn’t be out here alone,” I said. Her brows furrowed slightly. “Why?” Because someone is looking for you. Because another Alpha might already be searching. Because I don’t like the idea of anyone else finding you. But I said none of that. “Because you’re still recovering.” She studied me carefully. Like she didn’t believe me. Like she was trying to see past the walls I kept up. “You’re doing it again,” she said. My gaze sharpened. “Doing what?” “Pushing me away.” The words hit harder than they should have. Silence stretched between us. Honest. Uncomfortable. Real. “I’m not pushing you away,” I said finally. It wasn’t a lie. But it wasn’t the truth either. Her eyes softened slightly—but the doubt remained. “Then why does it feel like you are?” I didn’t answer. Because I didn’t have one I was willing to give. Instead, I reached out—my fingers brushing lightly against her wrist. Gentle. Careful. Her breath caught. So did mine. That same awareness sparked between us instantly. Stronger now. Harder to ignore. “You should trust me,” I said quietly. Her gaze dropped briefly to where our skin touched… then back to my eyes. “I want to,” she whispered. That was the problem. Because the more she trusted me… The harder it would be to let her go. And the more impossible that choice would become. A distant howl echoed through the night. Faint. But enough. My expression hardened instantly. She noticed. “What is it?” she asked. I released her wrist slowly. “Nothing you need to worry about.” But I was already thinking ahead. Already calculating. Because now I was sure— Another Alpha was searching. And if he found her… This would no longer be just a complication. It would be a war.