Chapter 3
1162 Words
Arianna
I’d had enough of wolves for one night.
Joining the pack’s run had been a mistake, but I hadn’t wanted to disappoint Jenna. So, I fed her a harmless lie about needing to work early in the morning and slipped away as soon as it was over.
Truth was, I didn’t have to be in that early. I just needed distance.
Especially from that gray wolf. The one who decided to shove and snort at me like I’d personally offended him. What exactly had I done to deserve that attitude? Nothing. Back home, I’d dealt with plenty of cocky, arrogant wolves like him. Part of me itched to shift into something big—like a bear—and flatten him into the dirt.
But I couldn’t. Not here. Not if I wanted to keep my secret. Shapeshifters weren’t exactly beloved among supernaturals. And to be fair, we’d earned that reputation. If the world thought of Mystique from X-Men as the poster child for shapeshifters, they weren’t too far off—minus the blue skin.
As I walked into town, I passed the police station. For a second, I imagined walking inside, reporting that gray wolf for harassment, maybe even assault. But I didn’t. Too much paperwork, too many questions. And if anyone started digging, my truth might come out.
No thanks.
Better to forget him. He wasn’t worth the energy. I probably wouldn’t see him again anyway. Still, I made myself a promise: it would be a long time before I agreed to another pack run. Tonight had been risky enough.
⸻
Easton
After the run, I shifted back quickly, tugging on my clothes before checking in with my warriors.
“Report in. Any issues?” I asked over the link.
“Nothing major,” Cory replied. “But there was one she-wolf lagging behind. Really slow.”
“Yeah, I saw her. Tried to check if she was injured, but she wasn’t interested in help,” I said.
Jojo, one of the female warriors, chimed in with a laugh. “She wasn’t slow with her paw when she smacked you. That was feisty.”
The others chuckled in agreement.
“Alright, alright,” I cut them off, half-amused. “Besides our slowpoke wolf, anything else?”
A round of no’s came back. Good. That meant I could report a clean night to Alpha Braxton.
Braxton himself appeared just as I pulled my shirt over my head.
“Easton,” he greeted.
“Brax.”
“How’d it go tonight?”
“Smooth. No issues.”
He nodded. “Good. Aiden’s talking about making this a quarterly tradition.”
That caught me off guard. “Quarterly? Not sure that’s wise.”
“Yeah, I agree. We were lucky tonight, but if this becomes regular, humans might start noticing. Curiosity can get dangerous.”
“Exactly,” I said. “Even tonight, I worried one would stumble in.”
Braxton exhaled. “Still, Aiden’s the oldest. His call.”
I smirked. “I thought Samantha was the one in charge.”
That earned a laugh. “Don’t let her hear you say that.”
“I remember when you were mateless,” I teased. “We had a lot more fun back then.”
He clapped my shoulder. “Trust me, having a mate is better. You’ll see when it’s your turn.”
Before I could answer, a voice piped up behind us. “Hi, Easton. Hi, Alpha Braxton.”
I closed my eyes. Jenna.
“Jen,” Braxton said with a grin, “we’ve known each other since diapers. It’s just Brax.”
She shrugged. “You have a mate now. Feels more respectful to be formal.”
I chuckled. “Don’t bother arguing, Brax. Jenna always has to be right.”
Braxton laughed, excused himself to go back to Samantha, and—of course—winked at me on the way out. He knew Jenna’s crush on me was more obsession than interest, and he loved to needle me about it.
The truth? I only saw Jenna as a friend. Always had.
Once we were alone, I asked, “Where’s your friend?”
“Arianna?”
“That her name? Haven’t met her face-to-face yet.”
“She’s shy. Left early—said she has work in the morning.”
“Hmm.” I kept my tone casual, though curiosity stirred. “She seemed… off during the run. Slow. Is she okay?”
“I think so. She never mentioned being sick.”
I nodded, but something about Arianna nagged at me. Too slow, too distant, and yet that scent clung to her. Sweet, floral, impossible to ignore.
“What does she do?” I asked.
“Something at the hospital. In the lab. Not sure of the exact title.”
“Hospital hours can be brutal,” I said.
“Five in the morning,” Jenna added with a shudder. “No way could I do that.”
“That’s why you’re not a warrior,” I teased.
She swatted me playfully. “Me? A warrior? Please. I can’t even kill a spider.”
I smiled, but I knew I had to cut the conversation before it dragged. Jenna had a habit of clinging.
“Gotta go finish my report. I’ll catch you later.”
Disappointment flickered in her eyes before she masked it with a smile. “Okay, Easton. See you later.”
I headed for the police station. Since blending into human society, we’d taken on roles to match. The warriors served as police, Braxton as chief. If humans knew the truth—that their protectors were wolves—they’d panic.
Inside, Louie sat at the front desk.
“Anything tonight?” I asked.
“Just a few calls about wild animals. Three total. Quiet otherwise.”
“Three? That’s it?” I raised a brow.
He grinned. “Humans ignore the obvious.”
He wasn’t wrong. Most of them had no idea who—or what—their neighbors really were.
“The run go okay?” he asked.
“Yeah. Smooth. Hey—know anything about the new girl, Arianna?”
Louie shook his head. “Other than she’s easy on the eyes? Not much.”
“I’ve only seen her from a distance. She’s always with Jenna.”
Louie chuckled. “Careful. Don’t let Jenna think you’re interested in her friend.”
I crumpled a scrap of paper and tossed it at him. “Not funny. Jenna knows I’m not into her like that. And I’m not into the new girl either—I just find it odd she only hangs around Jenna.”
Louie smirked. “Then talk to her. Good luck doing that without Jenna glued to her side.”
He wasn’t wrong. Still, I’d learned one thing tonight: her name was Arianna, she worked at the hospital lab, and she wasn’t like the others.
And something about her didn’t add up.
- Writer
