Deep in the woods, in a place untouched by human exploration, lay a hidden village cloaked from the world. A place even the government had long given up reclaiming, deterred by phenomena no science could explain. This was Roman territory. The home of the Roman's Pack.
Its inhabitants were not ordinary people.
They were beings of monstrous strength, speed, and resilience....creatures who could lift vehicles with ease, outrun bullets, and recover from wounds that would kill a human ten times over. Isolated by choice, they lived away from prying eyes, with only a select few granted permission to venture beyond their borders and walk among humans.
At the heart of this mystical sanctuary, high atop a massive tree nestled in a thick forest canopy, stood a grand wooden structure, a house built for wolves, not men. There, amid the whispering leaves, two creatures clashed.
Alan and Micha, both in their monstrous forms, were locked in a fierce but playful sparring match. They lunged at each other with a ferocity that would have torn a normal man in two. Muscles tensed with each brutal impact, and the air vibrated with the force of their collisions. With a sudden twist mid-air, Micha caught Alan and hurled him downward. They crashed into the earth with a deafening thud that sent nearby birds into the sky.
As the dust settled, both beasts began to shift, bones cracking and fur receding, limbs reshaping until they stood, human once more, naked and grinning.
A nearby pack member tossed them clothes without a word.
"Coward," Alan muttered, slipping on his shirt.
"You're welcome," Micha replied with a smug grin.
But their moment of levity shattered when a third wolf approached.
"The Alpha requires your presence," he said.
That single sentence was enough to wipe the smirk from both their faces. Asher Roman's summons were never casual.
******
They entered the Alpha's chamber in silence. The room was dimly lit. Asher stood with his back to them, a towering figure radiating raw dominance. Even in stillness, his presence was suffocating.
Alan and Micha lowered their heads instinctively. Their wolves bowed before the king.
"You called for us, Alpha?" Alan asked respectfully.
"I did." Asher's voice was smooth but edged with power. "You will leave the pack tonight. Integrate with the humans. Attend their schools. Blend in."
Alan frowned. That wasn't a request....it was a mission. "It would be an honor, Alpha… but I assume this isn't just about blending in."
Asher turned, his gaze sharp enough to slice through bone. "You are correct. There's a girl named Alisha Montes. She is tied to the "beacon". Her awakening will draw threats beyond her comprehension. You are to protect her."
Micha's brow twitched, his tone laced with doubt. "Since when do we protect humans?"
The air grew heavy...
Without a word, Asher crossed the space in a blur. His hand morphed mid-stride, talons gleaming, and before Micha could react, the Alpha's clawed hand slammed into his abdomen. Micha gasped, stumbling as blood bloomed across his shirt.
"Never question my orders," Asher growled, voice low and dangerous. "I am your Alpha."
He withdrew his claw and stepped back. Micha collapsed to one knee, trembling as his beast recoiled in silent submission. Alan remained perfectly still, head bowed even lower.
Asher's voice dropped into something calmer, but no less commanding. "Her safety is your priority. Nothing else matters. Leave now."
He turned away, the conversation over.
Alan crouched and helped Micha to his feet, guiding him out of the chamber without a word. They walked in silence, broken only by Micha's shallow breathing. Wounds inflicted by the Alpha didn't heal like regular injuries, they left a sting that went deeper.
At last, Micha muttered, "This better be worth it…"
But Alan didn't answer. His mind was already spiraling, trying to understand what could make their Alpha, the coldest and most ruthless wolf to walk the forest, care about a human girl.
**********
The evening air was crisp, laced with the scent of pine and the hush of twilight. The sun had melted into the horizon, leaving strokes of orange in the sky. Streetlights blinked to life one by one, casting pools of light on the winding cobblestone path that wove through the quiet park. Shadows stretched long between the trees, stirred by a gentle wind, as distant crickets and the mournful hoot of an owl filled the air with a hushed kind of music.
Alisha and Danny walked side by side, their footsteps soft against the gravel. There was a rhythm to the silence between them, not awkward, but easy.....like their presence alone was enough.
Danny's hands were buried in the pockets of his jacket, while Alisha wrapped her arms around herself, the chill biting through her thin cardigan.
"This is nice," Danny said eventually, his voice low, as if afraid to shatter the quiet. "I don't think I've ever actually slowed down enough to enjoy something as simple as a walk."
"Not even once?" Alisha teased, her eyes scanning the trees. "You? Mr. Calm-and-Mysterious?"
He smirked. "Okay, maybe once. I was like ten. It ended with me falling into a pond. Very traumatic."
Alisha laughed, the sound bright and musical. "Oh, I would definitely pay to see that."
"Glad my trauma brings you joy," Danny said, mock wounded. "Anyway, your turn. What do you like? Besides making fun of me."
She hesitated, smile faltering slightly. Her pace slowed.
"I like…" she began, then paused, searching for the words. "Moments like this. When everything feels still. When I don't have to rush to the next thing or....look over my shoulder."
Danny's head tilted slightly, his gaze sharpening. "Look over your shoulder? Why would you....."
"It's a metaphor," she cut in quickly, laughing under her breath. "I mean, I've just… moved around a lot. My mom and I never really stayed anywhere long. New schools, new people, always starting over. It was exhausting."
He nodded slowly, his voice softening. "That sounds rough."
"Sometimes it was," she admitted. "But here… here feels different. Like I can finally breathe. Like I'm not constantly bracing for something to go wrong."
A silence fell between them, heavy with unspoken things. Danny glanced at her, thoughtful.
"I'm glad you're here, Alisha. You… fit here. This town suits you."
Her eyes met his, shimmering with surprise and something softer. "Thanks, Danny. That means more than you know."
A sudden gust of wind stirred the trees, and a single leaf spiraled down in front of them. Danny caught it without thinking, but the light in his eyes dimmed. His posture stiffened.
Alisha noticed. "Hey… are you okay?"
Danny didn't answer right away. His gaze swept the shadows.
Then he reached for her hand. "We gotta go. Now."
There was no panic in his voice. She didn't argue. Something had shifted in the air, it was subtle, but unmistakable. The chill that ran down her spine wasn't just the cold.
Within minutes, they were pushing through the door of a warmly lit restaurant. The glow of overhead lights and the clatter of cutlery offered a comforting contrast to the darkness outside.
Danny released her hand, flashing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Hungry? I'm starving. And, y'know, what's a date without food?"
Alisha arched a brow, not convinced. "You're deflecting."
"Guilty," he said, pulling out a chair for her. "But let's eat first. I promise, it'll make sense."
She hesitated but eventually sat, her gaze never leaving him.
When their meals arrived, Alisha barely touched hers. Danny kept scanning the room, his body tense despite his best efforts to play it cool.
Finally, she couldn't hold it in. "Are you going to tell me what's going on, or should I start guessing?"
Danny sighed, setting his fork down with a soft clink. "I just… felt like someone was following us."
Alisha's eyes widened. "What? Are you serious?"
"I didn't want to freak you out. And I didn't want to seem like the guy who's always getting stalked."
"Are you?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
Danny chuckled lightly. "If I was, I'd have taken care of it before tonight. I wouldn't have dragged you into anything."
She leaned in, her voice low. "And what exactly would 'take care of it' mean?"
He blinked, realizing his mistake. "I meant… the police, obviously. What else?"
Alisha studied him for a moment, but let it slide.....barely.
As the meal wore on, the tension began to melt. They left the restaurant behind, wandering into a karaoke bar where they sang off-key, danced like fools, and laughed so hard it hurt. The tension of earlier dissolved, and for a little while, Alisha let herself forget.
Let herself feel normal.
*******
Later, Danny's car rolled to a stop in front of her house. They stepped out, walking slowly to her front porch.
"This was the most fun I've had in forever," Alisha admitted, her smile genuine.
"I'm glad," Danny said, his eyes warm and focused on her.
She turned to unlock the door. "Well… goodnight. I'll see you..."
But she didn't finish. Their eyes locked, and something pulled them closer. Danny leaned in, hesitant but hopeful. Alisha mirrored the motion. Their lips were inches apart...
Click.
The door swung open.
"Mom!" Alisha yelped, jumping back as her cheeks flared hot.
Mrs. Montes blinked at them, oblivious to the moment she'd shattered. "Oh! Danny. I didn't realize you two were out here."
"Good evening, Mrs. Montes," Danny said smoothly, unbothered. "Just making sure Alisha got home safe."
"How sweet of you," she said, glancing between the two with a knowing smile.
Danny made his exit quickly. But just before he turned away, he leaned in again, his voice barely a whisper. "Lock your doors and windows tonight. Please."
Alisha's breath caught. His tone was calm, but something in his eyes.....an edge of warning that lingered.
She nodded, suddenly unsure of everything.
Danny gave her a final look, then walked to his car and disappeared into the night.
Alisha stood frozen in the doorway. The warmth of their near-kiss still lingered on her lips… but so did the chill of his warning.