The meeting lasted longer than I expected.
By the time Beta Garrick finished explaining the new patrol structure, most of the wolves in the room looked exhausted.
The atmosphere was nothing like the meetings we'd had before.
There was no casual complaining.
No teasing.
No one arguing about who should patrol which territory.
Everyone understood that things had changed.
The missing patrol had made sure of that.
I stood near the back of the room, quietly listening.
Beta Garrick stood at the front beside Alpha Roran.
Kieran was there too.
So was Callen.
Several elite warriors had returned from the borders and were standing among the other patrol members.
Garrick looked across the room.
"From this point forward, the patrols and warriors will work together."
A few wolves exchanged glances.
"Patrollers know the territory," he continued. "Warriors know how to handle combat situations. We need both."
One of the older patrol wolves raised his hand.
"So we're being combined?"
"Yes."
"Into permanent groups?"
"Until further notice."
That caused more murmuring.
I wasn't surprised.
People didn't like uncertainty.
They wanted to know who they would work with.
Who would protect them.
Who would lead them.
Who they could trust.
I didn't care.
Not anymore.
I had already spent most of my life working alone.
Being assigned to a group wasn't going to magically make me feel like I belonged.
Garrick began calling names.
One group.
Then another.
Warriors and patrollers mixed together.
Some people looked relieved when they heard who they'd been assigned with.
Others looked annoyed.
I stayed quiet.
Then the final group was announced.
My name wasn't called.
Again.
I wasn't surprised.
I almost felt relieved.
There was a strange comfort in being overlooked.
At least nobody could expect anything from me.
Garrick continued explaining routes and schedules.
I stopped listening.
The moment the meeting was officially dismissed, I turned around and left.
No waiting.
No asking questions.
No looking for anyone.
I simply walked out.
---
The air outside felt better.
Cooler.
Less crowded.
I took a deep breath as I walked away from the meeting grounds.
The village was busy around me, but I barely noticed.
My mind was still somewhere else.
The forest.
The figure.
Those eyes.
That strange feeling of familiarity.
I kept thinking about what I had seen near the training grounds.
Maybe I should have told Lysandra.
Maybe I should have told Alpha Roran.
Maybe I should have told someone.
But what would I say?
I saw someone standing in the forest.
He didn't attack me.
He disappeared when Mira called my name.
That would probably earn me a lecture about staying away from the trees.
I could already hear Lysandra.
Elara, if you see something strange, you tell me.
I sighed.
Maybe I would.
Eventually.
For now, I just wanted to train.
I headed toward the barracks.
The training grounds were quiet again.
I liked it there.
No questions.
No whispers.
No expectations.
Just me and the wooden training posts.
I had almost reached the training area when I heard footsteps behind me.
I didn't turn around.
I knew the scent.
Cedar.
Warm cedar smoke.
Kieran.
My wolf immediately lifted her head.
Mate.
"I know."
You're not going to turn around?
"No."
Why?
"Because he'll catch up anyway."
She was quiet.
She knew I was right.
The footsteps came closer.
Then a familiar voice spoke behind me.
"Do you always walk this fast?"
I kept walking.
"Usually."
There was a pause.
"You're not going to ask who I am?"
I almost smiled.
"I know who you are."
His footsteps matched mine.
"So you knew I was following you?"
"Yes."
"And you didn't care?"
"I was going to the training grounds."
"I know."
I glanced sideways.
Kieran was walking beside me now.
He looked different from yesterday.
Less like a warrior.
More like the person I remembered from before everything became complicated.
His hands were relaxed.
His expression wasn't.
"Why did you leave so quickly?" he asked.
"The meeting was over."
"I mean before everyone else."
"I didn't need to stay."
He looked at me.
"You didn't want to know your group?"
I shrugged.
"I don't have one."
"You do now."
I stopped walking.
He stopped too.
"What?"
"The new groups."
I looked at him.
"I wasn't assigned."
Kieran frowned.
"You were."
"I didn't hear my name."
"Because Garrick changed the list."
I stared at him.
"What?"
"Some wolves were moved around after the original groups were made."
I didn't know what to say.
I hadn't even realized there had been changes.
Kieran sighed.
"That's what I was trying to tell you."
I looked away.
"Why?"
"Because you keep leaving before anyone can explain things to you."
That annoyed me.
"I don't need anyone to explain things."
"You might."
"I've managed this long."
"That's not the point."
I looked at him again.
Kieran's expression was strangely serious.
"You don't have to do everything alone."
The words hit harder than they should have.
I looked down.
"I've been doing it alone for years."
"I know."
That surprised me.
He didn't say it with pity.
He just said it.
Like he had noticed.
Like he had been paying attention.
I swallowed.
"Then you know why I don't care about the grouping."
Kieran's eyes stayed on me.
"Why?"
I shrugged.
"I'm not important enough for it to matter."
His jaw tightened.
"Don't say that."
"It's true."
"No."
The answer came too quickly.
I looked at him.
He seemed to realize how strongly he'd reacted.
His expression softened.
"You don't have to believe you're important to everyone else," he said. "But at least don't make yourself unimportant before anyone else gets the chance to decide."
I didn't know how to respond.
So I started walking again.
Kieran followed.
---
For a while, neither of us spoke.
It wasn't uncomfortable.
That surprised me.
I had expected his presence to make me nervous.
But it didn't.
Maybe because I had grown used to him being around.
Maybe because he had been appearing more often lately.
Or maybe because some part of me had already gotten tired of being afraid.
"So," he said eventually.
"So?"
"Why don't you want to be involved?"
"Involved in what?"
"The patrol groups."
I shrugged.
"I wasn't asked."
"You were."
"Not before."
He sighed.
"That's not what I mean."
I glanced at him.
"I don't know, Kieran."
The words came out honestly.
"I just don't think I'm useful in a group."
"Why?"
"Because I'm not strong."
"You've trained for years."
"Alone."
"That doesn't make you weak."
I didn't answer.
He continued.
"You know the territory better than most."
"I spend a lot of time outside."
"You notice things."
I looked at him.
He seemed almost amused.
"Things other people don't."
I thought about the symbol.
The strange herbs.
The footsteps.
The figure in the trees.
My expression changed.
Kieran noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
He studied me for a second longer.
Then he let it go.
"Fine."
We continued walking.
When we reached the training ground, I picked up a wooden sword.
Kieran watched.
"You train every day?"
"Almost."
"Alone?"
"Usually."
He nodded slowly.
Then he walked toward the weapons rack.
"Why?"
I frowned.
"Why what?"
"Why do you train alone?"
I shrugged.
"Nobody asks me to train with them."
Kieran pulled a wooden sword from the rack.
"Then I'll ask."
I stared at him.
"What?"
He tossed me another training sword.
I caught it automatically.
"Train with me."
I blinked.
"You want to spar?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because you said nobody asks."
I stared at him.
"That's not exactly what I meant."
"I know."
He stepped onto the training ground.
"Come on."
My wolf immediately became interested.
Yes.
"No."
Yes.
"Stop."
Fight him.
I sighed.
Kieran raised an eyebrow.
"Talking to yourself?"
"No."
"Your wolf?"
I glared at him.
"Maybe."
A small smile appeared on his face.
It was the first real smile I'd seen from him in a while.
"Then what does she say?"
"Nothing useful."
"Sounds like mine."
I couldn't help laughing.
It slipped out before I could stop it.
Kieran's smile widened slightly.
"There."
"What?"
"You laughed."
I immediately looked away.
"Don't make it weird."
"I'm not."
"You are."
He shook his head.
"Just get ready."
I tightened my grip around the wooden sword.
I stepped onto the training ground.
The distance between us was only a few feet.
Yet somehow it felt different.
This wasn't a patrol.
It wasn't a meeting.
It wasn't the Blood Moon.
There were no whispers.
No crowd.
No expectations.
Just two wolves standing across from each other.
Kieran raised his sword.
"First to three?"
I nodded.
"Fine."
He shifted his stance.
I did the same.
For a moment, neither of us moved.
Then Kieran attacked.
I blocked.
The impact traveled through my arms.
I stepped back.
He followed.
Another strike.
I twisted aside.
Another.
I blocked high, then swung toward his side.
He dodged.
"You're faster than I expected."
"I train."
"I can see that."
He attacked again.
This time I didn't retreat.
I stepped toward him.
Our wooden swords collided.
The sound echoed across the empty training ground.
I pushed against him.
He pushed back.
His eyes met mine.
For one strange second, everything disappeared.
The village.
The patrol.
The missing wolves.
The forest.
There was only him.
And that familiar scent.
Warm cedar smoke.
My wolf whispered softly.
Mate.
I pulled away.
Kieran noticed.
His expression changed.
But he didn't say anything.
He simply raised his sword again.
"Again?"
I took a breath.
"Again."
And for the first time in a long time...
I didn't feel like I was training alone.