Chapter 156

Aria

The morning sun was just beginning to rise over the pack lands the following day, casting a golden glow across the dew-covered grass. Darren and I stood at the edge of the village, waiting for the small group of refugees William had promised to bring.

“They’re late,” Darren said, glancing at his watch.

I shrugged. “He said there were more elderly this time. It’s not an easy hike for humans, you know.”

Darren sighed, realizing I was right. Sometimes, I think he forgot that humans had a physical disadvantage to werewolves. No matter how much I got used to being a werewolf myself, I hoped I never forgot what it was like to be a human.

It wasn’t long before the sound of footsteps reached us, and a small group emerged from the forest. At the front was William, his jet black air catching the morning sunlight. His sharp green eyes scanned the area, and when they landed on us, he gave a small nod of acknowledgment. Behind him trailed a handful of people, many elderly as he had said.

But as my gaze swept over the group, I froze.

“Anna?” I whispered.

There, standing near the back of the group, was my elderly neighbor from the city. Her silver hair was tied up in a messy bun, and her hands clutched the leash of her little dachshund, Morty. The dog wagged his tail furiously, his tiny paws dancing in excitement as he spotted me.

“Aria!” Anna called out, waving.

I didn’t think. I just ran.

By the time I reached her, my face was split into a grin. I threw my arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug. Morty yipped and licked at my hand, and Anna pulled back, her eyes wide.

“How did you—”

“It’s a special tincture,” I explained, beaming. I held my hand out to Morty, and he wiggled excitedly in his owner’s arms. “It dulls a werewolf’s scent temporarily so we don’t frighten the dogs.”

Her mouth fell open. “I remember now!” she exclaimed. “I saw it on the documentary on the television, but I didn’t think it actually worked.”

“Well, it does,” I grinned, scooping the little dog into my arms. But then my brow furrowed. “Is your home okay?”

Anna sighed. “It’s alright. But when things started getting bad in the city, I knew I had to leave. I heard about the people coming here and decided to come with them.”

William approached, looking tired but relieved. “Thank you for bringing her,” I said, looking up at him.

He nodded, his expression softening. “Of course. She’s family, isn’t she?”

I blinked, surprised by his words. Family. Yes, Anna was family. She always had been, in a way.

Darren approached then. He extended a hand to Anna with a warm smile. “Welcome to the pack lands. We’re glad to have you here.”

Anna shook his hand, her eyes widening slightly as she took him in. “You must be Darren. My, Aria, he’s handsome.”

Darren raised an eyebrow, glancing at me with a teasing smirk. I blushed. “Yes, he is,” I said.

As we led the group toward the village, William fell into step beside Darren and me. “Things are calming down in the human world, thanks to your documentary. But there are still protests. It’s not over yet.”

Darren nodded, his jaw tightening. “We’ll keep pushing, once the pack lands are secure.”

William hesitated, then glanced over his shoulder. “There’s someone else I want you to meet.”

I followed his gaze, my curiosity piqued. Standing slightly apart from the group was a woman I hadn’t noticed before, which was surprising considering how beautiful she was.

She was tall and striking, with long, raven-black hair that cascaded down her back in waves. Her eyes were a piercing shade of green, and her presence was magnetic, drawing the attention of everyone around her.

And most of all, there was her scent.

I picked it up immediately now that I had a wolf. She was a panther shifter, like william.

William gestured for her to join us, and she stepped forward. “This is Raven,” he said. “She’s here to join our cause.”

My breath caught in my throat. Raven. The name was familiar, but it took me a moment to place it. And then it hit me.

“You’re Raven Blackwood,” I said, my eyes widening.

The woman smiled, her lips curving into a knowing smirk. “In the flesh.”

I was starstruck. Raven Blackwood was one of the most famous actresses in the world, known for her roles in blockbuster films and her modeling career on the side. I had seen her movies and on the runway, admired her talent, and now she was standing right in front of me.

Darren, ever the composed Alpha, stepped forward and extended his hand. “It’s an honor to meet you. I’m a big fan of your work.”

I blinked, surprised by his admission. Darren wasn’t one to gush over celebrities, but here he was, shaking Raven’s hand with admiration in his eyes.

Raven’s smile widened as she shook his hand. “The feeling’s mutual. I’ve heard a lot about you, Alpha Darren.”

The way she said his title sent a strange flicker of unease through me, but I quickly pushed it aside. This was Raven Blackwood. She was here to help us, and that was all that mattered.

As we continued toward the village, the news of Raven’s arrival spread like wildfire. Pack members and humans alike gathered to catch a glimpse of the famous actress, their excitement palpable in the air. Raven handled it with the ease of someone who was used to being in the spotlight, her smile warm and genuine as she greeted everyone.

Once the newcomers were settled, Darren and I retreated to the pack house to check the RSVP list for the summit. The response had been better than we expected, with several packs agreeing to attend, including the ones who had come to the first meeting.

“This is good,” Darren said, his eyes scanning the list. “If we can get even more packs on board, we’ll have a real chance at uniting the werewolves.”

I nodded, although my mind was still reeling from the day’s events. Seeing Anna and Morty again, welcoming Raven—it felt like a blur.

“I need to step out for a bit,” I said, glancing at Darren. “There’s something I need to handle.”

He looked up, his brow furrowing slightly. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” I said, forcing a smile. “Just need to clear my head.”

He nodded and quickly returned his attention to the list. “Okay. Don’t be long.”

I left the pack house, my footsteps carrying me toward the edge of the village. The cool air helped clear my mind, and I took a deep breath, letting the tension seep out of my shoulders. I spent an hour wandering the village, checking on the pack members and the refugees. I delivered some medicine to the elderly folks and even played a game of kickball with the kids, ruffling Lucas’s hair as I passed.

By the time I returned, the pack house was quiet, the only sound the crackling of the fire in the den. I rounded the corner, expecting to find Darren alone, but the sight that greeted me stopped me in my tracks.

Raven was sitting on the couch, her long legs crossed elegantly, her head thrown back in laughter. She had her hand on his shoulder, and Darren was grinning.

A strange feeling took hold of me then, my wolf bristling inside of me.

What was my mate doing with her?