Riley's POV
The packhouse feels heavy the next day, whispers about Lila floating through the halls like ghosts, their voices low and accusing. I can't focus, my mind stuck on the letter from Diane, the words looping endlessly, my dad was an Alpha, and she hid it from me, and the look in Lila's eyes as they dragged her away, her desperate plea for me to believe her. I sit on the porch, the cold Montana air biting at my cheeks, my breath puffing out in little clouds that vanish quickly. The wooden steps creak as Caleb comes out, holding a mug of hot chocolate, steam rising from it in delicate curls, the sweet smell drifting toward me. "Thought you might need this," he says, handing it to me, his fingers brushing mine for a brief moment, warm and steady.
I take the mug, the warmth sinking into my hands, grounding me, the sweetness of the chocolate calming my nerves just a little. "Thanks," I mumble, staring at the trees, their branches swaying in the chilly breeze, leaves rustling softly. "I don't know what to think anymore."
"About Lila?" Caleb asks, sitting beside me on the steps, the boards creaking under his weight, his shoulder close to mine. "Or about you?"
"Both," I say, my voice low, my fingers tightening around the mug, the heat almost burning my palms. "If Lila really told those wolves about us… how can I trust anyone? And if she didn't, then why is everyone so quick to blame her?"
Caleb sighs, his shoulder brushing mine, the contact warm through my fleece, a quiet comfort I don't expect. "You can trust us," he says, his voice steady, his blue eyes fixed on the horizon. "We'd never hurt you, Riley. We're here to keep you safe, no matter what."
I look at him, his blue eyes calm, a softness in them that makes my chest tighten, a mix of fear and something softer I can't name. I want to believe him, but I'm scared, the doubt gnawing at me like a hungry wolf. "What if I can't be what you want?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper, my breath shaky. "I don't even know how to be a wolf. I've spent my whole life hiding it, pretending I'm human."
"Then we'll help you," Caleb says, his hand resting on mine, his touch gentle but firm, his fingers warm against my skin. "But you have to stop hiding from who you are. You're stronger than you think, and we'll be with you every step of the way."
I pull my hand away, standing up, the mug sloshing a little, hot chocolate dripping onto the step. "I'm not ready," I say, my voice trembling, my heart racing with fear, and I head back inside, the door creaking as I push it open. I lock my room door behind me and pull out the vial from my pocket, my hands trembling as I hold it up to the light streaming through the window. The liquid inside glints, a clear shimmer that holds all my fears, a reminder of everything I've been running from since I was a kid. I don't want to keep hiding, to keep injecting this stuff between my toes to stay human, but letting my wolf out terrifies me more than anything I've ever faced, more than Carl's drunken anger, more than the rogues.
A knock makes me jump, the vial almost slipping from my fingers, and Ethan's voice comes through the door, light and teasing, a hint of a smile in his tone. "Riley, we're going for a run in the woods. Want to come with us? It'll help clear your head."
I hesitate, my heart pounding, then shove the vial back into my pocket and open the door, the hinges squeaking softly. "Okay," I say, my voice quiet, needing to clear my head, to escape the weight pressing down on me. We walk into the forest, the air cold and damp, the ground soft under my boots, the scent of pine filling my lungs. The triplets move easily, their steps sure, their laughter echoing through the trees, while I trip over roots, my breath puffing in the chilly air, my boots catching on uneven ground. "Slow down," I call, my voice echoing, my hands stuffed in my pockets to keep warm.
Ethan grins, turning back, his black hair catching the moonlight filtering through the branches. "Come on, Riley! Keep up with us!" he says, his tone playful, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief.
We reach a clearing, the moon bright above, casting silver shadows on the grass, the air still and quiet except for the rustle of leaves. The triplets stop, and Silas turns to me, his eyes serious, his jaw set, his broad shoulders tense. "Try letting your wolf out," he says, his voice low, steady, but with an edge of encouragement. "Just a little. You need to start somewhere, Riley, and this is a safe place."
I shake my head, stepping back, my boots sinking into the muddy grass, my heart racing. "I can't," I say, my voice trembling, fear clawing at my throat.
"You can," Caleb says, moving closer, his hands in his pockets, his blue eyes soft but firm. "We're right here with you. We won't let anything happen to you."
My heart pounds, but their steady gazes push me forward, their presence a quiet strength I cling to. I close my eyes, letting the feeling I've buried deep rise to the surface, like a wave I can't stop, a tide pulling me under. Pain hits me hard, sharp and burning, my bones aching as if they're breaking, and I gasp, falling to my knees in the grass, the cold seeping through my jeans. Fur sprouts on my arms, soft and gray, my nails turning to claws, sharp and curved, glinting in the moonlight. I panic, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps, and I fight it, pushing the wolf back down, my chest heaving. The change stops, the fur fading, my hands human again, trembling against the ground. I sit there, panting, tears falling down my cheeks, the cold air stinging my skin, my body shaking with the effort.
"It's okay," Ethan says, kneeling beside me, his hand on my shoulder, warm and steady, his voice gentle. "That was a good start, Riley. You did more than you think, and that's something to be proud of."
But I feel like I failed, the weight of my fear pressing down on me, heavy and unyielding. The triplets help me up, their hands gentle, their touch grounding me, and we walk back to the packhouse, the moon lighting our way, casting long shadows behind us. I'm quiet, my mind spinning with what just happened, my body still trembling from the partial shift. I felt my wolf, really felt it, for the first time, the raw power beneath my skin, the wildness I've always pushed away.