Riley's POV
I wake to the sound of soft voices outside my room, the packhouse alive with movement as the morning sun filters through the curtains, casting golden streaks across the wooden floor. It's 09:15 AM WAT, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, and my body aches from last night's fight, every muscle protesting as I sit up. The memory of my first shift floods back, fur sprouting, claws digging into the earth, the taste of blood, leaving me both exhilarated and terrified. My green fleece is torn, hanging off one shoulder, and the vial in my pocket feels like a useless weight now, a relic of the life I can't return to. I rub my eyes, the scratches on my arms stinging, and swing my legs over the bed, my boots still caked with mud from the clearing.
Downstairs, the kitchen hums with activity. Sarah stands at the stove, frying eggs, the sizzle mixing with the clatter of plates. Daniel talks with a few pack members, their faces grim, maps spread across the table. The triplets sit near the window, their bowls of cereal half-eaten, their eyes turning to me as I enter. Silas's gaze is intense, his jaw tight, while Caleb offers a small smile, his blue eyes warm. Ethan leans back, his grin crooked. "Morning, fighter," he says, his voice light, but there's a flicker of concern in his tone.
I nod, grabbing a mug of coffee from the counter, the heat seeping into my hands, the bitter scent grounding me. "How's everyone?" I ask, my voice hoarse, my throat dry from last night's screams.
"We're good," Caleb says, pushing a plate of eggs toward me, his fingers brushing the table. "A few scratches, but nothing serious. You held your own out there."
I sit, poking at the eggs, the yolk breaking under my fork, but my appetite's gone, replaced by a gnawing worry. "What about Jasper? He knew too much, about me, about you." My eyes flick to Silas, who sets his spoon down, the clink sharp.
"He's a rogue leader," Silas says, his voice low, his hands resting on the table. "He's been watching us, probably for months. Your shift confirmed what he suspected, you're our mate, and that makes you a target."
My stomach twists, and I set the fork down, the plate clattering softly. "And Lila? If she didn't betray us, we're locking up an innocent person." The thought of her in the cells, her pleading eyes, haunts me.
Ethan sighs, running a hand through his hair. "We're checking her story today. Daniel's got a team on it. But we can't ignore the timing of the attack."
Before I can respond, Sarah calls us to the living room, her voice firm. The pack gathers, their faces tense, and Daniel stands by the fireplace, a map in hand. "The rogues retreated, but they'll regroup," he says, pointing to a spot in the forest. "Jasper's smart. He'll use Riley's presence against us. We need to be ready."
I shift uncomfortably, my scratched arms itching under my sleeves. Caleb notices, his hand brushing mine briefly. "We'll train you more," he says quietly. "You're part of this now."
After the meeting, the triplets take me back to the clearing, the air crisp, the grass still damp. Silas hands me the gloves again, his touch brief but firm. "Focus on your wolf," he instructs, his voice sharp. We spar, his punches quick, my dodges clumsy but improving. Ethan laughs when I land a hit, his grin wide. "That's my girl!" he says, dodging my next swing. Caleb corrects my stance, his hands gentle, his breath warm against my ear. By noon, I'm sweaty, my muscles burning, but I feel stronger, the wolf inside me waking with each move.
Back at the packhouse, a shout interrupts lunch. Daniel storms in, Lila behind him, her wrists unbound, her face pale but defiant. "She's clear," he says, his voice gruff. "Someone framed her, left a fake note in her room."
I rush to her, my heart leaping. "Lila, I'm so sorry," I say, my voice breaking, tears welling up. She hugs me, her arms trembling, her breath shaky. "I knew you'd believe me," she whispers.
Silas steps forward, his eyes narrowing. "Who did this?"
Daniel shakes his head. "We don't know yet. But it's someone close, someone who knew our plans." His gaze lingers on me, and I feel the weight of suspicion, my past with Diane and Carl flashing in my mind.
The afternoon passes in tense training, the triplets pushing me harder, their voices a mix of encouragement and urgency. As dusk falls, we gather again, the pack preparing for another possible attack. I stand by the window, the forest dark outside, my reflection showing a girl I barely recognize, scratched, tired, but determined. Ethan joins me, his shoulder brushing mine. "You're doing great," he says, his voice soft. "We've got you."
But doubt creeps in. If someone in the pack framed Lila, could they target me next? The bond with the triplets pulses, their presence a comfort, but Jasper's words, You're one of us now, echo, a warning I can't ignore. I touch the vial in my pocket, its cold glass a reminder of my old life, and wonder if I'll ever fully let it go. The packhouse grows quiet, the night settling in, and I know the fight isn't over, it's just waiting, lurking in the shadows beyond the trees.