As the evening sun set, casting a warm glow over the packlands, William watched Isabella, Alex, and Sarah head to Isabella's car. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he tried to suppress the unease gnawing at him. He needed a distraction to wash away his fatigue from the outpost tour.

A cold shower would do the trick. The icy water cascaded over his tense muscles, numbing the lingering aches. As he stood under the spray, letting the chill seep into his bones, a sudden jolt of awareness struck him. His wolfy sixth sense prickled, alerting him to something amiss. Isabella had crossed the pack's borders.

His heart rate spiked. Abruptly,...