Chapter 10: Haunted Whispers (Sabine's POV)

The forest was still, except for the soft rustle of leaves under my paws as I moved through the trees. Owen's scent still clung faintly to the air, mingling with the earthy tang of pine and damp soil. The moonlight cast silver streaks through the canopy above, but my thoughts were as tangled as the undergrowth beneath me.

I slowed my pace, lowering my head as San's voice drifted through my mind like a calming tide.

You're thinking too much again, she said, her tone a mix of amusement and concern.

What else am I supposed to do? I shot back. That wolf... Owen... he's offering me something I've never had. A place to belong. Someone to trust. But it's not that simple, is it?

San hummed thoughtfully. Nothing ever is. But you felt it, didn't you? The bond. He's your mate, Sabine. That's not something you can ignore.

I know, I admitted, the words a whisper in my mind. But trusting someone like that... letting them in...

It's terrifying, San finished for me. I get it. But running from it won't make it go away.

Her words settled over me like a heavy cloak, and I stopped, staring at the dark horizon. Owen's offer echoed in my mind. If I needed him, all I had to do was go to his pack's borders. He would make sure I was safe.

But safety wasn't guaranteed. Not for someone like me.

I turned away from the direction Owen had gone, heading deeper into the forest, toward the place I had once called home. The old hut my parents had built when they escaped pack life was still standing, though barely. It was hidden well, nestled among the dense trees where no patrols dared to go.

The sight of it made my chest tighten. The roof sagged, the walls were weathered and cracked, but it was the only remnant of my family left. My sanctuary. My prison.

I shifted back into my human form as I reached the door, the cold night air biting against my skin. Pushing the creaky door open, I stepped inside, the familiar scent of damp wood and old memories enveloping me.

I dropped onto the rickety chair near the small, soot-covered hearth, pulling a blanket over my shoulders. San's presence was quieter now, letting me sort through my thoughts without interruption.

Owen's words lingered, wrapping around my mind like the echo of a distant song.

If you don't want to come with me, you don't have to. But if you ever need help, come to the pack's border. Tell the patrol to call for me.

Could I do that? Could I trust him?

I barely had time to answer the question before a noise outside the hut snapped me to attention. My wolf senses sharpened instantly, and San growled low in the back of my mind.

Someone's here.

I crept to the door, peering out through the small gap in the wood. At first, I saw nothing but shadows, but then the faint sound of voices reached my ears.

My heart thundered as I strained to listen. The voices were low, hushed, but I caught bits and pieces of the conversation.

"...can't believe they're sending patrols this far out..."

"...the Beta's orders. He's been restless since he came back..."

Beta. Owen.

My breath hitched as I pressed closer to the door, my heart pounding louder than the distant voices.

"...doesn't matter what he thinks," one of the voices continued, a bitter edge to their tone. "The Alpha's made it clear. Rogues are a threat, and if we find any, we take them out. No questions."

I froze, the words slicing through me like a blade.

San growled again, louder this time. Did you hear that?

I did, I replied, my mind racing.

They'll kill you if they find you, she said, her tone urgent. You have to leave. Now.

But my legs refused to move. Owen's face flashed in my mind, the sincerity in his eyes when he'd told me I could trust him. How could I trust him when his pack viewed rogues like me as threats to be eliminated?

You don't know if he knows about this, San said gently, sensing my hesitation. But you need to be careful.

I nodded, forcing myself to breathe as the voices faded into the distance. Whoever they were, they hadn't found the hut, but that didn't mean they wouldn't come back.

I pulled the blanket tighter around me, sinking onto the floor as the weight of what I'd overheard settled over me.

Owen had made a promise. But could he keep it?

And if he couldn't, what would I do then?

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