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STONE BROTHERS

Marcus Stone stepped from his SUV into the clearing, the familiar weight of history settling on his shoulders like an old coat. Nine years had passed since he’d last stood on these grounds—nine years since the night that had changed everything.

“You feel it too,” Derek stated, coming to stand beside him.

“Hard to miss,” Marcus replied, his eyes scanning the ancient stone circle that dominated the clearing. “Place has a memory.”

The dueling grounds hadn’t changed much in the intervening years, with the same ring of standing stones, weathered by centuries of Pacific Northwest rain. The same moss-covered altar stood at the center. Then there was the same sense of watchful presence that made the hair on the back of his neck stand up.

What had changed was them. The last time they’d been here, they were barely more than boys, watching their parents and grandparents die while trying to protect a thirteen-year-old Kai from the Blackwoods. Now they returned as alphas, preparing to defend their territory and mate once again.

“Appropriate, in a way,” Marcus murmured. “Coming full circle.”

Derek snorted. “Let’s hope this visit ends better than the last one.”

The sound of car doors closing announced the arrival of the council. Elder Grey led the procession, her silver hair gleaming in the afternoon sun. Despite her advanced age, she moved with the grace of a wolf half her years, her cane more accessory than necessity. Behind her came Elders Rivers, Redwood, Standing Bear, and Black Hawk—the remaining members of the Cedar Grove Pack Council.

“Alpha Stone,” Elder Grey greeted them formally. “The preparations proceed as planned?”

Marcus inclined his head respectfully. “The grounds will be ready by sundown tomorrow. My security team has already established the perimeter.”

“Good.” Elder Grey’s pale eyes surveyed the clearing with the sharp assessment of someone who had witnessed more supernatural ceremonies than most wolves had full moons. “The Knox Pack has confirmed their attendance. Twenty wolves, including Alpha Knox and his heir.”

“Small showing,” Derek noted, his tactical mind already calculating angles and positions. “They know they’re beaten.”

“Perhaps,” Elder Rivers interjected, his diplomatic instincts clearly engaged. “Or perhaps they’re being cautious. This is not just about territory anymore, not with your mate’s… unique heritage.”

And there it was—the real reason for this inspection. Not just the duel, but Kai. Always Kai.

“My mate will be protected,” Marcus stated, the edge in his voice making it clear this wasn’t open for discussion.

“No one doubts that, Alpha Stone,” Elder Redwood assured him, his dark eyes sympathetic. “But we must consider all possibilities. Your mate’s condition remains… unusual.”

Unusual. Such a polite term for “stuck as a tiny wolf with mysterious dual bloodlines that no one fully understands.” Marcus would have laughed if the situation weren’t so serious.

“Dr. White continues to monitor him,” he said instead. “And Min-seo Kim has been conducting traditional rituals that seem to be helping.”

“Ah yes, the Korean shaman.” Elder Standing Bear nodded. “An interesting addition to your household. Her presence has been… noted.”

The way he said “noted” suggested more than casual observation. Marcus exchanged a quick glance with Derek, whose eyes had narrowed slightly.

“There have been other… presences noted as well,” Elder Black Hawk said, moving toward the center of the stone circle. “Strangers in town. Watchers in the forest.”

“Tourists,” Derek suggested, though his tone made it clear he didn’t believe it. “The festival always brings stragglers.”

“Perhaps,” Elder Grey said, using her cane to trace a pattern in the dirt at the base of the central altar. “But these strangers do not watch the town. They watch the borders. They watch the manor. And lately, they watch this place.”

A chill that had nothing to do with the autumn air ran down Marcus’ spine. “You’ve seen them?”

“Not directly,” Elder Grey admitted. “But the land speaks. The trees remember. There are eyes in our territory that do not belong to wolf or human.”

“My team has reported unusual movements,” Derek acknowledged, his military bearing more pronounced now. “We assumed it was Knox supporters or Blackwood scouts. But the patterns don’t fit either pack’s usual tactics.”

“They’re too… precise,” Elder Rivers added. “Too patient. Wolves, even disciplined ones, eventually make their presence known. These watchers…” He shook his head. “They wait.”

“For what?” Marcus asked, though he suspected he already knew the answer.

“For him,” Elder Grey said simply. “For your mate. For the quarter-wolf with First Blood heritage who somehow carries something more.”