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I shift in my seat, my eyes fixed on the winter landscape flashing by the window of Kaiden’s truck. I’m grateful to be in the back seat so that Kaiden and his betas can talk freely, and I can retreat into my own world. I wish Forrest had been able to come, but I understand he needs to be at the clinic; we can’t both leave. Still, a friendly face would have been welcome.

Not that Kaiden and the others haven’t been friendly. They insist I drive with them instead of in the other trucks with the technicians from other packs, all heading to work in the new Nicholson laboratory—if we want to. Kaiden keeps making it clear that we don’t have to stay otherwise.

I have a feeling this situation is stretching everyone’s newfound capacity for cooperation. Ending their isolation and working together to bring down the hunters, find mates, and end conflicts is one thing, but physically working together and mixing intel will be a new development. So far, there’s been some resistance to my work—wolves worried about what my DNA research will uncover about their individual packs. I think they’re concerned I’ll find weaknesses that could be exploited rather than the strengths I’m looking to build upon.

I think some people are just scared of change, even when it’s being used to help them. These are probably the same people who preferred to shun Volva because they were unable to shift rather than see their potential.

Rowan seems different, his pull stronger than anyone else’s. I can almost taste him in the air; he is so vivid and alive that it takes my breath away. I wonder if he senses my arrival, too, but I doubt it. I doubt he thinks of me at all. He’s an alpha, and otherworldly at that. There is no way he considers me beyond my usefulness. However, my body and wolf don’t seem to care, and the mere thought of him makes my heart race and my skin tingle with anticipation. I rub my hands together in an attempt to snap out of it and focus on the view outside.

Suddenly, we crest a hill, and I gasp as if struck by lightning—the landscape opens up into a breathtaking expanse of deep ravines and towering ridges covered in virgin forest as far as the eye can see. Even from this distance, I can smell the earthiness of the soil and taste the resinous tang in the air. This place feels deep and ancient, not like any forest I’ve visited before, its trees rising high into the sky like spires.

Standing in a large clearing below us, I can see the town, smoke coiling from chimneys into the icy air. It looks small but tidy and inviting. As we get closer, I can see the buildings are all well-kept and far more modern than I’d have expected, sitting in stark contrast to the ancient forest.

We descend into the town slowly, our trucks rumbling over the snow-covered streets. People stop what they're doing to watch us go by, some openly staring while others just nod in acknowledgment. I recognize a couple of the men on the sidewalk from interpack meetings, but I don’t know their names. The town feels similar to our own in terms of it’s the way it looks and the people, but there’s something unique in the air.

From what I’ve gathered, the Nicholson pack has been the most isolated of all. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it’s not this. They may be isolated, but they’ve clearly been doing okay for themselves too. They look strong and resilient as if they could survive anything, and the town feels prosperous.

The smell of freshly baked goods wafts from a nearby bakery as we briefly stop next to it at the crossroads—my mouth waters at the scent of warm cinnamon rolls mixed with freshly ground coffee beans.

“Damn, I’m going to need some food,” Tyson, one of Kaiden’s betas, groans as everyone joins in. It’s been a long drive, and the smell is enticing, but it will have to wait.

Further down the street, it opens up into a main square, and we pass a hardware store and a busy general store, each with fresh displays. This place feels like something out of a fairytale, nestled between mountains and trees as if time has forgotten it exists.

Finally, we pull up outside a large wooden building that must be the laboratory. It looks brand-new, but blends in seamlessly with its surroundings thanks to careful construction materials, clearly chosen by someone who understands the environment well enough not to disturb its natural beauty. As we step out into the cold air, I hear the soft crunch of snow underfoot and take a deep breath—this place is extraordinary.

Standing beside the truck, I see Rowan emerge from the building. His presence fills me with an inexplicable feeling of anticipation. As he approaches, my heart races, and I feel my face flush. Even though we've met before, it feels like the first time all over again. He greets Kaiden warmly before his eyes find mine, locking on me like a magnet. I can’t help but stare back at him. Not for the first time, I’m left wondering why those mismatched eyes are so hypnotizing. It's difficult to tear myself away when Kaiden nudges me gently.

"Come on," he says with a gentle smile. "Let's get inside."

The warmth of the building hits me immediately as we walk through large double doors into a brightly lit foyer area decorated with various animal skulls and antlers mounted on the walls. The scent of pine needles mingles with the sterile smell of cleaning products, and something else I can't quite place hangs in the air—it smells fresh but welcoming at the same time.

Rowan leads us inside, indicating that the building is split into two sides. One is a dedicated laboratory, and the other houses the new pack medical clinic. He’s talking to Kaiden, giving the other alpha the respect of a full tour, but his eyes linger on me every few minutes. We head down a long corridor and a few glass-walled offices filled with people working busily at computers or unboxing what looks like brand-new equipment. We pass several smaller rooms, which I presume are examination rooms or labs before I spot a large cafeteria—a big upgrade from my cupboard with a coffee pot and old fridge.

“And finally, here is somewhere our dedicated scientists can relax after a busy day,” I hear Rowan conclude his tour, clapping his hands together. “What do you think, Kaiden?”

“Very impressive, Rowan. Really, I mean that,” Kaiden replies, and I know he means it. How could he not? Feeling overwhelmed, I walk away from the group slightly and peer through one of the windows that looks down into the lab below. It’s sleek and modern, almost too modern. I’m used to muddling through with barely working microscopes, broken refrigeration, a drafty lab, and limited needles for DNA collection. The range of equipment and space feels slightly intimidating.

I feel his presence suddenly behind me, even though I didn’t hear his approach. He’s not just behind me, he’s incredibly close. If I leaned back, even just a fraction, I think I’d be met with a wall of muscle. I can barely breathe as my whole body freezes.

“And you, Willow, what do you think?” he asks, almost whispering into my hair and sending shivers racing across my skin. The way he says my name highlights that slight lilt to his accent, something buried deep in the inflection that reveals he hasn’t always lived in this part of the world.

I dare not turn since he’s crowding me, so I remain looking toward the lab below. “It’s very impressive…I can see we can get a lot more done. These machines look very, um, new.”

I sound like an idiot as I ramble, and he chuckles, the sound surprisingly jovial. “Well, yes, they are new. Straight from the box, my dear.”

I stifle a groan as we look at the technicians below, literally unpacking them in front of us. Of course, they’re new. Why does he have this effect on me? It’s infuriating. He makes me feel like a fool, tripping up over my own words all the time. I scramble for something to say to recover my composure.

“At least you’ll have no excuse to provide your DNA sample now?” I attempt lightly.

“Mmm,” he smiles, “you really are quite desperate to look very closely at me, aren’t you?”

I scoff at the suggestion, incredulous, but the action causes me to stumble slightly, and his arms fly up to catch me. Suddenly, I’m pressed against his hard body. His height dwarfs me from a distance, but this close, I feel even smaller. Despite my curves, Rowan still manages to make me look petite.

“I…I—” My words fail me as I stammer, lost in his eyes. His hands once braced against the railing, now cradle my hips, drawing me closer still.

“Perhaps we should take this conversation”—he leans in, his lips an inch from mine—“somewhere more private.”

His growl sends a shiver down my spine and warmth between my thighs. I know I should say no and push him away, but his scent—that intoxicating cologne he wears—mixed with a hint of the rain outside clouds my judgment.

“Willow? A moment,” Kaiden calls from across the room, breaking the spell. What the hell am I doing? What must this look like? I spring back, practically sliding along the railing in my escape. I rush toward Kaiden and his betas, well aware that my face must be bright red.

“Yes, um, I’m here,” I say, squeezing between the assembled men to where Kaiden is waiting. He’s staring across at Rowan, an unmistakable scowl on his face.

“Tour the lab with me, Willow; let me know what you think,” he says, leading me toward the door. Once clear, he adds, “Did Rowan upset you?”

I laugh, waving my hand as if to bat away the suggestion. Inside my body, my emotions are still in turmoil; it’s as if I can still feel his hands gripping my hips. “No. No, honestly. He’s just a bit intense, isn’t he? He’s an alpha, after all.”

Kaiden raises his brows at me, and I fall over my words, “Not that you’re all intense. Or strange. That’s not what I mean…”

Kaiden barks out a laugh that makes his whole face light up, “I’m sure Kit would agree wholeheartedly. We are intense, but I get the feeling Rowan is on a different level. All of this,” he says, gesturing to the lab, “is very impressive, but you’re my responsibility, and I won’t leave you here if you’re not happy to be left. If you don’t feel safe.”

My face is on fire under his scrutiny. I know he’s being a good alpha; he’s caring about my well-being. I just wish he wouldn’t look so intently because I’m not sure how to describe my feelings about the encounter with Rowan. It definitely wasn’t fear I was feeling.

The thought of being left here to work doesn’t scare me; what scares me is my own troubling feelings whenever I am near Rowan. He does something to me simply by his closeness, the way those enticing mismatched eyes seem to stare right into my soul, as though he sees something in me that no one else can—it’s ridiculous, of course. If anything, he’s simply toying with me, and I risk embarrassing myself.

Is that fear worth risking the progress we could make here? For the good of all our packs? Of course not.

“The lab is impressive, and this is important work. I’m not scared of Rowan, and I need to do this for all of us.” I say resolutely, and for a moment, I see a flicker of pure respect cross Kaiden’s expression, and I’m surer than ever that I can do this.

But can I cope with the way Rowan makes me feel things I have no right feeling? After what happened to my parents, I have no desire to risk my heart or life by falling for someone as dangerous as Rowen. The thought of being with someone as strong as an alpha when I don’t even have a wolf is unthinkable to me.