The winds of change were always evident in the air, and Selena could feel it today. After the quiet serenity of her visit to Aiden's family, a subtle sense of unease began to creep into her chest. Aiden had been unusually distant since their return from the family gathering. His eyes, usually so calm and focused, had a faraway look, as if his thoughts were miles away.
Selena couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming. Something that neither she nor Aiden could control.
It was late afternoon when the unsettling feeling intensified. She was sitting on the porch of the house Aiden had built for them, a modest yet beautiful home on the outskirts of the pack's territory. The sound of children's laughter echoed from the yard as the twins played, but even their joy couldn't lift Selena's growing sense of dread.
She had just stood up to walk inside when a sharp, unfamiliar scent hit her senses. It was earthy, tinged with the smell of the forest, but beneath it was something… something more familiar. Her heart skipped a beat.
Aiden's voice broke the silence from behind her. "He's here."
Selena turned around to find Aiden standing at the doorway, his expression darkening as he watched a lone figure approach from the forest. The figure was tall, with a broad frame and a determined stride. His hair was dark, slightly graying at the temples, and his stance was one that spoke of years of battle experience.
Selena's heart fluttered uneasily in her chest as the man drew closer. She felt the tension in the air shift—this man was no stranger to Aiden, but who was he?
Aiden stepped forward to greet the stranger, his tone low but laced with unmistakable respect. "I didn't expect you to show up."
The man's lips curled into a small smile, his eyes glinting with a mixture of humor and something darker. "You don't get to run from the past, Aiden. Not forever."
As he approached, Selena could feel the palpable force of his presence, even from a distance. The way he walked, with purpose and pride, reminded her of Aiden's commanding presence—but there was something else in his eyes. A history, perhaps. A shared bond, one that had been broken and now, years later, was coming to a head.
Aiden stood tall, his fists clenched at his sides. "What do you want, Jace?"
Selena stepped forward slowly, her eyes moving between Aiden and the stranger, trying to make sense of what was unfolding. The man—Jace—stopped just a few feet away from them, his gaze shifting briefly to Selena.
She met his eyes, and for a moment, the world seemed to still. There was something familiar in the way he looked at her, something that tugged at her memory but was just out of reach.
"I'm here to make sure you don't get too comfortable," Jace said, his voice smooth but with an edge of warning. "The world's not done with you yet, Aiden. And neither are the things you've left behind."
Aiden's jaw tightened. "I left nothing behind."
Jace raised an eyebrow. "You think so? You think the decisions you made all those years ago don't still have consequences? That you can just walk away from your past?"
Selena watched as Aiden's fists relaxed, his expression guarded but intense. He turned his gaze to her briefly before facing Jace again. "I don't need you reminding me of it."
Jace chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "You're not getting away that easily, Aiden. Things have changed. And it's not just about you anymore."
Selena's confusion grew. What was Jace talking about? And why did his words feel so loaded? She glanced at Aiden, sensing that there was more to this encounter than he was letting on.
"What do you mean, Jace?" Selena finally spoke, her voice calm but firm. "Why are you here?"
Jace's eyes locked onto hers, and for a brief moment, there was something unreadable in his gaze. He studied her for a long while before answering. "I'm here because the world you both think you can hide in is crumbling. There are forces out there—old enemies of Aiden's—that won't rest until they get what they want."
Aiden's expression shifted, a flicker of unease crossing his features before he quickly masked it. "You don't need to get involved in this, Selena."
But it was too late. Selena could feel the weight of his words. She knew that whatever this was, it was about to drag her into a conflict she wasn't prepared for.
"Old enemies?" Selena repeated, her voice trembling slightly. "What are you talking about?"
Jace's gaze never left Aiden. "Your past is about to come knocking, Aiden. And when it does, there won't be a place to hide. If you want to keep this family safe, you're going to need more than just a house on the edge of pack territory. You're going to need an army."
Selena felt her heart race as the implications of his words sank in. An army? For what? And what exactly was Aiden running from?
Aiden shook his head, his voice hard. "I've made my peace with my past, Jace. I'm not going back."
Jace's smile faded, replaced by a cold, unyielding expression. "You don't have a choice anymore."
Selena stepped forward, her eyes narrowing as she looked from Aiden to Jace. "What is going on? Who are these enemies you're talking about? What does this have to do with me?"
Jace's lips twitched, but he didn't answer. Instead, he stepped past Aiden, his gaze never leaving Selena. "You'll find out soon enough. The question is, will you be ready when it comes for you?"
With that, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the forest from where he had come.
The air felt thick with tension. Selena's mind raced, the questions multiplying. Who was Jace? What was he talking about? And most importantly, what had Aiden done to cause such a storm to brew around them?
Aiden remained silent for a long moment, his eyes focused on the path Jace had taken. The only sound was the distant calls of the children in the yard.
"I'll explain everything, Selena. I promise," Aiden said quietly.
But as Selena watched him, she couldn't shake the feeling that the calm she had come to know was only a brief reprieve. The storm was coming, and it would bring with it danger, uncertainty, and secrets that could destroy everything they had fought for.
The question was—would they be ready?