Morning in Valemont came with pale sunlight and soft snow falling against the windows.
Jane woke up feeling restless. Her dreams had been strange. Silver eyes. Warm hands. A voice calling her name in a language she didn't understand.
She shook it off and got dressed.
Granny insisted she meet people her age.
"You cannot hide in this house forever," she said firmly. "You need friends."
That was how Jane met Lena and Mira.
Lena was bold, loud, and sharp-tongued. Mira was calmer but carried sarcasm like a weapon. Both greeted Jane with immediate curiosity.
"So you're the Canadian girl," Lena said, eyeing her playfully. "You look too soft for this town."
Jane raised an eyebrow. "That's not a compliment."
Mira laughed. "You'll survive. Maybe."
They dragged Jane into town, walking past shops and cafés. Valemont felt alive during the day. Children played in the snow. Old men sat outside bakeries. Everything looked normal.
But Jane couldn't shake the strange tension under the surface.
They stopped at the café near the train station.
Warm drinks. Music. Noise. Laughter.
Jane finally relaxed.
Until the door opened.
Her body reacted instantly.
Her chest tightened. Heat rushed through her veins. Her stomach twisted sharply.
She didn't need to turn around.
She already knew.
Alex walked in.
The man from the airport.
The room shifted subtly when he entered. Conversations lowered. Some people straightened in their seats. Others avoided his gaze.
"Who is that?" Jane whispered.
Lena's smile faded slightly. "Alex Volkov."
Mira leaned closer. "Alpha of the Valemont pack."
Jane blinked. "Pack?"
They both stared at her.
"You really don't know anything," Lena muttered.
Jane opened her mouth to ask more, but Alex's eyes lifted.
And found her.
Again.
Her breath caught.
He walked toward their table with calm confidence. Each step felt heavy with tension.
"You shouldn't stare," he said quietly.
Jane stood up slowly, refusing to shrink. "Then stop standing in front of me."
Lena choked on her drink.
Alex's lips twitched briefly before his face hardened again.
"You're human," he said, studying her closely.
Jane crossed her arms. "Last time I checked."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"Stay away from the forest," he said firmly.
Jane tilted her head. "Why?"
His eyes darkened.
"Because you don't belong there."
"And who decides that?" she challenged.
"I do."
The words sent a strange shiver through her chest.
Alex stepped closer. The space between them disappeared. Jane could smell pine, smoke, and something wild that made her pulse jump.
"If you keep looking at me like that," he said quietly, "you'll get yourself into trouble."
Jane swallowed. "I'm not afraid of you."
His gaze dropped briefly to her lips before returning to her eyes.
"You should be."
Then he turned and walked away.
Jane stood frozen for several seconds after he left.
Her heart was racing.
Lena stared at her. "Congratulations. You just caught the Alpha's attention."
Jane whispered, "I didn't mean to."
But deep down, she wasn't sure that was true.
Something inside her had already chosen him.
Whether she liked it or not.