The forest should have felt familiar.
It didn't.
Aiden stood at the edge of the clearing, the pups just ahead of him.
Kael had wandered a few steps too far, chasing something only he could see. Ryn followed, slower, more careful. Lior stayed closest—always the quiet one, always watching.
Aiden's eyes tracked them all.
Constant.
Precise.
But today—
Something else pulled at him.
A shift.
Subtle.
Barely there.
His wolf stirred.
Not sharp.
Not alarmed.
Just…
Aware.
Aiden's gauze lifted from the pups.
Scanning.
Listening.
The trees moved gently with the wind.
The scent of the pack lingered.
Familiar.
Safe.
And yet—
His chest tightened slightly.
"…back here," he called softly.
The pups turned almost immediately.
Kael first.
Always Kael.
Then Ryn.
Then Lior, slower but just as certain.
They came back to him without hesitation.
Trusting.
Aiden crouched as they reached him, hands brushing over each of them in turn.
Checking.
Grounding.
Still there.
Still safe.
But his wolf didn't settle.
It lingered.
Uneasy.
"Aiden."
The voice came from behind him.
Familiar.
Safe.
Erik.
Aiden turned.
Slowly.
Eirik approached like he always did—calm, steady, easy in his movements.
Nothing threatening.
Nothing wrong.
And still—
Aiden's wolf shifted.
Not forward.
Not aggressive.
Just—
Tense.
Aiden remained still.
"…you're out early," Eirik said, a small, easy smile forming.
Aiden once.
"...they needed air."
Eirik's gauze softened as he looked at the pups.
Kael immediately moved closer to Aiden's side.
Not hiding.
Just—
Closer.
Ryn followed a second later.
Lior pressed lightly against Aiden's leg.
Eirik paused.
Just for a moment.
Something flickering in his expression.
Gone almost instantly.
"They seem better," he said.
"They are," Aiden replied.
Silence stretched.
Short.
But noticeable.
Aiden's eyes stayed on Eirik.
Not searching.
Not accusing.
Just…
Watching.
His wolf shifted again.
A low, quiet tension settling under his skin.
Not dangerous.
Not a threat.
Just—
Wrong.
Aiden frowned slightly.
Barely noticeable.
"…did something happen?" Eirik asked.
Aiden blinked.
Pulled back slightly.
"…node."
True.
As far as he knew.
But the feeling didn't go away.
Eirik stepped a little closer.
Careful.
Measured.
Like he always was.
And that was when it hit again.
Stronger this time.
Aiden's wolf tensed.
A flicker of instinct—
Sharp.
Brief.
Aiden shifted his weight subtly.
Just enough.
Placing himself more directly between Eirik and the pups.
Not obvious.
Not deliberate.
But real.
Eirik noticed.
Of course he did.
His expression didn't change.
But something in his eyes tightened.
"...Aiden?" he asked quietly.
Aiden hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then he shook his head.
"...it's nothing."
The words came automatically.
Easy.
But his wolf didn't agree.
It stayed alert.
Watching.
Feeling something Aiden couldn't fully understand.
Eirik held his gaze for a moment longer.
Then—
He stepped back.
Just slightly.
Giving space.
"Alright," he said.
But the word didn't sit right.
Not fully.
Aiden once.
Still watching.
Still feeling that quiet tension beneath his skin.
The pups moved closer to him again.
Drawn by something they didn't understand either.
And as Eirik turned to leave—
Aiden's gaze followed him.
Longer than it should have.
His wolf stirred once more.
Low.
Uneasy.
Do not be afraid.
Not yet.
But something had changed.
And even if Aiden didn't understand it—
His instincts had already noticed.
And they wouldn't forget.