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"I'm fine," I say quickly, dropping my hand. "Really. Thank you for stepping in." I hate feeling vulnerable, hate that I needed help, but I can't deny the relief I feel at Marcus's presence.
Marcus looks like he wants to say more, but we're interrupted by a commotion near the main house. Hannah, Ryan's sister, bursts out of the back door, her face pale and her eyes wide with fear.
"Ryan!" she calls out, her voice shaking. "Ryan, I need you!"
Ryan is at her side in an instant, with Marcus and I close behind. The tension in the air is palpable, and I can't shake the feeling that something is terribly wrong.
"What is it, Hannah?" Ryan asks, his voice laced with concern.
Hannah holds out a crumpled piece of paper, her hand trembling. "I found this on my car," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "It... it was under the windshield wiper."
Ryan takes the paper, his brow furrowing as he reads it. His expression darkens, a low growl rumbling in his chest. "Where did this come from?" he demands, his voice sharp with anger.
Hannah shakes her head, tears welling in her eyes. "I don't know. It wasn't there when I arrived, I swear."
Ryan pulls Hannah into a protective embrace. "What does it say?" I ask, dreading the answer.
Ryan hesitates, then holds out the paper for Marcus and me to see. In block letters, it reads: "LEAVE NOW OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES."
My breath catches in my throat as I read the words. They're so similar to the note I found on my door earlier in the week. I'd convinced myself it was just a prank, a cruel joke from someone with too much time on their hands. But now...
"I... I got one too," I admit. All eyes turn to me. "A few days ago. On my apartment door. I thought it was just a stupid prank."
Ryan's eyes narrow. "Why didn't you say anything?"
I shrug. "I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. I thought I could handle it on my own."
Marcus takes a step closer to me, his presence oddly comforting. "You shouldn't have to handle it on your own," he says softly. "Not here. Not with us." His words, and the gentleness behind them, catch me off guard.
Before I can respond, Chloe approaches us hesitantly. "I... I found one too," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "In my mailbox this morning. I was going to tell you after the BBQ, Ryan. I didn't want to ruin the party."
The atmosphere at the BBQ shifts instantly. The laughter and chatter die down. Ryan takes charge, his alpha presence filling the space.
"Everyone, remain calm," he says, his voice carrying across the yard. "We're going to get to the bottom of this. Marcus, gather the notes. We need to examine them."
As Marcus collects the threatening messages, Ryan leans in, his nostrils flaring as he scents the paper. His expression grows grim.
"Howling Pines," he growls. "I'd recognize that scent anywhere."
I turn to Marcus, my curiosity piqued. "What's the deal with Howling Pines? Why would they target us?"
Marcus's jaw tightens. "It's complicated, Zoe. The Howling Pines pack has always been... territorial. They don't like how our pack interacts with humans. They think we're betraying our wolf nature."
"But that's ridiculous," I argue. "You're not hurting anyone."
"I know," Marcus sighs. "But they see our openness as a threat. They believe it puts all shifters at risk of exposure."
Sarah steps forward, her brow furrowed. "But why target Zoe? She's not even part of the pack."
Lucas wraps an arm around Sarah's waist, his expression thoughtful. "Good point. Let's look at who received threats. Zoe, Chloe, and Hannah..."
Ryan's eyes narrow. "All single women associated with our pack. They're trying to intimidate us, make us feel vulnerable."
"But why?" I ask, fear and anger mixing in my gut. "What do they hope to gain?"
Marcus runs a hand through his hair, frustration evident in every line of his body. "Control, maybe. Or they're trying to drive a wedge between us and the humans in town. If people start getting scared, they might turn against us."
"We can't let that happen," Ryan declares. "We need to take immediate action to protect our pack members. Hannah, Chloe, you'll both be assigned guards. No one leaves the pack grounds alone until we resolve this."
