Threads of Obsession

Chapter Two

Kael’s pack gathered around the firepit in the heart of their encampment, the flickering flames casting long shadows over the worn faces of his wolves. Despite the warmth of the blaze, a chill lingered in the air—a reminder of the encroaching winter. The evening meeting was routine, a chance for the pack to discuss border patrols, hunt schedules, and any threats to their territory. But Kael’s focus was elsewhere.

He sat at the edge of the gathering, his broad shoulders hunched and his dark eyes scanning the forest beyond the firelight. His second-in-command, Doran, leaned closer, his rugged face etched with concern.

“You’re distracted,” Doran said, keeping his voice low to avoid the attention of the others.

Kael’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t look away from the trees. “Just keeping an eye on the perimeter.”

“Bullshit,” Doran muttered. “You’ve been off since the patrol last week. The pack’s noticing. What’s going on?”

Kael sighed, leaning back against the log behind him. He trusted Doran more than anyone else in the pack, but even that trust had its limits. Still, the weight of his thoughts pressed down on him, and he found himself speaking before he could stop.

“I saw someone. An omega,” Kael admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Doran raised an eyebrow. “An omega? Since when does an alpha like you get tangled up over a stray?”

Kael shot him a sharp look. “He’s not just any omega. He’s… different.”

Doran snorted. “Different how? Does he sprout wings or breathe fire?”

Kael’s lips twitched into the ghost of a smile, but it faded quickly. “You wouldn’t understand unless you saw him. He’s bold, defiant. Not afraid of me. It’s… infuriating.”

Doran studied him for a moment, then shook his head. “Infuriating, or irresistible?”

Kael didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. The silence was answer enough.

Doran sighed, rubbing a hand over his stubbled jaw. “Look, Kael. I get it. Omegas can be… distracting. But we’ve got enough on our plate without you chasing after some mysterious wolf. The pack needs your head in the game, not lost in the clouds.”

Kael’s gaze hardened. “I’m not chasing him.”

“Good,” Doran said, though his tone suggested he wasn’t entirely convinced. “Because if this omega’s from a rival pack, he’s trouble. And trouble is the last thing we need.”

Kael nodded, though his mind was already drifting back to the golden-haired wolf. Trouble or not, Lior had gotten under his skin in a way no one else ever had. And no amount of logic or responsibility could change that.

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Lior watched the firelight from a distance, his lean form hidden among the dense trees. He’d followed Kael back to the pack encampment, curiosity overriding his better judgment. He’d meant to leave the alpha’s territory after their encounter, but something about Kael had pulled him back. It wasn’t just the alpha’s strength or his piercing gaze; it was the way he’d looked at Lior, as if seeing something no one else ever had.

It unnerved him. And yet, it thrilled him.

Lior shifted his weight, careful not to make a sound. The pack was larger than he’d expected, their numbers a testament to Kael’s leadership. These wolves were loyal, disciplined, and fiercely protective of their territory. Lior had seen what such loyalty could do, how it could trap a wolf in a life they didn’t choose. He’d vowed never to let that happen to him.

And yet here he was, lingering on the outskirts of another pack, drawn to an alpha he barely knew.

“You shouldn’t be here,” a voice said behind him.

Lior whirled, his heart leaping into his throat. A tall wolf with sharp features and icy gray eyes stepped out of the shadows, his stance relaxed but ready. Lior recognized him as one of Kael’s wolves, a hunter named Rhys.

“I’m just passing through,” Lior said, keeping his voice calm.

Rhys’s lips curved into a humorless smile. “Funny, that’s what you said last time. Yet here you are again, sniffing around where you don’t belong.”

Lior bristled but held his ground. “I’m not here to cause trouble.”

“No? Then what are you here for?” Rhys’s gaze sharpened, his eyes narrowing. “Let me guess. You’re after our alpha.”

Lior’s stomach twisted, but he forced a smirk. “What if I am? What’s it to you?”

Rhys stepped closer, his expression darkening. “It’s everything to me. Kael is our leader, our protector. He doesn’t have time for games, especially not with an omega from another pack. So whatever you think you’re doing, stop. You’re not welcome here.”

Lior’s defiance wavered under Rhys’s glare, but he refused to back down. “Your alpha can make his own decisions,” he said. “And if he doesn’t want me here, he can tell me himself.”

Rhys’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. For a moment, Lior thought the hunter might strike him. But then Rhys took a step back, his expression cold and unreadable.

“Consider this your warning,” Rhys said. “Leave now, or you’ll regret it.”

With that, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Lior alone once more.

Lior exhaled shakily, his pulse racing. He’d expected hostility, but the intensity of Rhys’s reaction had caught him off guard. Still, it only strengthened his resolve. Whatever was drawing him to Kael, it wasn’t something he could ignore. Not yet.

With one last glance at the firelight in the distance, Lior turned and slipped back into the forest. He didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, but one thing was certain: his path and Kael’s were destined to cross again.

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