Shadows In The Night

POV: AELIANA

The wind was a gentle caress against my skin, a soft, cooling balm on what had been a sweltering afternoon. I could hear the rhythmic, low-frequency rush of the river just a few yards away, the water tumbling over smooth stones and ancient roots. It was the kind of peace that felt fragile, like a glass ornament you were afraid to breathe on too hard. I was nestled in my favorite spot, tucked into the roots of an old oak tree just outside our family home, the rough bark anchoring me to the earth.

My eyes were glued to the pages of ‘My Future Stepbrother’ by Salinger Vance. It was trashy, it was scandalous, and I absolutely loved every single word of it. I let out a soft sigh, my thumb tracing the corner of a page as I prepared to flip it. I was right in the middle of a scene where the male lead, Jayce, was being particularly broody and possessive, and I was mentally checking out of reality to live in his world for a while.

The sun was beginning its slow descent, painting the sky in strokes of bruised purple and burnt orange. I knew the clock was ticking. Once that sun dipped below the horizon, my world would change. But for now, I had Jayce, and I had the quiet.

Until I didn't.

The heavy, rhythmic thud of boots hitting the grass shattered my sanctuary. I didn’t even have to look up to know who it was. The scent of pine and heavy rain—the signature scent of a future Alpha—preceded him.

“Aeliana, get up. Join us. We’re going to go watch a movie in town,” Kaelen Sterling announced, his voice booming with that effortless authority that usually made everyone else jump to attention.

I didn’t move. I didn't even lift my gaze from the page. “I don’t want to go. You lot go. I’m at a good part.”

Kaelen, my twin brother, my self-appointed guardian, and the future Alpha of the Crimson Lunar pack, didn't take 'no' for an answer very well. He strode into my line of vision, running a frustrated hand through his strawberry blond hair—the same shade as our mother’s. He looked so much like our father it was startling sometimes, especially when he had that stubborn set to his jaw.

“Aeliana,” he groaned, his cerulean blue eyes—a mirror of Dad’s—boring into the top of my head.

I finally looked up, letting my annoyance show. “Kaelen, please. I just want to finish this chapter.”

Before I could react, he reached down and snatched the book right out of my hands.

“Kaelen!” I snapped, my temper flaring instantly. I felt the familiar heat behind my retinas, and I knew my eyes had flashed that brilliant, deep purple that marked me as different, even among our kind.

“Enough of this,” he said, holding the book just out of my reach. He was over six feet tall, a mountain of muscle and Alpha-potential, while I sat at a modest five-foot-five. “You know Dad said the Alpha King is arriving in two days. Two days, Aeliana. After that, the house is going to be swarming with guards and officials. We’ll be stuck playing the perfect hosts and serving that arrogant ass around the clock. This is our last chance to actually have a life for a week.”

The mention of the Alpha King made a reluctant smile tug at the corners of my mouth. Kaelen hated being told what to do. Having grown up with two Alpha parents, he’d spent his whole life pushing against authority, preparing for the day he’d be the one in charge. The thought of a superior Alpha coming into our territory and barking orders at him was genuinely hilarious to me.

“It’s not funny,” Kaelen growled, noticing my smirk. His eyes darkened, the navy blue of his wolf beginning to bleed through the cerulean. “I’ve heard the stories. He’s more arrogant and cocky than Dad and every other Alpha we’ve ever met combined. He’s going to walk in here like he owns the floor we walk on.”

“It’s a little funny,” I countered, standing up and brushing the grass from my leggings. “I actually want to see Dad bristle for once. Watching two Alphas measure their dicks for three days straight sounds like top-tier entertainment.”

Kaelen narrowed his eyes, though a flicker of amusement danced in them. “You are evil. Truly. Especially since you’re daddy’s little girl. You’ll probably just bat your eyelashes and he’ll let you do whatever you want while he’s working me to the bone.”

He wasn’t wrong. It was an open secret in the pack that I was Dad’s favorite. I was the second person in his life he’d move mountains for, right after Mom. Being the twin sister of the future Alpha came with its perks, but it also came with a heavy layer of protection that often felt more like a cage.

I reached for my book again, but he held it higher, mocking me. “Come out with us. Killian is already waiting.”

I felt the familiar heavy knot of anxiety tighten in my chest. “I don’t want to, Kaelen. Really.”

I couldn’t tell him the real reason. Well, he knew the reason, but I hated admitting it out loud. By the time the movie finished, it would be late. The sun would be long gone. And in the dark, I was practically useless.

It was a defect—one that made me feel less like a wolf and more like a liability. While my other senses were sharp, my night vision was non-existent. In the dark, the world became a terrifying blur of shadows and shapes that didn't make sense. I hated being the one everyone had to lead by the hand. I hated the pitying looks when I tripped over a curb or a tree root that everyone else saw clearly. I felt like a burden, a broken gear in a high-functioning machine.

“Aeliana,” Kaelen said, his voice softening. He knew. He could smell the shift in my scent, the tang of self-doubt and fear.

I was about to double down on my refusal when a blur of black and neon streaks came flying across the lawn.

“Aeliana!”

Sloane Varkas, my best friend and the human equivalent of a hand grenade, crashed into me, wrapping her arms around my waist in a vice-like grip. Sloane was seventeen, a few months younger than me, and she was the only person who could make Kaelen look like a reasonable person. She was tiny—barely four-foot-nine—but she made up for it with a personality that could level a forest.

Her black hair was cut into a sharp bob with jagged bangs, shot through with streaks of plum and crimson. She looked up at me with those incredible mismatched eyes—one icy blue, the other a deep blue-green.

“Ow, ow! You’re crushing me, you tiny menace!” I joked, hugging her back.

“All I’m crushing are these plushies,” she retorted, playfully prodding my chest before letting go. She turned her attention to Kaelen, who was suddenly standing a little taller, his posture shifting ever so slightly.

“Kaelen,” she said, her voice dropping an octave.

“Sloane,” he replied.

The air between them practically hummed. I stood there, a witness to the strange, electric tension that had been building between them for years. I was convinced they were mates, or at least destined to be something explosive. Sloane was the only person who could tell the future Alpha to shut up and actually get away with it.

“Since you’re here,” Kaelen said, clearing his throat, “tell your friend she’s coming to the movies. She’s being stubborn and refuses to move.”

Sloane crossed her arms over her black-on-black outfit. “Even you listen to me, Sterling. Don't act like you're the boss here.”

Kaelen glared at her, but there was no heat in it. He shoved my book into her arms. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, bite-size.”

“Ooo, I’m terrified,” she mocked, sticking her tongue out.

They started bickering, and despite myself, I started laughing. They were ridiculous.

“I’m not going, Sloane. Don’t even try the puppy dog eyes,” I said, trying to reclaim my book. It was a signed copy, and I cherished it.

Sloane’s expression shifted, becoming uncharacteristically serious. “Aeliana. Kaelen isn’t wrong. Come on. I’ll be there the whole time. Right by your side. We want you there, okay? Don't hide in this tree all night.”

I looked at the two of them. I knew if I didn't agree now, Kaelen would probably go to Dad, and then it would become a 'family outing' or some other forced event. I also knew that Sloane was offering to be my eyes if things got dark. She always did. She never made me feel like an invalid, even though I knew I was holding her back from doing the things seventeen-year-olds should be doing without worrying about their half-blind best friend.

I thought about all the family trips where Mom and Dad had to cut things short because I couldn't navigate the terrain at night. I felt that familiar sting of being the 'useless' one.

“Fine,” I sighed, running my fingers through my waist-length sandy blond hair. “I’ll go. But if it’s a shitty movie, I’m holding both of you responsible.”

***

An hour later, the smell of buttery popcorn and artificial cherry flavoring filled my senses. We were at the cinema in town. Our pack territory was vast and beautiful, but we hadn't quite scaled up to having our own movie theater yet, so we made the trip into the local human-adjacent town.

Killian Graves was with us, leaning back in his seat with a grin that was far too charming for his own good. As the future Beta, Killian was Kaelen’s shadow and his best friend. The four of us had been an inseparable unit since we were pups.

We were halfway through a comedy that was actually pretty funny, and I found myself relaxing, sipping on a Fanta and laughing at the onscreen antics.

“I would have preferred a horror flick,” Sloane muttered, tossing a piece of popcorn into the air and catching it in her mouth with practiced precision.

“I’m sure there’s a lot you would have preferred, Sloane, but some of us like to sleep without the lights on,” Killian remarked. He reached over and shoved a handful of popcorn toward her mouth.

Sloane didn't miss a beat; she bit his finger, giving him a mock-ferociously glare. Killian just laughed, and I saw Kaelen shift in his seat, his eyes fixed on the two of them. The protective, possessive Alpha-streak was a mile wide in my brother.

“Zip it, boys,” Sloane said, releasing Killian’s finger with a smirk.

I watched them interact, the ease of their bond making a small pang of loneliness echo in my chest. I felt like the odd one out. Not because they didn't love me, but because I was watching life happen from the sidelines.

“I told you I’m the third wheel,” I whispered, leaning toward Sloane. “Actually, I’m the fourth wheel. Maybe the spare tire in the trunk.”

They all stopped and stared at me, their faces illuminated by the flickering light of the screen.

“What does that even mean?” Kaelen asked, looking genuinely confused.

I shrugged, a bit embarrassed. “Nothing. Just… you guys are all so… focused. It’s fine. Turn back to the movie.”

I often said things without thinking, and I knew it irked them when I pulled back into myself. They exchanged a series of baffled looks before settling back into their seats.

“By the way, I love that top, Aeliana!” Killian said, his voice teasing. He was trying to draw me back out, to get a reaction.

I raised an eyebrow at him. I was wearing a black crop top that showed off a decent amount of skin. I had worked hard for my physique, and despite my vision issues, I wasn't shy about my body. I had the curves—the boobs and the ass—and I didn't mind flaunting them.

“Hey, don’t check her out,” Kaelen snapped, frowning at my choice of attire.

“Oh, shut up, Kaelen. She looks hot,” Sloane defended me, winking.

“Aeliana…” Killian pouted, waiting for my response.

“Don’t ‘Aeliana’ me. Figure it out yourself,” I said smugly, turning my attention back to the screen.

But as the movie progressed, the air in the theater started to feel heavy. It was too quiet, too still. A restlessness began to stir in my gut—not my human instinct, but my wolf. She was pacing, her hackles rising for no reason I could identify. I felt a sudden, desperate urge for fresh air. The walls felt like they were closing in.

“I’m stepping out,” I whispered, standing up.

Instantly, all three of them stood up like they were synchronized. I groaned, feeling that flash of irritation again.

“Alone,” I emphasized, looking them each in the eye.

“I need the bathroom anyway,” Sloane lied, stepping into the aisle.

“No. You don’t,” I said firmly. “I can see the little floor lights. I’m not going to get lost in a twenty-foot hallway, Sloane.”

“I’m taking you,” Kaelen said, his voice leaving no room for argument. He grabbed my hand, his grip firm but careful. He was the only one who didn't care if he pissed me off; his need to protect me always trumped my need for independence.

He led me through the dark theater, his Alpha sight cutting through the gloom like a flashlight. He navigated the stairs and the people with ease, pulling me along behind him. When we reached the heavy theater doors, he finally let go.

“Mind link me when you’re coming back, okay? Don't just wander off,” he commanded.

“Fine,” I snapped. I wasn't going to, of course. I hated being treated like I was fragile.

I stormed off toward the lobby, a familiar spasm of phantom pain shooting up my right ankle toward my knee. It was an old injury, a reminder of a time I’d tried to run in the dark and failed.

‘Love you, Aeliana,’ Kaelen’s voice echoed in my head, soft and sincere through the mind link.

My anger evaporated instantly. I sighed, leaning my head against the cool tile of the hallway wall for a second. ‘Love you too, Kaelen.’

I made a show of walking toward the bathroom, knowing he was probably watching from the doorway. Once inside, I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. I saw a young woman with high, defined cheekbones and a square jawline that spoke of her lineage. My lips were plump, my hair a long, sandy waterfall. But it was my eyes that always held my attention—that sage green with the blue ring, a perfect blend of my parents. They looked so normal in the bright fluorescent light of the bathroom. They didn't look broken.

I waited for a few minutes, letting the restlessness subside, but it didn't. If anything, my wolf was getting louder. She wanted out. She wanted to be under the sky.

I left the bathroom, but instead of heading back to the theater, I pushed through the heavy glass doors that led to the parking lot.

The air outside was cooler now, the humidity of the day replaced by a crisp evening breeze. My wolf settled slightly as the wind hit us, but she was still alert, her internal ears pricked.

‘Why?’ I asked her. She didn't speak in words—she wasn't that kind of wolf—but she sent me flashes of emotion. Urgency. A sense of something ‘other.’

I kept walking, the bright, neon-lit facade of the cinema becoming a glow in my peripheral vision. Common sense was screaming at me to stop. I knew my limits. I knew that the further I got from the lights, the more vulnerable I became. I’d done this before—followed a whim and ended up in a ditch or worse—but tonight felt different. I had my wolf now. I was stronger, faster. Even if I couldn't see, she could feel.

The parking lot was mostly empty, the asphalt radiating the last of the day’s heat. I reached the edge where the gravel met the grass, the shadows of the nearby trees stretching out like long, dark fingers.

And then, without warning, the world died.

The hum of the cinema’s air conditioning, the neon signs, the streetlights—everything vanished in a heartbeat. The silence that followed was deafening. It was a total power outage.

My heart skipped a beat, then began to hammer against my ribs. I turned around, but there was no ‘around.’ It was pitch black. Not the soft dark of a bedroom, but a thick, oily darkness that seemed to swallow the very air.

‘I don’t think this was a good idea,’ I whispered to my wolf. She didn't answer; she was frozen, her senses locked onto something I couldn't perceive.

‘Aeliana!’ Kaelen’s voice exploded in my mind, laced with a level of panic I’d rarely heard from him. ‘Aeliana, where are you? The power is out.’

I tried to keep my voice calm through the link. ‘Relax, I’m safe. I’m just in the lot. I’ll stay right here until the lights come back on. Don't come out here and trip over me.’

‘Stay put. Sloane is coming to find you,’ he replied, his mental tone frantic.

I didn't answer. I knew Sloane would be rushing out, but in this darkness, even a wolf’s eyes would struggle for a moment to adjust to the sudden total loss of light.

I stood perfectly still, my hands out in front of me like a blind woman. I was waiting for the familiar hum of the backup generators or the flicker of a flashlight.

But then, I heard it.

It wasn't a growl I recognized. It wasn't the deep, guttural rumble of a wolf or the snarl of a stray dog. It was an unearthly, whistling growl—a sound that vibrated in the air and seemed to resonate in my very bones. It sounded like air being forced through a jagged, hollow pipe.

My blood turned to ice.

I felt a shift in the air behind me—a whisper of wind that wasn't the breeze. It was the movement of something large, something predatory. It was close. Close enough that I could feel the heat of it, even if I couldn't see a single hair on its body.

A primal, ancient fear took over. My wolf didn't want to fight; she wanted to run.

I didn't wait for Sloane. I didn't wait for Kaelen. I didn't even think. I turned and bolted into the void, my legs pumping as I ran blindly into the absolute darkness, the sound of that whistling growl closing in fast behind me.