Chapter 35
The forest was eerily quiet as Arlen and I made our way through the dense trees. My heart raced, and every crack of a twig or rustle of leaves sent shivers down my spine. We were being hunted. The banshees’ screeches still echoed in my ears, their haunting wails trailing us as we moved deeper into the wilderness.
Arlen stayed close, his body tense and alert, always ready to fight if they found us. He was my guard now, my protector, and I could feel the weight of his responsibility pressing down on him. I glanced over at him, the moonlight casting sharp shadows across his face. His jaw was set in grim determination, and though I knew he was scared too, he hid it well.
“We should keep moving,” he whispered, his eyes scanning the darkened landscape. “They’ll catch our scent if we stay here too long.”
I nodded, my throat tight with fear. The banshees were relentless, creatures of nightmare, and the fact that they had somehow returned after being wiped out years ago made everything worse. I didn’t want to think about what would happen if they caught us.
The night was cold, and every breath felt like a sharp stab to my lungs. My legs ached from the constant running, but I couldn’t slow down. Not now. I couldn’t afford to be weak. Not when so many lives were at stake. The pack needed help, and I was determined to get it—even if it meant risking my life.
“We’re close to the caves,” Arlen said quietly, pointing ahead. “We’ll rest there for the night. It’s too dangerous to travel any further in the dark.”
As we approached the caves, I could hear the distant wails of the banshees growing fainter. I wasn’t sure if that was a good sign or not, but at least for now, it meant we had a chance to catch our breath.
Once inside, Arlen led me to the far corner, away from the entrance, where we would be hidden from sight. He crouched by the entrance, watching for any movement, while I sat down on the cold stone floor, exhausted.
“You should rest, Luna,” he said softly, his voice gentle despite the danger outside.
I managed a weak smile. “I’ll rest when I know we’re safe.”
Arlen gave a small nod, then sat beside me, his body still tense and alert. For a while, we sat in silence, the weight of the situation pressing down on both of us. Finally, he spoke, his voice quieter than before.
“You know, I have a mate back home,” he said, his eyes fixed on the cave entrance. “And a daughter. She’s only two.”
I looked at him, surprised by the sudden openness. I hadn’t known much about Arlen before this—he was just one of Jeremiah’s men, one of the warriors I’d seen around the pack. But now, in this moment of fear and uncertainty, he was opening up.
“She’s the reason I fight so hard,” he continued, his voice a little softer. “I want her to grow up safe, to live in a world where she doesn’t have to worry about monsters like the banshees. I promised my mate that I’d come back to them.”
His words tugged at something inside me. I hadn’t expected him to share something so personal, but maybe this was what fear did—it broke down the walls we put up around ourselves.
“I didn’t know you had a family,” I said quietly, my own voice barely above a whisper. “Helena trusts you a lot, doesn’t she?”
Arlen smiled faintly, the tension in his face easing just a little. “Helena is like family to me. She saved my life once, and I owe her everything.”
There was a brief silence before I found myself speaking again, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. “It’s been hard for me, too. Being mated to the Alpha, I mean. It’s… complicated.”
Arlen turned to look at me, his expression curious but kind. “He’s not an easy man, that’s for sure. But he’s not as cold as he seems. I’ve known him for years, and he wasn’t always this way. He’s been through a lot.”
“I know,” I said softly, “but it doesn’t make it any easier. Sometimes I feel like I’m being punished for something I didn’t do.”
“You’re not,” Arlen said firmly. “He’ll come around. He just needs time.”
I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe that the man who had hurt me so deeply could somehow change. But it was hard. Still, hearing Arlen’s perspective gave me some hope, even if it was just a small flicker.
The night passed slowly, the cold air biting at my skin, but I was too tired to care. At some point, I must have dozed off because the next thing I knew, the first rays of sunlight were filtering into the cave. Arlen shook me gently.
“We need to move,” he whispered. “We’re close to your father’s territory now, but we have to be careful.”
I nodded groggily, pushing myself to my feet. My entire body ached, but the adrenaline kept me going. We slipped out of the cave, moving quietly through the forest, our senses on high alert. The banshees were still out there, somewhere, and the thought of them sent a chill down my spine.
Just as we reached the edge of my father’s territory, a loud, bone-chilling screech pierced the air.
“They’ve found us,” Arlen growled, his hand going to the sword at his waist. “Stay close, Luna.”
The banshees came out of nowhere—pale, twisted creatures with elongated limbs and sharp, jagged teeth. Their skin was ghostly white, almost translucent, and their eyes were hollow black pits. They screeched as they descended on us, moving with unnatural speed.
Arlen fought fiercely, his blade slicing through the air as he cut down the first banshee that lunged at us. But there were too many of them, and I could see the strain on his face as he struggled to hold them off.
Just when I thought it was over, a group of warriors—my father’s men—emerged from the trees, their weapons drawn. They fought with precision, quickly dispatching the banshees one by one.
I breathed a sigh of relief, but it was short-lived. One of the warriors grabbed Arlen, pinning him to the ground. “He’s a threat!” the warrior shouted.
“No!” I cried, rushing forward. “He’s with me! He protected me!”
The warrior hesitated, glancing at me, then at Arlen, before slowly releasing him. My father’s men surrounded us, their expressions wary but respectful. I turned to see my father approaching, his face stern but relieved.
“Astrid,” he said, pulling me into a tight embrace. “Thank the goddess you’re safe.”
My mother was right behind him, her arms wrapping around me as well. For a moment, I felt like a child again, safe in their arms. But the weight of what I had come for quickly pulled me back to reality.
“We need to talk,” I said, my voice trembling slightly. “It’s the banshees. They’re back. They attacked Jeremiah’s pack.”
My father’s face went pale, and my mother gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “The banshees?” she whispered. “But we defeated them years ago…”
“I know,” I said, my heart pounding. “But they’re back. And we need help.”
My father’s brow furrowed in concern, and I could see the wheels turning in his mind. “How is this possible?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted, “but if we don’t act fast, more people are going to die.”
My father looked at me, his eyes filled with worry. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, a loud howl echoed through the trees.
More were coming.
And we weren’t ready.
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