Chapter 16

The chill in the air cut through me as we stepped outside, but it was the dread in my heart that felt most suffocating. Kael’s hand was firm around mine, leading me away from the cabin and deeper into the woods. Elias followed closely behind, his eyes scanning the surroundings with a keen vigilance.

Each step felt like a betrayal to the safety we’d just left behind, but I knew there was no turning back now. I couldn’t let fear paralyze me; I had to keep moving.

“Stay alert,” Kael instructed, his voice barely above a whisper. “We don’t know how many of them are out here.”

The trees loomed over us like dark sentinels, their twisted branches casting eerie shadows on the forest floor. I felt the weight of their presence, as if they were watching, judging our every move. The tranquility of the morning was shattered by the gnawing tension between us. I could almost hear my heart thudding against my ribcage, a reminder that time was slipping away.

“Do you have a plan?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the panic rising in my chest.

Kael glanced back at me, his expression resolute. “We’ll find a place to hide and regroup. There’s a river a few miles from here; we can follow it downstream. It might lead us to a safer area.”

Elias nodded in agreement. “The water will mask our scent, and we’ll have a better chance of evading them.”

We pressed onward, the underbrush crunching beneath our feet. Every sound felt amplified in the stillness of the forest, the rustle of leaves and the snap of twigs echoing in my ears. I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched, that Primo’s pack was close, their predatory instincts on high alert.

As we moved deeper into the woods, I felt my legs growing heavy with fatigue. The uncertainty of our situation gnawed at me, and I could feel the cold creeping into my bones. “How far is it to the river?” I asked, trying to focus on something other than the dread suffocating me.

“Not far,” Kael reassured me, though his voice carried a tension that belied his words. “Just keep moving.”

But as we trudged through the dense foliage, the sense of urgency began to wane. My body screamed for rest, and my mind whirled with thoughts of what lay ahead. Would we find safety? Would Primo ever stop hunting us?

Suddenly, Kael halted, his body tensing as he held up a hand. I nearly crashed into him, confusion and worry swirling in my gut.

“What is it?” I whispered, scanning the trees around us.

“I heard something,” he replied, his eyes narrowing as he listened intently.

Elias moved closer, his posture shifting to one of readiness. “We should find cover.”

Without waiting for a response, Kael led us off the narrow path and into a thicket of brambles. We crouched low, the sharp edges of the bushes digging into my skin, but I barely noticed. I was too focused on the rustling that grew louder, closer.

And then I saw them.

Two wolves emerged from the shadows, their fur glistening in the dappled sunlight. They moved gracefully, their bodies taut and ready for action, eyes scanning the ground as if searching for a scent. My heart raced—Primo’s wolves.

“We need to stay still,” Kael murmured, his breath barely audible.

I held my breath, my pulse hammering in my ears as the wolves drew nearer. They moved like shadows, slipping between the trees with an effortless grace that made my heart ache with fear. Would they sense us? Would they find us hiding in the underbrush?

The larger of the two stopped suddenly, its nose twitching as it sniffed the air. My body tensed as its gaze turned toward our hiding spot. I pressed against the ground, willing myself to disappear, but it was no use. The wolf’s eyes were locked on us, and I could feel its predatory instinct heightening.

Kael’s hand tightened around mine, and I felt his body tense beside me. I stole a glance at Elias, whose expression was focused, every muscle in his body coiled and ready.

In that moment, I realized that we had nowhere to run.

And then, as quickly as it had appeared, the wolf turned and bounded away, its companion following closely behind. I exhaled a shaky breath, my heart still racing from the close call.

“Are they gone?” I whispered, my voice trembling.

Kael waited a moment before nodding. “For now. But we need to keep moving.”

I pushed myself to stand, shaking off the fear that threatened to overwhelm me. We resumed our trek through the forest, the silence hanging heavy around us.

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours, the trees blurring together as we forged ahead. Just when I thought my legs would give out beneath me, the sound of rushing water reached my ears—a hopeful sign.

“There it is,” Kael said, his voice breaking through the exhaustion.

We broke through the trees and emerged at the edge of the river, its waters flowing swiftly over smooth stones, glimmering in the weak sunlight. I felt a surge of relief wash over me, but it was short-lived as the reality of our situation came rushing back.

“This way,” Kael said, pointing to a cluster of rocks along the riverbank. “We can hide behind those and catch our breath.”

We hurried over, slipping behind the large boulders, their cool surfaces offering a momentary respite from the oppressive tension. I leaned back against the stone, my heart racing as I tried to gather my thoughts.

“What now?” I asked, looking at Kael and Elias.

Kael’s brow furrowed, his gaze fixed on the rushing water. “We wait for the right moment to move. If they come looking for us, we’ll have the water to mask our scent. We can’t risk being tracked down again.”

I nodded, trying to push aside the creeping doubt that threatened to settle in my mind. We were alive for now, but how long could we stay hidden? How long until Primo found us again?

As if reading my thoughts, Elias spoke up. “We’ll figure this out, Luna. We always do. We just need to keep our heads down and stay smart.”

His words were meant to be reassuring, but the uncertainty loomed large. I wanted to believe him, to hold on to that flicker of hope. But the weight of our predicament hung heavily in the air, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were running out of time.

Kael crouched beside me, his expression softening. “Luna, we’ll protect you. I promise.”

His sincerity wrapped around me like a warm blanket, and for the first time in what felt like ages, I allowed myself to breathe. Maybe we could find a way out of this nightmare after all. Maybe, just maybe, we could survive.

But as the sun began to dip low in the sky, casting long shadows across the water, I couldn’t help but wonder what sacrifices we’d have to make to escape the darkness that loomed over us.

The river flowed on, indifferent to our plight, and I realized that we were only beginning to scratch the surface of the battle ahead.