From Revenge To Luna

Chapter 3: Shadows of Truth

The encounter was a distant memory now, a ghostly silhouette swallowed by the thick forest mist. My mind buzzed with fragments of Kieran's words, each one slicing through my thoughts like a blade. “Mason wasn’t who you thought he was. None of this is.” My stomach churned with uncertainty as I trudged through the woods beside Callum. The scent of pine and damp earth filled the air, but it did little to calm the storm inside me.

“You’re quiet,” Callum remarked, breaking the silence. His voice was low, almost tentative. “More so than usual.”

I glanced at him, the moonlight casting sharp angles across his face. His eyes were focused ahead, scanning the shadows for any sign of danger. Despite the tension between us, his presence was oddly grounding.

“Just thinking,” I muttered, my tone clipped.

He gave a soft snort. “Dangerous pastime.”

I didn’t respond. My thoughts were too tangled to untangle aloud, especially in front of him. Instead, I quickened my pace, eager to put distance between us and the place where Kieran had disappeared into the night.

But Callum wasn’t so easily shaken off. He matched my stride effortlessly, his hunter’s instincts keeping him close. “You’re not buying what he said, are you?” he asked after a moment, his voice laced with suspicion.

I hesitated, my steps faltering for a fraction of a second. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “Everything’s just…confusing.”

Callum stopped, his hand brushing my arm to halt me as well. “Confusing? Ember, he killed someone you loved. Whatever justification he’s spinning, it doesn’t change that.”

His touch burned against my skin, but I pulled away, folding my arms across my chest. “You don’t understand,” I snapped. “It’s not that simple.”

“Then explain it to me,” he challenged, his eyes narrowing. “Because from where I’m standing, this bond of yours is making you second-guess everything.”

I bristled, my wolf snarling in agreement. He was right, but admitting it felt like a betrayal of my own strength. “I don’t owe you an explanation,” I said coldly. “You agreed to help me. That’s it.”

Callum’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might argue. But then he let out a sharp exhale, running a hand through his hair. “Fine,” he said. “But you’d better figure out where you stand before we face him again. Otherwise, one of us is going to end up dead.”

With that, he turned and continued down the trail, leaving me rooted to the spot. His words hung in the air, heavy and unyielding. He was right—I needed to figure out the truth. But the truth felt as elusive as the shadows that danced through the forest.

Back at the makeshift camp, Callum set about tending to his weapons while I stared into the fire, lost in thought. The flames crackled and popped, their warmth doing little to chase away the chill that had settled in my bones.

“Mason was loyal,” I said suddenly, breaking the silence. “He would never betray the pack.”

Callum didn’t look up from his task. “And you’re sure about that?”

I hesitated, the memories of Mason’s smile and steadfast support flashing through my mind. “Yes. He was one of the good ones.”

“Good doesn’t mean perfect,” Callum said, his tone neutral. “Sometimes people hide things, even from those closest to them.”

“And you would know, wouldn’t you?” I shot back, the words sharper than I intended.

He stilled, his eyes flicking up to meet mine. For a moment, something unspoken passed between us—a flash of pain, quickly buried. “Yes,” he said quietly. “I would.”

The admission caught me off guard, and I looked away, guilt curling in my chest. I had no right to lash out at him when I was the one drowning in doubt.

“Sorry,” I murmured.

Callum shrugged, returning his attention to his blade. “Don’t be. I’m used to it.”

The fire crackled between us, and for a while, neither of us spoke. But the silence wasn’t entirely unwelcome. It gave me time to think, to sift through the chaos in my mind.

When sleep finally claimed me, it was restless and fractured. My dreams were a jumbled mess of memories and fears, all centering around Kieran. I woke just before dawn, my heart racing and my skin damp with sweat.

Callum was already awake, seated on a fallen log with his crossbow in hand. He glanced at me as I sat up, his expression unreadable. “Rough night?”

I nodded, brushing my hair out of my face. “You could say that.”

He stood, stretching. “We should get moving. If Kieran’s smart, he’ll have covered his tracks, but we might still have a chance to pick up his trail.”

“And if we don’t?” I asked, rising to my feet.

Callum’s lips quirked in a humorless smile. “Then we’ll have to make him come to us.”

The thought sent a shiver down my spine, but I nodded. “Let’s go.”

As we packed up camp, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were heading toward something bigger than either of us realized. The bond between Kieran and me was a tether I couldn’t sever, not yet, but with each step we took, it felt like I was pulling myself further away from who I had been—and closer to something unknown.

For better or worse, the hunt was far from over.