Chapter 44
895 Words
Shadows Between the Trees
Hailey
"We're not alone."
The words barely leave my mouth before everything changes.
The relaxed atmosphere surrounding the abandoned fuel station vanishes instantly.
Four warriors replace four brothers.
Kael's hand drops to the weapon at his hip.
Rider moves closer until his shoulder almost brushes mine.
Asher's gaze sweeps across the treeline, calculating possibilities.
And Zane
For once, Zane isn't smiling.
The forest remains silent.
Too silent.
No birds.
No insects.
No movement.
The entire wilderness feels as though it's holding its breath.
Waiting.
Watching.
The same way I am.
"What did you see?" Kael asks.
My eyes remain fixed on the trees.
"A figure."
The words come out quieter than I intend.
"It was standing between the pines."
"Male? Female?" Asher asks.
I shake my head.
"I couldn't tell."
The memory sends another chill racing down my spine.
"It didn't feel normal."
The brothers exchange glances.
A silent conversation passing between them.
Wolf mind link.
Pack instinct.
Years of fighting together.
Then Kael makes a decision.
"We check it out."
I immediately step forward.
"So do I."
"No."
Four voices answer simultaneously.
I scowl.
"I wasn't asking permission."
"Good."
Kael folds his arms.
"Because we're not giving it."
I open my mouth.
Rider cuts me off.
"If something is hiding in those woods, we're not risking you."
Frustration rises immediately.
The same frustration I've felt my entire life.
The same feeling that everyone is protecting me while I stand on the sidelines.
Again.
Before I can argue, Kael's eyes begin glowing.
Silver.
Powerful.
Ancient.
The air around him shifts.
Then the change begins.
Hailey
I have seen wolves shift before.
Hundreds of times.
But never like this.
Never this close.
Never through the bond.
Power ripples through Kael's body.
Muscles expand.
Bones shift.
Silver light flashes beneath his skin.
The process is fast.
Graceful.
Beautiful.
A heartbeat later a massive wolf stands where Kael had been.
My breath catches.
Gods.
He is enormous.
Dark silver fur glistens beneath the fading sunlight.
His shoulders reach nearly to my chest.
His eyes remain exactly the same.
Strong.
Steady.
Protective.
Fenrir.
For the first time I understand why everyone respects him.
Why everyone follows him.
He looks like something pulled directly from an ancient legend.
Beside him, Rider shifts next.
His wolf is larger than Fenrir.
Built like a tank.
Dark charcoal fur.
Broad shoulders.
Protective energy radiating from every inch of him.
Then Asher.
His wolf is leaner.
Larger than most wolves but built for speed and intelligence rather than brute force.
Golden eyes burn with awareness.
Watching everything.
Calculating.
Finally Zane.
His transformation is somehow the most dramatic.
A wolf with storm-grey fur and bright silver markings races forward the moment he lands on four paws.
Playful.
Restless.
Dangerous.
Just like him.
Four wolves.
Four guardians.
Four legends.
My mates.
The sight steals my breath.
Rider
Hailey stares.
Completely mesmerized.
Good.
Because if she keeps staring at us, she won't notice how worried we are.
Something is out there.
I can smell it.
Darkness.
Rot.
Magic.
Wrongness.
The scent lingers between the trees.
Ancient.
Unnatural.
Kael nudges my shoulder.
Stay.
I immediately understand.
Protect Hailey.
Always.
The others disappear into the forest.
Silent.
Fast.
Predators returning to their natural form.
Within seconds they vanish amongst the shadows.
Leaving only me and Hailey beside the SUV.
Hailey
The moment they disappear, the silence feels heavier.
The forest presses closer.
Darker.
More threatening.
I fold my arms.
"I should be helping."
Rider's wolf simply stares at me.
Unimpressed.
"I could shift."
His ears flatten.
Apparently that's a terrible suggestion.
Frustrating.
Very frustrating.
"You know I can fight."
The giant wolf gives me a look.
An actual look.
One that somehow screams:
Absolutely not.
I sigh dramatically.
His wolf remains unmoved.
Traitor.
The frustration builds until a familiar voice appears inside my head.
Soft.
Ancient.
Silver.
You wish to run.
Selene.
I close my eyes briefly.
Yes.
A warm presence brushes against my consciousness.
So do I.
The answer surprises me.
Then why don't we?
Silence follows.
Then:
Because this is not the time.
I don't like that answer.
Apparently Selene knows this.
You are not ready.
The words sting.
I've spent my whole life waiting.
And I have spent centuries.
That shuts me up.
Momentarily.
The silver wolf appears within my mind.
Beautiful.
Powerful.
Ancient beyond comprehension.
Yet her attention isn't focused on the brothers.
Or me.
She's staring deep into the forest.
Toward the place where the figure stood.
Her ears flatten.
A low growl vibrates through our shared consciousness.
Fear.
Not mine.
Hers.
The realization sends ice through my veins.
Selene?
The silver wolf's gaze remains fixed on the darkness.
I know this scent.
My pulse spikes.
What scent?
For several moments she says nothing.
When she finally speaks, her voice sounds distant.
Haunted.
Dark magic.
The forest suddenly feels colder.
The Veil?
Older.
The answer steals my breath.
Older than the Veil?
Older than the witches?
I don't understand.
Selene slowly rises inside my mind.
Power crackling around her silver form.
Ancient memories stirring.
Ancient fears awakening.
Something sleeps beneath these mountains.
Every hair on my body stands upright.
The forest remains silent.
Watching.
Waiting.
Listening.
And for the first time since leaving Bloodmoon, I realize something terrifying.
The Crescent Vault may not be the only thing hidden out here.
- Writer
