A search for his wolveless luna:and his missing luna

chapter004

Chapter004

Shadows in the Wood

Chloe's Point of View

The forest was left ghostly, pale as the moon hung low in the heavens. Every step I took sounded louder than the last, the constant reminder I was not safe coming from the sound of leaves underfoot. But the silence between Jasper and me was more still, an unspoken strain enveloping us like the thick, cold air.

I gave him just partial trust. Nonetheless, I had no option. I couldn't afford to doubt the one way Drake's horror had presented me was the way out. My instincts screamed at me to keep running and to flee leaving as much distance between myself and the Green Piercing Pack. But Jasper knew these woods; without him, I wouldn't be able to make it through the nighttime.

The shadows moved around us, trees gently swinging in the breeze, and I felt as though someone—or something—were seeing us. My hand closed on my stomach. Besides, it was not solely mine anymore. I had to survive, for my baby.

Jasper mumbled, "You're quiet," his voice hardly discernible above a whisper, a few meters ahead of me. He did not halt or turn around, but his comments showed concern rather precisely.

I looked ahead and avoided his eyes. Stammered, not sure what to say. " I still have to work out why you're doing this."

Jasper exhaled lightly and finally turned to face me. "Chloe, you shouldn't believe me. As I know, you lack motivation. I still am not your enemy, though.

I stopped moving when his words sank in. Then, why were you consistently loyal to Drake? You stayed knowing what he was, why?

Jasper stopped too and turned completely face me. He looked austere and sorrowful. "Loyalty is complicated," he said quietly. "Drake owes me something in life. I made mistakes when a younger wolf, ones that should have cost everything. Drake, though, pulled me out of danger. joined me. I supposed I owed him everything.

I pinched my brow, doubt spinning inside my chest. And nowadays? Wh moved?

Jasper dropped his voice and softened his eyes. "you did."

My tongue caught my breath. I glanced away as I handled the weight of his honest stare. Nobody cared about me, let alone a man who had once been so committed to the Alpha who had imprisoned me. When I thought of Jasper seeing me as anything more than a weak, cursed wolf, my heart ached in a way I wasn't ready for.

He neared, his voice now softer. Chloe, you have a right to be free. I watched you lose that and stood by helplessly.

Looking at him, I tried to see any trace of dishonesty on his face, but all I found was authenticity. The walls I had built around my heart somewhat collapsed to let hope flutter. Maybe very definitely he was telling the truth.

The wind changed before I could respond, sounding almost like footsteps. My body tightened, my wolf flickering dimly inside me wary of threat. Looking at the trees, Jasper's gaze narrowed and his posture shifted immediately.

We're not alone, he added firmly.

My gut went empty, horror twisting at my chest. "Men from Drake's?

"Maybe," he murmured, his hand naturally moving for the dagger strapped to his side. " worst," or "or worst."

I sucked deeply and turned to face the black forest, every shadow now a potential peril. My pulse beating in my chest, the footfall grew louder and more direct. I find fighting value. Not of this sort. I was hardly hanging on, and my wolf was too weak to protect me.

Jasper's hand scooped forward to grab my wrist. "Run," he whispered, his voice both strong and subdued. Just now.

I turned without thinking and sprinted, feet flying over the uneven ground. Adrenaline surged through me as I pushed ahead and the trees blurted about me. I turned around not looking back. Not possible. I could only escape from whatever was chasing us and pray.

The footfall behind me grew louder, and I could hear someone—or whatever—close in breathing. I went on even though my lungs burned and my legs protested. Never would I cease. Not until I found security.

A sharp yell sliced through the air, and I could hear plainly a struggle behind me. My pulse skipped in my breast; suddenly I skidded to stop and turned back to see Jasper caught in a struggle with two figures—wolves, their eyes flaming with fury.

One of the wolves pounced at Jasper, but he moved exactly to avoid the attack and drove his dagger into the side of the beast. Rising around Jasper, the second wolf screamed in search of a pass-through.

I started to panic. I could not desert him to fight alone. But what could I do exactly? I knew I would not be useful in combat. Too weak to help, my wolf barely stirred inside of me.

But I could not watch his death from here.

Desperate, I searched for something—anywhere—that would be handy. I looked at a thick, weighty dropped limb. Though scarcely much, that was all I had. I grabbed it fast and firmly as I moved toward the confrontation.

Jasper's eyes shifted to me as I approached, a mix of surprise and annoyance playing across his features. Chloe, no—!—

Before he could continue, the second wolf ran at me, jaws bare and claws outstretched. Fear tore through me even as I swung the branch with all the force I could muster and caught the wolf across the face. The impact stunned my arms; the wolf yelped in pain, staggered back.

Jasper did not blow the opportunity. He rushed fast, striking his blade on the wolf's chest then turning back to the first one. The fight finished in a few seconds, and soon the forest was calm once more.

My chest heaving, I stood there with the branch still in shaking hands. Perfectly cleaning his blade, Jasper never turned away from me. There was now a new dispute between us not seen before.

Quietly sheathing his dagger, he said, "You shouldn't have done that."

I dropped the branch shaking hands. "I couldn't just watch and do nothing."

As Jasper approached me, his manner changed. "Chloe, you were brave." But next time let me manage the conflict.

I nodded too worn out to debate. Knowing I could not keep sprinting for much more, my legs felt as though they were about to buckle. Jasper must have seen my exhaustion as his voice was lower now as he neared.

We are almost here, he said. The Blue Moon Pack's territory extends somewhat outside that crest. We will be safe crossing the border.

Where he pointed, relief flooding washed over me. Not too far away we were. I just had to hang on a little longer.

But as we started walking, a new thought occurred to me—one I hadn't let myself consider until lately. The pack on the blue moon Alpha Adrian. Stories of him, murmurs of a man controlled with a cold, methodical hand, have been told. a man whose own family had once misled him, just as mine has done.

Could he come to embrace me? On the other hand, he would see me as just a liability, a burden. Knowing about the baby, then, what would happen? About Drake?

I pushed the concepts aside and focused on the path ahead. Time would let one finally confront those issues. Survival grabbed the main stage right now.

Still, as we approached the ridge, a fresh panic struck me. I knew this was merely the start, close to the Blue Moon Pack's area. The risk persisted rather than being over. It was only just beginning.