Chapter 3
1289 Words
ISABELLA POV
5 YEARS LATER…
The marketplace was alive, a busy whirl of talk, laughter, and clinking coppers. Purchasers shouted as vendors bellowed new spice, fruit, and finished craft, the shout of one blending with that of the other into the familiar hum of call and response. The aromas of fresh-picked fruit, fresh-baked bread, and hot-roasted meat lingered in the air.
I elbowed my way through the crowd, a large, woven basket clasped against my hip. I greeted vendors and passersby, my insides warming with welcome and comfort.
"Good morning, Isabella!" called Mrs. Whitman, the elderly baker, as she handed another shopper a still-warm loaf of bread.
"Good morning, Mrs. Whitman!" I smiled, tugging my basket around as I stopped at the fruit stand next. I scrutinized each piece with a critical eye, nodding to the vendor before exchanging coins.
I made my way down the line of stalls, my face concentrated as I measured out each purchase. Though my strides were free and easy, there was always a part of me that kept a tight watch and was always alert, a habit I’d developed over the years.
After twenty minutes had passed, my basket was full of vegetables, fruit, dried meat, and a little something for Charles. I rebalanced the load on my hip and went along the well-known path home, gazing up through the tree cover above.
The sun filtered through the leaves, casting its light for brief moments upon the earth's path. Birds flew between the trees, their singing a gentle harmony to the whisper of the wind. I breathed deeply, enjoying the peacefulness of the Green Moss Pack's lands.
Just as I was finally calming down, a shadow moved beside me.
"Boo!"
I gasped, nearly losing my basket as I spun around, with a thumping heart. But when I saw who the scoundrel was, I groaned.
"Xaxan!" I scolded, placing a hand on my chest. "You scared me half to death!"
Xaxan grinned, a tawny smile spreading across his face. "That was the point," he said, folding his arms. "You should have seen your face."
"Not funny," I blew out, though I couldn't hide the smile.
Xaxan was one of the ones who'd welcomed me on arriving at Green Moss Pack five years before. I’d been a haunted-looking one then, bringing with me just a lean sack slung around over my shoulder, my muscles set in a tightness. But he’d been amiable, easygoing until he wore through my wariness.
The Green Moss Pack might have been a pack next door to Silver Moon, but in every way that mattered, it had been another world here. Here, there were decent people. Here, I had healed and had the one person that meant the world to me.
Xaxan fell into step beside me, fists jammed in his pockets. "You should have been at training this morning," he said. "Something insane happened."
I raised a brow. "Oh?"
He grinned, eyes shining with mischief. "So I was stalking this deer along the south border, right? Out of nowhere, Liam comes tearing down on me, yelling something about—"
I stopped short, my hand going up. "Wait."
Xaxan stopped also, his face immediately falling more serious.
"You hear that?" I breathed.
Silence stretched between us as we both tilted our heads, listening. Then, the sound hit us, distant screams, the unmistakable snarls of wolves.
I stiffened.
A man burst around the corner, panting heavily. His eyes were wild with fear.
"We’re under a rogue attack!" he shouted before dashing off again.
My heart plummeted.
I shared a glance with Xaxan, and in perfect synchrony, we broke into a sprint toward my home.
Please be safe. Please be safe.
The prayer echoed within my brain like a mantra as my legs pumped me at a speed I never believed I could achieve.
As I spotted my home on the horizon, my chest was filled with relief. Charles and Tobias stood outside, playfully roughhousing with each other, oblivious to the trouble coming their way.
"Charles!" I shrieked.
"Tobias!" Xaxan's voice rang at the same second.
The two boys sprang, heads snapping up as their parents finally arrived. I scooped Charles up into my arms as Xaxan swept up Tobias.
"In here, quickly!" I ordered, running inside.
Xaxan closed the door behind us, drawing home every bolt as I hurried to a shelf, fetching down a tiny jar. I removed the lid and quickly began mixing a concealing paste.
Tobias looked at his dad, wide-eyed. "Dad, what's happening?"
"There's a rogue attack," Xaxan breathed. "You two must remain silent and do exactly as we tell you."
I put the paste on Charles, then myself. I shoved the remainder of the mixture into Xaxan's hands. "Cover yourself and Tobias."
When he’d done it, I guided everyone to a hidden compartment, one I’d secretly built into the floor for this very purpose. The rogues' noises were closer now, pounding footsteps, snarling voices.
I ushered everyone in then slipped in and pushed the lid shut behind myself and bolted it from inside.
Charles clung to me. "Are we gonna be all right, Mom?" he whispered.
I forced a trembling smile. "Yes, sweetheart. Now hush."
Above us, the front door shattered. Heavy boots stomped inside.
I clamped a hand over Charles’ mouth, while Xaxan did the same for Tobias.
The rogues moved through the house.
"Anything?" one of them grunted.
"Nothing," another answered.
Then, a voice spoke, sending ice through my veins.
"I’m sure her scent led here."
"You sure it’s the same person?"
"Of course. I’ve smelt that f*****g piece of fabric for over a year now. It’s the first time the scent matched in real life. I’m sure she’s the one he’s looking for."
My eyes widened. My breath caught.
Who was searching for me?
Then, the same voice spoke again.
"Imagine if Kaden finds out about this," a rogue muttered. "That this bastard has been searching for his rejected mate all this time. That’s a war I’d like to see."
My blood ran cold.
The rogues moved on, their footsteps fading into the distance.
I forced myself to wait an additional fifteen minutes before I unbolted the compartment. We stepped out, and not a moment later, I began packing.
"What are you doing?" Xaxan growled.
"Charles and I need to leave," I told him, packing essentials into a sack.
"Why are they pursuing you?" His voice was sharp with worry.
"I don't know," I lied.
"You don't have to run," he objected. "I can protect you."
Frustrated, I spun about, my eyes blazing. "No, you can't, Xaxan! The only one who can protect us now is the same one I ran from all those years ago."
Realization spread over his face. His body stiffened. "Charles' father?"
A thickness in my throat. I nodded. "Yes."
Xaxan exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. "Then I'm coming with you."
"You can't."
"You can't travel the woods by yourself with Charles—"
"Think of Tobias," I cut in.
He fell silent.
"I won't get you caught up in this," I said softly. "But we'll visit you when we can."
Xaxan swallowed hard, then nodded.
I hugged him tight. "Thank you for being such a good friend."
There were pouty farewells between Tobias and Charles.
I then used more paste to cover up myself and Charles, keeping hold of his little hand tight. I crept to the edges of the pack and looked over my shoulder again.
The place where I had been healed. The place where I had found peace.
Then I glanced at Charles, my motivation for everything.
Taking a firm breath, we slipped into the woods.
Back towards the Silver Moon Pack.
- Writer
