The Choice
1165 Words
The hunters struck at sunrise.
Emma had just stepped onto the porch with a basket of laundry when she heard voices drifting through the trees.
Human voices.
Too close.
She froze.
Roman was beside her in an instant.
"Inside."
His voice was calm, but his posture had changed completely.
The easygoing man she'd come to know disappeared.
In his place stood the Alpha.
Commanding.
Alert.
Ready to fight.
"What is it?" Emma whispered.
"They're here."
Roman looked toward the forest.
"Asher."
"North side."
"Already moving."
"Asher disappeared into the trees without another word.
"Kai."
"East."
Kai gave a single nod before vanishing just as silently.
"Leo."
"Stay with Emma."
Leo looked ready to argue.
"But—"
"That's an order."
"...Yes, Alpha."
Roman turned to Finn.
"Take everyone into the cellar if anything happens."
Finn nodded.
"I will."
Emma stared at them.
"You've planned for this."
Roman met her eyes.
"We've had to."
---
The cabin fell unnaturally quiet.
Every creak of the floorboards made Emma jump.
Leo paced in front of the windows.
"I hate waiting."
Finn placed another log on the fire.
"So do I."
Roman stood perfectly still near the front door.
Listening.
Watching.
Minutes stretched into nearly an hour.
Then—
Three loud knocks echoed through the cabin.
Everyone froze.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Another voice called from outside.
"Hello?"
"We're with the Forest Wildlife Service."
"We'd like to ask a few questions."
Emma looked at Roman.
"They're lying."
Roman nodded.
"There is no wildlife service operating this deep in the reserve."
Another knock.
Louder.
"Miss?"
"We met yesterday."
"It's the hunter from the garden."
Emma's stomach tightened.
The leader was using her.
He knew she'd answer.
Roman whispered,
"You don't have to."
Emma looked toward the door.
Then back at Roman.
"No."
"I do."
She walked forward before anyone could stop her.
Leo caught her arm.
"Emma..."
She smiled reassuringly.
"I'll be okay."
---
Emma opened the door just enough to step outside before quietly closing it behind her.
Four men stood in the clearing.
The one she'd met before smiled warmly.
"Morning."
"Morning."
He glanced toward the cabin.
"So..."
"These friends of yours."
"They home?"
Emma nodded.
"They're sleeping."
The hunter chuckled.
"Must be nice."
His eyes wandered across the property.
He noticed the chopped wood.
The herb garden.
The fishing nets.
Everything.
"Your friends live out here year-round?"
Emma forced herself to remain calm.
“They do."
"You don't mind being so isolated?"
She shrugged.
"It's peaceful."
The hunter studied her carefully.
"You seem nervous."
"I don't like strangers showing up."
"Fair enough."
He smiled again.
Then his expression changed.
"You know..."
"We found something interesting this morning."
Emma's heart skipped.
"What?"
He reached into his backpack.
And pulled out a tuft of black fur.
Roman's fur.
"We found this about a mile from here."
"Big wolf."
"Real big."
Emma forced herself not to react.
"I've never seen it before."
"Hmm."
The hunter took one slow step closer.
"I think you're lying."
---
Inside the cabin...
Leo could hear every word.
His hands trembled.
"They know."
Finn looked toward Roman.
"What do we do?"
Roman's jaw clenched.
"We wait."
---
Outside...
The hunter's smile disappeared.
"Move."
"I'd like to take a look inside."
Emma shook her head.
"No."
His eyes narrowed.
"Excuse me?"
"My friends are asleep."
"You're not coming inside."
The other three hunters shifted uneasily.
One whispered,
"Maybe we should leave."
The leader ignored him.
He stepped closer.
"I wasn't asking."
Emma didn't move.
"No."
The clearing became silent.
The hunter sighed.
"You seem like a nice girl."
"I'd hate for something unfortunate to happen."
Emma's pulse raced.
Behind her...
She knew five wolves were waiting.
If this man walked through that door...
Everything would change.
She lifted her chin.
"I'm not moving."
---
The hunter reached for the doorknob.
Before his hand touched it—
The cabin door flew open.
Roman stepped outside.
His expression was unreadable.
But his eyes...
His eyes held a warning.
"She's already answered your question."
The hunter looked Roman up and down.
"So."
"You're one of the friends."
Roman nodded once.
"I am."
The hunter smiled.
"You mind if we look around?"
"I do."
"We've got permits."
Roman folded his arms.
"This is private property."
"You'll need a warrant."
The hunter laughed.
"I don't think I do."
He took another step.
Roman didn't move.
Neither man blinked.
Neither backed down.
Emma had never felt so much tension in one place.
Finally, the hunter held up his hands.
"Relax."
"We're leaving."
"For today."
He looked directly at Roman.
"But we'll be back."
Then he turned and disappeared into the trees with the others.
No one moved until the sound of their footsteps faded.
---
The moment they were gone, Emma's knees gave out.
Roman caught her before she hit the ground.
"I've got you."
Her breathing was uneven.
"I thought..."
"I thought they were going to come inside."
Roman gently helped her sit on the porch steps.
"They almost did."
Finn hurried outside carrying water.
Leo sat beside Emma.
"You were amazing."
She looked at him.
"I was terrified."
Kai emerged from the forest moments later.
"I heard everything."
He looked directly at Emma.
"You stood between them..."
"And us."
Emma shrugged weakly.
"They would've hurt you."
Kai slowly shook his head.
"I was wrong about humans."
Emma smiled tiredly.
"Maybe just about one human."
Kai surprised everyone.
Especially himself.
He smiled.
A real smile.
"Maybe."
---
That evening, the mood inside the cabin was subdued.
No card games.
No jokes.
Everyone understood the danger had changed.
The hunters suspected something.
Roman stood near the fireplace.
"They'll return."
"This time..."
"They won't come asking questions."
Emma looked around the room.
"What are we going to do?"
Roman answered honestly.
"I don't know."
Silence settled over the cabin.
Finally Emma stood.
"I do."
Five pairs of eyes turned toward her.
She took a slow breath.
"I'm leaving."
"No."
Roman answered immediately.
Emma held up a hand.
"Listen."
"If they think I'm just a woman staying with friends..."
"They'll keep coming."
"But if I leave..."
"They'll stop looking here."
Leo shook his head.
"We're not letting you go alone."
"I'm not asking you to."
"I'm asking you to let me protect you the way you've protected me."
Roman stared at her.
Every instinct screamed at him to refuse.
To lock the doors.
To keep her safe.
But the look in her eyes told him she had already made up her mind.
She wasn't acting out of fear.
She was acting out of love.
For them.
And somehow...
That terrified him more than the hunters ever could.
Outside, hidden among the trees, the hunters watched the cabin one last time before returning to their camp.
The leader smiled to himself.
"They're hiding something."
"And tomorrow..."
"We'll find out exactly what it is."
Inside the cabin, five wolves silently vowed the same thing.
No matter what happened next...
They would never let Emma face it alone.
- Writer
