Chapter 7:The Girl In The Trees
1299 Words
Lyra couldn't move.
Maya stood between the trees, one hand resting against the trunk beside her.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then Maya took a step forward.
“Lyra?”
Lyra's heart was still pounding.
“What are you doing here?”
Maya looked confused.
“I was looking for you.”
“At this hour?”
“I woke up and you weren't there.”
Lyra glanced toward the path behind Maya.
“You followed me?”
“I heard the door.”
Maya's eyes moved to Lyra's wrist.
The faint glow beneath her skin hadn't completely disappeared.
“What happened?”
Lyra covered the mark with her hand.
“Nothing.”
Maya's expression tightened.
“You're lying.”
The words sounded strangely familiar.
Lyra remembered saying almost the same thing to Kael.
“I heard something.”
Maya stepped closer.
“What?”
“My mother's voice.”
Maya stopped.
For the briefest moment, something flickered across her face.
Fear.
Then it was gone.
Lyra noticed.
“You know something.”
“No.”
“You hesitated.”
“I didn't.”
“You did.”
Maya looked away.
Lyra's suspicion grew.
“Why are you acting strange?”
“I'm not.”
“You are.”
Maya sighed.
“I don't know what you want me to say.”
“The truth would be a good start.”
Maya stared at her.
“I've been your friend since we were children. When have I ever lied to you?”
Lyra didn't answer.
That was the problem.
She trusted Maya.
At least, she thought she did.
But tonight had made her question everything.
A branch cracked somewhere behind them.
Both girls turned.
Maya's face immediately changed.
“What's that?”
“I don't know.”
Another sound came from the trees.
Closer this time.
Lyra's instincts kicked in.
“Stay behind me.”
Maya gave her a look.
“You're telling me to stay behind you?”
“Yes.”
“Since when are you the brave one?”
“Since tonight.”
Maya almost smiled.
Then something moved in the darkness.
Lyra's smile disappeared.
“Kael?”
No answer.
Maya reached for her hand.
“Maybe we should go back.”
Lyra nodded.
They turned toward the guest house.
A figure stepped out from between the trees.
Lyra froze.
It was Kael.
Blood covered one side of his shirt.
His breathing was heavy.
“Kael!”
Lyra ran toward him.
He caught her before she reached him.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
His eyes moved over her face, checking.
“Where's Maya?”
“She's here.”
Kael looked past Lyra.
Maya stood several feet away.
Something about his expression changed.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
“Maya.”
She lowered her eyes.
“Alpha.”
Lyra looked between them.
“You know each other?”
Kael didn't answer.
Maya did.
“Everyone knows the Alpha.”
“That isn't what I meant.”
Kael stepped between them.
“Inside.”
Lyra frowned.
“Why?”
“Because we're leaving.”
“Now?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
His eyes moved briefly toward the forest.
“The patrol.”
Lyra's stomach tightened.
“Did you find them?”
“I found one.”
“Alive?”
Kael nodded.
“But barely.”
“What did he say?”
Kael's jaw tightened.
“He said there were three wolves.”
Lyra remembered the creature from earlier.
“Were they the same ones?”
“I don't know.”
Kael looked at her.
“But he said something else.”
“What?”
“He said they weren't looking for the pack.”
Lyra swallowed.
“They were looking for me.”
“Yes.”
The words settled heavily between them.
Maya stepped closer.
“Then we need to go.”
Kael looked at her.
“You agree?”
Maya nodded.
“It's not safe here.”
Lyra watched them carefully.
Something was wrong.
She could feel it.
“You two are acting like you've had this conversation before.”
Neither answered.
“Maya?”
Her friend looked at her.
“I haven't.”
Kael's gaze shifted toward the forest.
“She's telling the truth.”
Lyra looked at him.
“Then why did you look at her like you recognized her?”
Kael didn't respond.
Maya did.
“Because I've met him before.”
Lyra's eyes widened.
“When?”
“Years ago.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I didn't think it mattered.”
“It matters now.”
Maya looked down.
“It was before we became friends.”
Lyra frowned.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Maya.”
“I swear.”
Kael interrupted.
“We don't have time for this.”
Lyra turned toward him.
“You don't get to decide what matters to me.”
“I know.”
“Then stop doing it.”
Kael stared at her.
For a moment, his expression softened.
“You're right.”
Maya looked between them.
“Can we argue after we're somewhere safe?”
Lyra glanced at her.
“Fine.”
They started toward the guest house.
They had barely taken three steps when Lyra stopped.
Something was wrong.
She looked back at the forest.
The mark on her wrist had begun to burn again.
“Wait.”
Kael immediately turned.
“What?”
Lyra listened.
At first, she heard nothing.
Then—
A soft voice drifted through the trees.
“Lyra.”
She knew it immediately.
Her mother's voice.
Lyra took a step forward.
Kael caught her wrist.
“No.”
“Let go.”
“It's not your mother.”
“How do you know?”
“Because she wants you to follow her.”
Lyra stared at him.
“You heard it?”
“Yes.”
Maya's face had gone pale.
Lyra noticed.
“Maya?”
Maya shook her head.
“Don't.”
“Don't what?”
“Don't follow it.”
Lyra stared at her.
“How do you know?”
Maya's eyes filled with tears.
For the first time since Lyra had known her, Maya looked genuinely frightened.
“Because I've heard that voice before.”
Silence.
Lyra's heart sank.
“You heard my mother's voice?”
Maya nodded slowly.
“When?”
“Years ago.”
Lyra stepped closer.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Maya wiped quickly at her cheek.
“Because your mother made me promise.”
Lyra stared at her.
“My mother?”
Maya nodded.
“She came to me the night before she disappeared.”
Lyra couldn't breathe.
“What did she say?”
Maya looked at Kael.
He was watching her closely.
Then Maya looked back at Lyra.
“She told me that one day, when the mark appeared, you would start hearing her.”
Lyra's voice dropped.
“And?”
Maya swallowed.
“She told me never to let you open the door.”
Lyra's blood ran cold.
“What door?”
Maya didn't answer.
The forest behind them suddenly filled with a low growl.
Kael pulled Lyra behind him.
Maya stepped backward.
Something moved between the trees.
Then another.
Kael's claws emerged.
“Stay behind me.”
Lyra barely heard him.
Her eyes were fixed on the darkness.
A pair of red eyes appeared between the trees.
Then another.
And another.
Kael's voice dropped.
“There are too many.”
Lyra's mark flared.
The forest went completely silent.
Then a voice came from the darkness.
Not her mother's this time.
A man's voice.
Calm.
Almost amused.
“Finally.”
Lyra felt Kael tense in front of her.
The voice continued.
“We've been waiting for you, Moonborn.”
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD