Wolves of the veil

CHAPTER4

THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM

It felt like a strange, restless pause after Samuel and I had met at the river. As if the entire expanse of the world around me was holding its breath waiting--yet I couldn't say whether there would be either relief or a drop into despair.

Back in Moonshadow, cobblestone streets and the old-world charm usually made for a rather serene community. During the events which followed, however, the town seemed to have acquired a shadow. They did not tend to tell too many stories in a climate so closely guarded as this, but lately, it was as if they were about to burst forth into light. I could tell that already in the suspicious looks my fellow townspeople were throwing in my direction, and by the way, their chatter would cease abruptly as soon as I appeared on the scene. In some sense, it seemed they realized there was something different about me--something wrong with the life I had so carefully put together here.

Samuel, however, was my one enduring link to society. He would often visit, passing through the dense woods that surrounded my cottage. We would meet at places invisible from the rest of the world, places far removed from prying eyes. For a brief time then it seemed as though the world had narrowed down to just the two of us. He was still the Samuel I loved, which lit his dark hair white under the moonlight--a sign that he was a true Alpha male--and spoke with a deep, calm voice that always managed to quiet my nervous heart.

But even in such stolen moments as these, I could see that he was transforming. There was a lot in his stride and a certain watchfulness In his eyes that hadn't been present before. It was as if the pack's troubles had landed just as heavily upon his shoulders as on mine, and no matter how hard I tried, still I could not remove it for him.

One night, as the setting sun turned the sky to dusk and then the river, Samuel came to see me by the water once more. The water was black and still, and in its face reflected a crescent-shaped moon hanging above. The sight of him there alone, silhouetted by fading light, just seemed too beautiful for words.

"Samuel," I spoke softly, stepping toward him.

He looked at me and for a moment, with his body slightly relaxed, the lines of tension vanished from his face. He took me in his arms and hugged me tight, and I let the warmth of his embrace envelop me.

"Lyla," he murmured. With a low, rumbling voice, my spine tingled and I shivered. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," I whispered, leaning my head on his chest.

There, we waited in silence, only the silence of the night splashing waves of water-like quiet over us. But even in that peaceful moment, I felt the question pressing back in my mind. There was something wrong—more than the ordinary worries about our illegal relationship.

"What's going on, Samuel?" I asked, pulling back slightly to look up at him.

He hesitated, his gaze away from mine for a moment, then returned to my face. "There's been a little disorder in the pack," he said soberly. "Ryder's been up to mischief, trying to undermine my authority."

My heart sank at the sound of Ryder. The memory of his last visit was fresh in my mind, the threat in his eyes as clear as day. "What can we do?" I asked, trying to hide the panic in my voice.

"I'm managing," Samuel said, harder light in his eyes. "But it's becoming more difficult. The pack is starting to question my decisions, most especially when it comes to us."

I felt guilty. Our relationship was putting him in an impossible position, however I could not bear to leave him. "I'm sorry," I murmured, casting my eyes down.

"Don't be," Samuel said sternly, giving a little lift to my chin to meet his eyes. "To win you, Lila, is more important to me than the entire pack. But we need to be careful here."

"I know," I said before he shot me a look that said, How Do you follow a bullet in time, my voice was so low it was a whisper. But what happens with Ryder? If he just doesn't stop... "

Samuel's jaw clenched as well, and in his eyes, for a dangerous moment, I saw hatred. He said, "He won't get the chance. I won't let him."

I wanted to believe him, but the fear now choking on my heart would not soften. Ryder was a danger that did not disappear easily, and so long as he was out there we were not safe.

"What if we left?" I suggested abruptly, becoming desperate. "What if we ran away? We could start over in another place."

Samuel sighed, expression softening as he brushed back a strand of fiery red hair from my face. "Lyla, you know I would do anything for you. But this isn’t running, is it? The pack needs me as a leader, and there’s no chance that Ryder... he’d find us and still would. He’s not the type of enemy that gives up easily."

Might as well be dead, ’ I thought and asked myself why I couldn't bear to tell him. There was no escaping the truth -- so I sighed, knowing he was correct. Running away only delays what is inevitable and takes us further into a precarious position. We were trapped, twisting in the labyrinth of deception, and there was no way out.

"Then what do we do?" I asked sulkily.

"We fight," Samuel replied bravely as if he didn't see our predicament. "We hold our ground and defend what's ours. I will not let Ryder separate us."

I nodded and tried to take strength from his determination. We were in for a long, hard battle I realized, but as long as our wills were aligned I was prepared to fight. Samuel was my rock, my anchor. I would do anything it took to keep our love alive.

Watching the river foaming by, I began to realize that our love would be tested not only by Ryder but by the secrets we have yet to unearth... the secrets that I have yet to tell. But for now, I would concentrate on what lay before me, the love that held us together.

As the night deepened around us, I silently promised: Whatever it costs, I will keep our love safe.