Chapter 4
1132 Words
The forest is silent. Too silent. It’s the kind of quiet that presses against your chest, heavy and foreboding, like the world itself is holding its breath. I crouch beside Damien, my hands hovering over his bleeding side.
“I need to get you out of here,” I whisper, but my voice feels small in the suffocating stillness.
He shakes his head, his breaths shallow. “You can’t carry me. You’d just make yourself a target.”
“Don’t be stupid,” I snap, the sharpness of my tone masking my fear. “You’re in no condition to fight. And I’m not leaving you here.”
Damien smirks faintly, though it’s more pain than amusement. “Always the hero, huh? Even when it’s a lost cause.”
“You’re not a lost cause,” I mutter, wrapping an arm under his shoulders. “Now shut up and help me, or I’ll leave you for real.”
Before I can pull him up, a low growl ripples through the air. It’s faint, but it freezes the blood in my veins.
“They’re coming back,” Damien says, his voice tense. “Ariana, listen to me. You need to run.”
“Stop telling me to run!” I hiss, my eyes scanning the dark woods. My pulse hammers in my ears. “I’m not leaving you. End of story.”
“You don’t understand,” he growls, his usual calm shattering. “This isn’t just about me anymore. They’re after you now.”
“Why?” I ask, frustration boiling over. “Why would rogues care about me?”
Damien hesitates, his jaw tightening. “Because of what you are.”
“What I am?” I stare at him, incredulous. “I’m just a warrior-in-training, Damien! I’m not—”
“You’re not *just* anything,” he cuts me off, his eyes blazing. “Do you really think the rogues would go through this much trouble for an ordinary pack member? You’re more important than you realize, Ariana.”
Before I can demand an explanation, another growl splits the air, closer this time. My grip on Damien tightens as I whirl toward the sound.
The gray wolf emerges from the shadows, his silver fur glowing faintly in the moonlight. Behind him, Caleb stalks forward, his eyes blank and lifeless.
“Did you really think you could outrun me?” the gray wolf taunts, his voice a smooth drawl that sends a shiver down my spine. “You’re stubborn, I’ll give you that. But it’s time to end this little game.”
Damien shifts beside me, his growl low and menacing despite his injuries. “Stay behind me,” he mutters.
“No,” I say firmly, stepping in front of him. “You’re hurt. I’ll handle this.”
The gray wolf chuckles, shaking his head. “How noble. How predictable. But bravery won’t save you, little warrior.”
“I don’t need saving,” I snap, raising my blade. “Let my brother go, and I might let you walk away from this.”
“Your brother?” The gray wolf smirks, his teeth gleaming. “Do you really think he’s still your brother? Look at him, Ariana. He belongs to me now.”
I glance at Caleb, my heart sinking at the sight of the dark mark on his neck. His gaze meets mine for a brief moment, and for a heartbeat, I see a flicker of recognition.
“Caleb,” I say softly, stepping toward him. “Please. I know you’re in there. Fight it.”
He growls, his body trembling as if caught in a battle he can’t win.
“Don’t bother,” the gray wolf sneers. “The bond is complete. He’s mine, body and soul.”
“You’re lying,” I spit, my anger boiling over. “He’s stronger than you think. And so am I.”
The gray wolf’s smirk falters, just for a moment. “We’ll see about that.”
He lunges at me, his speed blinding. I barely have time to raise my blade, the impact sending me sprawling to the ground. The blade clatters out of my hand, sliding out of reach.
“Ariana!” Damien’s shout is distant, muffled by the pounding of my heart.
The gray wolf looms over me, his claws poised to strike. But before he can land a blow, a deafening roar shakes the clearing.
The ground trembles as a massive figure bursts through the trees, its golden fur glinting like fire. It’s not a wolf it’s something bigger, something I’ve never seen before.
The gray wolf snarls, retreating a step. “No,” he mutters, his confidence slipping. “It can’t be.”
The golden beast charges, its jaws snapping shut around the gray wolf’s shoulder. He howls in pain, struggling against its massive form.
“Damien,” I gasp, scrambling toward him. “What is that?”
His eyes widen, his face pale. “It’s her.”
“Her?” I repeat, my mind spinning.
But Damien doesn’t answer. His focus is locked on the golden beast as it tears into the gray wolf, its fury unmatched.
The gray wolf breaks free, blood dripping from his side. “This isn’t over,” he growls, his voice thick with pain. He shifts back into his wolf form, disappearing into the shadows with Caleb close behind.
The golden beast turns its gaze to me, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. For a moment, I can’t breathe.
Then, it shifts.
The transformation is seamless, and standing before me is a woman, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders. Her presence is commanding, her gaze piercing.
“You’re Ariana,” she says, her voice calm but firm. “You’ve just stepped into something far bigger than you realize.”
I stare at her, my mind racing. “Who are you?”
She steps closer, her eyes softening. “I’m someone who’s been waiting for you. And if we don’t act fast, this entire pack will fall.”
Damien groans, struggling to sit up. “What do you mean? What’s happening?”
The woman’s expression darkens. “The rogues are only the beginning. They’re after Ariana because she’s the key to breaking the curse.”
“Curse?” I echo, my voice barely above a whisper.
She nods, her gaze steady. “You’re not just a warrior, Ariana. You’re the one who can save us—or destroy us.”
The weight of her words settles over me like a crushing wave. I want to argue, to deny it. But deep down, I know she’s telling the truth.
And as the distant howls of the rogues echo through the forest, I realize that nothing will ever be the same.
- Writer
