CHAPTER 4
1395 Words
Caden’s voice was calm, but I could see the tension in his body as he stood between me and the dark figure.
“What do you want ?” he asked again, his voice sharp.
The stranger let out a creepy laugh. “You've been on the run for quite a while, Caden Lunar king. It is time for you to face the truth and stop being cowardly.”
The air felt heavy, like the forest itself was waiting for something bad to happen. I stood behind Caden, gripping the handle of my bag tightly.
Caden's body was extremely tense and prepared to react quickly and strongly, like an animal about to jump into action.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Caden said angrily, though his voice wasn't as firm as before.
The stranger stepped closer, just enough for the moonlight to show his face. His skin was pale, stretched over sharp cheekbones, and his eyes had a strange silver glow. He didn’t fully look like a normal person.
“Still pretending?” the unknown man made fun of Caden. “Your pack fell because of your weakness." Do you think hiding here will make it all go away, Caden?”
My breath caught in my throat. His words sliced through the silence like a dagger. Pack? Weakness? What was he talking about?
What pack are you talking about, and why are you calling him a Lunar king? I barked at the stranger while trembling like a rabbit about to be killed.
Small brait, keep shut, or I'll end your existence right now . The figure threatened.
“Leave her out of this,” Caden said, his voice so deep and angry. “She has nothing to do with me.”
“Oh, but she does have something to do with you,” the man said, smiling strangely. You dragged her into the world we live in, whether you intended to or not. We don't care; she's here with you, which means she's in danger and trouble as well.
Before I could fully understand what he meant, the stranger moved quickly. Caden was fast enough to stop him. I barely even saw him. He then stopped him and pushed the man away.
Their clash was brutal—raw power against cunning speed. The sound of fists connecting and growls filled the clearing, drowning out my racing thoughts.
I stumbled back, my heart pounding. This wasn’t just a fight. It felt wild, raw, and terrifying.
“Caden!” I shouted, but he didn’t answer me or even look back.
The stranger threw a punch that made Caden lose his balance. Blood was rushing down his face, but he didn’t stop. With an angry roar, he landed quickly on the man and pinned him down to the ground.
“Stay down you fool !” Caden roared, holding him down with everything in him.
The stranger laughed, his voice hoarse.
“You can’t run forever. The throne will find you, whether you like it or not.”
The man suddenly broke free of Caden’s grip and disappeared into the dark. The place was very quiet except for Caden’s heavy breathing.
I ran to Caden's side as he fell to his knees. “You’re hurt,” I said, taking a cloth from my bag again.
“I’m fine,” he said, though his shaking hands said otherwise.
I ignored his words and pressed the cloth into a cut on his arm. “That man… he wasn’t ordinary. Who was he?”
Caden didn’t answer right away. His head hung low, and I thought he wouldn’t speak at all.
“An enemy,” he finally said, his voice barely audible.
“No! " You're kidding, right? ” I asked, feeling both fear and anger bubbling up inside me. “Why did he call you the Lunar King? What throne?
And what did he mean about your pack?”
Caden flinched as my questions hurt him more than his wounds. “It’s… complicated,” he said, avoiding my eyes.
“Tell me about it,” I said back, feeling a lot of anger and fear boiling inside of me.
He looked at me then, his blue eyes met mine, and I saw something raw and painful. “You don’t understand what you’ve walked into Serenity,” he said softly.
“Then explain it to me!” I said, louder this time.
He let out a sharp breath and lowered his shoulders, looking so tired. “I used to be…., someone important. Someone people followed, but I lost everything. My family, my people, my purpose. All because of that man, he’s part of the reason I lost it all.”
The weight of his words hung in the air, heavy and full of pain. I wanted to ask more, to dig deeper and understand everything, but his expression stopped me.
He looked like someone carrying too much pain, and I wasn’t sure I was ready to hear the full truth yet.
Instead, I focused on cleaning his wounds. “You need to rest,” I said softly, letting my anger fade.
“We don’t have much time here,” he replied, struggling to stand. There will be more. He wouldn’t have come alone.”
My stomach twisted. “More like him?”
Caden nodded, his face grim. “And they won’t stop until they get what they want.”
I swallowed hard. “Which is?”
“Me,” he said simply.
The honesty in his voice shocked me and I couldn't speak. Whatever world I had entered felt darker and more dangerous than I could have imagined.
“We need to start going out of this place,” Caden said, despite looking very tired.
“I won’t let them find you.” “Caden,” I said, my voice shaking, “I’m not leaving you behind.”
He looked at me, with a confused expression. “You have no idea of what you're putting yourself into or understand what you’re talking about.”
“Maybe not,” I agreed, “but I’m not going to run away. Not now.” I'm not leaving you here.
Caden smiles gently with a grateful look that might be an act of respect, maybe, or gratitude. “You’re stubborn,” he muttered.
“So I’ve been told,” I said with a weak smile.
We gathered the little things we had and started moving again. The forest was quiet, but it didn’t feel safe. Every small sound, even a twig snapping or leaves rustling, made my heart jump, but Caden seemed unshaken and focused.
As we walked, many questions filled my mind. Who was he? And what kind of king runs from his throne?
Before I could ask, Caden spoke. “Thank you,” he said softly, breaking the silence.
“For what?” I asked, startled.
“For staying,” he said, glancing at me.
“Even when you don’t have to.”
His words warmed something inside me, but I pushed the feeling aside. There was no time for sentiment. Not when danger was closing in on all sides.
Immediately after we left the forest, we saw an open field ahead of us glowing under the moonlight. The place felt peaceful and also scary.
“We’ll rest here,” Caden said, his voice low.
I nodded and put my bag down. But even as I sat, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that we were being watched by the unknown.
“Caden,” I called softly, “do you trust me?”
His eyes met with mine, and for a moment, I saw a glimpse of his true feelings. “I don’t know,” he said truthfully.
“Fair enough,” I said, trying to sound braver than I felt. “But I trust you." So if we’re going to survive in this place, we have to start working together.”
Caden smiled faintly, and then he simply replied “Agreed,”
The night was cold as we sat down to rest the little we could manage. But even as my body begged for sleep, I couldn’t stop thinking about the weight of Caden’s secrets or the danger waiting out there in the dark.
And somehow far away, I thought I heard the low, haunting cry of a wolf.
- Writer
