CHAPTER7
1158 Words
As we walked deeper into the forest, the trees became darker and stranger, with their branches reaching toward the sky like claws. The air felt heavy, making every step difficult. Caden moved ahead with a straight back, as if he was carrying a heavy weight.
“Are you going to tell me where we're going? We've been walking since, and we haven't arrived at any destination. My voice wavered as I spoke, cutting through the quiet like a knife.
He didn’t pause or look back. “Not now,” he said; his voice was flat and sounded so distant.
“That's not good enough,” I said, walking faster to get in front of him. I stood in his way, making him stop. “Why always silent whenever I ask something important ? And why are you acting like you don't care about everything I've been saying?”
Caden's face tightened, and his jaw dropped, but he didn’t say anything while keeping his eyes on the ground.
“Caden, don’t make me regret ever helping you,” I cautioned him, and my heart was pounding so fast in my chest.
Before he could answer, a low, scary growl came from the dark by the bush path. We stopped. The air felt like it was shaking around us. Then, from the darkness, a tall figure appeared. He moved like a hunter, each step slow and careful. His sharp blue eyes focused on Caden with a cold look.
“Caden Logan,” the man said, his voice smooth but laced with danger. “It’s been too long.”
“Ronan,” Caden called, his tone colder than ice.
The name sent a chill through me. This was the man who had taunted him earlier, and now, standing in front of us, he felt even more dangerous.
Ronan’s eyes shifted to me, and a cruel smirk spread across his face. “And who’s this? Don’t tell me you dragged her into this mess.”
“Leave her out of it,” Caden said sharply, stepping in front of me.
Ronan laughed, a sharp, mocking sound. “She doesn’t even know, does she? She doesn’t know your little secret about the mate that you left behind.” he laughed sarcastically.
My stomach tightened. “What’s he talking about?” I asked, my eyes turning to Caden.
“Don’t listen to him,” Caden said quickly, his voice tense.
Oh! I see you“ haven’t told her,”, have you? Same old Caden, always hiding the truth, always running away from his responsibilities.
Enough of that, Ronan,“Caden barked at him, his hands clenched into fists.”
The tension between them was suffocating and thick. Every word Ronan spoke felt like it carried a weight I couldn’t yet understand.
I stepped forward, refusing to be ignored. “If there’s something I need to know, someone better start talking.”
Ronan tilted his head, and amusement flickered in his eyes. “She’s got fire and the spirit,” he said, almost to himself. “I like her.” Then his smile faded, and he leaned closer to Caden. “But let’s not pretend she deserves someone like you.”
Caden’s whole body stiffened, but before he could respond, Ronan straightened and stepped back. “You can’t run from your past forever, Caden. It always catches up.”
With that, he disappeared into the dark, leaving an uneasy silence behind.
I turned to Caden, frustration rising inside of me “What’s going on, Caden? Who is he? And what does he mean by your mate?”
Caden opened his mouth, then shut it again, his eyes filled with something I couldn’t quite name, possibly regret or worry. “Serenity, I—” He stammered.
“Don’t,” I cut him off, my voice firm. “I’m done waiting for answers. I’ve been patient enough, but I deserve to know the whole truth.”
His shoulders sagged a little, but he still didn’t speak. Before either of us could say anything more, the sound of footsteps in the bushes made us both turn around.
I thought it was Ronan, but instead, a group of strangers appeared from the bush, their clothes torn, and their eyes were wild. They moved like a pack, circling us with quiet threat.
Caden pulled me behind him. “Stay close,” he said, his voice low and scary.
The leader of the group, who had a scar on his face, stopped a few steps away. “You don’t belong here,” he growled.
“We’re not looking for trouble,” Caden said calmly.
“Too late for that,” the man snarled, signaling his group to spread out.
The tension broke like a snap, and one of them jumped at Caden. But Caden moved quickly, taking down the first attacker with a sharp blow and strength that surprised me.
I stumbled back, trying to stay out of the way, but one of them turned toward me.
Before he could reach me, Caden was already there, grabbing my arm and pulling me behind him. “I said stay close!” he shouted, his voice sharp with heaviness.
The fight ended almost as quickly as it started. Caden was faster, stronger, and better than all of them. When the last one fell, the scarred leader backed away with his hands raised.
“This isn’t over,” he spat before running into the trees with the rest of his group.
Caden turned to me, breathing hard. “Are you okay?”
I nodded, even though my hands were shaking. “I’m fine.”
Neither of us spoke. The tension between us felt heavy like everything we weren’t saying was weighing us down.
Finally, I looked at him. “Who are you, Caden?” I know you've told me your story, but I think there's more to it. Tell me who you are and stop hiding the full story. Tell me everything I need to know.
He hesitated, his eyes dark and hard to read. “I could ask you the same thing,” he said quietly. “Who are you, Serenity? And why are you out here, alone, in a place like this?”
His words stopped me. “I... I don’t owe you any more explanation,” I said, trembling over my words. And besides, I've told you who I am. Why return the question to me, asking the same question I've already given you? So don't you believe my history ?
“Maybe not,” he said, his eyes sharp. “But you’re not what you seem. And I’m not the only one keeping secrets.”
His words hung in the air, heavy and hard for me to ignore. I opened my mouth to argue with his words, but nothing came out.
The silence between us lingered but was only broken by the gentle sound of leaves in the wind.
- Writer
