The Moonlit Heiress

Chapter 5: Shadows of the Past

The door of the diner clanged shut behind them as Alex hustled Clara out into the chill of the night. His hand grasped the lower portion of her back, urging her onward with an undercurrent of urgency that Clara could not disregard. The town was quiet, unnaturally quiet-with that stillness that sent Clara's skin prickling.

"Where are we going?" she huffed, her short legs practically jogging to keep pace with his long strides.

"Somewhere safe," Alex said shortly.

Clara frowned. "That's not an answer."

"It's the only one you're getting right now," he returned, looking over his shoulder–brilliant green eyes alert, scanning the blanketing streets of empty threats. "We don't have time for explanations."

A bubbling well of frustration boiled up and over inside, and she drew her heels into the carpet, yanking him to a stop.

"I'm not going anywhere unless you tell me what is going on," she said firmly, but shaking.

Alex finally turned back to her now, softening. "Clara, I know you're scared–”

"Afraid?" she cut in. "I'm so far beyond afraid, Alex! I just found out my whole life is a lie, you can turn into a wolf, and now you're dragging me off to God knows where without telling me why. I deserve answers!"

He let out a deep sigh, running a hand through his hair.

"You're right," he said much softer now. "But I cannot explain everything here, not where they might be listening."

"They?" Clara's eyes narrowed. "Who's they?"

"The ones who want to use you," Alex said grimly. "The ones that will stop at nothing to get what they want.”

His words sent a shiver running down her spine, but she held firm.

"Why me?" she whispered. "What makes me so important?"

Alex was taken aback; his jaw clenched tight. "Because of who you are," he finally said. "Because of what you are."

Herein is a complete abandonment of duty even to view the comments as scandalizing against her. You are part of the bloodline that holds great power. Power-hungry wolves would kill for.”

Clara's stomach twisted, her breath catching. "I don't understand."

"You will," Alex promised. "But first, we need to get somewhere safe."

This time, when he started walking, Clara followed.

They reached the edge of town, where the streetlights gave way to dense woods. Clara hesitated, glancing back at the faint glow of the diner in the distance.

“We’re going into the forest?” she asked, her voice shaky.

Alex nodded. “It means that you are not just Isabella Hayes, he said, locking his eyes into hers.

"The last place they are going to expect us to go."

"That's not really helpful," she muttered, following him anyway.

The trees looming over them, shadowy and high, twisting limbs into the bony fingers of skeleton hands. The only sound is leaves rustling under foot, with an occasional hoot of an owl in the distance. Clara tried to fix her gaze on the road ahead, but inside, the swirl of terror and bafflement continued unabated.

"Who called earlier?" she finally asked.

Alex's jaw worked. "Someone who shouldn't have been able to find us."

"Great," she grumbled. "That's reassuring."

"It's not," he said. "Which is why we need to keep moving."

Then, wordless, perhaps for hours, or at least twenty minutes later, they fell into a small clearing in the middle of which a cabin-like cottage stood: with darkened windows and the growth of ivy on its walls, the door was so ancient and used it barely hung on its hinges.

"This is your safe place?" Clara suspiciously asked.

"It's more secure than it looks," he said, ushering her inside.

The cabin was small but surprisingly well-kept. A stone fireplace ran the length of one wall; the center area of the room was filled solidly with a table and chairs. The air thickened with the faint scent of wood smoke and pine. Clara dropped onto one of the chairs, her legs giving way under her with tiredness.

Alex lit a fire, and the dancing flames made everything cast eerie, jittery shadows on the walls.

"We are safe here for now," he repeated, this time more subdued.

"For now?" Clara echoed as her stomach contracted. "And then what?"

"We decide what to do next," said Alex simply.

Clara's eyes roved to the fire dancing in the grate, the wild fancies crowding each other in her brain.

"Do you know who kidn*pped me?" she asked after some mute moments.

Alex hesitated. "Not yet. But I have one or two notions."

She looked up at him, peering into his face. "You knew, didn't you? That I was, her."

He nodded slowly. "I suspected. The birthmark was the first clue. The rest, well, it all started to add up."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" she demanded, her voice rising.

Because I didn't want to scare you, Alex said uncompromisingly. And because I needed to be sure.

"Well, good for you," Clara snapped. "You scared me just the same."

Alex flinched, and for a moment, she could have sworn that she saw something akin to regret in his gaze.

"I am sorry," he whispered. "But you had a right to know the truth."

The fire crackled between them, and the silence stretched. Clara looked at him with curiosity edging out the anger. There was more to this gleam in this billionaire than the raw power of the wolf beneath the polished veneer: Weight etched upon him, heavy with a certain burden Clara did not quite fathom.

"What about you?" she asked then, softer. "Why are you involved in all of this?"

Alex's face clouded. "Because it is part of my work, protecting people like you," he replied, "And because I have to restore my debt with my pack."

"Your pack?" Clara repeated, frowning.

"It is a long story," Alex said with his lips curled up into an upside-down arc. "I will tell you someday. For now, just know you are not alone in this. I am here to help.”

Before she could get the words out, the silence was shattered by a loud crashing noise. It shot her to her feet, her heart racing, filled with fear, and jerked Alex's head toward the door.

"They're here," he growled low.

Who?" Clara demanded, her heart tight with a rising panic.

Alex didn't answer him. He stepped forward to stand in front of her, lean and tense, his green eyes smoldering like embers in the firelight.

"Stay behind me," he told her.

The door swung open, and three people ran inside. Clara gasped at the three scowling faces–three threatening visages distorted toward her. Among them was the black wolf, who had transformed into human form. Two others flanked either side of the door frame; and under partial illumination, yellow eyes seemed to shine through the gloom.

"Well, well," he said with sugar-tipped tones of mockery, "it looks like we found our little heiress.”

Alex growled, the sound low and dangerous. “You’ve made a mistake coming here.”

The wolf smirked. “I don’t think so.”

The black wolf lunged, and Alex met him head-on, the cabin exploding into chaos. Clara stumbled back, her heart pounding as the two clashed. The other wolves advanced, their eyes locked on her.

Terrified and trapped, Clara knew she was standing at an edge beyond which there was no retreat. And for the first time, she wondered whether Alex's protection would be enough to save her, or if she needed some strength of her own to survive.