Marked by the Moon, Bound by Blood

Chapter 12

I held my breath, pressing my back against the rough surface of the massive boulder. The snow was starting to fall harder, but the biting cold was nothing compared to the fear crawling through my entire body. A group of men in white robes stood just a few meters from our hiding spot. Their spears glowed with a faint blue light, casting an eerie shimmer over the snow.

"I smell something foul here. Come out and show yourselves, you cursed creatures!" shouted the man who seemed to be their leader.

His voice was deep and heavy with pure hatred. I glanced at Anderson, who was crouching right next to me. His face was tight with tension. The wound on his back had to be stinging like a b***h, especially in this extreme weather. He pressed a finger to his lips, signaling me not to make a single goddamn sound.

"Hm..." Anderson hummed so quietly it was almost nonexistent.

I watched as Anderson’s hand slowly reached for the hilt of his massive greatsword. On the other side, Luna, Kael, and Juro were also ready, weapons drawn. My heart was hammering so hard I was terrified the hunters would hear the thumping in my chest.

"s**t, they’re high-ranking Holy Hunters," Luna whispered in my ear. Her breath felt warm against the freezing air.

"What the hell are they doing here?" I whispered back, my voice barely a thread.

"They always show up wherever there’s unnatural energy. Your power blast at the clearing last night must have caught their attention from miles away," Luna explained.

The lead hunter started walking toward the boulder where we were tucked away. His heavy boots made a sickening crunching sound against the deepening snow.

*Crunch... crunch... crunch.*

I closed my eyes and tried to steady my breathing. I fought to suppress the purple energy inside me, praying it wouldn't leak out. If they detected me, everyone here was in deep f*****g trouble.

"Return to the righteous path, or face purification!" the man yelled again. He was now standing right on the other side of the rock.

Suddenly, Anderson moved like a blur. He lunged from behind the boulder, swinging his sword directly at the hunter.

Tring!

The sound of metal clashing against a silver spear tip rang out through the silent mountains. The blue light from the spear sparked against the flash of Anderson's blade.

"Run, Misha! Luna, get her out of here!" Anderson roared.

"But Anderson!" I screamed, panic surging.

"Go!" he ordered without looking back. He was already busy fending off a barrage of attacks from three hunters at once.

Luna grabbed my arm with a grip like iron. "Move, Misha! Don't let his sacrifice be for nothing!"

Kael and Juro leaped out to help Anderson hold the line. We bolted up a steeper, slicker trail. My feet slipped a few times, but Luna always managed to catch me before I went over the cliff on our left.

Hah... hah... hah...

Our breathing was ragged. I stole a quick glance back. I saw flashes of blue and purple light clashing down below. Anderson looked completely overwhelmed—there were just too many of them. Plus, his old wound was definitely slowing him down.

"They’re gaining on us!" Luna yelled, pointing behind us.

Two hunters in white robes were sprinting up the slope. They weren't carrying spears; they had bows with arrows tipped in glowing blue light.

"Get down!" Juro shouted, suddenly appearing behind us to provide cover.

Whoosh!

An arrow whistled right over my head and slammed into a pine tree next to us. The tree immediately suffered a small explosion and burst into strange blue flames. The fire didn't spread, but it looked hot enough to melt the snow instantly.

"Purification arrows! Don't let that s**t touch your skin, Misha!" Luna warned, her tone deadly serious.

We kept running until we hit a small cave hidden behind a pile of boulders. Luna shoved me into the dark, cramped space. Juro stood at the mouth of the cave with his sword drawn, ready to take on the pursuers.

"Stay behind me," Juro said firmly.

I slumped onto the damp floor of the cave. I was shaking violently, not just from the cold, but from the pain that suddenly flared up in my chest again.

"Argh... Anderson..." I groaned, clutching my chest.

"What is it, Misha?" Luna asked, panicked.

"It hurts... Anderson... he’s hurt again," I managed to choke out.

I could feel it. Through this broken bond, Anderson’s pain was being funneled directly into me. It felt like my back was being sliced open by freezing daggers. That meant Anderson was getting shredded down there.

"I have to help him," I said, trying to stand.

"No! You're their target! If you go back there, they’ll snatch you up instantly!" Luna pinned my shoulders down hard.

"But he’s gonna die protecting me, Luna! I can't just let that happen!" I tried to shake her off, but she was way stronger.

"Misha, listen! Anderson is an Alpha. He knows the risks. Our job right now is to get you somewhere safe so your energy goes off the radar!" Luna insisted.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps reached the cave entrance. Juro braced himself.

Tap... tap... tap...

"Come out, you sinners! We know you're hiding in here!" one of the hunters shouted.