The Trap
1257 Words
Selena’s POV
The sun had long disappeared beyond the horizon, leaving behind faint streaks of orange and purple swallowed by the night.
The moon rose slowly… pale, watchful.
Its silver light spilled through my window, coating the room in an eerie glow.
I stood still.
My heart pounded loudly in my chest, the letter resting in my pocket like a burning weight.
Tonight.
The word echoed endlessly in my mind.
Fear coiled deep inside me, tightening with every passing second.
But beneath that fear…
Was something stronger.
The children.
Their laughter.
Nyra’s bright, hopeful eyes.
I closed my eyes briefly, steadying myself.
“I don’t have a choice…” I whispered.
Slowly, I moved toward my wardrobe and changed into something light, something I could move in.
My fingers trembled. But my decision didn’t.
I was going.
No matter what waited for me in the Northern Forest.
No matter the danger.
I paused at the door, my hand resting on the handle.
The house felt… strange.
Too quiet. Too still.
As if it was watching me leave.
I took a slow breath.
“No matter what happens…” I murmured, my voice steady now, “I will protect them.”
Then I stepped into the night.
The Northern Forest
The moment I crossed into the forest, something changed.
The air grew heavier, colder and darker.
Moonlight barely reached the ground, blocked by thick branches that twisted above like skeletal fingers.
Shadows stretched unnaturally, clinging to every corner.
Watching. Waiting.
My steps slowed. Every sound felt louder here.
The crunch of leaves beneath my feet. The distant cry of night birds. The constant chirping of crickets that filled the silence.
My skin prickled. Goosebumps spread across my arms.
Then I saw a fast movement; it was a shadow that slipped between the trees.
My breath caught.
I froze.
My heart slammed violently against my chest.
“Hello?” I called softly.
No answer. Only silence.
Then a laugh followed, it was low, sharp and unnatural.
It echoed from behind me.
Fear shot through my body instantly.
I spun around.
Nothing. Just darkness. Watching.
My chest tightened painfully.
I couldn’t stay here.
I turned and ran.
Branches scratched against my skin as I pushed forward, my breathing uneven, my heart racing wildly.
The sound followed me.
Closer. Closer.
Then my foot struck something hard.
Pain shot through my leg as I lost my balance.
I crashed to the ground.
A gasp tore from my lips as rough earth scraped against my palms.
For a moment, I couldn’t breathe.
I pushed myself up, my body trembling, trying to steady myself—
Then everything went silent.
The crickets stopped. The birds stopped. Even the wind stilled.
The forest… Went dead.
My stomach dropped.
Something was wrong. Very wrong.
Then I saw it.
A faint glow began to spread beneath my feet.
My eyes widened as a strange circle of light formed on the ground, pulsing softly.
Its glow wrapped around me.
Trapping me.
I stepped back..But something yanked me forward.
A force slammed me back into the center.
I stumbled, panic surging through me.
“What—what is this?” I whispered.
My voice sounded small.
Lost.
I forced myself up again, ignoring the pain, and moved carefully toward the edge.
The moment I stepped out a sharp force struck me.
I was thrown back violently.
Pain exploded through my body as I hit the ground.
A cry escaped my lips.
My chest heaved as fear tightened around me.
I was trapped.
Completely trapped.
Then—
Footsteps. It was soft, slow and deliberate.
My heart leapt into my throat.
I forced myself to stand, ignoring the pain, my eyes fixed on the darkness ahead.
A figure stood there.
Watching.
Still.
Silent.
Then it began to move. Graceful, unhurried and too calm.
As the figure stepped into the glow…
My breath caught.
“Isadora…”
Relief crashed into me so suddenly my knees gave out.
I dropped to the ground, clutching my chest.
“It’s you…”
My voice trembled with emotion.
“The hunters… they sent another message. I didn’t want to wake you, so I came here myself…”
She didn’t answer immediately.
She only walked closer.
Her eyes moved slowly over me.
Cold. Careful.
“It seems you’re injured,” she said calmly.
“I—I am…”
Her gaze lingered on the faint blood on my skin.
“Not the way I expected you to be bleeding.”
A chill ran down my spine.
Something wasn’t right.
“Isadora…” I whispered, fear creeping into my voice. “Please… help me.”
She stopped in front of me.
“I can’t.”
The words hit me like a blow.
My breath caught.
“What…?”
My voice shook.
“What do you mean you can’t?”
I tried to stand, pain shooting through me.
“Isadora, stop joking… please…”
But she wasn’t joking.
Her face didn’t change.
Her eyes didn’t soften.
Fear settled deep into my bones.
“Please…” I begged, reaching for her. “Don’t do this…”
She slowly bent down in front of me.
Too calm.
Too still.
“I warned you not to come here,” she said quietly. “Yet… you still did.”
My heart pounded painfully.
“Then why are you here?” I asked, my voice breaking.
She looked at me.
And then she smiled.
Cold. Slow. Terrifying.
“To finish what I should have done a long time ago.”
My world shattered.
A low growl echoed through the forest.
I turned too late.
A rogue lunged from the shadows.
Pain exploded through my side as claws tore into my flesh.
A scream ripped from my throat.
Warm blood spilled rapidly, soaking into the ground beneath me.
My body collapsed.
Weak. Useless.
Through blurred vision, I forced my eyes toward Isadora.
She didn’t move.
Didn’t help.
She just… Watched.
“W-why…?” I choked, blood filling my mouth.
She stepped closer.
Calm.
Unhurried.
“You were always too kind, Selena,” she said softly. “Too predictable.”
Her gaze flickered briefly to the glowing circle.
“I knew you would come. A threat involving children… you could never ignore it.”
My breath hitched painfully.
“The gown… the note…”
Understanding hit me like ice.
“You…?”
A faint smile touched her lips.
“Yes.”
The word destroyed me.
“I sent it.”
My body trembled, not just from pain, but from betrayal.
“Why…?” I whispered.
She crouched slightly, her eyes locking onto mine.
“Because you were never meant to survive tonight.”
My heart stuttered.
“I saw it… in the prophecy.”
Everything went still.
“You,” she continued, her voice darkening, “standing beside the Alpha… as his mate.”
My breath caught.
“No…”
“I couldn’t allow that,” she whispered. “You would take everything.”
Darkness crept into the edges of my vision.
“So I made sure…” she finished calmly, “you walked into your own death.”
The growl came again.
Closer.
Then the rogue struck again.
Pain tore through me, deeper this time.
My body went limp.
Cold. Heavy.
My strength slipped away.
The glowing circle beneath me flickered faintly…
But I couldn’t focus anymore.
The trees above blurred into darkness.
My breathing slowed.
My heart weakened.
And the last thing I saw before everything faded.
Was Isadora.Standing there.
Watching me die.
And smiling.
- Writer
