Shadowfang
906 Words
The forest suddenly felt smaller.
Lyra stood frozen behind Kael as distant growls echoed through the trees. The burning mark beneath her collarbone pulsed painfully again, almost as if it reacted to the approaching wolves.
Kael remained perfectly still in front of her.
Alert.
Dangerous.
Protective.
It confused her more than anything else.
Only minutes ago, she had been certain she would die tonight. Now she stood behind a monster who looked ready to kill anyone that came near her.
Branches snapped somewhere ahead.
Large shadows moved between the trees.
Then they appeared.
Four massive wolves emerged silently from the darkness, their fur black and gray beneath the moonlight. Unlike the rogues, these wolves looked strong and disciplined. Their movements were controlled.
Military almost.
Each pair of glowing eyes immediately locked onto Lyra.
A low growl spread through the group.
Not hunger.
Recognition.
Kael stepped slightly in front of her.
The wolves instantly lowered their heads.
Submission.
Lyra’s breath caught.
He wasn’t just powerful.
He was their leader.
One of the wolves shifted first.
Bones cracked loudly as a tall man with dark hair stepped forward from where the wolf had stood moments earlier. He wore black clothing and carried a deep scar across his jaw.
His eyes landed on Lyra.
Then widened slightly.
“Alpha…” His voice carried both confusion and alarm. “Why does she smell like—”
“Enough.”
Kael’s voice cut through the forest sharply.
The man immediately fell silent.
But his gaze dropped toward the glowing mark visible beneath Lyra’s torn jacket.
Shock crossed his face.
The others noticed it too.
Unease spread instantly through the group.
One wolf growled softly.
Another took a step backward.
Lyra frowned nervously. “Can someone please explain why everyone keeps staring at me like that?”
No one answered.
Kael’s jaw tightened as though he were thinking through something dangerous.
The scarred man spoke carefully. “Alpha… the council cannot find out about this.”
Council.
The word sent tension through the entire group.
Kael’s silver eyes darkened. “They won’t.”
The man looked uncertain. “A human carrying your mark—”
“She is under my protection.”
The statement came fast.
Possessive.
Final.
Silence followed.
Even Lyra felt the weight behind those words.
The wolves exchanged uneasy glances but immediately lowered their heads again.
No one challenged him.
Kael turned toward her suddenly. “Can you walk?”
Lyra almost laughed at the question.
Her shoulder burned. Her neck felt like it was on fire, and she was currently surrounded by werewolves in the middle of nowhere.
Still, she lifted her chin stubbornly. “I’m not helpless.”
Something unreadable flickered in Kael’s eyes.
Respect maybe.
Or irritation.
It was hard to tell.
The scarred man stepped closer carefully. “Alpha, we should return before dawn.”
Kael nodded once before looking back at Lyra.
“You’re coming with us.”
Her stomach dropped.
“What?”
“You cannot return to Black Hollow.”
Fear immediately tightened in her chest. “I live there.”
“You were attacked by rogues.”
“And?”
Kael stared at her for a long moment.
Then his gaze lowered briefly toward the glowing mark on her skin.
“They will smell the bond on you.”
Lyra frowned. “What does that even mean?”
Kael exhaled slowly, like he was struggling to remain patient.
“It means every werewolf within range will know you belong to an Alpha.”
The words hit harder than she expected.
Belong.
Something about it made her chest tighten uncomfortably.
“I don’t belong to anyone,” she said quietly.
Silence followed her words.
Kael looked at her again, and for the first time since meeting him, something softer crossed his face.
Brief.
Gone almost instantly.
“The mark says otherwise.”
Lyra opened her mouth to argue, but another sharp pain shot through her neck, making her wince.
Kael noticed immediately.
Without warning, he stepped closer.
Too close.
Heat radiated from his body as he reached toward her carefully. Lyra tensed, but his fingers only brushed lightly against the glowing mark beneath her collarbone.
The second he touched it, the silver glow pulsed brighter.
Kael stiffened.
A low growl vibrated in his chest.
Not angry.
Affected.
His hand dropped instantly like touching her burned him.
The wolves around them exchanged uneasy looks again.
The scarred man looked genuinely disturbed now.
“This is bad,” he muttered.
Lyra looked between all of them anxiously. “Can somebody stop speaking in half sentences and explain what’s happening to me?”
Kael’s expression hardened again.
“Later.”
Frustration flashed through her exhaustion. “You keep saying that.”
“Because standing in the middle of the forest arguing is not safe.”
Before she could respond, every wolf around them suddenly went still.
Kael’s head snapped toward the eastern side of the forest.
His silver eyes narrowed dangerously.
A new scent had reached them.
Lyra saw the exact moment the atmosphere changed.
The wolves became tense.
Uneasy.
One even growled nervously.
The scarred man cursed under his breath.
Kael’s face darkened with something close to fury.
“No,” he said coldly.
A deep howl echoed through the trees.
Not close.
But powerful enough to shake the air itself.
And whatever had just arrived…
Even Kael did not look pleased about it.
- Writer
