Moonlit Case Files : The Exiled Wolf

Chapter 5 : What Lily Hid

They walked deeper into the woods, side by side.

Kaelen moved quietly. Samira crunched leaves and snapped twigs and generally sounded like a herd of deer. She couldn't help it. This wasn't her natural habitat. Her natural habitat was coffee shops and libraries and the occasional crime scene.

"So," she said. "You and Lily."

Kaelen didn't look at her. "What about us?"

"Corvin saw you two arguing. Three nights ago. Near the edge of the woods."

Kaelen was quiet.

"Look," Samira pressed, "I'm not trying to pry into something personal. But whatever you two talked about, it might be why she's missing. So. What were you arguing about?"

Kaelen stopped walking. He stared ahead, into the trees.

"She was dating a wolf," he said. "From the pack."

Samira blinked. "She was dating someone from the pack? Tessa didn't mention that to me."

"That's because she didn't tell her. She told me. She trusted me." Kaelen's jaw tightened. "She shouldn't have."

"What do you mean?"

"The wolf she was dating. He's high-ranking. Ambitious." Kaelen paused. "And he would rather die than be tied to a hedge witch."

Samira felt a cold knot form in her stomach. "Why?"

"Because she's unaffiliated. She has no status. No protection." Kaelen's voice was bitter. "She's nobody to them. And if the pack found out one of their own was seriously involved with an outsider—especially an outsider who was carrying his—"

He stopped.

Samira's heart skipped. "Carrying his what?"

Kaelen didn't answer.

"Kaelen."

"She's pregnant."

The words hung in the cold air.

Samira stared at him. "She's pregnant."

"Yes."

"And the father—the wolf—doesn't know?"

"No."

"Because if he knew—"

"He'd leave her. Or worse." Kaelen's eyes finally met hers. "He'd kill her. To protect his position. To protect his reputation. The pack would never accept a half-witch child."

Samira felt sick. "She was going to tell him."

"She was. That's why we argued." Kaelen started walking again. "I told her not to. I told her to run. To hide. To come stay with me in the forest until we figured something out. But she wouldn't listen."

"She loved him."

"She trusted him." Kaelen's voice cracked. "She believed he would choose her. That he would protect her. That he'd see the baby and change."

"Did you know him? The wolf?"

Kaelen didn't answer.

"Kaelen."

"I know him."

"Who is he?"

Kaelen stopped. He turned to face her. His expression was pained.

"If I tell you, you're in danger."

"I'm already in danger."

"You don't understand. The pack—"

"I don't care." Samira stepped closer. "If this wolf hurt Lily, I need to know who he is."

Kaelen stared at her. Something in his eyes softened. Broke.

"Darius," he said quietly. "Darius Thorne."

Samira frowned. "Who?"

"The new beta." Kaelen's jaw tightened. "He's powerful. Ambitious. And he would do anything to protect his position."

"And Lily is carrying his child."

"Yes."

Samira's mind raced. "If Darius found out—"

"He would kill her. And the baby. And anyone else who knew." Kaelen's voice was hollow. "That's why I told her to run. That's why I told her to hide. But she said she loved him. She said he would understand."

"She was wrong."

"She was hopeful." Kaelen looked away. "There's a difference."

Silence stretched between them.

Samira thought about Lily. Nineteen years old. Pregnant. Alone. Trusting the wrong person. She thought about Tessa, waiting at home, terrified, not knowing if her daughter was dead or alive.

"Where did she go?" Samira asked. "After you argued?"

Kaelen shook his head. "I don't know. She left. Toward the boundary line. I tried to follow, but—"

"But what?"

Kaelen's jaw tightened. "I lost her trail."

Samira filed that away. He was hiding something. But she didn't push. Not yet.

"Okay," she said. "So we need to find Darius. If Lily went to him—"

"She didn't."

"How do you know?"

"Because if she had, he would have killed her on the spot." Kaelen's voice was flat. "And then he would have disposed of the body. We would never have found her."

Samira's blood ran cold. "So you think she's still alive?"

"I think she's smart. She wouldn't go to him. Not after what I said." Kaelen paused. "But I think she's scared. And alone. And running out of time."

"Then we need to find her before he does."

"Yes."

They walked in silence for a moment. Then Samira said, "Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"Because I didn't know if I could trust you." Kaelen glanced at her. "I still don't."

"I ate beef jerky with you."

"Jerky is not trust."

"It's a start."

Kaelen almost smiled. Almost.

"Fine," he said. "It's a start."

Samira nodded. Then she asked, "What was she like? Lily?"

Kaelen was quiet for a moment. "Kind. Stubborn. She didn't see the worst in people, even when she should have."

"That sounds familiar."

Kaelen glanced at her.

"I mean," Samira said, "she sounds like someone who trusted the wrong person and paid for it. That's not a character flaw. That's just bad luck."

"Or bad judgment."

"Same thing."

Kaelen was quiet.

They walked on.

---

The trail led them deeper into the woods. The trees grew thicker. The light dimmed. Samira checked her phone. Still no signal.

"How much further?" she asked.

"Not far." Kaelen pointed. "There's a cave near the edge of the wild. Lily knew about it. She used to hide there when she needed to think."

"You think she went there?"

"It's the only place I can think of."

They reached the cave a few minutes later. It was small, tucked into the side of a hill, half-hidden by brush. Kaelen pushed the branches aside and stepped inside.

Samira followed.

The cave was dark and damp. But it wasn't empty.

A blanket. A water bottle. A small bag of food.

And a note.

Kaelen picked it up. Read it. His face went pale.

"What?" Samira asked. "What does it say?"

Kaelen handed her the note.

'I'm going to tell him. I have to. I'm sorry.'

Samira looked up. "She went to Darius."

Kaelen nodded. His jaw was tight. "We're too late—"

"No!" Samira folded the note and put it in her pocket. "We're not too late. We know where she went. We know who she's with. We can still find her."

"And do what?"

"Whatever it takes."

Kaelen stared at her.

"You said you owed her," Samira said. "So let's go pay that debt."

Kaelen was quiet for a long moment. Then he nodded.

"Okay."

They left the cave.