Chapter 7: The Hunter Becomes the Hunted
369 Words
The forest was unnaturally silent.
Hailey tightened her grip on the dagger Kaiden had given her as she followed him through the dense trees. Every snapping twig made her heart race.
“They’re close,” Kaiden whispered.
“Who?”
“The Lycan King’s soldiers.”
Before she could respond, a chilling howl echoed through the valley.
“They found us!”
Within seconds, warriors dressed in black armour surrounded them. Their silver weapons gleamed beneath the moonlight.
“Kaiden,” their leader called, “by order of the Lycan King, surrender the Blood Moon Princess.”
Hailey’s heart nearly stopped.
Blood Moon Princess?
She looked at Kaiden in confusion.
“What are they talking about?”
Kaiden stepped in front of her.
“I won’t let you take her.”
The warriors attacked.
Steel clashed against steel as Kaiden fought with incredible speed. One after another, soldiers fell, but more kept coming.
“Run!” Kaiden shouted.
“I won’t leave you!”
“Hailey, go!”
Tears filled her eyes as she ran deeper into the forest.
Suddenly, someone grabbed her wrist.
She screamed.
A tall man wearing a black cloak stood before her. His crimson eyes glowed in the darkness.
“You’ve grown,” he said calmly.
Hailey stared at him.
“Who are you?”
The stranger smiled.
“I’ve searched sixteen years for you.”
Fear washed over her.
“What do you want?”
“I’ve come to take you home.”
Before she could escape, Luna growled inside her mind.
He’s not lying… but he’s hiding something.
The stranger reached into his cloak and revealed an ancient silver pendant.
Hailey froze.
It was identical to the one her mother had hidden since she was a child.
“You belong to us,” he whispered.
Before he could explain further, Kaiden burst through the trees.
“Get away from her!”
The stranger merely smiled.
“We’ll meet again very soon, Princess.”
With that, he disappeared into the shadows.
Kaiden hurried to Hailey’s side.
“Are you hurt?”
She shook her head.
“He called me Princess… Who am I, Kaiden?”
For the first time, Kaiden had no answer.
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- Writer
