CHAPTER 3
1430 Words
Rosalind’s lungs burned as she sprinted through the forest, her breath coming in short, frantic gasps. Every snap of a twig, every rustle of leaves, made her heart leap into her throat. The howls behind her weren’t just getting closer, they were multiplying.
She wasn’t just being chased.
She was being hunted.
Her mind raced as fast as her feet, desperate for an explanation. What had Killian meant when he said “the hunt has begun”? Who or what was after her? And why had he told her to run, only to mark her as his hours earlier?
The questions swirled in her head, but there was no time to think. The forest seemed endless, its twisting paths and towering trees blurring together in the dim light.
The mark on her wrist throbbed again, the pain sharper this time. She stumbled, clutching her arm as a strange heat spread through her veins.
“What is happening to me?” she gasped, leaning against a tree to steady herself.
The howls grew louder, their eerie melody sending a chill down her spine.
Move! her mind screamed.
But before she could take another step, something leaped out of the shadows.
A blur of fur and fangs lunged toward her, knocking her to the ground. Rosalind cried out as she hit the frozen earth, her vision spinning. The creature stood over her, its yellow eyes glowing with a predatory hunger.
No, it was larger than any wolf she had ever seen, its body rippling with unnatural strength.
It snarled, its hot breath fanning against her face as it lowered its head. Rosalind’s fingers scrambled for anything she could use as a weapon, her hand closing around a jagged rock.
As the wolf lunged, she swung the rock with all her strength, striking it across the snout.
The wolf yelped, staggering back, but its fury only seemed to intensify. It crouched, ready to attack again.
And then it froze.
A deep, guttural growl cut through the air, one so powerful it made the ground beneath her vibrate.
The wolf’s ears flattened as it turned its head, its body tensing in fear.
Rosalind followed its gaze and saw him.
Killian.
He emerged from the shadows like a phantom, his silver eyes blazing with fury.
“Enough,” he commanded, his voice a low snarl.
The wolf hesitated for a moment before lowering its head in submission. With a final whimper, it turned and bolted into the trees.
Rosalind stared at Killian, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. “What… what was that?” she managed to choke out.
Killian didn’t answer immediately. His gaze lingered on her, his expression unreadable.
“You’re bleeding,” he said finally, his tone clipped.
Rosalind glanced down at her arm, realizing the wolf’s claws had torn through her sleeve. Blood seeped from the shallow scratches, staining her skin.
“I’m fine,” she said, though her voice wavered.
Killian knelt beside her, his movements swift but controlled. Without a word, he tore a strip of fabric from his jacket and wrapped it around her arm, tying it tightly.
“I didn’t ask for your help,” Rosalind said, her anger flaring despite the situation.
Killian’s eyes flicked to hers, his jaw tightening. “If I hadn’t intervened, you’d be dead.”
“Maybe that would’ve been better,” she muttered under her breath.
Killian’s hand shot out, gripping her chin and forcing her to look at him. His eyes burned with an intensity that made her breath catch.
“Don’t ever say that again,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “You don’t understand what’s at stake, Rosalind. You have no idea how valuable your life is.”
She tried to pull away, but his grip didn’t falter. “Then explain it to me! Tell me why I’m here. Why you’re protecting me. Why I feel like I’m losing my mind!”
For a moment, Killian looked as though he might answer. His expression softened, and his grip on her chin loosened. But then, just as quickly, the mask was back in place.
“It’s not the right time,” he said, releasing her.
Rosalind glared at him, her frustration boiling over. “It’s never the right time with you, is it? You keep saying there’s more going on, but you refuse to tell me anything! Do you think I’ll just follow you blindly like one of your wolves?”
Killian’s eyes narrowed, his voice turning cold. “You don’t have a choice.”
“Watch me,” she snapped, pushing herself to her feet.
But as soon as she stood, the mark on her wrist flared with searing pain. She cried out, clutching her arm as the glowing symbol seemed to burn brighter.
Killian’s expression darkened. “You’re fighting the bond.”
“I didn’t ask for this bond!” Rosalind shot back, tears streaming down her face. “I didn’t ask for any of this!”
The pain intensified, and she sank to her knees, gasping for air.
Killian knelt beside her, his voice softer this time. “Stop fighting it. The bond isn’t just about me, it’s about protecting you.”
“Protecting me from what?” she demanded, her voice shaking.
Killian hesitated, his gaze shifting to the forest around them. “From the others,” he said finally. “The ones who are hunting you.”
Rosalind’s blood ran cold. “What do you mean ‘others’? Who’s hunting me?”
Killian didn’t answer right away. Instead, he reached out and placed his hand over hers, covering the glowing mark. The pain eased instantly, leaving behind a strange warmth.
“There’s more to you than you know, Rosalind,” he said quietly. “You’re not just some pawn in this game. You’re the key.”
“The key to what?” she pressed, her frustration mounting.
Killian stood, his expression guarded. “That’s something you’ll have to figure out. But for now, you need to trust me.”
Rosalind rose to her feet, her legs still trembling. “Trust you? After everything you’ve done?”
Killian’s eyes met hers, and for a brief moment, she thought she saw a flicker of guilt.
“I didn’t have a choice,” he said softly. “And neither do you.”
Before she could respond, a sharp c***k echoed through the forest.
Killian’s head snapped toward the sound, his body tensing like a predator sensing danger.
“They’re here,” he said, his voice low.
Rosalind’s heart pounded. “Who?”
Killian didn’t answer. Instead, he grabbed her arm and started pulling her deeper into the forest.
“Hey!” she protested, trying to pull free. “Where are we going?”
“To a place they can’t reach us,” Killian said.
“But who’s after us? What’s happening?”
Killian stopped abruptly, turning to face her. “You want answers? Fine. The people hunting you, they’re not human, they’re not wolves. They’re something else entirely. And if they catch you, they’ll tear you apart.”
Rosalind stared at him, her mind reeling. “What… what are they?”
Killian’s jaw tightened. “Shadows,” he said grimly. “Creatures born of darkness. They’ve been searching for you for a long time, Rosalind. And now that you’re marked, they won’t stop until they have you.”
Her knees nearly buckled as the weight of his words sank in. “Why me?” she whispered.
Killian’s gaze softened, but his voice was firm. “Because you’re more powerful than you realize. And if they get to you first, they’ll use that power to destroy everything.”
A chill ran down her spine as another c***k echoed through the forest, closer this time.
Killian grabbed her hand, his grip firm but not unkind. “We need to move. Now.”
Rosalind nodded, too shaken to argue.
As they ran through the forest, the shadows seemed to close in around them. The air grew colder, the howls more distant. But the sense of danger only deepened.
Finally, they reached a small clearing. Killian stopped, his eyes scanning their surroundings.
“We’ll make our stand here,” he said.
Rosalind’s heart raced. “Stand against what?”
Killian turned to her, his expression unreadable. “Whatever comes next.”
The wind howled, and the shadows shifted. And then, from the darkness, a figure emerged.
It wasn’t a wolf.
It wasn’t human.
It was something else entirely.
And it was coming for her.
- Writer
