BOUND BY LOVE AND BETRAYAL

Life and death throbbed through the jungle. Long stretches of shadow obscured the sharp roots of tall trees in the glittering moonlight. Elara clutched the twins to her bosom and staggered forward, gasping for air. The wet ground squealed under her boots, and she felt cold as she heard wolves howling in the distance. She took a quick look behind her. Trees and darkness, nothing. But like a tiger pursuing its prey, the weight of invisible eyes pressed upon her. Whispering to the twins, "Stay quiet," she buried their gentle whimpers against her cloak. With his tiny hand clutching her shirt, Ari stirred. "Mama, why are they chasing us?" His voice was hardly audible above a whisper as it trembled. Elara's throat became constricted. "Because they're scared of what you are," she murmured, her voice tinged with an unmasked agony. However, I will not allow them to harm you. Never. The more reserved Lyra peered over Elara's shoulder. The moonlight seemed to light up her amber, wide eyes. "Someone is coming, Mama." Elara's heart pounded in her ears as she froze. Her keen senses picked up the slight crunch of leaves—footsteps—as she scoured the woodland. Her mind racing, she tightened her hold on the twins. She held her breath while crouching low behind a boulder covered in moss. The footfall increased in volume, became more deliberate and steady, and closed the gap with a predatory accuracy. A man with a distinct silhouette against the weak moonlight stepped out of the shadows. The smell of dominance and wolves crackled in the air. Kieran. "Elara." His voice was low and menacing. "You won't be saved by running. It merely exacerbates the situation. The sound of his voice, the familiarity that had once comforted her but now held only betrayal, made her heart tighten. Slowly, she stood up, shielding the twins behind her. Despite the dread tearing at her insides, she hissed, "Stay back," in a firm voice. "You don't deserve to be here." Kieran took a step forward, his sharp eyes meeting hers. His commanding yet subdued presence filled the space. With a tone that was almost compassionate, he stated, "They're not safe out here." "You're not either." Elara laughed sharply and bitterly. "Safe? Alongside you? following your actions? "You're not understanding—" "I completely understand," she interrupted, raising her voice. "You misled me. I was used by you. You want to take them now? over my lifeless body. The twins were clearly afraid and clung to her. Ari's little voice trembled as he peered out from behind her. "Is he going to harm us, Mama?" A glimmer of pain crossed Kieran's cheeks as his expression wavered. "No, Ari. I would never— Elara's eyes were burning as she said, "Don't you dare speak to him." "The instant you betrayed us, you forfeited that right." Kieran ran a hand through his dark hair and sighed. "Elara, I didn't want this. I never intended to cause you harm. However, the pack— "The pack," she snarled, her words dripping with hatred. Do you think that's all that matters? Strength? Command? Kieran, they're your kids. Not as pawns in your own little conflict. He appeared as though he would dispute for a second as his jaw tensed. However, he stepped aside as his shoulders drooped. "You're right," he muttered. "They are my kids. For this reason, I am unable to let you go. The air changed before Elara could react. Her spine tingled when a rumbling growl rippled through the trees. Her senses keen, she pivoted abruptly. She murmured, looking about in the dark, "What now?" Kieran tensed, looking quickly in the direction of the noise. "We're not by ourselves." The gleam of glittering eyes was followed by a chorus of growls from the shadows. The Silverfangs. Elara's grip on the twins tightened as she retreated, her heart racing. Her voice quivered with rage as she accused him of leading them here. Kieran firmly answered, "No," and moved ahead of her. "I didn't. However, they don't support me. With their massive bodies brimming with danger, the Silverfangs stepped out of the darkness. With effortless elegance, their leader—a huge wolf with facial scars—transformed into a human. "Elara," he replied in a scornful, icy tone. "We have been trying to find you." Despite the fear in her veins, she spoke steadily and warned, "Stay back." With a laugh, the Silverfang leader glanced at the twins. We're not here to help you, you know. Only the small ones. If you turn them in, we might let you live. Elara's heart froze. "Over my lifeless body," she growled, her wolf emerging. The leader grinned. "That can be set up." Kieran transformed into his wolf form, a huge black beast that stood guard between Elara and the Silverfangs, before she could react. His voice was harsh as he hissed, "Stay behind me." Elara paused, caught between the Silverfangs' immediate menace and her mistrust of Kieran. The twins let out a squeak, clearly terrified. They lunged, Silverfangs. Kieran, a tornado of claws and fangs, charged at them. Elara moved and entered the battle, her wolf smaller but no less ferocious. Chaos erupted in the clearing, the air heavy with the metallic smell of blood and snarls. A loud shriek rang out through the darkness amid the mayhem. Elara's heart stopped when she turned abruptly and saw one of the Silverfangs dragging Lyra away. She yelled, "Lyra!" in a harsh voice. The Silverfang was swift, vanishing into the darkness with Lyra following her as she sprang, tearing through the enemy in her path. As he battled his way to her side, Kieran's cry of wrath reverberated across the forest. With terrified eyes, Elara blurted out, "They've taken her." Kieran's eyes become stony. He promised, "Then we'll get her back." However, when the Silverfangs withdrew into the shadows, Elara was struck with a terrifying idea. What if Lyra didn’t want to come back?