Fated By The Moon, Claimed By Three

Unwanted Guests!

The journey that didn't seem to have an end continued again. As they ventured deeper into the forest, Elara could feel the age of the trees surrounding them. The air got colder and thicker. She followed closely behind the three brothers, careful to keep her footsteps quiet. Yet, there was a nagging feeling in her gut, a sense that they were being watched. It wasn't just nothing... she could feel those old, bitter eyes on them, eyes that had seen too much death to still shed tears.

"Why are we still here?" she asked softly, hoping for some sort of reply. She doesn't know where they are headed. All they've been doing was roaming about the forest like they were lost. She definitely didn't want to find herself in that village or they'll find a way to kill her again.

The silence was all she got. It was the usual situation. She was starting to wonder if asking questions was even worth it anymore. Why they saved her in the first place had become a topic she dared not broach; it had led to more confusion than clarity. But with each step deeper into this cursed forest, her curiosity grew. What were they searching for?

A person? A treasure?

With a glance at the sky, she noticed the midday sun barely made its way through the dense canopy above.

"We're moving too slow," Ronan snapped, shattering the uncomfortable silence.

Elara flinched at his sudden outburst. Ronan, the second brother, strode ahead confidently, always acting like he had somewhere important to be. He rarely looked back... and when he did, it was usually to criticize her.

"She's slowing us down," he muttered, cracking his knuckles for emphasis. "We should've left her when we had the chance."

Caelum, the more reasonable brother, shot him an annoyed look. "We're not going through this again."

Ronan halted abruptly.

"She's an omega. Weak. She doesn't belong in these woods, and she definitely doesn't belong with us."

Elara kept her head down, fists clenched tightly at her sides.

"I didn't ask to come. I'm sorry if I feel like a burden," she murmured, trying to keep her voice steady.

"You didn't have a choice," Ronan replied sharply, his gaze unwavering. "None of us did."

"That's enough now. I'm the one who asked that we keep her. I'll keep an eye on her so she doesn't slow us down. If she walks fast, I'm not allergic to women like older brother, I can carry her,"

She heard that and turned to look at Theron. She could finally understand why he never spoke to her.

"I'm not allergic to women, youngest," Theron's deep and slow voice responded. "I just find them... boring and displeasing to the eyes,"

He made himself clear and walked away. Caelum stood there, wondering...

"What is the difference?"

.

Later that evening, they stumbled upon a clearing littered with bones. Elara froze as the sickly sweet scent of decay filled her nostrils. So many bodies lay scattered about... some were still moving weakly, others were already cold.

Shifted wolves, mostly. And remnants of fighters.

"What happened here?" she asked, her stomach churning.

Theron slipped his fingers into his dark hair before he crouched down beside one of the dead. He examined their bodies for a few seconds.

"Mercenaries," he said quietly. "Trackers. Hunters."

"They were following us," Ronan muttered, knuckles white from clenching his fists.

"They're dead," Caelum remarked with a strange grin.

"But not all of them," Theron added, his expression darkening.

Elara caught the sound then—a weak cough, a groan. Someone was still alive, dragging himself across the dirt with bloody hands. The man was in rough shape; his leg was gone below the knee, his armour was in tatters, and blood was pooling on his chest.

Without thinking, she took a step forward wanting to go help him, but Theron's voice hit her like a slap.

"Stay back,"

She froze, her heart racing.

"I can help,"

"Don't you dare interfere,"

Theron stood up slowly and walked toward the injured man. The mercenary looked up, eyes wide with terror.

"I didn't know..." the man gasped, tears spilling down his cheeks. "I swear... I didn't know who you were. Your portrait was distributed with a bounty and..."

Theron didn't respond.

He didn't ask about the man's story or offer help. In one swift move, he grabbed the man's neck, tightening his fingers around his huge neck, watching him choke and cough even more than before.

"I have kids... Please,"

"Don't care,"

He answered before twisting his neck. The sickening crack echoed through the clearing, and the terrified sobbing fell silent.

Elara's throat felt dry and tight. She thought the man was one of them. A close aide, or probably the people he was looking for.

"You didn't have to kill him. He said he had kids..." she whispered, feeling sick.

Theron didn't even look her way.

"He saw us. That's why he died,"

She remained there, crying. Ronan, who felt annoyed by her tears, walked away.

"Tsk! Weakling!," he muttered and walked away.

.

Thanks to the corpse they found, they chose not to light a fire that night. They moved through the forest like shadows, and Elara stayed close to Caelum. His usual warm smile was gone, replaced by an expression that matched the darkness surrounding them. Even in silence, Elara felt the weight of their unease. It was as if they were being hunted.

She thought they would find somewhere to rest for the night, but no. It wasn't so. She had just realised that they'd been resting at night all because of her. She was the main reason. They were strong and powerful and had no interest in sleeping during the night, especially since it was vulnerable to do so.

"Caelum..."

When she tried to call for his attention and ask a question. Ronan snapped, "Keep quiet if you want to live. You're distracting!" and that was the end of her inquiry.

She didn't try to ask anything. She didn't try to tell them that she was tired of walking. If they find out she's weaker than they thought, they might end up abandoning her like her village did.

They camped near a ridge on uneven, damp ground. No one complained, even when their feet were sore and exhaustion set in. When she knelt to drink from a small spring, she heard a sound that made her blood run cold... hooves.

"Is that..."

The unmistakable snap of steel met her ears just moments before a blade sliced through the air, narrowly missing her. She stumbled back, and then everything exploded into chaos.

Knights burst from the trees, armour shining in the pale moonlight. They were a force, all of their swords were raised, and Elara barely had time to scream before Ronan was in front of her, moving like a whirlwind.

One knight swung at her, but Ronan was quicker, severing his arm in a swift motion. Another knight approached, but Caelum was there, thrusting a dagger straight into the man's throat. And Theron? He didn't rely on weapons. No, he was far more brutal. His hands became lethal tools, bones cracking under his grip, blood spraying everywhere.

But it was a losing battle. They were outnumbered.

One of the knights called out through the noise,

"Hey! Spoilt Kids! I know you're alive! Why don't you surrender the girl and step aside!" If you do so, Lord Valen might go easy on you,"

Elara's heart dropped. Who was Lord Valen? The way the brothers stiffened told her everything she needed to know.

"Uncle," Theron growled through clenched teeth.

Ronan stepped forward. "How did he find us? How on earth did know we were alive?"

Caelum grabbed Elara's arm tightly, urgency clear in his eyes. "We don't have time... let's move!"

They took off, running through the dense forest... branches whipped at their faces, roots caught at their feet. Elara couldn't catch her breath, her lungs feeling like they might burst. She didn't stop, not even when she heard Caelum stumble and gasp beside her.

"Keep going... Elara... don't stop!" he gritted out, the pain in his chest was evident.

But then, suddenly, he collapsed to his knees, struggling, gasping like something was clawing its way out from inside him. For a brief moment, his eyes flared gold, before fading back to normal.

"Caelum!" she shouted, dropping to his side. "Hey! Don't close your eyes. Look at me, Caelum!"

He didn't reply. He was still grunting with his hand on his chest.

The air around her shimmered with silver as the knights closed in, their swords were out and ready. Elara turned to escape, but there was no way out now.

Caelum was still down, fighting for breath, reaching for her hand. And then...