It was a moment thick in that little crevice, as air thick with unspoken fears wrapped themselves around Kiera and Adrian. They stayed pressed against the cold, jagged rocks, as the continued scouring of the rogue pack's men on the plateau carried on unabated. Shallow breathing was all Kiera could manage, her heart pounding out its rhythm so loudly it was sure to give them away.
The men continued for several excruciating minutes, irritation growing with the realization nothing was to be found. Their voices came back sharp, speaking in a language Kiera couldn't understand, but the tone crystal clear: impatient, angry, with a hint of desperation. Finally, the clear command of one of the men, and the group turned to retreat, footsteps fading as they made their way down again into the forest below.
Kiera waited, muscles screaming from the prolonged stillness, as the last sound of their movement disappeared into the distance. It was then that she let herself take a full breath, sagging back against the rock in relief.
"They're gone," Adrian whispered, his voice taut but calm.
Kiera nodded still too much in shock to utter a word. She could feel the trembling of her hands, the residual fear that had taken hold of her during this ordeal. The things that had happened, that almost had, swirled through her mind.
Adrian stirred beside her, working himself carefully free of the crevice. "We have to go, Kiera. They may return, and we can't afford to be caught out in the open.
She followed him out, her legs stiff and unsteady into the early morning sun now higher in the sky, casting long shadows across the plateau. The forest below them seemed almost tranquil, its dangers far away, but Kiera knew better than to drop her guard.
"Where do we go?" she asked, still shaking.
"We'll head deeper into the mountains," Adrian said, his voice steady. "There are some old caves up in there, places where we can lie low for a while and figure out what to do next. It isn't safe to stay here."
Kiera frowned, chewed by doubt. "But what about… what about them? What if they find us again? What if we're just walking into a trap?
The lines in Adrian's face softened, and he reached out to give her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "I won't let that happen, but we do need to get moving. I do everything I can to help keep you safe, Kiera. It's just too dangerous to stay in one place.".
Kiera would have liked to protest, to find some other solution, but a resolution in Adrian's eyes told her there was no other choice. She nodded, swallowing down her fear. "Okay. Lead the way.".
The hike upwards into the mountains was now well underway; the general geography grew rockier as the trail grew less apparent. Kiera slipped on loose boulders and grasped at the rocky outcroppings to keep her balance while Adrian forged ahead, his eyes in constant scan of their surroundings and his body tense in anticipation of any sign of danger.
The silence between them hung heavy, thick with the weight of their history. Kiera's mind would keep straying back to those times when all was going right, when she and Adrian were happy and their trust in one another complete. Those days now felt a lifetime ago, however, and she was only left with the sting of betrayal and the fear that they would not make it through this.
Adrian," she started in a hesitant tone, her voice no more than a whisper, "why didn't you say anything about this rogue pack sooner? Why keep it from me?
Adrian didn't say another word as his eyes seemed to hold onto hers. An expression of pain crossed his face, and his eyes said so much; they held so much guilt. "I didn't want to worry you. I thought… I thought that I can handle this on my own. That I can keep you safe without bringing you into this. I was wrong, Kiera. I see that now."
Kiera bit her lip, fighting the tide of emotions overwhelming her. "But we're supposed to be a team, Adrian. We're supposed to trust each other. How can I… how can we fix this if you keep shutting me out?
Adrian stepped closer to her, his voice low and somber. "I know I messed up Keira, I know that I hurt you, and for that, I'm sorry. But I am trying to make it right, trying to gain back your trust. What I do promise is nothing will be held back anymore.
Kiera searched his eyes for some discord in his words, and though she wanted to believe him, wanted to believe somehow they might rebuild from the broken pieces, the wounds were too fresh. "I don't know if I can ever trust you again, Adrian. Not after everything.".
Adrian slumped, his shoulders giving way to desperate vulnerability. "I understand, but I'm not going to stop fighting for us, Kiera. If it goes down to that, I'll fight for you and for us until my very last breath.".
With his words, Kiera's chest had contracted, her heart fighting her mind. She wanted so badly to believe in that man she once loved, in his capability to keep her safe, but fear of being hurt again stood in her way. "Let's just get through this," she said finally, flat. "We can figure everything else out later.
Adrian nodded but didn't take her eyes off Bill, the sting in her words apparent. "You're right. Survival first. Everything else can wait."
An oppressive silence lay thick and heavy between them, wordless tension carried along on silent feet as they trudged on. The sun continued its relentless rise higher in the sky, casting hard light over rocky terrain; though its warmth was strong, little was done to ease the chill that had seeped deep into Kiera's bones.
The closer to the mountains, the further up they went; thus, the forest grew thinner and finer, yielding to jagged cliffs and narrow ledges. Kiera's breath caught in gasps in her lungs as altitude and fear stole their will from her. She made her body keep going, push through the exhaustion and the doubts that plagued her.
After what felt like hours, they crested a small plateau nestled against the towering cliff face. In the rock, a dark opening yawned-a cave invisible to any other unless they literally tumbled upon the boulder and overgrown vegetation.
Adrian waved toward the cave. "This should be safe for now. We'll rest here and figure out our next move."
Kiera nodded, too tired to argue. She followed Adrian inside the cave-it was cool and damp inside, a welcome relief from the heat outside. It wasn't that big, only large enough for the two of them huddled together, with a narrow opening to allow views all around.
Kiera sank back onto the ground, her back against the rough stone wall, and let her eyes close, just to breathe a moment. In the act of such meager attempts at seeking relaxation came the echoes of memories past, what was, what still could be.
Adrian sat down beside her, his presence a comfort yet at the same time confusing. He said nothing, just sat and watched her, his face unreadable. Kiera could feel his eyes upon her, but she did not turn, did not want to see the emotion reflected there.
The silence stretched between them, thick with words unspoken and feelings unresolved. Her mind danced back to days before it all went so wrong, before secrets and lies tore them asunder. She recalled the warmth of Adrian's smile, the circle of his arms, the safe haven once found in him.
But those memories were tarnished now, colored by one moment of pain because he had betrayed her. Kiera did not know how to make amends with the man she loved and who had kept so much from her-who put her in danger by not being honest.
"Do you ever think about… before?" Kiera asked suddenly, the question slipping out before she could stop it.
Adrian watched her, his eyes softening. "All the time. I think about what we had, what we lost. And I think about how I messed it all up."
Kiera's throat was tight as emotions whirled within her, threatening to spill over. "I miss those days. When everything was simple, when we didn't have to worry about… this.
Adrian had leaned forward, his hand brushing gently over hers. "I miss them too, Kiera, but we can't turn the clock back. All we can do is go forward, try to set things right.
Kiera watched his hands, the warmth in his touch sending a spark of electricity through her. Part of her wanted to pull away, to protect herself from the hurt she knew he could bring. Yet, something kept her hand in his-perhaps a longing for what they lost or some wish that somehow they might find their way back.
We're different now," Kiera whispered, shades of sadness tinged in her tone. "I'm not sure we can go back to the way things were."
Adrian's clasp tightened a little, and his voice was firmer, steady, resolute. "We don't have to go back. We can build something new, something better. But only if you're willing to try.
She looks up into him, her heart aching from the weight of his words. She wants to believe him, to believe they can start over, but it is that fear of getting hurt again which stops her cold. "I don't know if I am ready for that, Adrian. Not yet."
Adrian nodded knowingly, resignation displayed all over his face. " I understand. I'm not asking you to be ready now or anything. I just wanted you to know I'm here, so you know, I'm not going anywhere now.
Kiera's eyes softened into his features as his eyes turned sober, and some latent sense of vulnerability so alien to his nature that Kiera hadn't seen it in him for a very, very long time. And he meant every word of it, wouldn't rest until he had her trust back. But the wounds were too raw, the pain too fresh.
"I appreciate that," Kiera said softly; her voice rounded with melancholy and gratitude. "I really do. But it's going to take some time, Adrian. I do need some time to sort it all out inside my head, to find out what feelings I do have about… well, about anything.
Adrian nodded once again, a mix of hope and resignation crossing his face. "Take all the time you need, Kiera. I'll be here waiting. And in the meantime, we'll work on making it through this-together."
Kiera gave a small, chary smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Together," she said, but somehow the word felt fragile on her tongue, like it could break down at any moment.
They sat in silence a few more moments, the heaviness of their conversation weighing in the air between them. The storm in Kiera's thoughts was tumultuous, her emotions running deep-fear and doubt, longing, and something that uncomfortably felt like hope. She wasn't sure what lay ahead, wasn't sure if she was ready to face trials not only in their survival but in her relationship with Adrian. For now, they were together, and that would have to suffice.
All day it wore on, yet the cave remained sanctuary-a reprieve from the danger outside. Kiera and Adrian slept in shifts: when one rested, the other watched. The tension between them never broke, yet now, in the silence that lay between them, there was tentative peace-too, an unspoken understanding that battles raged within and outside their prisoner souls.
By late afternoon, the sun had dipped low in the sky and cast long shadows across the opening of the cave. Kiera sat by the opening, her gaze out to the landscape below, when she felt Adrian's presence beside her.
"We have to discuss what happens next," he said, breaking the silence.
Kiera looked over at him, then let her gaze fall back out to the view outside. "Do you have a plan?
Adrian let out a loud huff, running a hand through his hair. "Nothing concrete, but I have been thinking. We can't run forever. Sooner or later we're going to have to face them."
Kiera's heart faltered at the mere thought. "You mean, the rogue pack?
Adrian nodded, his face grim. "Yeah, gotta find out what they want, why they're after us. Then if we do, gotta find the way to stop 'em, all right?
A chill ran down Kiera's spine as the thought finally struck home. The idea was a terrifying prospect-to turn and actually attack their pursuers-but she knew Adrian was right. They couldn't stay on the run forever. "But how do we do that? We don't even know who they are or where they're coming from.".
Adrian's jaw clenched. "I have a few contacts-people who may know more about the rogue pack, their movements, their goals. It is a risk, but I think it is our best shot.".
Kiera faltered for a moment, her mind racing. The whole idea of involving more people-of possibly putting others at risk-did not sit well in her stomach. And again, the alternative-continuing to run, continuing to live in fear-was even worse. "What about then? What if we aren't able to stop them?"
Adrian's eyes were dark with determination. "Then we keep fighting. We don't give up. We find another way."
She searched his face for that glimmer of doubt, of wavering, and found determination in its place—feral protectiveness reminiscent of the man she'd fallen in love with. Through it all, despite everything that had happened between them—the pain, the betrayal—the one thing she knew above everything was that Adrian would never quit fighting for her.
"Alright," Kiera said finally, her voice firm. "We go to your contacts. We find out what we are up against. And then… we will find out what to do next."
Adrian nodded, the tide of relief washing over his features. "Thank you, Kiera. I know this isn't easy, but I promise you, we are going to make it through this."
Kiera could manage a small, tentative smile. "I hope so."
Kiera sat at the cave's entrance with Adrian as the sun did its swirl behind the mountains, bequeathing its golden blaze to them. Still dangers ahead, still uncertainty about their future. For the first time in Kiera's memory, she allowed herself a glimmer of hope: maybe they had a chance to pull through, to find their way back to each other, and maybe, just maybe, to build something new from the remains of what they had been.
And so, with the shadows lengthening and the night hurrying on, they made a silent pledge: what was to be, they would face it together, struggling for existence—maybe, if the time could be lengthened, struggling for their love.