The haunting howl rent through the forest and hedged the wolves where they stood. The sound reverberated off the trees creating a kind of eerie, almost hypnotic effect. Kiera's heart was pounding inside her chest, the staccato beat loud inside her ears as she waited, breath held, for what would happen next.
In an instant, the wolves so assured turned meek. Apprehensive bright lights shone in their eyes as they looked around them in alarm, ears twitching as if trying to trace the origin of the howl. Kiera's grip on her blade suddenly tightened; her pulse was racing as she watched with growing wolves' uncertainty. Maybe this was their chance to get away, but the tension was stifling, chokingly difficult to think clearly.
Adrian," Kiera whispered, her voice no louder than the heavy beating of her own heart. "What was that?"
Adrian didn't answer right away, his attention too consumed by watching the wolves intently-his eyes narrowed as if to measure their next step. He was still in a defensive stance, knife positioned and ready, but Kiera caught a glimmer of something different in his eyes this time around-recognition, perhaps, or hope.
Before Kiera could repeat herself, one of the wolves-the largest of the three-emitted a low, nervous whine. He took one cautious step backward, eyes still scanning the trees. The two other wolves exchanged uncertain glances; their aggression melted into wariness as they drew backward slowly.
Kiera's breath caught in her throat as the realization hit her that just possibly, they might have a chance. The wolves were spooked, the confidence howled out of them. A spark of hope fluttered in her chest, dampened almost instantly by the fear that this was only a reprieve.
We need to move, now," Adrian said in a low and urgent tone. He did not wait for her to say a thing; he just reached out, grasping her arm, pulling her along. "Stick close and don't make any sudden moves.".
Kiera took his lead, her feet independent of her mind as they sidled away from the wolves. The animals regarded them warily, their eyes narrowed, but neither tried to attack. It was almost as if they were waiting on something, or someone, and the tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife.
Adrian watched the wolves disappear among the trees, still in slow, deliberate movements. Kiera's heart threatened to hammer her chest in two, but deliberately she kept calm, her focus on putting one foot in front of the other. They were so close to getting away-she couldn't afford to let fear paralyze her now.
The deeper they drew into the forest, the noisier the river got, its constant rush smoothing out the pounding of her pulse. It did not follow them, though; it stayed still, its eyes on Kiera and Adrian, tracking their moves. It was almost as if they had been ordered down.
Time seemed to have stood still. At last, the wolves turned and just melted into the shadows, gone as suddenly as they appeared. Kiera exhaled a trembling breath as her legs wobbled with relief and exhaustion. Adrian's hold on her arm loosened a bit, but he was still able to keep one protective hand on her.
"Are they gone?" Kiera whispered, hardly believing it.
"For now," Adrian returned, the tenseness still laced in his voice. His gaze had been sweeping in a circle, the trees surrounding them under his scrutiny. His eyes sharp, alert. "But we can't rule out that we aren't safe yet. Whoever or whatever called them off maybe not so friendly."
Kiera nodded, her throat swallowing the lump. The shadows within the forest felt so much deeper now, and all the more threatening. The howling stopped, yet seemed to linger on in the air as a reminder that they really weren't alone.
"Let's keep moving," Adrian whispered low, leading them toward the river. "We have to find a place to rest, somewhere defensible."
Kiera fell behind, her senses on high alert. Every rustling of the leaf, every snapping of the twig, made her jump, yet she made herself keep focused. They could ill afford to let down their guard, not now.
The landscape opened up as they approached the river: the trees did not grow so densely, and the undergrowth was sparser. More light filtered down through the canopy. The sound of running water grew louder, more distinct, until at last they reached the riverbank.
It was a wide, fast-flowing river, its turgid mass churning with foamy flecks which glimmered palely in the moonlight. Kiera felt an absurd relief at the sight-the river was some sort of barrier between them and whatever dangers lurked in the forest.
Adrian guided them to a place where the bank was slightly raised; from there, they would be at a better advantage. His eyes scanned, narrowed with interest. "We'll rest here for a bit," he said, finally allowing himself to relax slightly. "But we can't stay long. We're too exposed."
Kiera nodded, plopping down onto the grass. Her legs seemed to be made of jelly as finally her exhaustion went into battle with her adrenaline, shaking her all over.
Adrian hunched beside her, eyes in contemplation. "That howl.it wasn't natural," he said in a quiet murmur, gaze afar, eyes that replayed the events in his mind. "It was almost like a signal, or some kind of warning."
"Do you think it was Rowan?" she asked, her voice no more than a whisper. The thought of someone-or something-out there in the darkness, watching them made her shiver.
"It's possible," Adrian replied. He didn't sound convinced. "But I've never known Rowan to be the type to send messages like that. He's more of a straightforward kind of guy."
"Then who could it be?" Kiera asked, her stomach beginning to roil with unease. "And why would they help us?"
Adrian shook his head, his face a mask of grim lines. "I don't know, but whoever it is, they have some sort of influence with the wolves. And that does make them either an ally or a very dangerous enemy."
She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to fend off the chill seeping into her bones. It was almost as if the forest had grown too quiet, too still, holding its breath in some sort of anticipation.
"Do you think we should keep going?" she asked, trying not to sound as shaky as she felt.
Not yet, Adrian replied as his eyes scanned across the trees. We do need rest, but we do need to decide on our course of action. Anyway, running continuously in blind flight will just get us right into another trap.
Kiera nodded, but the thought of just sitting around in one place made her nervous. She could trust Adrian, yet it wasn't that easy actually to banish the fear that was basically eating inside her gut. "What if they come back?" she asked softly.
Adrian turned to her then, a little of the harshness banished from his face. "I won't let anything happen to you, Kiera," he told her frankly. "I promise."
Kiera swallowed hard as her throat clutched up with emotion. There was just something to Adrian's voice, despite the fear and the uncertainty-the way he sounded-made her believe him. With him, she felt safer, though for reasons unbeknownst to her; he was the only barrier between her and darkness.
For several minutes, she could hear nothing but the river churning its way by and the hooting of an owl somewhere distantly. Kiera tried to blank out from her racing mind, let herself just be instead of getting lost in dreadful scenarios that could be. The thing was, it was hard to do otherwise: the memory of wolves, of the howl, weighed on her brain.
Finally, Adrian stood, his face set in a mask of resolution. "We have to move," he said voice firm. "There is a place not too far away from here-some small cabin I used to hole up in when I wanted to disappear. It is well out of the way, and we can spend the night there."
Kiera struggled to her feet, her legs still trembling. "Are you sure it is safe?"
"As safe as anywhere else," Adrian replied-his voice flat, allowing no argument. "It's the best option we have for the moment."
Kiera nodded, readying herself for the journey onward. Thoughts of shelter, of hiding from the dangerous forest, tagged along. Yet the fear would not subside, gnawing at her insides like a shadow that refused to let up.
Kiera felt at the edge of the river that someone watched them. The forest seemed to close in upon them, its darkness weighing physically upon them. She took any step with a risk while every rustling of leaves sounded to her as a threat.
They moved quickly, yet quietly; the soft earth deadened their footsteps. Adrian was in the lead; his eyes were darting around him keenly-almost like a predator. Kiera followed close behind, her heart pounding in her chest, her senses all on high.
After what felt like an eternity, they came upon a small clearing hidden within a heavy underbrush of trees. It opened up into a clear space containing, at its center, a ramshackle cabin with moss partially covering some of its wooden walls, befitting the woods that enclosed it. It was small-no bigger than one room, really-but it was sturdy, well-built, a kind of place that would protect a person against the elements and from curious eyes.
"Here it is," Adrian said through a low voice, ushering Kiera toward the cabin. "We'll be safe here, at least for tonight."
Relief washed over Kiera as they drew near the cabin, yet the gnawing fear which had bitten into her psyche all night kept it firmly in check-the uneasy suspicion that they were still being followed, the wolves or whoever had called them off still out there, watching and waiting.
He gave the cabin door a cautious shove; it creaked ominously on its wooden frame, swinging inward. It was dark inside, musty-the faint scent of damp wood and earth. Kiera hovered in the threshold, her eyes working to adjust to the dimness. Weathered on the outside, it had felt sturdy, as if it had seen a hundred storms come and go.
Adrian stepped inside first, his posture tight as he scoured the room. Kiera could see his silhouette in the moonlight streaming in through the small, grime-covered windows. He moved fast and sure-looking in every nook, every potential cranny. She admired how cool he always seemed-constant danger they found themselves in, yet he never truly seemed to lose focus.
It would appear, Adrian said finally, his voice sure, but low. He turned back to Kiera then gestured inside. "Come in. We ought to be safe enough here for the night.".
Kiera stepped inside the cabin. The groan of the wooden boards sounded as she put her weight down on each step. She took a deep breath, trying to shake the lingering unease that seemed to cling to her like second skin. The cabin wasn't much: barely furnished, a small table with a couple of rickety chairs, a dusty old bed in one corner. But compared to the forest outside, it was a fortress.
Adrian shut the door behind them, sliding a thick wooden bar across for added security. Each robust knock the barrier received brought Kiera a little more relief as the tension locked in her muscles continued to ebb away. Now, they had some form of barricade between them and whatever lurked in the dark.
"You should try to rest," Adrian said finally, shattering the silence. He moved over to one of the windows, peering out into the night. "We've got a few hours until dawn. I'll keep watch."
Kiera looked at the bed, and exhaustion tugged at her, as if she were weight. She didn't realize how tired she was; it was only now that the adrenaline was really wearing off. But there was a fear tucked into her skin so hard she could hardly bring herself to close her eyes for one second.
"What about you?" she asked. Her voice was softer than she meant it to be. "You've been up as long as I have. You need rest too."
Adrian turned to her, a faint smile tugging the corner of his lips. "I'm used to this," he said. His voice carried a thread of weariness, while his expression was set in determination. "I will do just fine. You need your strength.
Kiera hesitated but wanted to argue, knowing it would serve no good. Adrian was stubborn-once he set his mind to it, that was that. Still, the fatigue in his eyes, the tightness of his jaw, spoke volumes about just how hard he was pushing himself.
"Wake me if anything happens," she finally relented, moving toward the bed. "I'll take the watch in a few hours."
Adrian nodded, his eyes softening. "Deal."
Kiera sat down on the edge of the bed, and the old mattress sagged under her weight. She drew her legs up and lay back, staring upwards at the wooden ceiling. The cabin was silent; the only sound the far-off rush of the river outside, and the odd creak in the walls as it settled. That was far from the chaos in the forest, and now her mind could wander though sleep felt so far away.
She just couldn't get the wolves out of her head-their sudden calling off by that mysterious howl. It was as if there had been someone backstage, observing and orchestrating it all. A shiver ran down her spine. Who or what had the power to bring about such a change in the wolves? And why?
Her mind strayed off again to Adrian. Resourceful and strong, besides always seeming one step ahead of everyone else, he was a mystery in himself. What was his past? What secrets did he have hidden in those discounting eyes? Why did he know so much about this world? Why did he go to such great lengths with saving a perfect stranger?
Each question that crept into her mind pushed out even an iota of peace. She turned to face Adrian, still standing by the window, his silhouette heightened against the grayish light outside. He looked to her like a sentinel-guard against undefined terrors that might be lurking in that darkness.
"Adrian," she softly called; the word slipped out before she could catch it.
He turned to her, questioning. "What is it?"
"Why are you helping me?" It was an interrogation that had plagued her mind long enough that, in the quiet of the cabin, she could no longer bite her tongue.
Adrian was silent for a moment, his eyes steady as he considered her question. At last, he let out a sigh thick with unfinished thoughts. "Because you needed help," he said, and the words were so simple, yet they carried undercurrents of emotional depth that lay between the lines.
"But why?" Kiera pushed up the adrenaline. "You didn't have to. You could have left me back there… with the rogues.".
Adrian steeled his jaw, and his eyes flashed with something that Adair could not quite place. "I saw too much of this world to just stand by and do nothing'," he said, and his voice actually sounded a bit sad. "I might've made mistakes. Big ones. But if there's some good — some protecting' someone from what I've seen — maybe I can make those up.".
A pang sliced through Kiera's chest. There was a story behind those words, painful, and she could tell. But she didn't want to push it—not now, when he was already burdened with so much. "Thank you," she said quietly, meaning each word.
Adrian nodded at her slightly, but his expression remained careful. "Get some rest, Kiera. We've got a long road ahead of us.
Kiara lay back down but her mind was still racing, now filled with thoughts of Adrian's past, the weight he carried on his shoulders. She wanted to know more—to understand what had sculpted him into the man he was. But for now, all she could do was trust him.
The quiet of the cabin had lulled her into a light doze, but she never did slip into sleep. She was on high alert, and every groan of the wooden beams made her heart jump with a jerk. Everything seemed amplified to an almost unbearable level-it was one of those times when time stretches, and minutes fall into minutes, all that she was doing hanging between consciousness and unconsciousness.
At last the faint sound of footsteps outside the cabin brought her suddenly awake. She snapped her eyes open; her heart pounded in her chest. She sat up quickly and momentarily her breath caught as she strained to listen.
Adrian had heard it, too. He pulled away from the window, straightening, and his stance itself served as the signal for Kiera to fall silent. The footsteps were slow, purposeful, crunching not loudly on the forest floor. They were too heavy to belong to an animal. Someone was out there.
On instinct, she reached for the knife next to her on the bed. Her heart pounded in her ears as she clutched the handle tightly. The footsteps came nearer — louder — and then stopped just outside the cabin door.
The silence that followed was deafening, a thick oppressive weight pressing down on them. Kiera held her breath, her muscles coiled in anticipation. The door was barred, but she knew that would not stop any intruder who was resolute on getting in.
Adrien padded silently across the floor to the door, pressing his ear against the wood. Little on his face read clearly, but she saw the tension in his jaw, his hand hung near the grip of his knife.
And then, all of a sudden, there was a soft tap at the door. Kiera's inhale was sharp; her hands on the knife jerked around its hilt, turning her knuckles white. Who was it? And how did they find this place?
The knock came again, this time a little louder, yet still soft- almost…respectful. Kiera's mind whirled trying to grapple with it; it just didn't go with the picture of a threat. Why would someone be knocking if they wanted to do them harm?
He didn't budge. Every muscle in his body strained for action, eyes locked on the door. The longer each elongated second ticked by-according to Kiera's count-the more it seemed to drag out into an eternity as they just waited and did not know what to do.
Low and soothing, a voice called out from the other side of the door. "Adrian, it's me. Open the door.
At the sound of the voice, Kiera felt her heart stop. It was a manly voice, hollow and firm, but there was something in the way he spoke. As though he knew Adrian well.
Several things happened: Adrian's eyes slitted fractionally wider; a flicker of surprise crossed his features; he actually hesitated a moment, quite obviously weighing his options—which turned out to be none. In one swift movement, he unbarred the door, flinging it open on to a tall, broad-shouldered man standing on the doorstep.
His clothes were dark and weathered, the hood of the cloak thrown over his head, shadowing his features. But Kiera could feel the keenness in his eyes, the power in his frame. He was one with whom danger had become usual and who did not shrink from it-a warrior who knew what battles were.
"Rowan," said Adrian softly, not a little of his own wariness in his voice. "What are you doing here?
The man-Rowan-pushed his hood back, revealing a rugged, weathered face marked from years of hardship. Piercing blue eyes seemed to look into hers with an intensity that both set her on edge and drew her in. There was a kind of familiarity in the way he seemed to regard Adrian; a shared history spoke volumes.
"Adrian," Rowan replied in a voice that almost had an even tone. He entered the cabin without an invitation, owning the cramped space without even trying. "I could ask you the same question. You weren't supposed to be anywhere near this place."
"Adrian," he said, whereupon Rowan continued to tread on his heels, and Adrian followed through with firm vigor, shutting the door and re-barring it as only he knew how. "Plans changed," he said with his usual bluntness. "The situation's gotten more complicated than we anticipated."
Rowan's eyes strayed toward Kiera, narrowing slightly in scrutiny as he studied her. Kiera tensed beneath his regard and subconsciously took a step back closer to Adrian, even though she kept the knife hidden away at her side. She didn't know this man, didn't know if she could trust him. Something deep inside of her told her that she shouldn't. She just couldn't put her finger on why.
"And who's this?" Rowan asked, his voice bland, but with an undercurrent of steel that told Adrian he was already linking the dots.
"She's with me," Adrian said, easing a step forward, as if to block Rowan's view of Kiera. "We had a bit of trouble with the rogues. They were after her."
Rowan's face clouded, his jaw flexing. "The rogues? I didn't think they'd be operating this far out."
"They are," Adrian answered grimly. "And they're organized. More than usual."
Rowan swore softly, running a hand through his graying hair. "Dammit, Adrian. You should have stayed away. You know how dangerous it is out here."
"I didn't have a choice," Adrian shot back low but firmly. "I couldn't just leave her behind."
His words nearly made Kiera's heart stutter. There was a kind of almost forcefulness in his conviction, and Kiera was taken by surprise. He was putting himself at the same risk she was, for nothing but a complete stranger he hardly knew at all. And, inexplicably, feelings of gratitude rose inside her, mixed with something far more intense, far sharper, something she wasn't yet ready to name.
For what seemed like an eternity, he looked Adrian-Maria in the eye-whether to keep on speaking or not. Finally, he slumped a bit, letting his shoulders sag from tension. "You were always the stubborn one," he muttered softly, within his voice. "Fine. But you've got to get out of here, both of you. This place is not safe anymore.
"No easy solution, then," he replied, his voice just a little softer. "But we should have some overall plan. The rogues are too damn close, and I'm not leading them to any of our safe houses."
Rowan nodded, grimacing as he did. "I have a place not far from here—whatever it takes. It's hidden well enough that even the rogues shouldn't find it easily. Then you can lay low until things cool down."
Adrian's eyes narrowed. "You're still working with them, aren't you?"
Rowan didn't deny it. "Somebody's got to watch what's happening. Besides, it helps gain access to places I could never otherwise get into."
Kiera shivered. The thought of anyone being so close to them, even if it was only to spy on them, made her sick. But studying Rowan, she came to realize he was one of those guys who'd just do what he needed to do, even inciting danger unto himself.
She turned to Adrian and asked in a hushed tone, "Do you trust him?"
Adrian said nothing for a moment, his eyes in Rowan's. For the most part, that didn't immediately prompt a response from him, but after a moment, he nodded. "Yeah, sure," he said softly. "Rowan's gotten me out of worse trouble than this. If he says he can get me someplace safe, then I believe him."
Adrian's words made the expression on Rowan's face slacken just a bit before he steeled it again. "Enough talking. We need to move before they catch wind of where you are. The longer you stay in one place, the more dangerous it becomes."
Adrian nodded in agreement, turning to Kiera. "We'll go with Rowan. That's the best bet we've got for getting out of this alive.
Kiera nodded, acquiescing to the older man's judgment. Now, she knew nothing about Rowan, but if Adrian did then that was good enough for her. She rose to her feet then-clenched her knife tight in her fist as she readied to follow them out into the night.
Rowan cautiously unbarred the door, opening it a crack, peering out. The woods seemed deceptively silent, the looming shadows full of foreboding. Yet Kiera could feel that something lay very close—not far, ready to strike at any opportune moment, the prickling of hairs at the back of the neck.
"Close," Rowan whispered quietly, hardly above a whisper. "And for the love of God, don't make a noise.".
She swallowed and her heart thudded now, as she joined Adrian and Rowan out into the night. Cool and brittle, the air was thick with a moon hidden away in a thick mass of clouds. Every soft sound made it feel as though they were taking a risk and every rustle of a leaf appeared suspicious.
Anker was evidently in the lead; he was going ahead with well-defined, noiseless steps, outlining a man who he knew the woods as a landscape on his palm. The only presence of another man next to Kiera was Adrian's, so it was soothing to be aware of in the darkness. They moved on with a decent speed, continued to move with controlled ease through the trees and thick shrubs, breathing visibly in the freezing night air.
Kiera became hyped at her senses; each of her nerves seemed to be tingling from the tension of the moment. Fresh memories of the wolves, howl, and rogue attack made her jump at every small sound. She made herself keep calm, try to concentrate on following Rowan, and make her feet as quiet as possible.
After what seemed ages, he finally led them to a small cave, sheltered between two huge rocks. The entrance was small, almost hidden under some thick ivy; you would not know it was there if you weren't told. He pulled the vine aside and gestured for them to go in.
"Get in there," he urged in a whisper. "I'll go in behind you when I'm confident that we haven't been followed."
Adrian and Kiera moved through the narrow opening, which opened into a small chamber, with tendrils of light sneaking in. Inside, with the cool, clammy air wrapped in the chamber, it almost felt safe—sanctuary secret from the world. Kiera sank down against the cave wall, her legs trembling with exhaustion and relief.
Adrian was coming back to sit next to her, his face still all knowing but soft in the eyes when he looked at her. "We'll be okay," he murmured, voice quiet yet reassuring. "Rowan knows what he's doing.
Kiera nodded, but her head still swam with all that had happened. She felt they really had just escaped disaster, and fear continued to gnaw at her insides. It was reassuring there, though—within Adrian's presence and what he'd been there for her every step of the way.
Several minutes of tension passed until Rowan finally slipped inside the cave, pulling the vines back to hide the entrance. His eyes quickly swept the chamber before he nodded with satisfaction. "We're safe here for now," he said, his voice low. "But we can't stay long. The rogues will be searching for you, and it won't take them long to pick up your trail.
"We'll rest a while," he said, his voice firm, "and then we'll move out before dawn. We need to be ahead of them."
Rowan got it, nodding with his head as he settled by the entrance, acting as a watcher. "Get some sleep if you can. I'll keep an eye out for you."
Kiera didn't think she would be able to sleep, but the exhaustion was overwhelming. Prepared to say it anyway, she leaned into the cold stone wall. Her eyes closed as sleep finally claimed her. The very adrenaline from that fateful night slowly ebbed away. Against all odds, she felt safe in this strange cave—a fleeting moment of peace in a night streaked with terror.
Her eyes fluttered close, and Kiera's last thought was of Adrian and how he had stayed with her, protecting her with all he had. She did not know what the future held, but for now, she had him.
With that thought, she fell back to sleep once more, the cave darkness closing in around her, protecting her from the outside world.
Outside, the forest was quiet. Very quiet. It may have soothed their frayed nerves and lowered a sense of panic, but a rogue threat still hung in the air; sometime hunters would be merciless until they had their prey. For now though, Keira and Adrian were well safe inside the cave.
They couldn't hide from them forever. And what new dangers, not caused by rogues, would the morning light bring?
Only time would tell.