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Chapter 6 - I Won't Hide Anymore

Chapter Six

Morning brought a gray haze over the forest, diffusing the light into a muted glow. Evie and Gabriel were up early, the tension from Cedric's visit hanging heavily between them. Neither spoke of it, but the urgency in their movements betrayed what both were feeling. They couldn't afford to ignore the warning Cedric had left them.

Gabriel broke the silence first, his voice low. "We need to get you ready. If the pack is coming, they'll be prepared for a fight."

Evie nodded, her gaze steely. "I'm not hiding. Not anymore." Her voice held a conviction she hadn't felt in ages, a spark fueled by both anger and newfound determination. She met Gabriel's gaze, finding a shared resolve in his eyes.

He nodded approvingly, moving closer until his presence felt like a shield around her. "Today's training will be different. You need to learn to anticipate—how to act before they strike." His tone was sharper, more intense than usual. "Trust your instincts, Evie. They won't lead you astray."

Evie squared her shoulders, a chill settling over her as she took a defensive stance, mirroring Gabriel. The air between them shifted, the forest around them holding its breath as they readied themselves for what was coming.

Without warning, Gabriel lunged, and their movements melded into a fierce, fluid exchange of blows, each one sharpening Evie's focus, honing her instincts.

They moved with a rhythm that felt natural, primal. Each time Gabriel struck, Evie reacted a heartbeat faster, her senses on high alert. Sweat dripped down her brow, and her breaths came in sharp bursts, but she held her ground, refusing to falter. She could feel her power, simmering just beneath her skin, ready to be unleashed.

Gabriel's gaze never wavered as he pushed her, his strikes precise and unrelenting. "Good," he muttered, satisfaction in his tone. "You're learning."

Evie gritted her teeth, pushing past the burn in her muscles. "I have to. I can't afford to lose."

A ghost of a smile crossed his lips. "Exactly." With a swift movement, he twisted, knocking her off balance. Evie stumbled, catching herself just in time, her eyes blazing with determination.

She countered, her movements instinctive, and for the first time, Gabriel seemed genuinely caught off guard. Her fist shot forward, stopping inches from his chest. They both froze, the air charged with the energy of the moment. Gabriel's eyes met hers, pride flickering in his gaze.

"You're ready," he murmured, his voice barely audible, as though acknowledging something that went beyond mere skill.

Evie swallowed, her heart pounding, realizing that this was no longer just about survival—it was about claiming her power, her place. 

The quiet between them didn't last long. A rustling from the trees sent a jolt of tension through them both. Gabriel's head snapped toward the sound, his hand reaching instinctively to his side where a dagger was sheathed. Evie followed his gaze, her own body tensing, senses alert.

They watched as a figure emerged from the shadows—an older man, his face hidden under the hood of a dark cloak. Evie didn't recognize him, but there was something about his presence that felt… familiar. He moved with a confidence that set her nerves on edge, as though he'd walked these woods for centuries.

Gabriel's expression hardened, his jaw tightening. "Elder Grimshaw."

The name hung heavily in the air, and Evie's blood ran cold. She'd heard of him—an elder in the pack, one of the most influential figures, known for his ruthlessness and cunning. Her hands clenched, her instincts screaming that this man was a danger they couldn't ignore.

Grimshaw's gaze flickered over her, his eyes narrowing with a mix of disdain and curiosity. "So, this is the little wolf causing so much trouble," he drawled, his tone laced with condescension. "I expected someone… stronger."

Evie's teeth clenched, but she held her ground, her defiance simmering beneath the surface. Gabriel stepped forward, shielding her, his voice a low growl. "You have no business here."

Grimshaw smirked, unfazed. "On the contrary. She's my business now."

Gabriel's stance tightened, his hand resting on his weapon as he eyed Grimshaw with a wary intensity. Evie could feel the tension radiating from him, the silent warning in his every movement. But Grimshaw only chuckled, a dark, chilling sound that sent a shiver down her spine.

"Do you really think you can protect her from the pack?" Grimshaw asked, amusement flickering in his eyes. "She belongs to us, Gabriel. And we don't take kindly to those who abandon their place."

Evie's heart pounded, anger flaring at his words. "I belong to no one," she spat, her voice filled with a defiance she hadn't realized she possessed. "Not to the pack. And certainly not to you."

For the first time, Grimshaw's smile faded, his gaze sharpening. "Bold words, little wolf. But words mean nothing without strength to back them up."

Gabriel stepped closer, his voice deadly calm. "She has strength. And she has me." His hand tightened around his weapon, a clear signal that he wasn't about to back down.

Grimshaw's eyes flicked between them, a calculating look in his gaze. "Very well," he said, his tone deceptively mild. "But know this—the pack won't stop. She's a loose thread, a threat to everything we've built. And loose threads must be… dealt with."

With that, he turned, his cloak billowing behind him as he disappeared back into the shadows, leaving Evie and Gabriel standing in silence, the weight of his threat lingering in the air.

As Grimshaw's footsteps faded, Evie's fists clenched, the anger burning hot and fierce in her chest. Gabriel placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his touch steadying her, grounding her amidst the whirlwind of emotions. She met his gaze, her voice trembling with the intensity of her resolve. "I'm not going to run, Gabriel. I'm done hiding."

He nodded a fierce pride in his eyes. "I know. And we'll be ready."

They stood together, the silence heavy yet filled with a shared purpose, the promise of what lay ahead. Evie knew the path before her was dangerous, filled with enemies who wouldn't hesitate to tear her down. But with Gabriel by her side, she felt a strength she hadn't known before.

She looked out into the trees, the shadows thickening as the sun dipped lower, casting the forest in an eerie, twilight glow. Her heartbeat steadied, each beat a reminder that she was no longer the girl cast aside, no longer the wolf without a pack.

She was a force, one they'd underestimated, and one they would soon come to fear.