Chapter Seven
The forest was eerily quiet as Evie and Gabriel moved through the thick shadows, their steps barely disturbing the underbrush. The tension in the air felt like a coiled spring, ready to snap. Evie kept her senses sharp, scanning her surroundings as they trekked deeper into the woods. She could feel Gabriel's presence beside her, steady and vigilant.
"Are you sure about this?" she whispered, her voice just a breath against the silence.
Gabriel's gaze flickered to her, calm but intense. "The pack knows you're out here, and they won't wait for us to make the first move." He gestured to a path winding through the trees, narrow and barely visible. "We're taking the fight to them."
Evie swallowed her pulse racing. She knew he was right. Running wouldn't save her; she had to confront the pack and whatever traps they'd laid. A steely resolve settled within her as she gripped the small dagger Gabriel had given her, the cool metal grounding her amidst the tension.
They continued forward, and Evie felt her instincts prickling, sensing an unseen threat lurking just beyond her vision. She tightened her grip on the dagger, bracing herself for whatever lay ahead.
They hadn't gone far when a soft rustling sound made both of them stop in their tracks. Gabriel's eyes narrowed his body tensing as he motioned for Evie to stay close. She barely had time to process his warning before figures began to emerge from the shadows, silent and deadly.
Five wolves, each one moving with a predatory grace that made Evie's stomach twist. They formed a loose circle around them, eyes glinting in the dim light, their movements synchronized and deliberate. Evie's breath hitched, but she held her ground, her mind racing through everything Gabriel had taught her.
One of the wolves stepped forward, a tall figure with a scar running down his face—a mark Evie recognized immediately. This was **Damon**, one of Lucian's most loyal enforcers, known for his ruthlessness. His sneer was cold, eyes flicking dismissively over Evie before settling on Gabriel.
"So, you're the one babysitting the little runaway," Damon drawled, his tone laced with mockery. "Seems you've forgotten where your loyalties lie, Gabriel."
Gabriel's stance didn't waver, his voice a calm threat. "I have no loyalty to those who betray their own. She deserves her freedom, Damon. And I won't let you take that from her."
Damon's sneer deepened, his fingers twitching as he glanced at his companions. "We'll see about that."
Without warning, Damon lunged forward, and chaos erupted. Evie reacted instinctively, sidestepping as another wolf charged at her. Her movements were sharp, each one honed by the training Gabriel had put her through. She ducked, feeling the rush of air as a blow narrowly missed her, adrenaline fueling her every action.
Gabriel was a blur beside her, his strikes precise and lethal. He moved with a deadly grace, fending off two attackers at once, his expression focused, unyielding. But the wolves were relentless, and Evie could see their strategy unfolding—they aimed to separate her from Gabriel, isolating her as they circled in.
One of the wolves lunged, claws bared, and Evie barely managed to block, her dagger catching the light as she deflected the attack. Pain shot through her arm, but she pushed it aside, refusing to falter. Another wolf closed in from her left, forcing her to pivot, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
Damon's voice cut through the chaos, his taunts directed at Gabriel. "Protecting a lost little mutt? You've gone soft, Gabriel. This isn't the warrior I remember."
Evie saw the flash of anger in Gabriel's eyes, but his movements remained controlled, each strike calculated, as though he was waiting for the perfect moment to turn the tide.
The battle raged on, each second stretching longer as Evie fought to hold her ground. She could feel herself tiring, the weight of her efforts dragging her down. Damon watched her struggle with a twisted smile, his satisfaction evident as he taunted her.
"You think you're strong now, little wolf?" he sneered. "You're nothing. Just another failure, a loose end the pack will tie up soon enough."
Evie's blood boiled, her exhaustion overshadowed by the surge of anger his words ignited. She wouldn't let him reduce her to the weak, defeated girl she once was. She felt the power simmering within her, a raw force that hadn't fully revealed itself. Desperation fueling her, she allowed it to rise, her senses sharpening as she faced Damon.
With a burst of energy, she charged, surprising him with her sudden speed. Her dagger found its mark, grazing his shoulder, and he snarled, taken aback. His expression twisted with rage, but Evie didn't back down, her newfound strength emboldening her.
Gabriel took advantage of Damon's distraction, his strikes becoming even more lethal. He fought with a renewed intensity, each movement calculated to protect her. Together, they created a rhythm, a silent understanding forming as they pushed back against their attackers, inch by inch.
Just when it seemed they were gaining ground, a low, menacing growl echoed through the clearing, halting everyone in their tracks. From the shadows stepped Lucian, his expression dark, eyes burning with a cold fury that sent a chill through Evie's spine. He looked from Evie to Gabriel, his gaze brimming with contempt.
"Gabriel," he said slowly, voice dripping with disdain, "I didn't expect betrayal from you."
Gabriel's expression was unreadable, his stance unwavering. "I didn't betray you, Lucian. You betrayed the pack's honor the moment you turned on your own."
Lucian's lip curled his voice venomous. "And you think siding with her is honorable?" His gaze locked onto Evie, his hatred palpable. "She's nothing but a stain on our legacy. I'll see to it that she's erased."
Evie felt her heart pound, but the fear that once controlled her was gone. She met Lucian's gaze, defiance blazing in her eyes. "I'm not afraid of you anymore, Lucian. You don't control me."
He laughed a cold, hollow sound. "Is that so?" He took a slow, deliberate step forward, the power radiating from him undeniable. "Then let's see just how strong you think you are, little wolf."
Gabriel shifted his body tensed, ready to defend her. But Evie placed a hand on his arm, her own resolve steady. She wasn't running anymore. And Lucian would soon realize that she was no longer the weak girl he'd cast aside.