The haven stood before them like a fragile sanctuary, offering little more than temporary safety. Serena was exhausted, her legs shaky from the run, but her mind was racing. They had made it inside, but the threat of the wolves was far from over.
Callum was the first to move, his face hard and focused. "The wards will protect us for now, but we can't stay here forever," he said, his gaze lingering on the surrounding trees.
Serena caught her breath, trying to stay calm.
"What do we do now?"
Ronan's eyes grew serious. "We regroup. We can't take them on here. The haven is safe, but it won't hold them off forever." He looked at Ivy, who was already preparing her bow and checking the area. "We need to fortify our position."
Ivy didn't respond but silently moved off, disappearing into the shadows to secure their perimeter. Serena turned back to Ronan. "Is this it? We're just going to hide here and wait?"
Ronan gave her a half-smile. "You got a better idea, princess?"
Serena raised an eyebrow. "Maybe one that doesn't involve running away again?"
Ronan's grin faded. "I wish we had more options. But the wolves are relentless. If they want us, they'll keep coming, and the haven can't stop them forever."
Serena's stomach tightened at the thought. The situation was more dangerous than she wanted to admit, but she knew Ronan was right.
"I hate waiting," she muttered.
"Yeah, me too," Ronan agreed with a soft chuckle.
As the hours dragged on, an uneasy silence settled over the group. The full moon hung in the sky, casting an eerie glow on the clearing. Tension thickened the air, and every small sound in the woods made Serena's pulse race. She sat on a large rock near the haven, her back to the stone, eyes constantly scanning the trees for any movement.
Eventually, Ivy returned from her scouting. "No sign of them yet, but we need to move," she said quietly. "We can't stay in the open. Let's go deeper into the haven."
Callum nodded in agreement. "We don't have time to waste. Let's go."
They made their way inside the haven, the heavy stone doors creaking as Ronan pushed them open. The interior was warmer than Serena expected, with the scent of herbs and burning wood filling the air. The space was modest but enough to offer them shelter, with the glow of candles casting flickering shadows on the stone walls.
Inside, the haven felt alive with an energy that Serena couldn't quite explain a deep, ancient magic that seemed to pulse from the walls themselves. She glanced at Ronan, who seemed to sense her unease.
"Don't worry," he said, his voice quieter than usual. "We'll figure it out."
Though Serena wasn't sure they would, she appreciated his attempt to reassure her. They moved further into the haven, following Ronan to a large room at the back where a fire crackled in the hearth. They gathered around the warmth, the weight of their situation settling heavily on their shoulders.
"We can't stay here forever," Callum said, his tone dark. "The wolves will return, and they'll keep coming until they get what they want."
Serena's stomach clenched at his words. It wasn't just the wolves that worried her there was something else out there, something more dangerous, and it was closing in.
And it wasn't done with them yet.