As Lila stepped upon the mansion's front stairs, the chilly air outside pricked her skin. The situation weighed hard on her shoulders, so she tightened her jacket around herself. Alexander walked purposefully beside her, his body tense, his eyes searching the horizon as if he expected danger to suddenly leap from the shadows.
They couldn't afford to squander any more time, even if the day had just begun. They had to go fast if they were going to reach the temple in the highlands. Their objective was threatened by more than only the enemy pack. Not just wolves would be interested in the old magic they were trying to destroy. Something dark and strong, something much older than anything Lila could understand, had already started to stir.
"Are you prepared?" Alexander questioned softly, his eyes darting to her while she fiddled with her bag's straps.
Lila nodded, her heart pounding despite her will. "Since I promised to assist you, I've been prepared."
He looked at her sharply, and she saw a fleeting flash of something in his eyes that she couldn't quite identify. "Lila, don't make commitments you can't fulfill. It won't be simple.
With her chin up in defiance, she looked him in the eye. "I'm not giving up."
Alexander paused before answering, returning his focus to the expansive wilderness in front of them. Behind them, the mansion appeared to be a different reality, a place where they might forget about the perils that lurked in the shadows. But there was no getting away from it here in the open. The route to the temple would lead them right into the heart of the enemy country, which they were currently in.
The trip to the highlands was dangerous and time-consuming. They walked along woodland trails that wove through thickets of trees, avoiding the main roadways. Lila saw that her anxiety increased as the hours went by. Despite the thick quiet between them, there was something deeper going on. Since the night of their initial meeting, she and Alexander had grown closer. She was aware of him even when he was silent and not gazing at her directly; she could feel it now, a steady hum beneath her skin.
It seemed as though something inside her sparked each time their paths crossed and their eyes locked—something magnetic, something indisputable. Lila couldn't deny its existence, but she wasn't sure if it was the curse that bound them together or something else.
Alexander's piercing and authoritative voice cut through her thoughts. "Remain near. Soon, we will be moving into the enemy pack's area.
Lila jerked to her feet. She was unaware of how close they had come. The mood surrounding them seems to shift, becoming more tense. She could sense them waiting just beyond the trees, even if she couldn't yet see them.
"What is the number?" Trying to maintain a steady tone, Lila asked.
"Too many to count," Alexander said, his face becoming stern. "We must remain undetected. The less of us they see, the better.
They kept moving stealthily, staying in the underbrush and tree cover. Lila started to sense the opposing pack's presence and might looming over them like a menacing fog the further they traveled. Her heart pounded in her breast with each branch crack and leaf rustling. Her body tightened, ready for anything, her senses alert.
They arrived in a clearing after what seemed like hours. In the distance, the mountains towered, their pointy peaks slicing like sharpened teeth into the sky. They had to go quickly if they were going to survive to reach the temple they were looking for, which was buried deep within those mountains.
"How far is it?" Lila looked up at Alexander and questioned.
"Not far," he said, scanning the horizon with narrowed eyes. "However, we'll need to be more vigilant the closer we get."
A low growl suddenly reverberated across the trees.
Lila's blood ran cold as she froze. She knew what it was without having to see them. Wolves.
Alexander growled, "Stay down," and dragged her into the darkness. His body obscured her wrist from view as his palm clamped down on it. The silver knife strapped to his side was already within reach of his other hand.
Lila squatted low, her heart thumping in her ears as her pulse raced. The truth of what they were facing came to life most horrifyingly, and she could feel the weight of the situation sinking into her chest.
The growl was followed by a few more that circled the area, closer now. They were being pursued by the opposition pack.
Alexander hardly raised his voice above a whisper. "I'll look after them. Remain hidden.
Before he could react, Lila grabbed his arm and whispered, "No." "I won't sit here and do nothing. I can assist.
His eyes flashed with annoyance as he gazed down at her. "Lila, this isn't a game. This is not what you were trained for. Avoid being seen, or you risk being killed.
Lila's chest constricted. "While you do everything, I won't hide. I'm also involved in this.
Their eyes met for a minute, and the tension between them was evident. After pressing his lips into a narrow line, Alexander sighed in frustration and gave up. "All right. But don't do anything foolish and stay close.
Alexander vanished before she could answer, disappearing into the trees with a silent elegance. For a time, Lila watched him, her heart in her throat. No matter how hard he insisted, she would not allow him to fight the rival pack by himself.
Silently and swiftly, she followed him, crouching low to the ground. The danger was far from ended, but the growls had ceased. She could feel the weight of it bearing down on her, the tension in the air. She could practically hear the snap of claws and the ruffle of fur from the competing pack.
When she spotted Alexander again, he was up against five wolves, and she wasn't sure how she had stayed hidden. As they walked around him, their jaws snapped and their eyes gleamed a terrible yellow.
Lila didn't hesitate even though her heart was racing. The cold steel of the dagger Alexander had given her felt comforting in her palm as she reached for it.
She was untrained. No prior experience. However, she was unable to flee because of something else that was ingrained in her.
Furthermore, she refused to watch as Alexander battled for their lives.