"We need to leave. Now."
Kaelen's voice was sharp, slicing through the cold morning air like a blade. He stood near the cabin door, his stance rigid, golden eyes scanning the dark forest beyond. The early morning light barely penetrated the thick canopy, creating a world of shadows and uncertainty. Every muscle in his body was tense, ready for a fight, as if the very trees held dangers he could sense but Ariana could not.
Ariana clutched the strap of her camera bag, her heartbeat unsteady and rapid. "You're not telling me everything," she accused, her voice low but firm, echoing the urgency that pulsed through her veins. "Why the rush? And why do I feel like something is about to explode in my face?"
Kaelen exhaled harshly, the sound filled with frustration. "Because it is."
Before she could press him further, the distant sound of howling wolves echoed through the valley. This was not the kind that welcomed the moon—this was different. A warning. A threat.
Ariana's pulse quickened. She had spent enough time with Kaelen to recognize danger when she heard it. "Lucian?" The name left her lips like a prayer, laced with dread.
Kaelen didn't answer immediately. Instead, he moved with purpose, grabbing the duffel bag he had packed hours ago. His movements were swift and precise—an Alpha still acting on instinct, even in this cursed state that had stripped him of his transformation.
"They know we're leaving," he said, throwing the bag over his shoulder. "And they're coming to stop us."
Ariana's stomach twisted in response to his words. "How many?"
Kaelen's jaw clenched, his expression darkening. "Enough to make this a problem."
Ariana inhaled deeply, gripping the small knife she had taken to carrying ever since she stumbled into Kaelen's world. "Then we fight."
Kaelen turned to her, his eyes darkening with something unreadable, perhaps fear or something deeper. "No. We run."
She frowned. "Run? Since when do you—"
"Now is not the time for your stubbornness, Ariana." His voice was like a growl, low and authoritative, and she felt the heat of his frustration press against her. "You think I want to do this? That running is my choice? If I could rip them apart, I would." His fingers twitched, betraying his suppressed rage. "But I can't. And I will not let them get their hands on you."
Ariana swallowed hard, a lump forming in her throat. She had seen Kaelen angry before—seen the storm brewing in his eyes whenever Lucian's name was mentioned—but this was different. This was desperation, a raw emotion that made her heart ache.
She tightened her grip on her knife, resolute. "Fine. Lead the way."
Kaelen didn't waste another second. He grabbed her wrist, pulling her outside just as a sharp, inhuman snarl tore through the trees, reverberating in the stillness of the morning.
---
The escape was brutal.
Kaelen kept Ariana close as they navigated the dense forest, his senses razor-sharp despite his weakened state. The scent of bloodlust was in the air, thick and suffocating, a tangible force that pressed down on them. The sound of pursuit grew closer, the eerie rustling of leaves and snapping branches telling him exactly how many were after them.
At least four.
They were Lucian's hunters—loyal, merciless, and determined to see him fail.
"We're not going to make it to the car," Ariana panted as they sprinted through the uneven terrain, her legs burning with exertion. "They're too fast."
Kaelen's mind worked quickly, formulating a plan as adrenaline surged through his veins. The car was parked near the main road, but they wouldn't reach it before being intercepted.
"We take the river," he decided, the words spilling out with conviction.
Ariana's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you insane?"
"Do you have a better idea?" He shot back, frustration bleeding into his tone.
She hesitated—just long enough for Kaelen to make the decision for her. With a swift motion, he grabbed her waist and pulled her with him as they leaped into the icy river below.
---
The water was merciless.
Ariana barely had time to take a breath before the current dragged them downstream, the cold seeping into her bones like icy fingers wrapping around her heart. She thrashed, reaching for Kaelen, but the water pulled them apart, the force of it disorienting.
For a moment, panic took over. She kicked desperately, her lungs burning, vision blurring as the roar of the river drowned out everything else. This was a fight for survival, and the cold water felt like an enemy, dragging her under.
Then, strong hands found her, pulling her to the surface. The world exploded back into focus as she gasped for air, lungs desperate for oxygen.
"I swear—" she choked out, "—if we survive this, I'm going to kill you."
Kaelen barely spared her a glance, his focus unwavering. "Noted."
The river carried them further, away from their pursuers, but Ariana knew this wasn't over. The threat lingered like a shadow, and they were still being hunted.
---
By the time they reached the shore, exhaustion had set in. Ariana collapsed onto the grass, breathing heavily, her heart racing as she tried to regain her composure.
Kaelen remained standing, his clothes soaked, his gaze locked onto the forest behind them. He was listening. Watching. The tension radiated from him, a taut wire ready to snap.
"They'll come after us again," Ariana murmured, wiping water from her face, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kaelen nodded, his expression grim. "But not immediately. They'll regroup."
Ariana pushed herself up to sit, the grass damp beneath her. "Then we need to go. The airport—"
"We won't make it in time if we go by road," Kaelen interrupted, running a hand through his wet hair, frustration evident in his movements. "They'll expect that."
Ariana hesitated, her mind racing through alternatives. "Then what do you suggest?"
Kaelen turned to her, his golden eyes unreadable, yet a flicker of something softened his features. "We take the train."
Ariana blinked, disbelief washing over her. "You're kidding."
His expression remained serious, the weight of their situation pressing down on him. "Do I look like I'm in the mood for jokes?"
Ariana exhaled, frustration mingling with the remnants of fear. "Fine. But if this plan gets us killed, I'm haunting you in the afterlife." She shot him a determined look, a hint of a smile playing on her lips despite the gravity of their situation.
A ghost of a smirk flickered across his lips, a brief moment of levity amidst the chaos. "Noted."
---
The train station was nearly empty, the early morning light filtering through the large windows, casting long shadows across the damp concrete floor.
Kaelen had secured last-minute tickets using a connection Ariana didn't dare question. They boarded just before departure, choosing a secluded compartment near the back, away from prying eyes.
Ariana let out a breath as she sank into her seat, her body weary from the adrenaline and cold. "I don't think I've ever been this tired," she confessed, resting her head against the window, watching the world outside blur away.
Kaelen sat across from her, his posture rigid despite the exhaustion in his eyes. He had barely spoken since they got on the train, lost in his thoughts, a storm brewing beneath the surface.
She studied him for a moment, noticing the way his knuckles were still white, his body tense. He wasn't just tired—he was fighting himself, battling the demons that lurked in the shadows of his mind.
"Kaelen," she said softly, breaking the silence that had settled between them.
He didn't look at her.
Ariana leaned forward, resting her arms on her knees, her heart aching with the weight of unspoken truths. "I know what you're doing."
His jaw tightened, the muscles working in a way that revealed his internal struggle. "Do you?"
"You're keeping your distance," she stated, her voice steady, filled with the understanding she wished he could see.
His gaze flickered to hers, but he said nothing, the silence stretching painfully between them.
Ariana exhaled, frustration mingling with a deep-seated concern. "I get it. You think pushing me away is protecting me." She tilted her head, searching for any sign that he would let her in. "But if that's true, why did you save me back there?"
Kaelen's eyes darkened, a storm gathering within them. "Because I won't let Lucian take you," he replied, his voice low and fierce.
"That's not an answer," she challenged, her heart pounding in her chest.
Silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words and buried emotions.
Ariana sighed, leaning back against her seat. "You can lie to yourself all you want. But I know the truth."
Kaelen's fingers curled into fists, the tension in the air palpable. "And what truth is that?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, filled with a mixture of defiance and vulnerability.
Ariana met his gaze, her own heart racing. "You care."