The words settle me, a balm in the storm.
We break into the forest just as the sounds of battle begin to dim behind us—though they never truly fade.
“Where are we going?” I ask between ragged breaths, dodging branches as we run.
“Secondary rendezvous point,” she replies, never slowing. “Established during planning. The others will meet us there if separated.”
The explanation makes sense, though I don’t recall this specific detail from our preparation discussions. Before I can question further, sounds of pursuit reach us—crashing underbrush and voices calling commands.
“They’re following,” I warn, though Zella has clearly heard as well.
Her expression hardens with determination. “Then we need to move faster.” She grasps my hand more firmly. “Stay with me. Don’t look back.”
We run deeper into unfamiliar forest, the sounds of the summit battle fading only to be replaced by the more immediate concern of pursuit. Zella navigates the uneven terrain with supernatural grace, adjusting our pace to my human limitations while still maintaining distance from our hunters.
After what feels like miles, she pulls me into a small ravine, the steep sides providing momentary concealment.
“Wait here,” she instructs, her breathing barely elevated despite our sprint. “I’ll draw them off, then circle back for you.”
Alarm spikes through me. “No! We should stay together.”
“They’re too close. I can move faster alone, create a false trail they’ll follow. You’ll be safer hidden.”
“Zella, I don’t think?—”
“Trust me,” she interrupts, her green eyes pleading. “I won’t fail you.”
Before I can respond, she’s gone, scaling the ravine with effortless grace and disappearing into the forest.
Left alone, I press myself against the earth wall, controlling my breathing as I strain to hear our pursuers.
Footsteps approach from above—multiple wolves moving with the controlled quiet of trained hunters. I remain motionless, hoping the ravine’s shadows conceal me from casual inspection.
“Anything?” a male voice asks.
“Trail splits here,” another replies. “One heading east, probably the tracker female. The other...” A pause, followed by a sound of satisfaction. “Down there. The seer’s scent is clear.”
My heart freezes. They shouldn’t be able to track me so easily, not with Zella’s expert misdirection. Unless...
Understanding crashes over me with sickening clarity just as figures appear at the ravine’s edge, looking down at my hiding place with predatory satisfaction. The woman’s voicefrom my vision—familiar yet distorted—suddenly makes horrifying sense.
“Today is about duty, about necessity, about the greater good.”
A familiar figure joins them at the ridge, her chestnut hair gleaming in dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. Zella looks down at me, her expression no longer warm or friendly but coolly detached.
“Well done,” one of the males tells her. “The Grand Alpha will be pleased.”
“Just fulfilling my duty,” she replies, her voice carrying easily to my shocked ears. “As I’ve done since he placed me in their den.”
The betrayal hits like physical pain, stealing my breath more effectively than any blow. Zella—my friend, my trainer, my confidante—has been Thaddeus’s agent all along.
The shadow silver dagger seems to burn against my side, reminding me of its presence. I consider fighting—the ravine provides certain defensive advantages—but the number of wolves above makes success unlikely.
Instead, I reach for the claiming bond, pushing as much information as possible toward Ryker.
The images flow between us with desperate intensity, his answering rage immediate and overwhelming, followed by a promise that needs no words—he is coming for me.
I close my eyes, knowing he won’t make it in time.
