The Chase
The forest closed in around Isla, its towering trees stretching skyward, their branches intertwined like skeletal fingers. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her lungs burning from the exertion of her desperate flight. The moonlight barely pierced the dense canopy above, casting the woods into a labyrinth of shifting shadows. But she couldn’t stop—not now, not when freedom was within reach.
Behind her, Kael’s voice rang out like a thunderclap. “Isla! Stop! You’re only making this harder!”
Her pulse thundered in her ears as she pushed herself faster, ignoring the pain in her legs and the branches clawing at her skin. The cold, damp earth beneath her feet offered no comfort, its uneven surface threatening to trip her with every step. But she didn’t care. All that mattered was putting as much distance between herself and Kael as possible.
A sudden snap of a branch to her right made her flinch. Her head whipped toward the sound, her eyes wide, but she saw nothing. Was it Kael? Or something else? The forest was alive with whispers and rustling leaves, every sound amplified in her heightened state of fear.
Stay calm. Keep moving, she told herself, forcing her legs to keep pumping even as exhaustion threatened to overwhelm her.
But Kael was relentless. She could hear his heavy footsteps closing the gap between them, his wolf’s instinct driving him toward her like a predator hunting its prey. “You don’t know what you’re doing!” he shouted, his voice closer now. “If Draven finds you, he’ll destroy you—and me!”
Isla’s jaw clenched as her anger surged, fueling her resolve. “You don’t know Draven like I do!” she screamed over her shoulder, her voice hoarse. “He’s my mate, Kael. You can’t take that from me!”
“You don’t belong to him!” Kael’s voice was raw, desperate. “You belong with me!”
His words sent a fresh wave of determination through Isla. She knew Kael’s obsession with her ran deep, but she also knew it wasn’t love. It was control. And she refused to let him dictate her fate.
She darted left, her body instinctively weaving through the trees, her mind focused on escape. But her foot caught on a hidden root, and she tumbled forward, the rough ground scraping her palms as she fell. Pain shot through her arms, but she quickly scrambled to her feet, ignoring the blood trickling down her skin.
Kael was on her now, his presence looming like a shadow. His hand shot out, grabbing her wrist and yanking her back. “Enough!” he growled, his grip bruising.
Isla twisted and fought, her free hand clawing at his arm. “Let me go!” she screamed, her voice breaking.
Kael’s face twisted with frustration and anguish. “Why can’t you see I’m doing this for us?” he demanded, his voice trembling. “Draven doesn’t deserve you. He’ll use you and throw you away!”
“You don’t know him!” Isla spat, tears streaming down her face. “And you don’t know me anymore, Kael. Whatever we had, it’s gone. You killed it the day you betrayed me.”
Her words seemed to hit him like a physical blow. His grip faltered for the briefest moment, and Isla didn’t hesitate. She wrenched herself free, her nails leaving deep scratches on his arm as she bolted once more into the darkness.
Behind her, Kael let out a furious roar, his voice echoing through the trees. But she didn’t look back. She couldn’t. The path ahead was uncertain, but it was hers to take, and she wouldn’t let anyone steal it from her.
