A Fragile Alliance
The forest was cloaked in silence, broken only by Isla’s labored breathing as she pushed herself forward, each step heavier than the last. Her legs ached, her palms stung from scrapes, but she couldn’t afford to stop. Every shadow in the trees felt like Kael closing in, every rustle of leaves a threat looming just behind her.
Her mind raced as she ran, replaying the events of the night over and over. Kael’s obsession, his refusal to let her go, his fury—it all painted a picture of a man too far gone to reason with. But beyond her anger, a sharp pang of sadness lingered. Kael had been someone she trusted once, someone she might have even loved. Now, he was her captor.
A sudden sound—a low growl—froze her in her tracks. She whipped around, her chest heaving as she strained to see through the darkness. The forest held its breath, the stillness amplifying the thunderous beat of her heart.
“I know you’re out there!” Isla shouted, her voice trembling. “Come out and face me, Kael!”
But it wasn’t Kael who stepped out of the shadows.
A large wolf emerged from the treeline, its silver coat shimmering under the faint moonlight. Isla’s breath caught as the wolf shifted, its form melting into a tall, broad figure she didn’t recognize. The man stood before her, his expression unreadable, his golden eyes piercing.
“Who—who are you?” Isla stammered, her body tensing as she prepared to run again.
The man tilted his head, his voice low and calm. “A friend. For now.”
“For now?” Isla echoed, taking a cautious step back.
The man held up his hands, palms out, as if to show he meant no harm. “Easy,” he said. “I’m not here to hurt you.”
“Then why are you here?” Isla demanded, her voice sharp. “And how do you know who I am?”
The man’s golden eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze assessing her. “Let’s just say I have a vested interest in keeping you alive. And right now, you’re dangerously close to being caught.”
Isla’s heart pounded as she studied him. She didn’t trust him—not yet—but the urgency in his tone felt genuine. “Kael is out there,” she said, her voice quieter now. “He won’t stop until he finds me.”
“Then it’s a good thing I found you first,” the man replied. “But if you want to stay free, you’ll have to trust me.”
Trust. The word felt heavy on Isla’s tongue. But what choice did she have? Her options were limited, and time was running out.
“Fine,” she said, her voice firm despite the fear clawing at her chest. “But if this is a trap—”
“It’s not,” he interrupted, his tone steady. “Follow me. Quickly.”
With one last glance at the dark forest behind her, Isla nodded and fell into step behind him, the weight of her decision pressing heavily on her shoulders.
