The Edge of Freedom
The moon had risen high above the forest, casting a silver glow over the thick canopy. Isla’s breath came in short gasps as she followed the mysterious stranger, his movements quick but measured. The golden-eyed man had led her through a maze of trees and undergrowth, his pace relentless. Despite her exhaustion, she pressed on, her desperation to escape Kael fueling her every step.
“Who are you?” Isla demanded again, her voice sharp. She’d asked several times, but the man had yet to answer.
He glanced back briefly, his golden eyes glinting. “Someone who doesn’t want to see you end up dead—or worse,” he said curtly. “Keep moving.”
“That’s not good enough,” Isla snapped, stopping in her tracks. “If you want me to trust you, I need answers. Now.”
The man sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly. “My name is Alaric,” he said, his tone impatient. “I owe a debt to someone who wants you alive. That’s all you need to know.”
Isla frowned, her mind racing. “A debt? To who?”
Alaric shook his head, his expression unreadable. “It doesn’t matter right now. What matters is getting you back to Crimson Fang.”
Isla’s heart leapt at the mention of her pack, but her joy was quickly tempered by fear. “What if they’ve moved on? What if—”
“They haven’t,” Alaric interrupted, his tone firm. “You’re their Luna. Draven hasn’t stopped looking for you. Trust me.”
The mention of Draven’s name sent a shiver through her, a mixture of hope and longing coursing through her veins. She nodded and fell back into step behind Alaric, her resolve strengthening.
But the forest wasn’t as quiet as it seemed.
The snap of a branch nearby made both of them freeze. Alaric’s golden eyes narrowed as he sniffed the air, his body tensing like a coiled spring. Isla’s heart pounded as she strained to hear, but the silence that followed was deafening.
“Kael,” Alaric murmured, his voice barely audible.
Before Isla could react, a figure emerged from the shadows. Kael’s eyes burned with anger and desperation as he stepped into the moonlight, his posture predatory. “I told you, Isla,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. “You can’t run from me.”
Alaric moved to shield Isla, his stance protective. “This isn’t your fight, Kael,” he said coldly. “Let her go.”
Kael’s lips curled into a snarl, his hand gripping the hilt of his dagger. “Stay out of this, rogue,” he spat. “This is between me and her.”
Alaric didn’t move, his golden eyes locked onto Kael’s. “You’re out of your depth. Walk away while you still can.”
Kael let out a harsh laugh, his gaze shifting to Isla. “You really think he can protect you?” he sneered. “He doesn’t know you like I do.”
Isla stepped forward, her voice steady despite her fear. “I don’t need anyone to protect me, Kael,” she said firmly. “Not you, not him. Just leave me alone.”
Kael’s expression twisted with fury, and he lunged. The clearing erupted into chaos as Alaric met him head-on, the two men clashing in a flurry of claws and steel. Isla stumbled back, her heart racing as the fight raged before her.
She barely had time to react when a voice echoed in her mind—familiar, commanding, and unmistakable.
“Isla.”
Her breath caught as she turned toward the sound, her eyes widening. From the shadows, a massive black wolf emerged, its glowing amber eyes locking onto hers.
“Draven,” she whispered.
