INTO THE FOREST'S SHADOWS

The forest felt alive, every sound amplified by the tense silence between Cassian and me. The towering trees cast unsettling shadows under the moonlight, but it wasn’t the environment that bothered me. It was the weight of the chase, the constant sense that we were being watched with every step.

Cassian moved ahead of me, his strides precise and calculated, like a predator. He didn’t say much, but the sound of his steady footsteps on the damp ground was oddly reassuring. I followed, trying not to stumble, my mind racing with everything that had happened in the past few hours. Theo, Celine, the Council, and above all, the power I had unleashed. The energy that burst out of me felt impossible, yet it was undeniably real.

“How much farther until we’re out of their reach?” I asked, trying to keep my exhaustion from showing.

“If we keep this pace, we’ll be out of their tracking zone by dawn,” Cassian replied without looking back. His voice was low but had a calming tone that eased some of my tension. “But that depends on not being intercepted.”

I swallowed hard. “Do you think they’re close?”

He stopped abruptly, and I almost collided with him. He tilted his head slightly, his glowing red eyes catching the faint moonlight as he glanced back at me. “They’re always close.”

I didn’t know how to respond, so I just nodded. There was something about the way he looked at me—protective yet cautious, as if he were dealing with something far more complicated than just a fugitive.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice softer now.

“I’m fine,” I lied. “Just… trying to process all of this.”

He sighed, crossing his arms. “You need to understand, Sienna. What happened back at the cabin wasn’t just a burst of energy. It was something the Council fears. Something they want to control—or destroy.”

“And do you think I’m something that needs to be controlled or destroyed?” I asked, trying to mask the fear growing inside me.

Cassian stepped closer, the intensity in his eyes almost making me step back. “I think you’re something the world isn’t ready to handle. And I think you need to be ready before they reach you.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that. Part of me wanted to believe he was wrong, that I was just an ordinary person caught in an extraordinary situation. But another part—a deeper, quieter part—knew there was something more. Something that had always been there, waiting to awaken.

Before I could say anything, Cassian raised a hand, signaling me to stay quiet. The sound of branches snapping and leaves crunching echoed through the forest. It wasn’t an animal. It was something bigger, more deliberate.

“They’re here,” he whispered, his eyes glowing brighter as he positioned himself between me and the sound.

“The Council?” I whispered back, my voice barely audible.

“Maybe,” he replied, his gaze fixed on the darkness ahead. “But it could be something else.”

Something else? Before I could ask what he meant, a figure emerged from the shadows. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with a hardened expression. He didn’t wear the Council’s uniform, but his stance exuded authority.

“Cassian,” the man said, his deep voice filled with authority. “So, it’s true. You’re with her.”

Cassian didn’t respond immediately. He remained still, his muscles taut, as if waiting for the right moment to strike.

“Who is he?” I asked, my voice low, curiosity and fear intertwining.

Cassian finally broke the silence, his gaze never leaving the man. “Alaric. An independent hunter. He doesn’t work for the Council, but that doesn’t make him any less dangerous.”

Alaric smiled, but there was nothing friendly about it. “You wound me, Cassian. I thought we were old friends.”

“You don’t have friends, Alaric,” Cassian replied coldly. “What do you want?”

Alaric tilted his head, as if assessing the situation. “I’ve heard rumors. Rumors about an heir to the Original Pack. Thought I’d see for myself.”

“She’s not your concern,” Cassian said quickly, his tone turning more threatening.

“Oh, but she is,” Alaric said, his eyes shifting to me. “You have no idea what you’re carrying, do you, girl?”

I took a step back, fear bubbling inside me. “I know enough.”

Alaric laughed. “Do you? I doubt that. But don’t worry. I’ll make sure you find out.”

Cassian moved closer, placing himself even more firmly between me and Alaric. “If you want to get to her, you’ll have to go through me.”

Alaric raised his hands as if to show he didn’t intend to fight, but the glint in his eyes said otherwise. “I’m not here to fight, Cassian. At least, not now. But you know you can’t protect her forever.”

“I’ll try,” Cassian replied, his voice low but resolute.

Alaric took a step back, the smile still on his face. “Good luck, then. But know this: the Council isn’t the only danger she faces. There are others who want what she has. And they won’t have my patience.”

He disappeared into the darkness as quickly as he had appeared, leaving behind a palpable tension.

“Who is he really?” I asked, my voice shaky.

“A hunter,” Cassian replied without looking at me. “And a warning that things are about to get worse.”

I swallowed hard, the weight of his words sinking in. The forest felt darker now, more dangerous. But even as fear gnawed at me, something inside me was growing stronger.

“Then let’s go,” I said, my voice steadier than I expected. “If things are going to get worse, I want to be ready.”

Cassian looked at me, his red eyes studying me carefully, but he said nothing. He simply nodded before starting to move again.