Chapter Six: The cabin in the woods

The darkness inside the cabin was thick, nearly palpable. I stumbled through the dim interior, trying to steady my breathing and calm my racing heart. The walls were rough-hewn wood, and the place smelled of mildew and old pine. In the faint light filtering through the cracks in the boarded-up windows, I made out a dusty table and a few old, moth-eaten chairs. The cabin felt as abandoned as it smelled.

I listened intently for any sign of Ronan or the wolves. The sounds outside had faded, but I knew better than to relax. The door was sturdy, but it wouldn’t hold forever. My hands were trembling as I fumbled for the small flashlight in my pocket, and I clicked it on, casting a narrow beam of light through the room. Shadows danced along the walls, creating eerie shapes that seemed to move with a life of their own.

The sound of scratching at the door sent me jumping. I held my breath, straining to hear. There was nothing—just the whisper of the wind outside and the faint rustling of leaves. I forced myself to stay calm, moving cautiously to inspect the cabin’s other rooms.

The bedroom was empty, its bed covered in a thick layer of dust. I checked under the bed and in the closet, finding nothing but old, rotting furniture. The kitchen was just as neglected—rusted pots and pans hung on the wall, and a sink full of stagnant water added to the cabin's oppressive atmosphere.

The sense of isolation was overwhelming. I felt the weight of the situation press down on me, a mix of fear and frustration. Why had Ronan left me here alone? He had promised to keep me safe. The growling outside had been terrifying, but his sudden departure was even more unsettling.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and I spun around, heart leaping into my throat. A figure stood in the doorway, silhouetted against the moonlit backdrop of the forest. It wasn’t Ronan. My breath caught as I realized it was one of the wolves, its eyes glowing with an unnatural light.

Before I could react, the figure was gone, retreating into the darkness. I let out a shaky breath, collapsing against the wall. What was happening? Why was Ronan not here to protect me? The wolves had somehow known exactly where to find me. I felt a wave of panic, the enormity of my situation crashing down on me.

I crouched by the window, peering through the gaps in the boards. The forest was eerily quiet now, as if holding its breath. I tried to calm my nerves, focusing on the sounds of the night—crickets chirping, leaves rustling in the breeze. I hoped Ronan would return soon, or that I’d find some other way out of this mess.

Minutes felt like hours. I found myself pacing the cabin, wringing my hands in anxiety. How had things gone so wrong so quickly? My mind kept replaying the events of the night—the stranger, the warnings, the growls, and the sudden flight into the woods. The urgency in Ronan’s voice echoed in my mind, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something terrible was about to happen.

Finally, the door creaked open again, and this time Ronan stepped inside. He looked disheveled, his clothes torn and dirty, his face smeared with mud. His eyes were intense, and for a moment, they softened when he saw me.

“Lena, you’re okay,” he said, crossing the room in a few swift strides and pulling me into a tight embrace.

I clung to him, my relief mingled with frustration. “Why did you leave me alone? I was terrified. And where are the wolves?”

Ronan pulled back slightly, his hands gripping my shoulders. “I had to buy us time. I couldn’t risk them finding you here, not with the way things are.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, my voice trembling. “What’s going on?”

He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “I didn’t want to tell you this, but there’s something you need to know. The wolves aren’t just rogue pack members—they’re part of a larger group, a society that’s been hiding in the shadows for centuries. They have their own rules, their own way of operating.”

“And I’m a part of that?” I asked, feeling a mix of anger and confusion. “Why are they after me?”

“It’s not about you personally,” Ronan explained, his gaze steady. “It’s about your lineage. Your family has been connected to these creatures for generations. There’s a prophecy about a girl who could change the balance of power between the packs. They believe you’re the one.”

I stared at him, feeling the ground shift beneath my feet. “A prophecy? This is insane. I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”

Ronan’s expression was grim. “I know it sounds crazy. But this is the reality we’re dealing with. And if we don’t figure out a way to stop them, they’ll continue to hunt you. They’ll stop at nothing to get what they want.”

I sank down onto the old, dusty bed, trying to process everything he had said. “What are we supposed to do?”

Ronan sat down beside me, his eyes serious. “We need to find a way to protect you, to understand what this prophecy means and how to counter it. But first, we need to stay safe. The wolves will keep searching, and we need to be ready for when they come.”

I nodded, my mind racing with questions. “And how are we supposed to stay safe in this cabin?”

“This isn’t the safest place,” Ronan admitted. “But it’s a start. We need to regroup, plan our next move. And most importantly, we need to keep moving. If we stay in one place for too long, they’ll find us.”

The reality of our situation was sinking in, and the weight of it was almost too much to bear. I felt lost and overwhelmed, but Ronan’s presence gave me a small sense of security. He might not have all the answers, but he was the only one I had right now.

“We’ll figure this out,” I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “We have to.”

Ronan nodded, a hint of a smile on his lips. “We will. Together.”

As the night stretched on, we sat in silence, each lost in our own thoughts. The shadows of the cabin seemed to close in around us, a constant reminder of the danger that lurked just beyond the edge of the forest. But with Ronan by my side, I felt a glimmer of hope amid the darkness. We had a long way to go, but at least we were in this fight together.