Adolphus Showing Off

  Adolphus watched from below, his smirk softening into something almost…admiring. 

  But when she glanced down at him, he quickly looked away, back to his feet, as if she were the one who’d been caught staring.

  She sighed and before she’d look up again he was perched up and smiling down to her, her eyes widened and she looked down, he landed square before her eyes making her roll her eyes.

  “Show-off,” she muttered, shaking her head as she continued upward.

  Séraphina knew more of foreign animals than Adolphus because her parent, her family were supernatural hunters and they caught and brought all sort of creatures.

  A monkey was one of them one day and Seraphina was happy she won this argument.

  Finally, she reached the wide, flat branch she’d been aiming for. She perched on it carefully, her legs dangling over the edge. 

  The view from up there was breathtaking—endless trees stretching out in every direction, the sky an endless expanse of blue above her.

  For the first time in what felt like forever, Seraphina smiled. A real, unguarded smile. Up here, she felt free. Untethered.

  Below, Adolphus leaned back, crossing his arms as he looked up at her, his face unreadable. “You’re a strange one, Butterfly,” he called up, his voice carrying easily through the still air.

  She didn’t answer, but a small part of her—a very small part—was starting to think she didn’t mind him calling her that.

  However,

  Seraphina perched on the wide branch, her eyes scanning the horizon. 

  The expanse of forest stretched endlessly, a sea of green beneath the blue sky. 

  She swung her legs gently, her heart racing with a mix of exhilaration and calculation. 

  From up here, she could see the faint outlines of hills in the distance, but it wasn’t enough.

  This isn’t the tallest tree here.

  The realization was frustrating, but it also fueled her resolve. If she could find the tallest tree, she might be able to spot the path leading back to town. 

  That was her secret plan—to map her escape without anyone suspecting. 

  She’d memorize the landscape, mark her route, and wait for the right moment to slip away from these people who blamed her for everything and this werewolf who seemed to thrive on pushing her buttons.

  She leaned forward slightly, shielding her eyes from the sun with her hand. 

  From this vantage point, she could make out a tree far in the distance, towering over the others. 

  Its massive trunk and sprawling branches reached higher than anything else in sight, an obvious beacon.

  “That’s it,” she whispered to herself, determination settling in her chest.

  “What’s it?”

  She nearly slipped off the branch at the sudden sound of Adolphus’s voice. 

  Her head snapped down to find him smirking up at her, arms crossed casually over his broad chest.

  “Nothing,” she said quickly, narrowing her eyes at him.

  “You’re a terrible liar, Butterfly,” he teased, the nickname rolling off his tongue with ease.

  She ignored him, glancing back at the towering tree in the distance. It seemed almost impossibly far, but she was determined. 

  She just needed to figure out how to get there without drawing attention to herself.

  Adolphus tilted his head, his sharp gaze following her line of sight. “You’re planning something,” he said, a knowing edge in his voice.

  “I’m not,” she said firmly, though her tone wasn’t as convincing as she hoped.

  “You always have this look when you’re scheming,” he said, leaning against the trunk of her tree. 

  His white tee stretched across his chest, emphasizing the sheer strength beneath it. 

  His dark hair fell messily over his forehead, and the sunlight highlighted his tanned skin, damp from the walk. “It’s amusing, really.”

  “I’m not scheming,” she insisted, her chin lifting defiantly.

  He chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Whatever you say.”

  Adolphus turned and began walking away, his boots crunching against the forest floor. “Just don’t do anything reckless,” he called over his shoulder, his voice light but his words carrying a weight that lingered.

  Seraphina waited until he was out of earshot before muttering under her breath, “I’ll do whatever I want.”

  Her gaze returned to the towering tree in the distance. 

  It wasn’t just about escape—it was about reclaiming control, about proving to herself that she wasn’t just some helpless captive in a foreign land. She would make her family proud. The Hunters name won’t go down the drain. 

  She climbed down carefully, her mind racing. One step at a time, she thought. 

  She’d get to that tree, figure out her bearings, and then… then she’d decide her next move. For now, she’d keep her plan to herself.

  The forest around her was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves and the chirping of distant birds. 

  A soft breeze carried the scent of pine and earth, grounding her as she landed back on solid ground. 

  She glanced around, making sure Adolphus was nowhere in sight before setting her sights on the path ahead.

  Soon, she thought, a small, determined smile playing on her lips. Very soon.

  Seraphina started back toward the pack’s settlement, her steps purposeful and defiant. 

  She could sense him behind her, his presence as constant as the ground beneath her feet. Adolphus wasn’t even trying to be subtle anymore. 

  She could feel his gaze on her back, heavy and assessing, like he was waiting for her to bolt.

  “Tell me where my clothes are,” she demanded over her shoulder, her voice sharp.

  “They’re with my mother,” Adolphus replied evenly, his tone tinged with amusement, as though he found her frustration entertaining.

  She nodded curtly and picked up her pace, her sandals crunching against the dirt path. 

  The air was warm, and the faint scent of pine lingered, but she couldn’t focus on any of it. 

  She just needed to put some distance between herself and him.

  “You don’t even know where her room is,” Adolphus called out lazily, his deep voice carrying easily across the space between them.

  “I’ll find it. I’m a Hunter,” she snapped, throwing the words over her shoulder without breaking stride.