CHAPTER 10

Like a razor, the cry sliced the delicate silence into sharp fragments as it ripped through the night. All my muscles stiffened. That was a signal, not just any wolf.

"Maya, stay close," I said in a firm yet rough voice.

Before the stress of the situation overcame me, her warmth grounded me momentarily as her palm tightened on my arm. Her voice was low and shaky as she questioned, "What does it mean?"

"It means whoever sent those idiots is not done yet," I remarked, looking toward the treeline. All around us, the forest appeared alive with shadows, and every sound of leaves rustling could be dangerous.

With wide yet determined eyes, she gazed up at me. "What do we do now?"

I turned to look at the cabin. It's no longer safe. Whoever these assailants were, or Lysander's spies had already gotten past its defenses. There was no way to stay out.

"We move," I remarked in a tone that made no room for argument. "A clearing is not far away from here. I can call in help if we can get there.”

“Summon help?" Her forehead wrinkled in perplexity. "From whom? I haven't heard much from you regarding your—”.

"Not now, Maya," I cut in, growing impatient as a second, closer cry rang out. "We'll discuss this later. Our goal now is to survive.”

She paused, obviously wanting to disagree, but she just nodded. “Fine Let's go.”

She followed closely behind me as I took the lead. Despite the deep jungle and the moonlight barely penetrating the overhead canopy, my senses were keen. I noticed every twig snap and breeze change.

"Maya," I murmured over my shoulder, “Stay close. If anything happens—

“Nothing is going to happen," she stated firmly. "We will make it."

Even in the face of peril, her persistence was incredibly alluring.

The damp ground muffled our footfall as we went swiftly but cautiously. The tension in the air was so intense that it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on edge.

After a few minutes, she said the scarcely discernible word, "Darius."

"What is it?"

"Up ahead," she pointed.

I followed her gaze and saw a figure, silhouetted in the soft moonlight, standing in the center of the path.

I stood in front of her and said, "Stay back."

“Do you who it is?"

"Not yet."

The moonlight exposed the figure's face as it moved forward. I recognized the rogue, whom I had previously clashed with and whom Lysander had probably sent to complete the task that the others had started.

A sneer played on the rogue's lips as they whispered, "Darius." It was nice to meet you here.

"Can't say the feeling's mutual," I retorted chilly, piercingly.

The rogue's grin grew as his gaze shifted to Maya. “And who is this? Your tiny human pet?"

I snarled and moved closer, saying, "Watch your mouth."

He raised his hands in mock surrender as he said, "Calm down. I am merely here to converse."

"I'm not interested."

His tone abruptly hardened as he added, "Too bad. Because until he achieves his goals, Lysander will not give up. You know that, don't you?”

With my rage barely restrained, I clenched my fists. “What Lysander wants and what he gets are two very different things.”

The rogue laughed. "We'll see to that. But don't let me keep you, okay? I'm sure you and your little companion have places to be.”

He then vanished into the darkness, leaving behind a silence that was even more eerie than his own.

"What on earth was that about?" With a trembling voice, Maya asked.

I resentfully said, "Lysander's games. “He is trying to frighten us."

"Oh, it's working," she whispered.

Despite myself, I softened my look as I turned to face her. With a cheek cuppa, I said, "Hey. I'll keep him from hurting you. You have my word.”

Her eyes searched mine as she glanced up at me. "Why, Darius? You care so much, why?”

I was surprised by the question, but it had a simple answer. "Because you are important to me," I said in a quiet yet forceful tone. “More than you should."

For a minute, the world around us dimmed, and her breath caught. It was just she and me. The world was damned.

"Darius,". She whispered in a voice that was a mix of hesitancy and desire.

I leaned in and gave her a slow, deliberate kiss that contrasted sharply with our commotion. Her hands clutched my shirt like they were anchoring themselves, and she melted into me.

The moment was short. The sound of rustling in the bushes brought us back to the present.

“Run!" I said, taking hold of her hand and drawing her closer.

Behind us, the sound of pursuit grew louder as we ran through the trees. My mind raced as I weighed our options. Our pursuers were close, and so was the clearing.

"Darius!" Maya stumbled, and her foot caught on a root, which caused her to scream.

She was about to fall to the ground when I grabbed her and pulled her into my arms. With a firm voice, despite the dread gnawing at me, I said, "I've got you."

As I carried her the rest of the way to the clearing, she clung to me, her face buried in my chest. We eventually emerged from the trees, and I carefully placed her down.

"Are you alright?" While removing a lock of hair off her face, I asked.

"I'm fine," She said despite her labored breathing.

With my senses sharpened, I looked toward the treeline. I retrieved a dagger from my belt and whispered, "Stay here."

“What? No! I'm not going to—

I interrupted her and sternly said, "Maya. I need you to trust me. Please.”

After a moment of hesitation and eye-searching, she nodded. "Alright, but don't do anything stupid."

I couldn't resist a smile. "Stupid? Me? Never!”.

She rolled her eyes but her shoulders relaxed a little.

Holding the dagger tightly, I took a step toward the treeline. I know that the sounds of pursuit had ceased, but I was still cautious.

Then I saw them, three figures stepping out of the darkness, their actions purposeful and sly.

With a tone full of hate, one of them said, "Well, well. It appears that the powerful Darius is outnumbered."

I lifted the dagger and grinned. "Outmatched doesn't mean outnumbered."

Maya's presence was palpable behind me, her eyes piercing my back. For her sake, as much as for mine, I had to get this over with.

The battle was vicious, a haze of movement and slamming blades. I easily defeated the first assailant, but the other two were more experienced.

"Darius!" I turned just in time to see one of them leave the fight and directly approach Maya as her voice rang out.

"No!" With a roar, I broke away to stop him.

I struck him with my blade, bringing him to the ground. But as I returned to the fight, I noticed the final assailant standing above Maya with his weapon raised.

My heart stopped.

"Maya!" I yelled in a desperate, raw voice.

I saw dread, resistance, and something else that tightened my chest when her eyes met mine.

When the assailant swung, Maya was quicker and grabbed a rock, ramming it into his temple. He fell senseless to the ground.

She heaved her chest as she gazed up at me. She said, trembling but resolute, "I told you. "I can handle myself."

I gazed at her, feeling both comforted and in wonder. Gritting my teeth, I muttered, "You're impossible."

"And you love it," she retorted, repeating what she had said earlier.

The darkness was broken by another howl, closer than the last, before I could reply.

The earth shook beneath us, and an unsaid menace filled the air. Not by any means was this over.