Chapter 3

Madeline’s POV

Felix's hold on my wrist tightened as he nodded toward the cliff. “There’s a ledge. If we do it now, we can jump a few feet and climb down before they see us.”

I threw a glare at him almost instantly, hissing, “If this kills me, I’m haunting you!”

He managed a weak smile, eyes glinting with the same uncertainty as mine. Nonetheless, he confidently said, “Deal.”

Taking my hand, we both jumped. But since the ground below was smooth and on the slope, it didn’t go as we planned. Instead, we slid down and tumbled through leaves and dirt, covering our clothes.

Some small stones and twigs even caused bruises and cuts on our clothes and skin. It only happened for a while as I was slammed into a rock, giving us a full stop.

But before I could register the pain it caused to my dislocated shoulder, Felix pulled me up, and we stumbled to our feet. 

“Come on! They’re still coming,” he groaned.

And just as he said, I saw shadows following behind us. Some even shifted to make their jump much smoother.

We ran faster into the forest, pushing through everything that came our way until we slid down under one of the giant trees with a hidden hole under its root, hiding.

Laying on our stomachs, squishing inside that tight space, I clutched my shoulder where the pain was now starting to make me grimace.

“I still don’t trust you,” I hissed at him.

Panting, he shook his head. “I wouldn’t either.”

He paused for a while, staring deeply into my eyes before seriously saying, “But I’m not going to let them hurt you either.”

Like a fool, my heart pounded at his words. “Why?”

Because you’re still…” he hesitated, and tension built up in the air between us until he heaved a sigh and broke it, “You’re still my friend, Maddie.”

His words hung heavily between us, and our eyes locked with each other for a while before I turned away, unsure of how to respond to them.

Friend…

And yet, I still couldn’t fully understand what he wanted and why he was doing what he was doing. One second, he wanted to reject me, and the next, he was helping me escape death.

If he really treated me as a friend, he might as well just accept my rejection to completely cut off the bond.

“Maddie, you know–”

His words were cut off when we started picking up movements around us.

We looked at each other in panic as we heard several footsteps vibrating on the ground.

“We need to leave,” I insisted, ready to crawl out of the hiding spot, but he stopped me.

Determination glinted in his eyes as he shook his head. “No, stay here and hide. I’ll distract them.”

“What? But…”

He didn’t let me finish as he crawled out and started putting some rocks around the entrance of the hole first, leaving only a few holes to make sure I wouldn’t run out of oxygen and be buried alive.

And then… I was alone again…

Through the hole, I watched as his figure got smaller and smaller. And indeed, after a few seconds, several guards ran in his direction, thinking I was with him.

Once they were completely gone and a bit further, I dug myself out and ran deeper into the forest, completely unsure of where I should go.

Before I knew it, I crossed into unfamiliar territory. I looked around, but it felt like the forest was spinning, and my legs gave out from complete exhaustion. Leaning on one of the trees, I slid down to the ground.

I leaned my head back, clutching my shoulder in an attempt to lessen the pain.

Before I realised it, an hour had passed, and I was still frozen in there, completely out of energy.

My eyelids started getting heavy, but before I could fully close it and fell into a slumber, my body tens,e and hair on the back of my hair rose in alertness as I heard a deep growl rumble behind me.

Breathing heavily, I cautiously and slowly turned around, but I froze at the sight of a massive black wolf staring at me with those piercing golden eyes.

It locked its gaze on me. It’s every stand and movement shouting power and danger.

“No… I…” I tried to speak and explain something I didn’t even know about.

But my words rolled back to my throat as it stepped closer.

I tried to back away from the tree as it moved behind it, but before I could stand and force myself to run, the wolf shifted behind the tree, and a tall, tan-skinned man towered before me.

My heart pounded, both starstruck and scared.

He only had a short on, which rested lowly on his hips, giving a tease of his v-line. I swallowed as my eyes ran upwards and met his eight-pack abs and muscular chest before I locked eyes with his captivating dark brown eyes.

“You’re on my land.” His voice boomed in the silence, menacing and sharp.

And that’s when everything clicked to m:; giant black wolf, golden eyes, killer demeanour, and goldy appearance…

He’s Alpha Keiran, the Alpha of the Deamonmaw Nightwalkers Pack. A pack known for its ruthless ways, the only pack on par with the kingdom and feared by many. Even the palace was cautious of them and didn’t want to cause chaos without massive reason.

Breathless, I replied, “I… I didn’t mean to–”

“Who are you?” he cut me off, only making the pounding of my heart so loud I could hear my own heartbeat.

What should I say? Telling my name would immediately declare that I’m one of the princesses. What if he sends me back?

After a pause of contemplation, I steeled myself and replied, “I’m… Adeline. Adeline Hansford.”

He eyed me with suspicion. 

“Lying’s a bad idea here,” he hissed, and that’s when I knew if I had thought I was in danger earlier, I was so wrong.