My boots slammed against the forest floor, kicking up dirt as I ran beside Kael Draven, my heart still racing from the Blackfang scouts we'd just sent scurrying. The neutral territory around us—wild, untamed, and thick with gnarled trees—felt like it was holding its breath, waiting for the next fight. My wrist burned where the crescent mark sat, a constant reminder of the mess I'd landed in. Kael moved like a shadow, all muscle and quiet power, but his silence was driving me nuts. That mate bond, that stupid, electric pull, kept tugging at me, making my blood hum when I got too close to him. I gripped my dagger tighter, focusing on the mission: find Isolde, break this curse, keep my pack safe. But Kael's warning about us both dying if we stayed together? Yeah, that was stuck in my head like a bad song.
"We need a plan," I said, my voice cutting through the rustle of leaves. "You said Isolde's in the Blackfang stronghold. How do we get in without ending up as wolf chow?"
Kael didn't break stride, his black coat brushing against low branches. "We don't. Not yet. We need somewhere safe to lay low, somewhere the Blackfangs can't sniff us out."
I snorted, matching his pace. "What, you've got a secret lair or something? Thought you were Mr. Lone Wolf."
"I am," he growled, shooting me a look with those stormy gray eyes. "But I've survived five years out here. I know places your tracker nose wouldn't dream of finding."
I bristled at the dig but let it slide. He was cocky, but there was something about the way he moved, all steady and sure, that made me trust him—just a tiny bit. My mark tingled, like it was nodding along, and I cursed under my breath. "Fine, lead the way, Alpha. But if this is a setup, I'll carve my initials in you before the Blackfangs get their shot."
His lips twitched, almost a smile. "Duly noted, Thorn."
We kept moving, the forest getting denser, the air heavy with moss and hidden streams. My tracker instincts were on high alert—every snap of a twig, every shift in the wind had me ready to fight. Those Blackfang scouts weren't done with us, and back home, Torin and the elders were probably tearing the Silverclaw lodge apart looking for me. I thought of Jace, my big brother, his brown eyes all worried, and Mara, who'd begged me to hide the mark. Lying to them felt like a knife in my gut, but I couldn't risk them freaking out and turning me over to Torin. Not until I had answers.
Then it hit me—a wave of dizziness so bad I stumbled, my vision going blurry. My mark burned like someone had poured hot coals on it, and the world spun. I grabbed a tree, my breath coming in gasps. "What the hell—" I choked out, clutching my wrist.
Kael was beside me in a heartbeat, his hand hovering near my arm but not touching, like he knew I'd snap if he did. "Lila, what's going on?" His voice was tight, worried, and it threw me off. He sounded like he actually cared.
Before I could answer, the forest vanished. I was somewhere else—another forest, darker, wilder, with twisted trees and a heavy, electric buzz in the air. A man stood in the shadows, tall and scarred, his gray eyes glowing with pain and power. Kael. Not the Kael in front of me, but a younger one, his face unscarred, his shoulders squared like he carried the world. He was fighting, claws out, against a pack of wolves I didn't recognize. Blood stained his hands, and his eyes burned with betrayal, like someone had just ripped his heart out. I felt it—his anger, his loneliness, like they were mine. Then a woman appeared, pale with sleek black hair and amber eyes that made my skin crawl. She raised a hand, and dark energy crackled, wrapping around Kael like chains. He roared, collapsing, and I felt his pain in my chest, sharp and raw.
The vision snapped away, and I was back, gasping, my knees buckling. Kael caught me, his hands strong on my arms, and this time I didn't pull away. "Lila, talk to me," he said, his voice low but urgent. "What did you see?"
I pushed him off, my heart pounding. "You. In a forest. Fighting. Then some woman with creepy eyes—she did something to you. Magic, I think." My mark was still burning, and I yanked my sleeve up, glaring at it. "What the hell is this thing doing to me?"
Kael's face went hard, his eyes darkening. "Isolde. The Blackfang witch. That was the night she cursed me." He stepped back, running a hand through his dark hair. "The mark's connecting us. Showing you my memories. It's… it's not supposed to do that."
"Well, it's doing it," I snapped, my voice shaking. "And it hurts like hell. So what does this mean? Why am I seeing your past?"
He looked away, his jaw tight. "The mate bond's stronger than I thought. It's tying us together—mind, body, maybe even soul. The curse is making it worse, amplifying it. You're seeing what I felt when it happened."
I paced, trying to shake off the vision's weight. "Great. So now I'm stuck with your nightmares too? This just keeps getting better." My sarcasm hid the panic clawing at me. That vision felt too real, like I'd lived it. I could still feel Kael's pain, his betrayal, and it made me want to punch something—or someone.
"Lila," Kael said, his voice softer now. "You need to go back. This is only gonna get worse. The closer we are, the more the curse pulls you in."
I spun on him, my eyes blazing. "Don't start with that 'go home' crap again. I'm not some fragile pup who needs protecting. I saw what that witch did to you, and I'm not letting her win. We find her, we make her fix this. Together."
He stared at me, and for a second, I thought he'd argue. Then he nodded, slow and deliberate. "Alright. But we do this smart. No charging in like you did with those scouts."
I smirked, ignoring the way my mark hummed when he agreed. "No promises."
We started moving again, Kael leading us toward whatever hideout he had in mind. But my thoughts were back in the Silverclaw territory. Mara had warned me about the Blackfangs, how they were gearing up for war. If they knew about my mark, like Kael said, they'd come for us. And Torin? He'd probably brand me a traitor the second he found out I was with Kael. I pictured Jace, his goofy grin fading when he realized I'd lied to him. Mara's worried eyes flashed in my mind too. I hated keeping secrets from them, but telling the truth could get us all killed.
A low growl snapped me out of it. Kael froze, his claws lengthening, and I whipped out my dagger, my senses on fire. "More scouts?" I whispered, scanning the trees.
"Worse," Kael muttered. "Patrol. Bigger group."
Before I could respond, five Blackfang wolves stepped out, fully shifted, their gold eyes glowing in the dim light. Their leader, a massive black wolf with a scarred muzzle, snarled, his gaze locked on me. My mark burned, and I knew they weren't just here for Kael. They were here for me.
"Stay close," Kael growled, stepping in front of me.
I shoved past him, my dagger ready. "I don't need a shield, Kael. Let's do this."
The wolves charged, and I dove into the fight, my blade flashing. This was my life now—cursed marks, outlaw Alphas, and a war I didn't ask for. But I was Lila Thorn, and I'd fight like hell to take it back.