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CHAPTER NINE

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The first rays of dawn found Karl still awake, his watchful gaze fixed on Jenn as the sunlight danced across her delicate features. With infinite care, he slipped from beneath her sleeping form, rising silently to his feet.

He needed a few moments to process everything, to find his center again. Casting one last look at Jenn, still curled against the impression his body had left on the blanket, Karl strode quietly toward the tree line.

=+=

Jenn slept soundly, Karl's embrace through the night keeping the demons of her past at bay, and for the second night in a row, she did not have nightmares.

Instead, she had the most curious dream...

She was in the forest, walking down the same trail she had walked the day before. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and it was a beautiful day.

As she walked, the sun set as if in fast forward, and the full moon rose overhead. From the underbrush emerged a great wolf, larger than any she'd ever seen – larger even than the dire wolves that once roamed the earth tens of thousands of years ago, she was pretty sure. His coat was all deep chocolate browns and blacks, sandy highlights accenting his shoulders, his haunches, and his face. His features were strong and angular – he looked regal and almost aristocratic, his head carried high on his shoulders, tail hanging low and calm.

He met her gaze, and she saw amber eyes, nearly glowing, intense, and somehow familiar...

She shifted in her sleep, pulling the blanket tighter around herself.

=+=

Karl stood at the edge of the meadow, his gaze fixed on the horizon as the first rays of sunlight crept over the mountain peaks. The soft morning breeze ruffled his hair, carrying with it the distant call of birds and the scent of overnight dew.

Behind him, Jenn slept, curled beneath the blanket they'd shared. Karl's eyes flicked to her for a moment, an unreadable expression crossing his features before he turned back to the view before him.

There was so much to process, so much to digest. In a matter of days, he'd gone from entirely solitary to somehow wrapped up with (and in) a woman whose past, if possible, could rival even his own in its level of fucked-up-ness.

He shook his head slowly, lifting a hand to rub at the stubble on his face, pulling his beard a little in contemplation.

Karl couldn't deny that something was going on – something more than ordinary. Story of his life, really. However, in stark contrast to all the other unnatural shit he had experienced, this development was... not so unpleasant, to say the least.

He had some theories on what was happening between the two of them – theories he would, of course, keep entirely to himself. And therein lay the rub.

How could he entertain this... development with Jenn? He knew who he was – what he was. The experiments had changed him, in ways that were too horrifying to speak out loud. In ways that he knew would drive her away, send her running in fear.

And even more grave, he knew what he'd done. He didn't deserve this.

Jenn's story...the depths of the hell she'd endured...it made his blood boil just thinking about it. The men who'd hurt her - he'd hunt them down himself if he ever got the chance. Make them suffer like they'd made her suffer.

But more than that, the way she'd clung to him, the way she'd responded to his touch... Karl's stomach

twisted with guilt at the memory. He'd let things go too far, lost himself in the moment. Jenn was vulnerable, and traumatized... the last thing she needed was him muddying the waters with sex.

He was abruptly drawn from his thoughts by a sound – far in the distance, but getting closer. Karl had spent countless hours in these woods over the years, and he was intimately familiar with the creatures that roamed among the mountainous forest. These were the footfalls of a predator and a big one.

And it was ranging far too close to the cabin, to the meadow... to Jenn.

He cast another look over his shoulder at the sleeping woman – he could be fast. He'd scare it off for now, then come out later and set some bigger traps, shore up the perimeter.

He took off into the trees, running effortlessly through the dense undergrowth towards the threat, faster than any human had any business moving.

=+=

Jenn's dream continued as she followed the wolf through the winding trails of the forest, and then off of the path, deeper into the inky blackness until she felt consumed by it, eyes trained forward on the large creature in front of her. He was her beacon in the night, guiding her forward.

From behind her, she could hear a faint sound. Voices, maybe, but unintelligible, far away but getting closer.

=+=

Karl's senses went on high alert as he heard the predator nearby, and he slowed to a stop, head cocked as he listened. He scanned the underbrush, his gaze darting between shadow-drenched branches and patches of dappled sunlight. His nostrils flared slightly, picking up a familiar scent.

A flicker of movement in his peripheral vision was all the warning he got before something lunged from the foliage. Karl reacted purely on instinct, twisting and swinging his knife with deadly precision.

A scream tore from his throat as claws raked across his shoulder, hot pain blossoming beneath his skin.

He staggered back, stumbling over an exposed root, and crashed to the forest floor.

The creature launched itself at him again, jaws snapping inches from his face. Karl caught a glimpse of yellow eyes and razor fangs before it knocked him onto his back, pinning him beneath its weight. He thrashed and fought, but it was like battling a force of nature. All teeth and snarls and rending claws.

A cougar.

With a final, brutal surge, Karl shoved upward, forcing the creature off him and rolling to his feet in one fluid motion. He raised his knife, eyes wild and glaring as adrenaline coursed through his veins.

“That's enough,” he growled, his voice a low rumble that seemed to vibrate the very air. “You want a fight? Then let's fucking fight.”

=+=

Jenn continued following the wolf in her dream. The darkness seemed to be closing in even further until all she could see was the wolf before her.

He turned, meeting her eyes again, and something shifted in the dream, her perspective changing, an awareness filling her. When she looked at the wolf before her again, she recognized him. This was her Mate.

The sounds behind her were clearer now, screams of another animal, not human voices. Feral and haunting, the snarls of a big cat on the hunt.

The wolf looked at her, turning to run toward the yowling beasts, and Jenn let out a mournful howl as she tried to scream out-

“-KARL!” Jenn screamed, wrenching awake violently from her dream, sitting up quickly with a powerful shudder. Her side ached from the abrupt motion, and she looked around wildly, getting her bearings as the last vestiges of sleep left her mind.

She was in the meadow. The night before ran through her mind and she blushed, smiling slightly even as she cast her eyes around the meadow in search of him.

“Karl?” she called again, unsure if she'd screamed his name in her crazy dream or in reality.

When she neither saw nor heard anything, Jenn stood, wincing as she found herself sore in more than just her side. Her thighs ached, her abs tight as well, and the spot where her neck and shoulder met felt bruised. Her fingers rose to the spot and she blushed anew as she remembered Karl biting her, so primal in that moment - it had been so unbelievably arousing... She never would have thought she'd be one to enjoy things like that, given her history, but with Karl, everything had felt absolutely perfect, like-

She swallowed hard, concern beginning to creep up as there was no sign of Karl anywhere. In the distance, she heard what sounded like a scream of pain, and her head snapped up.

If there was any chance it was Karl, she had to go to him.

Not even stopping to put her shoes on, Jenn took off running in the direction of the shout, crashing through the undergrowth before reaching a trail going in the right direction.

=+=

Karl's breath came in ragged gasps as he squared off against the creature, his knife held in a white-knuckled grip. Blood ran from the gashes on his shoulder, staining the forest floor beneath him.

The beast circled him slowly, its yellow eyes gleaming with predatory intent. Karl matched its movements, his own gaze locked onto his opponent with unflinching intensity.

“Come on,” he growled, his voice low and menacing. “Let's finish this.”

With a snarl, the creature lunged, its claws slashing through the air. Karl sidestepped the attack, bringing his knife down in a brutal arc. The blade bit deep, eliciting a pained yowl from the beast.

Karl didn't let up, pressing his advantage with a flurry of strikes. His movements were precise and calculated, each one designed to inflict maximum damage. The creature reeled under the onslaught, its attacks growing more desperate and wild.

Finally, with a powerful thrust, Karl drove his knife into the creature's chest, piercing its heart. The beast let out a final, gurgling cry before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.

He stood over the corpse, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. He wiped the blood from the blade on his pants, his expression grim.

The sound of crashing footsteps reached his ears, and Karl turned to see Jenn burst into the clearing, her eyes wide with panic.

“Karl!” she cried, rushing to his side. “Are you okay? I heard a scream and-”

Her words cut off as she caught sight of the creature's body, her face paling. “What...what is that?”

Karl reached out, gently grasping her arm to steady her. “It's dead now,” he said simply, his tone brooking no argument. “That's all that matters.”

He studied her face, noting the fear and confusion in her eyes. “You shouldn't have come here, Jenn. It's not safe.”

Jenn shook her head, her gaze never leaving his. “I heard you scream. I had to make sure you were okay.”

Karl's expression softened, and he pulled her into a tight one-armed embrace, careful of the blood staining his clothes. “I'm fine,” he murmured into her hair.

Jenn hugged him back for a moment, heart racing. He'd fought that thing and won, he could have been killed.

She drew back suddenly, looking him over, and winced at the sight of his shoulder, bloody gashes raked across his skin.

“Oh shit, that looks bad, Karl,” she said, moving closer to look at his wound and then searching for something to stop the bleeding.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Karl's brow furrowed as he watched Jenn fuss over his wounds, a mix of gratitude and frustration warring in his gut.

“It'll heal,” he grumbled, trying to wave off her concern. But something about the way she hovered over him, her brows knit together in worry, softened him.

“I should probably wash it out, though,” he conceded, nodding towards a nearby stream. “Prevent infection.”

He started to pull away, but Jenn's hands on his good shoulder stopped him.

“Let me help,” she said softly, her eyes imploring.

Karl hesitated, unused to accepting assistance, even from her. But as Jenn's gaze held his, unflinching, he found himself relenting with a sigh.

“Alright,” he agreed, his voice rough. “But you're gonna have to get dirty.”

She gestured to her legs, filthy with mud and dirt from her bare feet to her knees, hands caked in dirt.

“I fell twice running here barefoot, Karl. I may actually end up cleaner after this,” she said, giving him a little smile. “Lead the way.”

Karl managed a small chuckle at Jenn's jest despite himself.

'Maybe she really does belong here,' a tiny voice in the back of his mind whispered.

Shaking off the thought, he guided her towards the stream, his steps slower to accommodate her lack of footwear. The sound of the water grew louder as they approached, a constant babble that added to the tranquility of the surrounding forest.

Once they reached the edge of the stream, Karl knelt down, wincing slightly as the movement tugged at his injured shoulder. He pulled his shirt off with a grunt of pain and tossed it aside before leaning over, cupping his hands to gather some cool, fresh water to splash over his wound.

The cold water stung, making him grit his teeth against the pain, but he knew it was necessary. Cleaning the injury was crucial to prevent infection.

“Here,” Jenn said, kneeling beside him. She picked up his discarded shirt and wet it thoroughly in the stream before reaching out to gently dab at the gashes on his shoulder.

Karl stiffened at her touch, his muscles tensing under the soft fabric. “Easy,” he murmured, more to himself than to her. He focused on the rhythmic flow of the water, letting it center him, and bring him a semblance of calm amid the chaos of the morning.

He glanced over at Jenn, watching as she worked diligently to clean his wound. Her face was a mask of concentration, the tip of her tongue peeking out from between her lips as she focused on her task.

Despite the situation, Karl couldn't help but feel a certain warmth spread through his chest at the sight. There was something inherently appealing about the way she cared for him, the way she didn't shy away from his gruff exterior or the less savory aspects of his life.

“Thank you,” he said quietly, the words barely above a whisper. It wasn't often that he allowed himself to be vulnerable around others, but with Jenn, it felt...different. Right.

'Dammit Karl,' he berated himself silently. 'You can't afford to get attached. Not with your secret hanging over your head like the goddamn sword of Damocles.'

Jenn smiled softly up at him before focusing once again on the task at hand.

Her mind went back to the cougar, its crumpled body huge and terrifying.

Instantly her dream returned to her, and she cupped some more water over his wounds, wiping as she poured to hopefully rinse it clear as she formulated a question for him in her mind.

“Karl,” she began, eyes still focused on her task. “Are there wolves in these woods too?”

Karl's jaw tightened at Jenn's question, his body going rigid beneath her touch. He could feel the weight of her gaze on him, even as she continued to tend to his wounds.

“Wolves?” he repeated, his voice carefully neutral. “Not that I've seen. Why do you ask?”

He kept his eyes fixed on the stream, watching the water ripple and flow over the smooth stones. The last thing he needed was for Jenn to start poking around in areas best left untouched.

But a part of him couldn't help but wonder what had prompted her question. Had she seen something? Heard something? Or was it just idle curiosity?

Karl's mind raced with possibilities, each one more troubling than the last. He couldn't afford to let his guard down, not even for a moment.

He turned his head slightly, catching Jenn's gaze out of the corner of his eye. “What made you think of wolves?” he asked, his tone casual, but with an undercurrent of something darker, something more probing.

She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “The cougar, the bear... Just figured there must be wolves out here, and maybe lions and tigers too?” She grinned at him, looking at his injury with a critical eye, trying to decide if it was clean enough yet.

Her dream still itched at the back of her mind, the details foggy now that she was awake. She'd always been terrible at remembering her dreams, but she was pretty sure...

“Actually, I think I was dreaming about a wolf last night,” she said. “I guess sleeping outside gave me nature-themed dreams.” She leaned down to press a feather-light kiss on his shoulder next to the gashes.

His breath hitched at her touch, his pulse quickening despite his best efforts to remain composed.

“That's the best we're gonna get without soap. And a doctor, you definitely need stitches.” She frowned.

Karl tensed at the mention of the wolf, his muscles coiling beneath Jenn's touch. The upcoming full moon loomed ominously in his thoughts, taunting him with the secret he kept hidden deep inside.

“A dream?” he echoed, his voice carefully measured.

'Keep it together.'.

He forced himself to relax, taking a deep breath that smelled faintly of pine and earth. “What did you dream about, exactly?”

His tone remained even, almost conversational. But internally, Karl was anything but calm. Jenn's words stirred up a maelstrom of fears and insecurities, dredging up the very parts of himself he'd sworn to bury.

Karl's mind flashed to the full moon, less than a week away. It was always during this time that he disappeared into the deepest parts of the forest, locking himself away until the danger passed.

He couldn't bear the thought of transforming with Jenn so close, of potentially harming her in his uncontrollable rage. No one knew the extent of his curse - how the monthly change ripped away every shred of his humanity - and Karl intended to keep it that way. At least for now.

“I appreciate your help, Jenn,” Karl replied, his voice rough with emotion as he watched her dab at his wounds with renewed focus. “But you don't need to worry about me. I'll be fine.”

He opened his mouth to insist he didn't need stitches - his enhanced healing would take care of the rest - but the words died on his tongue as Jenn frowned, her brows drawing together in concern.

“Looks worse than it is, I'll be good as new before you know it. For now...”

He trailed off, reaching out to tug Jenn closer by the waist until her knees brushed against his side.

“What else happened in your dream?” he asked, looking up at her with dark, intense eyes.

“I don't really remember,” she said simply, but she thought carefully, trying to recall anything else. “I think I was following it? It was really dark.” She frowned. “It was a good dream, don't worry. He was a friendly wolf.” She smiled sweetly at him.

But there was a nagging feeling inside, she'd woken up terrified. What else happened?

Karl's throat clenched as Jenn's words washed over him, her innocence painting an uncomfortable contrast to his own guilt-ridden past.

A good dream. A friendly wolf. He could feel the words coiled on his tongue, threatening to spill out and shatter the delicate illusion they both held onto.

But Jenn didn't need to know. Not yet, anyway. Not until he'd figured out how to protect her from the monster he became.

Karl forced a smile, pulling Jenn a little tighter against his side. “Well, I'm glad it was pleasant then. Even if you don't quite remember.”

Even as the words left his mouth, Karl knew they rang hollow. Hollow like the cavernous guilt that gnawed at his insides, the same guilt that made him withdraw, the same guilt that told him he wasn't good enough for her.

'Don't say it.' Karl willed himself, swallowing thickly. 'You can't say it, you can't ruin this. Ruin her.'

Karl pushed past Jenn, wading into the frigid water. It shocked his system, seeping through the layers of his clothes, but he didn't falter. Couldn't.

The pain helped. Helped drown out the swirling mess of emotions churning inside him, and helped him focus on the tangible, on the now.

He submerged the lacerations underwater, wincing as the icy currents collided with the raw skin. But it was better than facing her concern, her innocent trust.

Kill the pain before it kills you.

Karl's stomach churned as the mantra from his past resurfaced, but he grit his teeth, fighting the urge to lash out.

He couldn't tell her. Couldn't drag her down into his hell. Because, in the end, he knew he was a coward. A selfish bastard clinging to the scraps of his crumbling sanity.

But even as the realization burned through him, he couldn't bring himself to let go. Because Jenn... she made everything feel worthwhile. Like maybe, just maybe, he deserved something real.

And damn him, but he wanted it. Wanted her. Wanted a chance to prove he could be the man she needed, the one she deserved. The one she saw when she looked at him with those wide, trusting blue eyes.

He waded back to shore, his movements mechanical as he began to strip off his soaked clothes, revealing a body marred by scars. Scars that whispered stories of a past life, a past self.

The scratch from the cougar was no longer bleeding, the flesh already beginning to heal inside. He knew that it would fade to nothing but a scar within the next few days – just another secret to keep.

Jenn had watched him stride away, and as her lips parted to call after him, she remembered why she woke up afraid. Her heart clenched.

She didn't understand why he had been so interested in her dream before, but now...

When he walked back towards shore she moved to meet him, beginning to speak as he began removing his wet shirt.

“I remembered more of my drea-” she cut off suddenly as his pants came off, body revealed to her and blushed, looking away automatically. “Um. Yeah, I think the cougar was in my dream,” she said with her head turned away.

She hadn't gotten a good look at Karl the night before, in the darkness and their haste, but the glimpse she'd just seen of him, wet and glistening in the sunlight, had been... Wow.

Clearly, his time in the military had taken its toll on his body, but if anything the scars only enhanced her attraction to him, a testament to his power and resilience.

Karl froze, his hands still holding his dripping pants as Jenn's words registered in his mind. The cougar in her dream? His heart thudded against his ribs, a primal fear clawing at his insides.

But then he saw her blush, saw the way her gaze darted away from his exposed body, and something inside him stirred. Something warm and unfamiliar, something that made him want to reach out and pull her close.

Instead, he cleared his throat, his voice rough with emotion. “The cougar, huh?” he asked, his tone carefully neutral. “Remember anything else?”

Karl's mind raced with possibilities, each one more troubling than the last.

He shook off the thought, forcing himself to focus on the present. On Jenn. On the way her cheeks flushed with color, the way her breath hitched as she tried to avoid looking at him.

Karl couldn't help but feel a surge of pride at her reaction, a primal satisfaction that he could affect her so deeply. But he quickly pushed the feeling aside, reminding himself of the danger he posed to her.

“Jenn,” he said softly, his voice low and gravelly. “Look at me.”

He waited until her eyes met his - until he could see the uncertainty and desire swirling in their depths.

Then he stepped closer, his movements slow and deliberate, until he was standing right in front of her. He could hear her heart racing, see the nervousness in her trembling form.

Karl reached out, his calloused fingers brushing against her cheek, sending a shiver down her spine.

“You don't have to be afraid of me,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “I would never hurt you.”

But even as the words left his mouth, Karl couldn't help but wonder if they were true. Could he really promise her that? Could he really keep her safe from the monster that lurked within him?

The thought sent a chill down his spine, but he pushed it aside, focusing instead on the warmth of Jenn's skin beneath his fingertips, the way her breath hitched as he leaned in closer.

For now, at least, he would savor this moment. Savor the connection they shared, the trust she placed in him.

Jenn leaned into him, tilting her head up to bring their lips closer together.

“Karl, I could never be afraid of you,” she breathed.

She kissed him softly, sweetly.

Karl's breath caught in his throat. The kiss was tentative, almost reverent as if she was tasting him for the first time.

And in a way, she was. Because Karl knew that this kiss, this moment, was fragile. That it could shatter at any moment, destroyed by the very secrets he kept locked away inside.

But fuck, if it didn't feel good. Didn't feel right. Jenn's lips moved gently against his own, coaxing a response from him that he could barely contain. Her small hands slid up to grip his chest, and Karl let out a soft groan, his own hands coming up to cup her face.

He kissed her back with a desperation he couldn't hide, his tongue slipping past her lips to explore the warm cavern of her mouth. He tasted like mint and masculinity, the perfect combination that made Jenn's toes curl.

Karl pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against hers. “Jenn,” he murmured, his voice rough with emotion. “We shouldn't. We can't.”

He was breathing hard, his chest heaving with the force of his restraint. Karl knew he should pull away, should put some distance between them before things got too heated. Because he was playing with fire, flirting with disaster.

But Jenn's lips were soft, her skin even softer, and Karl couldn't resist. He dipped his head, capturing her mouth once more in a searing kiss.

Jenn whimpered into his mouth, the feel of his bare skin under her fingers intoxicating.

His lips lit a fire within her, this all just felt so perfect, so right. She felt such a sense of belonging...

She remembered this feeling from the dream suddenly, remembered the word that had burned through her very being as she'd looked at the wolf. Mate.

And the wolf running past her, towards the sounds of the cougar, the way she screamed after him-

Breaking away from the kiss, she looked at him triumphantly, and a little surprised.

“Karl,” she began, breathless from their passionate embrace. “The wolf ran towards the cougar. In my dream. I-um, I called after it... and I used your name. I guess the metaphor fits, you're definitely a lone wolf,” She teased, not understanding the profundity of what she had said. “But it's weird I dreamed about the cougar and, well, you, right? It must just be a coincidence, I definitely have a fear of running into a cougar out here for sure.”

Karl's blood ran cold at Jenn's words, a chill sweeping through him that had nothing to do with the cool mountain breeze. The wolf running towards the cougar. Her using his name.

It was impossible. There was no way that his past could've manifested itself in her dreams, no way that the beast inside him could've seeped through the cracks of his carefully constructed facade.

And yet, even as he tried to convince himself otherwise, Karl could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, could sense the danger lurking just beneath the surface.

“Fuck.”

The curse slipped past his lips before he could stop it, a reflexive response to the anxiety coursing through his veins.

Jenn didn't seem to notice, her brow creasing as she searched his face for a reaction.

“What is it?” she asked, her voice soft with concern. “Is everything alright?”

Karl swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. He had to tread carefully here. Had to make sure not to spook her, to reassure her that everything was fine.

“It's nothing,” he lied, hating himself for it even as the words left his mouth. “Just tired is all. Those injuries are wearing on me more than I thought.”

He hoped the lie sounded convincing enough, praying that Jenn would buy it without question.

Because if she didn't, if she started asking too many questions, Karl wasn't sure he'd be able to handle the consequences. Wasn't sure his secrets would stay buried for much longer.

Karl shifted uncomfortably, his eyes flickering away from Jenn's concerned gaze. He couldn't do this.

Couldn't keep up this charade forever.

'Not forever,' a small voice in the back of his mind protested. 'Maybe just a little longer. Just until you can figure this out.'

He pushed the voice down, forcing himself to focus on the task at hand.

“We should head back so I can get this taken care of,” he said, gesturing to his wound. “Don't want it getting infected.”

Karl took a step back, his movements stiff and unnatural. He was putting space between them, building walls higher and higher until there was no way for Jenn to break through.

It was for the best, he told himself. It was to protect her. From him. From his secrets.

He grabbed his wet clothes, slipping the pants back on and tossing the shirt over his injured shoulder, the better to hide the wound that was going to start showing its healing soon.

Jenn frowned as Karl backed away from her, he'd been acting strange ever since they started talking about her stupid dream and she wished she had never brought it up.

“Karl...” she said softly, resisting the urge to close the distance he created, concerned. “O-of course, I'm so sorry. You're hurt and I'm babbling about dreams. Let's head back,” she said quickly, taking a half step towards him and stopping short, waiting for his lead.

His eyes had changed, closed off, and she felt a churning in her gut, keeping her eyes low.

'Too weird again...' she thought sadly.

Karl saw the disappointment flash across Jenn's face, saw the way she hesitated before taking that half step towards him. It was a stark reminder of the gap that lay between them, a gap that was widening with every passing second.

And he hated it. Hated that he was the one responsible for creating that distance, for pushing her away when all he wanted to do was pull her closer.

But he couldn't afford to let his guard down, not even for a moment. Not when there was so much at stake.

“No need to apologize,” Karl said gruffly, his tone harsher than intended. He cursed himself silently, hating the way his words seemed to bounce off the invisible wall that separated them.

He turned away from her then, his gaze fixated on the path that led back to her cabin. “We should get going,” he added, his voice barely louder than a whisper. “Cougar's body might attract more critters. I'll come out and clean it up a little later.”

Karl started walking, his strides long and purposeful as he moved away from the stream. He didn't wait for Jenn to follow, didn't dare look back at her.

He could hear the rustling of leaves as she fell into step behind him, could sense her confusion and concern. And he hated himself for it, for causing her worry.

But it was necessary. Necessary to keep her safe, to keep her away from the danger that he represented.

As they trudged through the dense underbrush, Karl's mind raced with thoughts and fears, each one more terrifying than the last. He couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled over him, couldn't ignore the nagging suspicion that his past was catching up to him.

And if it did, if the truth finally came to light, Karl knew that he would lose Jenn forever.

And that was something he couldn't allow to happen.