Chapter
247
The forest stretched endlessly before them, its shadows deep and its silence unnerving. Forced to leave the ruins of their cabin behind, Elyra and Dain carried Matthew on a makeshift stretcher, guided only by instinct and the faint sense of safety deeper in the wilderness. "We'll rest here," Dain murmured as they came upon a clearing surrounded by towering pines. He set the stretcher down carefully, scanning the area for any signs of danger.
Elyra knelt beside Matthew, her fingers brushing his forehead. His face was pale, his breathing shallow, but steady. "He needs more than what we can do out here," she said softly. "We'll figure it out," Dain replied, his voice unwavering. "We always do."noveldrama
As the night deepened, Elyra felt a strange pull from the forest around them. The rustling of leaves seemed to form a pattern, almost like whispers calling her name. Animals that would normally flee from human presence lingered at the edge of the clearing, their eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight.
"What's happening to me?" Elyra asked aloud, her voice tinged with awe and unease.
Dain crouched beside her, his gaze following hers to the forest. "It's like they know you," he said. "Or... they're afraid of you."
Elyra turned to him, the unease in her chest growing. "What if it's not me they're afraid of? What if it's what's coming for us?"
As if on cue, a low growl echoed through the woods. Dain rose instantly, his senses heightened as he scanned the shadows. "Get behind me," he ordered.
But the threat didn't materialize. Instead, they found signs of the Lycan King's influence: claw marks etched unnaturally deep into tree trunks, patches of earth that reeked of decay, and strange, unearthly symbols carved into stones.
Dain stayed awake that night, his back to the fire, his body a silent barrier between Elyra and whatever might come for them. As Elyra drifted into a restless sleep, she felt a comforting presence his unwavering protection-and knew their bond was the only thing keeping them alive.