Chapter 4

Kyra's POV:

Opening my eyes again, was a battle against a heavy, rhythmic throbbing behind my temples. My vision didn’t clear all at once; instead, it filtered in as flickering orange shadows dancing against a jagged, stone ceiling. I expected the cold floor, but there was the scratchy weight of a wool blanket tucked around my shoulders and the dry heat of a fire crackling nearby.

“Where am I?” Panic surged as the memories slammed back and I sat up too fast, my head spinning as I scanned the cave’s mouth, but the silver-haired man was gone. There was only the sound of popping embers and the whistling wind outside to greet me.

‘Was he even real?’ I asked myself, as I tried to stand, desperate to escape or find answers, but my legs buckled instantly and a sharp cry tore from me as pain flared, forcing me back to the ground, gasping.

Remembering the arrow, I fumbled at my dress with shaking hands and lifted the fabric. The cloth had been torn cleanly to expose the wounds. Dried blood stained everything, but fresh bandages wrapped both legs tightly and securely.

‘Who did this?’ Confusion and suspicion warred inside me. Slowly, I pushed myself up, bracing against the cave wall, and limped toward the entrance.

Every step was painful but fear kept me moving but just as I reached the mouth of the cave, a shadow crossed the entrance and I froze while the same broad-shouldered man with silver hair stepped inside. I stumbled back with a sharp gasp and my legs gave out completely as I hit the ground hard and scrambled backward on my palms, heart trying to claw its way out of my chest.

“P-please.” I sobbed. “Don’t… Don't kill me, please!”

He stopped walking, then chuckled and the sound startled me because it felt completely wrong against my terror. “You jumped off a cliff with such confidence, and now you’re scared?” His voice was deep and smooth.

“I want to go home, please.” I begged, with fresh tears pouring down my face. “I’m not confident, I was just terrified, and I still am. So please don’t kill me. Just let me go home to my father.”

I pressed my forehead to the ground, shaking violently while standing there silently for a while, then sighed. “I won’t kill you.” He said and I dared to lift my head just a little.

“R-really?” I sniffed, wiping my face with trembling hands. “If I wanted you dead, I wouldn’t have saved you from falling, treated your wounds, started a fire, or gone searching for food.”

‘Food?’ Only then did I notice the bundle wrapped in cloth in his hands and my stomach twisted painfully, reminding me how empty it was. I swallowed hard, watching warily as he took a step closer.

I shrieked softly and scrambled back again. He paused, sighed, crouched down, and placed the bundle on the ground between us before stepping back. “Eat.” He said gently.

Still shaking, I crawled forward inch by inch, never turning my back on him. I snatched the cloth and retreated quickly to the far side of the cave before untying it. Juice ran down my chin as I bit into the apple, then the pear.

Hunger consumed me so completely that I chewed too fast and swallowed too quickly, tears dripping onto the fruit. I ate like an animal, yet I kept glancing at him from the corner of my eye, wondering what price this mercy would demand.

I didn’t notice when he sat near the fire until his voice reached me again. “A little girl like you shouldn’t die here ” He said quietly.

My breath hitched. “Where… where are we?” I asked hoarsely, staying pressed against the opposite wall.

“In a cave, in the forest bordering Bloodhall Pack and Bloodmoon Pack.” My heart sank instantly, on realizing that we were still deep in the same forest. “How long have we been here?”

“Not up to an hour.” His response made my hands tremble as suspicion coiled tighter in my chest. Then I looked at him and forced the burning question out. “What… what do you want to do with me?”

“I want to take you home.” He responded and I gave a weak, bitter chuckle. “That’s impossible. My home is unimaginably far from here. They’ll surround us before we even leave this forest.”

“Just trust me, I'll handle the rest.” He said.

“I don’t…” I began, then stopped, unsure what to say. I didn’t trust him at all. Everything about this felt too perfect. Why would a stranger risk himself for me?

“Where do you live?” He asked and I hesitated for a long moment, weighing whether even telling him was dangerous, then whispered. “I live in Respawn Pack.”

He stood up so fast the fire crackled sharply, and suddenly his body rippled and fur rolled over his skin in waves. Bones stretched, muscles reshaped and where the man had stood now loomed a massive silver-furred wolf with glowing storm-gray eyes.

I stared, heart pounding, every instinct screaming danger even as awe flickered beneath the fear but the wolf lowered himself to the ground, clearly inviting me onto his back.

I hesitated, frozen in place. ‘What if this is another trap? What if he’s taking me somewhere worse? What if he’s working with Mason?’

As my thoughts swirled, he moved closer and nudged me gently with his massive head. The unexpected push made me lose balance, tumble forward and land against his warm, furred back.

Heat flooded my face as I scrambled to sit properly, gripping his fur tightly and every muscle in my body remained tense, ready to jump off at the first sign of deceit while he rose smoothly and burst out of the cave.

The world blurred as he sprinted through the forest, faster than anything I had ever imagined. Trees flew past, wind whipping tears from my eyes. Fear slowly mixed with reluctant awe, but I never stopped second-guessing. ‘Why is he helping me? What does he really want?’

When we finally reached the border of Respawn Pack which I recognized from the emblem branded on the trees, he slowed and stopped. “Wait.” I said urgently, still perched on his back.

“What’s your name? Who are you?” The wolf looked at me for a while then he turned away and disappeared silently into the forest, leaving me alone once more.