CHAPTER 2

The forest groaned as a single unit, save for Lerder's rasping breathing.  As he knelt by Elara's side, his massive shadow loomed over her. Leaves stained with blood lay about him, 

He pressed his fingers to her pulse, his touch unexpectedly tender. Elara woke up groaning, she slowly opened her eyes.

“Where… Where am I?” her words barely audible.

“Safe,” Lerder growled, his rumble softening to something more akin to worry. “For now.”

She sat upright, flinching. “Wha… What happened?” she asked, her tone tinged with terror.

He looked aside, his jaw clenched. “Malak's pack ambushed, they came for you.”

“Me? Why?” she panted, her words thick with terror.

Lerder hesitated, his eyes falling to the ground stained with blood. “The prophecy, they think… you are.”

There was a long silence between them, with nothing disturbed by anything other than the sounds of leaves rustling. Elara brought her hand to her forehead, a strange feeling rushing through her.

“What prophecy?” Elara's words came softly with an undercurrent of rebellion.

Lerder glared at her, actually saw her—the vulnerability, the fear, but also the unbreakable strength in those eyes. A warmth, unaccountable and troubling, flared inside him.

“It is complicated, a human who is quite powerful to save or destroy both our worlds. Malak thinks that it is you.”

“Our worlds?” She whispered, her face stunned. “What are you speaking about?”

“Werewolves and humans. Bound together in ways you can't even imagine, this prophecy is a threat to both our kinds.”

Her hand emitted a faint golden quiver as her form changed, which pained her. She drew in a surprised gulp of air.

“What was that?” Lerder whispered, his hoarse voice somehow tainted with strange gentleness.

“I… I don't know, I felt a powerful energy. It's frightening and thrilling,” she breathed. “Something in me awakened.”

Lerder reached out to touch her, his fingers tracing over her, his touch lingering. The heat welled up, this awkward comfort amidst terror. He saw himself in her eyes- fear.

“They have chosen you, Elara you are something greater than human now.” Lerder said.

His tone softer, his words imbued with a fresh sense of respect of something akin to wonder. A burning protective instinct arose in him, something deep in his nature that caught him by surprise. It drew him to her with something happening in the heat of battle.

One of them snapped, and they stopped.

“They remain behind us,” Lerder growled, his growl more in defence than in menace. “We have to leave immediately.”

“But the others?” Elara breathed, her eyes flicking to where the other wolves lay. 

Lerder's face was resolute.

"There's nothing we can do, Our survival is all that's important. We have to leave, all of us."

He drew her beside him, his big hand at her waist, his fingers holding for half an instant too long. Between their bodies moving together the space crackled – fear, desperation, and a tangible swelling need.

“They're near.” Lerder growled, his ears sharp for the pursuit's sounds.

“Do you sense it, Elara?”

“Yes,” she whispered, her mouth shaking. “It's a shadow, coming nearer.”

“We have to hurry,” Lerder growled, his words a low rumble.  He sensed increasing danger, the smell of Malak's pack drawing nearer.

“I'm… I'm scared,” Elara admitted, her words hardly more than a whisper but determination creased her face. “But I will not lose.”

Lerder's thoughts: ‘Her fear, it's awakening something in me. Something I have not felt in centuries and that strength….that defiance it's thrilling.’

“I will not let them have you,” Lerder told her

His tone was barely audible vow as he blocked her from a chill gust of wind.  The unuttered words hung suspended in the air.

“I will not let them take you from me.”

“I know,” Elara breathed out softly as her lips curving in a faint smile as she gazed upwards. There was an unexpressed understanding in her gaze, an awareness of something far greater than survival.

‘There was more to this than fighting to get out of Malak. His strength and protective nature. It's beyond fear—beyond the prophecy, there is something powerful between us.’

The forest darkened, trees closing over them, the wind turned chilled leaves with a stinging touch, bringing with it damp earth and menace. The sounds of pursuit came closer, creaking boughs, rustling leaves, distant wolves' breathing—a chorus of horror. Lerder gilded with noiselessness in keeping with his bulk, his massive muscles rippling under his black fur, his silent guarding Elara.

“They are closing in on us,” Lerder complain angrily.

His hearing more acutely attuned, sensing even the smallest change to the cacophony of pursuit.  He looked over at Elara, noticing the terror in her eyes, her shaking fingers.

“What do we do?” Elara painted.

Her breathing tight, but with fresh determination in her gaze, a silent rebellion. There unfolded in her chest a heat that came frothickm nowhere, an unfamiliar sense of unity with Lerder.

“We don't stop… We don't flinch… We run,” Lerder snarled his words low and commanding.

He sensed increasing danger, Malak's pack scent stronger. He sprinted more quickly, propelling her through. His strength formed a wall of protection around her, a bulwark of security.

“I… I can sense it," Elara gasped.

“That energy it's increasing, I'm… I don't know if I can hold it in.” Her breathing caught in her throat by the gusts.

Lerder came to an abrupt halt, facing her. His eyes locked with hers, his expression full of concern and admiration.

“Then I'll assist you, Elara. I'm here to assist you,”

His tone remarkably soft, there being in his words a tenderness that took him back. He fixed his gaze upon hers; she had caught something in their depths, and it scared her—a deep concern, a fleeting look. He placed his hand over her cheek. Such a tender misplaced care by this giant monstrosity that one tear dropped onto her cheek. She inclined in the direction of his hand, seeking security in his power. He was soaked in guardian feelings, feelings far greater than he had envisioned.

Her vulnerability, her fear it's rousing something in me I haven't felt in a century. This isn't anymore about survival. This is about protecting her, this wonderful woman who in return inspires terror and reverence in me. This connection is sudden, fiery and possibly dangerous.

Elara thought to herself ‘His touch… It's electric. The sense of security even amidst increasing danger, I am secure in his arms. The concern… his protection… Frightening and lovely. I'm in love with him; it is happening despite danger, despite uncertainty.’

“I can feel their breath upon my neck,” Elara painted, Elara's golden aura glowed for an instant, repelling the wolves.

“Come along,” Lerder growled, his lycanthropy heightened, his hand guiding her through the thick underbrush. 

They couldn't keep running; they needed another plan. Suddenly, there arose a scream. It wasn't the wolf's howl nor that of another creature they'd recognize. It was different.

Lerder and Elara froze, fear wrapping itself around them in a shroud.

“What was that?” Elara whispered as fear usurped her excitement.

Lerder couldn't put his finger on it, but he knew in his gut—it wasn't Malak's pack. This was something more ancient and more deadly. This was something new and this would alter everything. Lerder's inner thoughts: ‘This changes everything. We are not working with Malak anymore; something is out here much stronger and older.  We need to get to a place of safety, quickly, before they both track us down.’

Elara's thoughts: ‘This fear. It's overwhelming. But I can sense growing strength inside me, a power which is overwhelming as much as it is thrilling. Lerder is all I have to sustain me. We have to escape from here; we must free ourselves together.’