Chapter 4 The Hunter

The forest stretched out endlessly, every tree a dark sentinel in the moonlit night. Elena's legs burned with exhaustion, but she couldn't stop. She couldn't afford to be caught. As she weaved through the thick woods, a cold wind swept through the branches, sending chills down her spine. She knew someone had been following her, and though she had gained ground, the feeling of being hunted lingered in the pit of her stomach.

She stopped for a moment, leaning against the trunk of a massive oak tree, her breath heavy in the stillness. She focused on her surroundings, her heightened senses taking in every rustle of leaves, every flicker of movement in the distance. There was something off about the air-a presence that felt out of place. Someone was definitely out there.

As the seconds passed, a faint noise emerged from the underbrush. A soft crunch of footsteps, far too light to be human.

Elena's heart skipped a beat. She knew the sound. Wolves.

Her pulse quickened, and she bit back the instinct to shift into her wolf form. She couldn't give herself away just yet. Not until she knew who was watching her.

Suddenly, a figure stepped out from the shadows of the trees-a man, tall and broad-shouldered, with sharp, predatory eyes that glinted in the moonlight. His dark hair was tousled, and his stance exuded a dangerous confidence. He wore a long black coat that blended into the night, and as he approached, a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Well, well, well," the man said, his voice low and smooth. "What do we have here?"

Elena's muscles tensed. She didn't recognize him, but she could sense the power radiating from him. Whoever this was, he wasn't an ordinary human.

She took a step back, her eyes narrowing. "Who are you?"

The man chuckled softly, his gaze never leaving hers. "Someone who's been sent to find you, Elena Russo. You've made quite the stir by running away from your little party."

Elena's heart pounded in her chest. He knew who she was. She wasn't surprised-word of her disappearance would have spread quickly within the Mafia, but how had he found her so fast?

"I don't care who sent you," Elena said, her voice steady despite the fear building inside her. "I'm not going back."

The man raised an eyebrow. "That's not up to you. Marco De Luca doesn't like it when people mess with his plans. And you, my dear, are a crucial part of his plans."

Elena felt a surge of anger at the mention of Marco. She was done being a pawn in their game. "I don't belong to Marco or anyone else."

The man took another step closer, his smile fading as his expression hardened. "You're in over your head, princess. The world you're running into is far more dangerous than the one you're leaving behind."

His words sent a chill down her spine. There was something in his voice-an edge of truth that made her stomach twist. He wasn't just a Mafia enforcer. He knew more than he was letting on.

Before Elena could respond, the man's eyes flicked to something behind her. She spun around just in time to see two dark shapes darting between the trees-wolves, their sleek bodies moving silently through the forest, their glowing eyes locked on her.

Her heart raced, and without a second thought, she shifted.

Her bones snapped and stretched as her body transformed, fur sprouting across her skin, her senses sharpening in an instant. In her wolf form, Elena was faster, stronger, and far more dangerous. She let out a low growl, baring her teeth as she faced the wolves, who stopped in their tracks, momentarily startled by her transformation.

The man behind her let out a soft laugh. "Impressive. I didn't think you'd reveal yourself so easily."

Elena snarled, her wolf instincts taking over. She wasn't going to be taken down without a fight.

But before she could make a move, the man stepped forward, his hands raised in a gesture of peace. "Easy now. I'm not your enemy, Elena. In fact, I'm here to help you."

Her growl deepened, her eyes narrowing. Help her? That was the last thing she expected from someone sent by Marco.

"I know what you're thinking," the man continued, his voice calm. "But I'm not here for Marco. I'm here because I have a proposition for you. One that might just save your life."

Elena hesitated, her wolf instincts warring with her curiosity. Could he be telling the truth? Or was this just another trap?

"I'm not interested in deals," Elena growled, her voice distorted by her wolf form.

The man's expression remained unreadable. "You might want to reconsider. Because the people hunting you now are far worse than Marco De Luca. And they won't stop until they have you."

Elena's ears twitched, picking up the distant sounds of movement-more wolves, closing in from all sides. She was surrounded.

"Who are they?" she asked, her voice a low rumble.

The man's eyes darkened. "Let's just say they're part of a much bigger plan. One that involves your family's secrets. The ones they never told you about."

Elena's breath caught in her throat. Family secrets? What was he talking about?

But before she could press him further, the wolves lunged.

Elena reacted instantly, leaping to the side as one of the wolves snapped its jaws where she had been standing. She landed gracefully, her powerful legs propelling her into a counterattack. She swiped at the nearest wolf, her claws tearing through fur and flesh, sending it crashing to the ground.

The second wolf was on her in an instant, its teeth sinking into her hind leg. Elena yelped in pain, but she twisted her body and kicked the wolf off, her strength far superior to her attackers. She could feel the blood seeping from the wound, but she didn't stop. She couldn't.

The man watched from the sidelines, his eyes gleaming with interest as Elena fought. He didn't lift a finger to help, but neither did he seem to be an enemy. He was simply observing, as if waiting for something.

Elena tore into the second wolf, her jaws clamping down on its neck with a fierce growl. The creature went limp in her grip, and she tossed it aside, panting heavily.

But the fight wasn't over.

The sound of more wolves approaching reached her ears, and Elena knew she couldn't keep this up. She was outnumbered, and even with her abilities, she wouldn't be able to take them all on alone.

Before she could decide her next move, the man stepped forward again, his expression serious. "We need to go. Now."

Elena hesitated, her eyes darting between him and the approaching wolves.

"You have a choice," he said, his voice urgent. "Stay here and fight them off until you're too tired to move, or come with me and find out the truth about your family-about why they've kept you in the dark all these years."

The truth.

The word echoed in Elena's mind, pulling at something deep within her. She didn't trust this man, but there was a part of her-desperate for answers-that couldn't ignore the opportunity he was offering.

With a final glance at the dark shapes moving through the trees, Elena made her decision.

"Lead the way."