Chapter 5 5

The howling grew louder. It was a chorus of voices, wild and primal, reverberating through the dense forest. Kiera's heart pounded in her chest, the blood rushing in her ears, drowning out everything else. She stood frozen, her gaze flickering toward Finn, who was already moving with purpose, his expression hardening.

"They've found us," Finn repeated, his voice low but urgent. He didn't look back at Kiera as he moved toward the cabin's single window, his hand brushing aside a threadbare curtain to peer outside. His body was taut, every muscle coiled with readiness. The night had shifted in an instant-once quiet and still, now alive with tension.

Kiera wanted to speak, to ask him what they were going to do, but the words stuck in her throat. The presence outside was unmistakable. The wolves were coming, but there was something else in the air. A different kind of danger, something more sinister than the pack. Her breath caught in her throat, and she felt an icy chill creep across her skin.

"The pack is close," Finn muttered, turning away from the window and striding toward the door. "But we need to move quickly."

Kiera's legs felt like lead, her body frozen in place. There was no escaping it anymore. She had been thrust into this world, and there was no turning back. The wolves, the pack, the Guardians-all of it had been waiting for her. The weight of her bloodline, the destiny that Finn spoke of, pressed down on her like an invisible hand.

"What do we do now?" Kiera asked, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to remain calm.

Finn hesitated for a moment, his gaze sweeping over her, as if he were weighing the decision. He let out a slow breath, then moved toward her. "We fight. We protect the cabin for now. But soon... soon we have to leave. The pack will not rest until they have you."

The thought of facing the pack again sent a wave of panic through Kiera's chest. "I can't fight them. I don't know how."

"You won't fight them-not yet." Finn's voice softened, but there was no mistaking the seriousness in his eyes. "But you will have to face them. That much is certain."

Before Kiera could respond, the door to the cabin rattled violently, a loud bang reverberating through the small building. The sound was followed by a deep, guttural growl. Kiera's blood ran cold.

"They're here," Finn said, his voice low and calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it now. He moved swiftly to the door, pressing his back against the wall beside it, his hand on the handle.

Kiera's breath caught in her throat. The wolves were outside. She could feel them, their presence as heavy as the darkness itself. Her pulse raced, and the air in the cabin seemed to grow thicker, charged with a wild, primal energy.

The door shook again, a sharp, pounding knock that rattled the hinges. It was clear the wolves weren't going to wait much longer.

"Stay here," Finn ordered. "Do not open the door, no matter what. I'll handle this."

The words barely had time to settle before Finn was moving. He shifted to the side, his movements fluid, like a shadow in the night. He reached for something from the shelf-a gleaming silver knife, its hilt wrapped in black leather. The blade caught the light from the lantern, shimmering ominously in the dim room.

Kiera's heart skipped a beat. She wanted to protest, to tell him to be careful, but the words were lost on her. Instead, she pressed herself back against the far wall, her gaze glued to the door. The wolves were close, their growls vibrating the very air around her.

A split second later, the door burst open with a deafening crack, the force sending splinters flying into the room. Finn was already moving, a blur of motion, his silver knife flashing in his hand as he collided with the first wolf to enter. The creature's yellow eyes gleamed with hunger, its fangs bared in a snarl. Finn dodged the beast's attack, his movements impossibly fast, and in one swift motion, he slashed across its flank.

The wolf howled in pain, staggering back. Blood spilled from the gash, dark and thick, but the wolf's snarl didn't subside. It lunged again, faster this time, but Finn was ready. He twisted, his hand darting out to grip the wolf's throat. In the blink of an eye, he slammed the creature to the ground, pinning it beneath him with a strength Kiera could hardly comprehend.

Another wolf lunged in from the doorway, its fur bristling with aggression. Finn's knife met it midair, slashing across its chest. The wolf howled, its body convulsing as it hit the ground with a thud.

Kiera watched in stunned silence, unable to move, unable to look away. Finn was a whirlwind of violence and precision, his silver blade flashing with every strike. The wolves were fast, but he was faster. It was like watching a dance, a deadly one, where each movement was calculated, each attack executed with ruthless efficiency.

The air was thick with the scent of blood and the sounds of growls and snarls. Finn's body was covered in sweat, his muscles straining with each blow, but there was no hesitation in him. Every wolf that came at him fell before him, each one driven back by the sheer force of his strikes.

Kiera wanted to help. She wanted to do something, anything. But her legs refused to move. Her mind was a blur, and she couldn't comprehend what she was seeing. Finn was a force of nature, a man who seemed to bend the very laws of speed and strength to his will. He was a protector, a warrior-something more than human.

Finally, a roar sounded from the darkness outside, and the last wolf collapsed at Finn's feet. He stood over it, breathing heavily, his silver blade gleaming in the dim light. For a long moment, there was silence, the only sound the heavy panting of the defeated creatures. Finn didn't relax. His eyes darted to the window, scanning the surrounding forest.

Kiera's breath was shallow, her heart still racing. Her legs were unsteady, but she managed to push herself to her feet. "Is it over?"

Finn didn't answer immediately. He was still staring out the window, his expression hard, unreadable. Then, with a sigh, he turned back to her. "For now. But we're not safe yet."

Kiera's gaze flickered to the wolves, their still bodies scattered across the cabin floor. Blood stained the wooden boards, a grim reminder of how close they had come to losing everything.

"The pack won't stop," Finn said. "They'll come again, and when they do, we have to be ready."

Kiera swallowed hard, her throat dry. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words didn't come. She wanted to ask more questions, to understand why this was happening, but the reality of it was too overwhelming. The wolves were real. The Guardians were real. And so was the danger.

"What do we do now?" she asked, her voice quiet, barely above a whisper.

Finn turned back to her, his eyes dark with resolve. "We leave. The pack will be looking for us. We have to get to the mountains before they catch up."

"The mountains?" Kiera's brow furrowed. "Why there?"

"There's a place there," Finn replied, his voice distant, as if remembering something far away. "A sanctuary. It's the only place we can hide for a while. But we have to move quickly. They'll be coming for us soon."

Kiera didn't know what to say. She didn't understand any of it, but she knew one thing for sure-the world she had known was gone, and it wasn't coming back. The wolves weren't going to stop, and neither was the pull of her bloodline.

With a last look at the wolves' bodies, she followed Finn out of the cabin. The night was cold, the wind whispering through the trees as they moved quickly, leaving the wreckage of the fight behind them. Every step felt like a step into the unknown, and Kiera wasn't sure if she was ready for what lay ahead.

But she had no choice. The pack was coming.

And soon, she would have to face them.