Chapter 3 A Wolf's Instinct

A Wolf's Instinct

Astrid forced herself to relax.

Tension crackled between them like a storm waiting to break. Kieran's golden eyes stayed locked onto hers, sharp and knowing. He hadn't accused her outright, but she could feel it-the shift in his energy, the way his stance changed.

He knew.

Not everything. Not yet. But enough.

A sharp inhale from behind them broke the silence.

Elias groaned, still catching his breath from the attack. His throat bore red marks from where the creature's tendrils had tightened around him, nearly suffocating him. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, his face pale and strained.

"That thing..." Elias coughed, shaking his head as if to clear it. "That wasn't a rogue. That wasn't even a damn wolf."

Astrid remained still, keeping her expression neutral.

She could still hear it-the unnatural whisper curling at the edges of her mind, like an echo of something not fully gone. The Nyxfiend had vanished, but its presence lingered in the air, an unseen taint that made the hairs on her arms rise.

Kieran took another step forward. Not aggressive. Not yet. But testing her. Watching how she reacted.

"You knew what it was," he said, his voice deceptively calm.

Astrid met his gaze, her heart hammering against her ribs.

Careful. She needed to choose her words carefully.

"I didn't know," she said smoothly, tilting her head slightly. "But I've seen something like it before."

A lie. Not a complete one. But a lie nonetheless.

Kieran's gaze flicked to the dagger still embedded in the stone wall. The runes along its edge had dimmed, but their presence was unmistakable. That wasn't a rogue's weapon. It was meant for hunting things far worse.

"You carry silver-lined runes," he murmured. "Enchanted weapons. Not common for a rogue."

Astrid forced a smirk, folding her arms. "I like to be prepared."

Kieran didn't blink. Didn't move. But she saw the way his fingers twitched-like his wolf was on edge, pacing beneath the surface.

"You're hiding something."

Astrid shrugged. "And you're too damn paranoid."

Silence stretched between them. Heavy. Unforgiving.

Then, from deeper within the fortress, a howl rang out-low and guttural. A warning.

Kieran's expression hardened. His instincts shifted from hunter to protector. Whatever this thing was, it wasn't finished.

"Elias," Kieran barked. "Gather the warriors. Lock down the estate."

The Beta hesitated, still shaken, but nodded and staggered to his feet. Astrid saw the way his eyes flickered between her and Kieran, as if trying to decipher the tension. But he didn't question it.

As soon as Elias disappeared down the hall, Kieran turned back to her.

"Walk with me."

A command. Not a request.

Astrid hesitated. She could feel it-the way his aura had sharpened, the weight of suspicion tightening around her like a noose.

He wasn't just testing her anymore. He was hunting her.

But refusing would only make things worse.

So, she followed.

Kieran led her through the corridors in silence, his stride steady, controlled. He didn't look at her, but Astrid knew his senses were locked onto her, tracking her every movement.

The moment they stepped into the open courtyard, bathed in pale moonlight, she inhaled deeply. The scent of pine and damp earth filled her lungs. The storm from earlier had left the ground cool, the air thick with the crisp bite of approaching winter.

Kieran finally stopped.

Then, he turned.

"Tell me what you know," he said.

Astrid arched a brow. "About what?"

Kieran's jaw tensed. "Don't play games."

Astrid inhaled slowly, glancing up at the sky. She needed to deflect, to push him just enough without tipping him over the edge.

"You think I had something to do with that attack?" she asked, feigning amusement.

Kieran didn't answer right away. Instead, he studied her-deeply, thoroughly. As if peeling back her layers.

"I think," he said carefully, "that you're not just some rogue who stumbled onto my land by accident."

Astrid forced a smirk. "You give me too much credit."

Kieran took a step closer. Just enough that she could feel the heat of his body, the raw power radiating from him.

"That creature," he murmured, voice low, "was after something."

His meaning was clear.

Or someone.

Astrid's stomach coiled, but she didn't let it show.

"If I were working with that thing," she said, tilting her chin defiantly, "why would I have fought it?"

Kieran's lips pressed into a thin line.

"You tell me."

Their gazes clashed-gold meeting steel. A silent battle of wills.

Astrid knew she had to tread carefully. Kieran wasn't like others. He was sharp. He wouldn't drop this.

But before he could press further-

A sharp cry echoed from the fortress.

Both of them turned toward the sound.

A guard, breathless, came sprinting across the courtyard.

"My King," the man gasped, his face pale. "You need to see this."

---

The body was fresh.

Astrid barely suppressed her reaction as she stepped into the grand hall. Warriors had gathered in a tense circle. At the center, a man lay sprawled, his chest carved with deep, jagged symbols.

Not just any symbols.

Dark runes. The kind she had seen before.

Her throat tightened.

This wasn't random.

This was a message.

Kieran crouched beside the body, his face unreadable. He traced a finger over the carved lines, his golden eyes narrowing.

"This wasn't a wolf attack," one of the warriors murmured.

"No," Kieran said softly. "It wasn't."

Astrid's mind raced. Whoever had done this... they knew exactly what they were doing. And worse-they knew she was here.

She felt Kieran's gaze flicker to her.

This time, there was no doubt in his eyes.

He knew she recognized those markings.

She could see the unspoken words forming on his lips.

But before he could ask-before she could even think of an excuse-

The torches flickered.

And from the darkness beyond the hall, a whisper curled through the air.

Not human.

Not wolf.

Something else.

Kieran's entire body went still.

And then-

The door slammed shut behind them.

The room plunged into darkness.

And the whisper became a voice.

"Found you."