Chapter 4 4

Smoke curled from the dying embers in the cabin's fireplace, filling the room with the scent of charred wood. The first rays of dawn barely touched the sky, casting a faint gray glow through the cracks in the boarded-up windows. Sleep had been fleeting, stolen in restless fragments, but Alina forced herself upright, rolling her shoulders to shake off the stiffness settling into her limbs.

Cole sat on the floor near the hearth, sharpening a hunting knife with slow, deliberate strokes. His eyes flicked toward her, unreadable in the dim light. "Didn't think you'd sleep at all."

"I didn't sleep much," she admitted, brushing stray strands of hair from her face. "Kept thinking about what happens next."

A slow smirk lifted one corner of his lips. "Regrets already?"

"None," she said firmly, meeting his gaze. "But we need to move soon. My father will figure out I'm gone."

Cole tested the edge of his blade against his thumb before setting it aside. "He already knows."

The statement sent a chill down her spine. "How do you-"

"Patrols doubled before we even reached the border." He stood, stretching his arms behind his head. "Your father isn't the type to wait around and hope you come back on your own. He'll send his best trackers."

A knot of unease twisted in her gut. "Then we need to go now."

Cole grabbed his pack and slung it over his shoulder. "Northwest. There's an old hunting trail that leads out of Blackwood territory. If we're fast, we can put enough distance between us and any search party."

Alina tightened the straps on her boots and nodded. "Then let's move."

The forest felt different under the weight of impending danger. Every snap of a twig, every rustle in the underbrush, sent a surge of adrenaline through Alina's veins. Cole led the way, his movements fluid and precise, guiding her along the overgrown path that wound through towering pines.

An hour passed before he held up a hand, signaling her to stop.

Voices carried through the trees, low but distinct.

"Spread out. She wouldn't have gone far."

Alina pressed her back against a tree, breath shallow. Recognition sent a cold spike of fear through her. The voice belonged to Leon, her father's Beta- a ruthless warrior with a talent for tracking.

Cole crouched beside her, voice barely above a whisper. "Three of them. Maybe four."

Her heart pounded. "They'll find us if we stay here."

"Then we don't stay here." His gaze flicked toward a rocky incline a few yards ahead. "We go up. Throw them off."

The incline wasn't steep, but the loose dirt and exposed roots made climbing treacherous. Alina dug her fingers into the earth, pushing herself upward. Cole moved beside her, his grip steady whenever she faltered.

A sharp howl cut through the air.

One of the trackers had caught their scent.

"Move," Cole ordered, shoving her forward.

They scrambled to the top just as the first wolf burst into view below. A massive gray beast, its snarling maw dripping with anticipation. It locked eyes with Alina before letting out another bone-chilling howl.

More would be coming.

Cole grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a sprint. The wind tore at her clothes, branches slashing against her arms as they ran. Every muscle burned, but stopping wasn't an option.

The river came into view ahead-a churning, icy rush of water cutting through the land like a scar.

"We jump," Cole said without hesitation.

Alina skidded to a halt. "That's suicide!"

"Staying here is worse."

The sound of paws pounding against the ground grew louder.

Cole took her hand and leaped.

Cold water swallowed her whole.

The shock stole the breath from her lungs, dragging her under as the current yanked her downstream. The world became a blur of movement-water rushing, limbs flailing, Cole's grip tightening around her wrist. She kicked desperately, breaking the surface long enough to suck in air before the river pulled her under again.

Strong arms wrapped around her, guiding her toward the shore. Her body crashed onto solid ground, coughing up river water as she gasped for breath.

Cole knelt beside her, his chest heaving. "That-" he inhaled deeply, "wasn't so bad."

She shot him a glare between ragged breaths. "You're insane."

He grinned. "But we're alive."

Shelter became the next priority. Wet clothes clung to her body, the early morning chill seeping into her bones. Cole led her to a hollowed-out tree trunk large enough to crawl inside, shielding them from the wind.

Alina rubbed her arms for warmth, teeth chattering. "How long before they find us again?"

"Depends." He wrung the water from his shirt before pulling it back over his head. "They won't cross the river easily, but they'll pick up our trail eventually."

She ran a hand through her tangled hair. "We need a real plan. Running isn't going to work forever."

Cole leaned against the tree, watching her carefully. "You have an idea?"

A flicker of determination settled in her chest. "We don't just run. We fight back."

His brow lifted. "Fight back how?"

Alina exhaled slowly, considering her next words. "My father expects me to be a pawn, but he underestimates how much support I have in the pack. If I return on my own terms, not as a prisoner, I can challenge him."

Cole studied her for a long moment, then nodded. "A coup, then?"

"A rightful challenge," she corrected. "Blackwood law states an heir can challenge an Alpha's leadership if they have the strength to do so."

His expression darkened. "And you think your father will play by the rules?"

She didn't.

But she refused to be a caged bird any longer.

"If I can gain allies before he realizes what I'm planning, I stand a chance," she said. "And you..." she hesitated, then met his gaze. "You don't just get your freedom. You get a place to belong."

Cole scoffed, though something unreadable flickered in his eyes. "I don't belong anywhere."

"You could," she countered. "If you choose to."

Silence stretched between them, tension thick in the air. Finally, Cole exhaled, shaking his head. "You're crazier than I thought, Princess."

A smirk tugged at her lips. "Is that a yes?"

He chuckled, rubbing a hand over his face. "Hell, why not? Let's burn the whole damn kingdom down."

A new fire ignited in her chest. This wasn't just about running anymore. It was about reclaiming everything stolen from her. And she was ready to fight for it.