Chapter 3 Shadows of the Past

The fire crackled, sending sparks into the night sky as Aria sat cross-legged on the hard ground, her journal open on her lap. She traced her fingers over the worn leather cover-the last gift her father had given her before he disappeared. Ethan sat a few feet away, methodically sharpening his knife, his expression stoic and unreadable.

"So," Aria started, breaking the silence, "you never told me why you keep coming back to the Whispering Isles."

Ethan didn't look up, his gaze fixed on the blade. "I'm not the sharing type."

She let out a soft scoff. "I gathered that much."

He glanced at her from the corner of his eye, a hint of annoyance in his stare. "You should get some sleep. We move at dawn."

Aria ignored his attempt to brush her off. "You know, it wouldn't hurt to open up a little. Maybe I'd stop thinking you're just a heartless loner with a death wish."

The blade froze mid-stroke, and Ethan's jaw tightened. For a moment, Aria thought she'd crossed a line, but then he set the knife down and leaned back, staring into the fire.

"You really want to know?" he asked, his voice low and guarded.

She nodded, curiosity piqued.

Ethan hesitated, his eyes distant. "The Isles took something from me... someone, actually. A long time ago."

Aria's heart clenched, sensing the pain in his words. "Who?"

He didn't answer right away, his gaze fixed on the dancing flames. "My brother. We were kids-barely old enough to know better. Our old man brought us here on one of his expeditions. Said he found something that would change everything."

A bitter smile touched his lips. "He was right. It changed everything-just not how he planned."

Aria held her breath, not daring to interrupt.

"One night, my brother wandered off. I went after him, but... it was like the forest swallowed him whole. I searched for days-weeks-until I couldn't stand it anymore. I never found him." Ethan's voice wavered, just enough for Aria to hear the crack in his tough exterior.

Her chest tightened, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of empathy. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

He didn't respond, and the silence between them grew heavier. When he finally looked at her, his gaze was colder than before. "Don't waste your pity on me. I've made peace with it-or as much peace as a man like me can manage."

Aria swallowed the lump in her throat, guilt gnawing at her. "Is that why you're helping me? Trying to make up for not saving him?"

He glared at her, his jaw clenched. "Don't flatter yourself. I'm not your savior. I'm just making sure you don't die on my watch."

But his harsh words didn't mask the vulnerability she'd glimpsed, and despite his warning, Aria couldn't help but see past the walls he'd built around himself. Before she could say anything more, a distant howl pierced the quiet, sending a chill down her spine.

Ethan shot to his feet, knife in hand, eyes scanning the darkness. "Pack your things. We're not alone."

Aria's heart pounded as she hurried to gather her belongings. Ethan moved with deadly precision, his senses heightened as he listened for more signs of danger.

"What was that?" she whispered.

"Wolves," he replied tersely. "But something's off... they don't usually come this far south."

A rustle in the bushes made them both freeze. Ethan pushed Aria behind him, his knife gleaming in the firelight. Seconds stretched into eternity as they waited, breathless and tense.

Suddenly, a shadow lunged from the underbrush-a wolf, snarling and vicious. Ethan met it head-on, dodging its snapping jaws and slicing at its flank. The beast yelped and stumbled back, but before Ethan could finish it off, three more wolves emerged, circling them.

Aria fumbled for a weapon, grabbing a thick branch from the ground. Ethan fought with lethal grace, but it was clear they were outnumbered. As one wolf lunged at her, Aria swung the branch, landing a solid blow to its side. It yelped but didn't retreat.

Ethan swore under his breath. "They're hunting in a pack. Stay close!"

With coordinated movements, the wolves attacked again, forcing Ethan and Aria to back up against a boulder. Blood dripped from a shallow cut on Ethan's arm, and Aria could see the strain in his eyes.

"Any brilliant ideas?" she shouted over the chaos.

Ethan grunted. "Yeah-don't die."

Just as the wolves prepared for another attack, a loud roar echoed through the forest, followed by a flurry of movement. The wolves stopped, ears perked, before scattering like shadows into the night.

Breathing hard, Aria turned to Ethan. "What the hell was that?"

He wiped the blood from his knife, his face grim. "Something worse. We need to move-now."

As they packed up and hurried away, Aria couldn't help but glance back into the darkness. Whatever had scared the wolves away was still out there-and it was far more dangerous than they had imagined.