Chapter 4 On the Run

Author's POV

"Run, Alistair!" Isaac shouted, pushing him toward the trees.

"I'm not running!" Alistair growled, standing firm.

Isaac grabbed his arm. "We don't have time for this. They're right behind us!"

"I don't trust you," Alistair snapped.

"I don't care!" Isaac shot back. "If we stay, we both die!"

Alistair hesitated, his eyes flicking to the dark shapes closing in. "Fine," he muttered.

They sprinted through the dense forest, branches scratching at their skin. The sounds of wolves howling grew louder.

"Do you know where we're going?" Alistair asked between breaths.

"No clue," Isaac admitted. "Just keep running."

Alistair clenched his fists. "How did I let you talk me into this?"

"Better than getting torn apart by Grayson's pack!" Isaac replied, jumping over a fallen log.

They ran for what felt like hours. Alistair could hear his heartbeat pounding in his ears.

"Up ahead!" Isaac shouted, pointing to a rocky cliffside. "We can lose them there!"

"You better be right," Alistair growled, pushing himself harder.

They reached the cliff's edge, but it was a dead end. The drop was too steep.

Isaac cursed under his breath. "We're cornered."

Alistair turned to face him, anger burning in his eyes. "You said we could lose them here!"

"I thought we could," Isaac said, panic creeping into his voice.

"You think?" Alistair shouted.

Before Isaac could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed behind them. Grayson's wolves had caught up.

"There's no way out," one of the wolves sneered, stepping forward.

Alistair moved to stand in front of Isaac. "I'll fight them. You better be ready."

Isaac nodded, though fear flickered in his eyes. "I'm not going to die here."

"We'll see about that," Alistair muttered.

The wolves circled them, snarling.

"Give it up, Alistair," the lead wolf growled. "Grayson wants you alive, but we don't mind breaking a few bones first."

Alistair smirked. "Come and try."

The first wolf lunged at him. Alistair ducked and slammed his fist into the wolf's jaw, sending him flying back.

"Is that all you've got?" Alistair taunted, wiping blood from his knuckles.

Another wolf rushed him, but Alistair was ready, grabbing the wolf and throwing him into the cliffside.

Isaac stood frozen, watching the chaos.

"Isaac, move!" Alistair shouted.

Isaac snapped out of it and tackled one of the wolves, barely holding his own.

The fight raged on. Alistair took down wolf after wolf, but more kept coming.

"We're not going to make it!" Isaac yelled, struggling with a wolf pinning him down.

Alistair glanced around, breathing heavily. They were outnumbered, and escape seemed impossible.

"Isaac, we have to jump!" Alistair shouted, looking at the steep drop behind them.

"Are you crazy?" Isaac screamed.

"It's our only chance!" Alistair said, grabbing Isaac's arm and pulling him toward the edge.

Isaac hesitated, looking down at the rocky ground far below. "We'll die!"

"We'll die if we stay here," Alistair replied, his eyes locked on the wolves closing in.

Isaac swallowed hard. "Fine."

Together, they leaped from the cliff, plummeting into the darkness below.

For a moment, everything was weightless.

Then, they hit the ground, the impact knocking the air from their lungs. Alistair gasped for breath, pain shooting through his body.

Isaac groaned beside him, struggling to sit up. "I hate you for this."

"You're welcome," Alistair muttered, forcing himself to his feet.

They were alive, but barely. The wolves hadn't followed them over the cliff, but they could hear howls in the distance.

"We need to keep moving," Alistair said, wincing as he took a step.

Isaac groaned, clutching his side. "I think I broke something."

"We don't have time to rest," Alistair snapped. "Get up."

Isaac glared at him but managed to stand, limping as they continued through the forest.

After what felt like hours, they finally stopped, collapsing against a large tree.

"How long do you think we've got before they find us again?" Isaac asked, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Not long," Alistair replied, his eyes scanning the darkness. "Grayson won't stop until he's got us."

Isaac leaned back, closing his eyes. "Then what's the plan? We can't keep running forever."

"I don't know," Alistair admitted.

"Great," Isaac muttered. "Just great."

They sat in silence for a few moments, the weight of their situation settling in.

"Why did you betray me, Isaac?" Alistair asked suddenly, his voice quiet but firm.

Isaac opened his eyes, staring at the ground. "I did what I thought was right."

"Right?" Alistair's voice was bitter. "You think betraying your alpha was right?"

Isaac clenched his fists. "You were weak, Alistair. The pack needed strength, and you weren't giving it."

Alistair narrowed his eyes. "So you sided with Grayson? You thought he'd be better?"

"I didn't have a choice," Isaac said, his voice low. "It was him or me."

Alistair's jaw tightened. "You always have a choice."

Isaac didn't respond, his expression unreadable.

A howl echoed in the distance, cutting through the silence.

"They're coming," Alistair said, standing up.

Isaac groaned, pushing himself to his feet. "What now?"

"We keep moving," Alistair replied, turning toward the trees.

Isaac hesitated. "Alistair..."

"What?" Alistair snapped, not turning around.

Isaac's voice was quiet. "I'm sorry."

Alistair didn't respond. He started walking, leaving Isaac to follow behind him.

The forest was thick and the path difficult, but they pushed on, neither speaking.

As they moved deeper into the woods, the air grew colder. Alistair's instincts told him something was wrong.

"We're not alone," he muttered, glancing around.

Isaac froze, his eyes wide. "What do you mean?"

Alistair didn't answer. He could feel it-a presence watching them, waiting.

"We need to go," he said, his voice urgent.

Suddenly, a figure stepped out of the shadows ahead of them.

"Who's there?" Alistair demanded, his heart pounding.

The figure didn't move, its face hidden in the darkness.

Isaac took a step back. "Alistair, I don't like this."

The figure raised its head, and Alistair's blood ran cold.

"Selene?" he whispered.

The figure stepped into the moonlight, revealing a familiar face.

"It's been a long time, Alistair," Selene said softly.

Alistair stared at her, his mind racing. "You're alive?"

Selene nodded, but there was something in her eyes, something dark.

Isaac shifted nervously. "We should go."

Alistair ignored him, stepping toward Selene. "Where have you been?"

Selene looked away. "It's not safe here."

Alistair frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Before she could answer, a low growl came from the trees.

"We're not alone," Selene whispered, her eyes scanning the shadows.

The growling grew louder, closer.

Alistair's heart raced. "What's out there?"

Selene turned to him, her expression grim. "Something far worse than Grayson."

Alistair's breath caught in his throat. "What do you mean?"

Selene didn't answer. The growling surrounded them now, coming from all sides.

Isaac's voice was shaky. "We need to run."

But there was nowhere to run. They were trapped.

And then, from the shadows, came the creature.