Chapter 4 4

The growl echoed again, deeper now, a primal sound that vibrated through the ground beneath Evelina's feet. Sir Alden raised his sword, its steel catching the faint light that filtered through the trees. His expression was hard, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.

The figures that emerged from the shadows were not human. Their forms were hunched, their movements fluid and predatory, cloaked in the very darkness of the forest. Eyes gleamed faintly from the obscurity- yellow, hungry, and watching them with intent. These were no mere guardians; these were the creatures of the Heartwood, the twisted protectors of the forest's deepest secrets.

"Werewolves," Sir Alden muttered under his breath. His voice was grim, but there was a trace of something else in it- recognition, perhaps, or the memory of past battles.

Evelina's heart hammered in her chest. She had heard of the ancient shapeshifters who roamed the lands in secret, their presence a dark legend. But seeing them now, in the flesh, with their monstrous forms and glowing eyes, made her blood run cold. They were larger than any man, their claws long and gleaming in the dim light. The air around them seemed to crackle with a kind of savage energy.

"Stay close to me," Sir Alden ordered, his voice steady but urgent.

Evelina nodded, pressing her heels into the sides of her horse to keep it moving forward, closer to Sir Alden. But her eyes never left the werewolves as they circled, their movements predatory, as though they were weighing their next move.

The largest of the creatures, its fur a midnight black that nearly matched the shadows, stepped forward, its eyes locking onto Evelina's. There was something unsettling about the way it regarded her- a calculating intelligence behind the beastly exterior.

"You dare to come here?" the creature growled, its voice a low rumble that seemed to reverberate through the ground. "This place is not for you, human."

Sir Alden's grip tightened on his sword, and he took a step forward, positioning himself between Evelina and the creature. "We seek the relic," he said, his voice firm. "The kingdom's very survival depends on it. Stand aside."

The werewolf's lips curled into a twisted smile, exposing sharp teeth that gleamed in the dim light. "The relic belongs to the forest," it snarled. "It belongs to us. No mortal will take what is ours."

Evelina's pulse quickened, her hand reaching instinctively for the dagger hidden at her side. She had been trained for situations like this, but she had never faced anything like these creatures-ancient and untamed, born of the forest itself.

"Then we will fight for it," Sir Alden said, his tone resolute.

The werewolf let out a low growl, and without warning, it lunged forward, its claws slashing through the air. Sir Alden was quick, stepping to the side and bringing his sword down in a swift arc. The creature snarled and leapt backward, narrowly avoiding the strike, its yellow eyes flashing with fury.

Another werewolf joined the first, and the two circled, their eyes locked on Sir Alden. Evelina's heart raced as she watched them, her breath coming in shallow gasps. They were fast, far faster than any human, and their strength was terrifying.

"Stay behind me," Sir Alden shouted, not turning to look at her but knowing she was there. "Do not get involved!"

But Evelina's instincts screamed otherwise. She could not stand idly by while Sir Alden fought these beasts alone, especially when her destiny was tied to this relic. She gripped her dagger tightly, her fingers slick with sweat.

As the two werewolves closed in on Sir Alden, one lunging for his throat, Evelina made her decision. She urged her horse forward, charging straight into the fray.

"Get back, my lady!" Sir Alden yelled, his voice laced with panic.

But Evelina was already in motion. She jumped from her horse, landing gracefully on her feet, her dagger raised. Without thinking, she threw herself at the second werewolf, aiming for the soft spot beneath its jaw.

The creature howled in surprise, its eyes narrowing as Evelina's blade made contact with its thick fur. The force of the impact rattled her, but she didn't falter. The werewolf swiped at her with its claws, but she danced out of reach, narrowly avoiding the deadly strike.

The creature snarled, clearly enraged by her boldness, but Evelina stood her ground. The dagger was all she had, but she was willing to use it to the fullest.

"Lady Evelina, no!" Sir Alden shouted, his voice thick with alarm. But his attention was divided, as the first werewolf had returned, this time with fury in its eyes.

The battle intensified as Sir Alden fought with all his skill. His sword flashed through the air, striking again and again, his movements precise and deadly. But the werewolves were relentless, their strength and speed overwhelming him, forcing him back step by step.

Evelina watched the fight unfold, the fear gripping her chest, but she couldn't look away. She had to act-she had to help him. The relic, the kingdom, everything depended on it.

Without a second thought, she bolted forward again, her dagger raised. This time, she lunged at the massive werewolf attacking Sir Alden, aiming for its eyes, the one vulnerable spot she could see.

The creature turned just in time to see her coming, its lips curling back into a vicious snarl. But Evelina was too quick. She thrust her dagger forward with all her strength, burying it deep into the werewolf's eye. The creature howled in pain, staggering backward, and in that moment, Sir Alden seized the opportunity.

With a powerful swing of his sword, he cleaved the creature in half. It collapsed to the ground with a thud, its body twitching before falling still.

Evelina stood panting, her heart racing, her dagger slick with blood. She had done it.

But the battle wasn't over.

The second werewolf lunged at her, faster than she could react. Its claws swiped just inches from her face, leaving a deep gash across her cheek. Pain exploded in her vision, but she refused to back down.

Sir Alden was beside her in an instant, his sword flashing again. With a swift, brutal strike, he severed the beast's head from its shoulders.

The forest fell silent once more.

Evelina staggered back, her breath ragged, her hand pressed to her wound. Blood dripped from her cheek, but she barely noticed the pain. Her mind was still racing, her body thrumming with adrenaline.

"Are you hurt?" Sir Alden asked, his voice tense as he approached her, his sword still gripped tightly in his hand.

Evelina nodded, her fingers trembling as she touched her cheek. "I'm fine," she said, though her voice was shaky. "But what now?"

Sir Alden's gaze flickered toward the massive stone structure ahead, the place where the relic was hidden. "Now, we find what we came for," he said. His eyes darkened with resolve, the fire of battle still burning in them. "But we must be careful. There are more dangers here than we know."

And as they moved forward into the clearing, Evelina could feel it- the weight of destiny pressing down on her once more. The relic was within their grasp, but the dangers of the Heartwood Forest were far from over.