Chapter 2 Chapitre 2

Chapter 2

The weight of the broken bond echoed like a deaf, invisible but oppressive howling, an echo crossing the ether to hit Sylvia in the chest. His eyes suddenly opened, an ice cream crossing through his gaze. She knew. No need for incantations or visions. The void left behind Elena was sufficient to trigger a shock wave, a fracture in the natural order. A luna that escapes. A pack left vacant. A betrayal at the heart of the very foundations of power.

Sylvia got up slowly, ignoring the thrill that crossed her spine. It was not a simple leak. Elena was not reckless enough to act without a plan. This meant that she had carefully thought about this decision, which made the consequences even more serious.

"Small," murmured Sylvia in a breath, more for herself than for anyone. "You have no idea what you have triggered. »»

She walked to the center of the room, her fingers drawing ancient symbols on a stone table worn out by time. Once the circle is complete, she closed her eyes, calling the spirits. The air vibra slightly while whispers were formed, dissonant, inconsistent, but carrying a single truth: the link between Kieran and Elena was crumbled every second. This could not be ignored.

***

In dense darkness, Elena was still running. Fear had turned into fierce determination. The bag on her shoulder weighed heavy, but not as much as the freedom she had torn from a life of silence. His steps were quick, his instincts sharp. She knew she was hunted down. Not yet by Kieran - he probably had not yet noticed his absence - but by others.

Sacred forests. They were mentioned in the tales, like a place where the laws of the wolves had no grip. They were full of ancient magic, forgotten presences that did not respond to anyone. Not even an alpha. These woods murmured refuge, but also warnings.

Elena stopped, her ears capturing a light rustling on her left. Her breath was shorter as she scanned the shadows. Then she saw it. A pair of piercing yellow eyes, fixed on it from darkness. A wolf. Larger than normal, more imposing, but different. He did not seem to belong to a pack.

The wolf advanced slowly, his deliberate movements, as if he measured each step. Elena remained motionless, her hand ready to catch the silver dagger that she always kept on her. He did not attack. Instead, he tilted his head, looking at her as if he was trying to understand it.

"Are you planning to stay there or are you going to say what you want?" She whispered, more to hide her nervousness than to intimidate him.

The wolf did not answer - obviously - but he sat down, his gaze always fixed on her. It was as if he evaluated him, weighing his intentions.

"Very well, stay there if it sings you," she whispered before resuming her journey, throwing furtive glances behind her. The wolf did not move immediately, but it felt its constant presence, as a shadow that followed it at a distance.

***

In the mansion, the tension was palpable. Kieran entered the common room, his rigid posture and his tight jaws. Silence fell immediately. He hadn't said a word yet, but everyone felt the imminent storm.

Lisbeth was the first to approach, a sly smile on the lips. "Are you looking for something, Kieran?" »»

He did not answer. His eyes traveled the room, looking for an answer he already knew. The empty room of Elena, the missing linen. His absence was glaring.

"Where is she?" He finally asked, his low but dangerous voice.

Lisbeth shrugged. "How could I know?" It's not like she confided in me. »»

"It's not time for your games," he scolded, his fangs appearing briefly.

Lisbeth fell slightly, but she kept her mocking air. "Maybe she had enough, Kieran. It's not like you've given him a reason to stay. »»

He approached so quickly that she barely had time to react. His fist hit the wall near his head, making the foundations tremble. "If you know something, you tell me now," he whispered, every word threatening.

She swallowed, but her smile did not disappear. "You should wonder why she left, Kieran. Not where she went. »»

He retreated, finally letting her breathe, but his mind was in turmoil. For what ? He already knew the answer. Every moment he ignored it. Every cold look he had thrown at him. Whenever he had chosen the pack rather than her.

The guilt mixed with anger, creating a storm in him. But it was not the time to be overwhelmed. She was gone. She had broken their link, and it endanger everything he had built.

"Find it," he ordered the wolves present. " Immediately. »»

***

Elena found a small clearing in the forest, the silence interspersed by the rustling of the leaves. She knelt down, feeling a wave of fatigue invade her. The wolf that followed him appeared again, this time closer.

"Do you plan to follow me for a long time?" She said, raising an eyebrow.

The wolf did not answer, but something in his gaze changed. He approached slowly, stopping just far enough so that she did not feel threatened.

"If you want to stay, stay," she sighed, exhausted. "But don't expect me to share my food. »»

She didn't know why she spoke to her as equal. Maybe because he seemed to understand. Maybe because she desperately needed an ally, even if he was just an animal.

The wolf laughed near her, her deep and regular breath. For the first time since she left the mansion, Elena felt her heart slow down slightly. It was not security, but it was a start.