Chapter 2 Hunted

Selene's breath came in ragged gasps as she sprinted through the dense forest, her pulse pounding in her ears. Moonlight barely pierced the thick canopy above, casting eerie shadows that twisted and danced in her periphery. Her bare feet bled from the sharp rocks and brambles, but the pain barely registered there was no time for pain. Only survival.

The howls behind her grew louder, closer. Darius's warriors were relentless, their heavy boots crushing fallen leaves, their snarls filled with the promise of death. The scent of blood lingered in the air hers and the bodies she had left behind.

A branch snapped just behind her. Panic surged through her veins, and she veered sharply to the left, narrowly dodging a dagger aimed at her spine. She stumbled, catching herself against a tree, her vision blurring for a moment from exhaustion.

"Keep running, little princess," a voice taunted from the darkness. Cold, cruel. A voice she knew too well. Gareth, Darius's right hand.

Selene gritted her teeth and pushed forward. She wouldn't let them catch her. Not tonight.

The ground sloped downward, and she felt the air grow damp and heavy with mist. The sound of rushing water called to her a river. If she could reach it, she could mask her scent, maybe even escape.

She burst through the tree line and skidded to a stop at the riverbank. The water was black under the moon's light, moving fast, dangerous. But behind her, the hunters closed in.

"There's nowhere left to run," Gareth sneered as he stepped into the clearing.

Selene turned slowly, her chest rising and falling with effort. Gareth's dark eyes gleamed with amusement, and behind him, the others fanned out, blocking every possible escape.

She took a step backward. Cold water lapped at her heels.

"Come quietly, princess, and I promise to make it painless," Gareth offered, tilting his head.

Selene's lips curled into a smirk, defiance flaring in her chest. "I don't believe you." And with that, she threw herself into the river.

The icy water swallowed her whole, knocking the air from her lungs. The current was stronger than she had expected, pulling her under, tumbling her in its grasp. She fought against it, kicking, clawing for the surface.

A strong hand clamped around her wrist. For a second, terror spiked through her had they caught her? But this grip was different. Firm yet not cruel. She was yanked above the water, gasping for air as her body was pulled toward the riverbank.

Coughing, shivering, she turned to face her savior. A man stood before her, half-hidden in the mist. Tall, broad-shouldered, with piercing blue eyes that locked onto hers with an intensity that stole what little breath she had left.

"Who" she started, but he shook his head.

"Not here," he said, voice low and urgent. "They'll be coming."

Selene's body ached as she stumbled behind the man, deeper into the woods. The adrenaline had worn off, leaving pain and exhaustion in its wake. Her limbs trembled, and she wasn't sure how much farther she could go.

After what felt like hours, they reached a small hidden cabin, tucked away between towering trees. The man pushed open the door, motioning her inside.

"Sit," he instructed, striding across the room to fetch a blanket.

She hesitated. Trust was a luxury she couldn't afford. But she was too tired to fight.

He draped the blanket around her shoulders and crouched beside her. "Who are you running from?"

Selene met his gaze, searching for deception. Finding none, she whispered, "Darius."

His jaw clenched. "Then you're in more danger than you know."

The fire crackled, casting flickering shadows across the wooden walls. The warmth seeped into her frozen skin, but another kind of heat had begun to coil in her belly.

Her rescuer sat across from her, his damp shirt clinging to his muscles, his gaze unwavering. There was something about him something dangerous, something forbidden.

"You still haven't told me your name," she murmured, her voice softer than before.

He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. "Damien."

Silence stretched between them, thick with something unspoken. Selene swallowed hard, her pulse quickening for a reason that had nothing to do with fear.

"You should rest," Damien said, his voice rough.

But sleep was the last thing on her mind.