"Be quiet," Harvey's grip tightened on Elara's mouth, his eyes wide with a mix of shock and recognition. The arrows kept raining down, pinging off the rocks around them.
"Down!" Harvey hissed, pulling Elara behind a large, jagged boulder. He pressed her low, shielding her with his body. "Stay absolutely still."
Elara's heart hammered against her ribs. Who were these attackers? And why did Harvey's expression suggest he knew them, yet was utterly bewildered? She saw a flicker of movement on the ridge above – figures clad in dark furs, their faces obscured by shadows, notching more arrows.
"They're looking for us," Harvey whispered, his voice strained. "But… they haven't seen us yet." He peered cautiously over the boulder, his brow furrowed in a desperate attempt to understand.
A harsh shout echoed from above. "They must be around here! Spread out! Find them!"
"let's get in there," Harvey whispered as they crawled for what felt like an eternity into the hole, the rough rocks scraping against their skin, the sounds of their pursuers echoing in the distance. Finally, after what seemed like hours, they reached a small, hidden alcove, shielded from the main ravine by a thick curtain of vines.
"We can rest here for a moment," Elara whispered, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
Harvey slumped against the cool rock wall, his face pale and drawn. He clutched his arm, blood seeping through his fingers.
"Let me see that," Elara said, reaching for his arm.
Harvey flinched, pulling away slightly. "It's nothing," he mumbled. "Just a scratch."
"Don't be ridiculous," Elara retorted, her voice firm. "Let me see." She gently but firmly took his arm, carefully peeling back the blood-soaked fabric to reveal a deep gash.
"That needs stitches," she said, her brow furrowing with concern. She rummaged through her satchel, pulling out a small vial of antiseptic, a needle, and thread.
Harvey watched her, his expression a mixture of gratitude and apprehension. He winced as she cleaned the wound, the antiseptic stinging his flesh.
"Hold still," Elara instructed, her voice gentle but firm. She carefully threaded the needle and began to stitch the wound, her movements precise and practiced.
As she worked, the silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken questions. Finally, when she had finished stitching the wound and bandaging it securely, Elara looked up at Harvey, her eyes unwavering.
"Now," she said, her voice low and serious. "Tell me who they were."
Harvey flinched, avoiding her gaze. "Rogues," he muttered, his voice unconvincing. "Just… rogues. Looking for trouble."
Elara narrowed her eyes, unconvinced. "Rogues don't coordinate like that,"
The silence after the attack was deafening, broken only by the rustling of leaves and the distant calls of birds. "They're just rogues, Elara," Harvey repeated, the words hanging in the air, thin and unconvincing.
Elara didn't respond. She simply stared at him, her expression unreadable. She knew he was lying, and the knowledge stung. But she also knew that pushing him wouldn't do any good. He was a closed book, and she didn't have the key.
"He probably has his own reasons," she said to herself, more to fill the silence than to offer an explanation.
Harvey, on the other hand, was lost in his own thoughts. Why? The question echoed in his mind, a relentless drumbeat. Why would wolves from his own pack attack him? He was their Beta, their leader, their protector. He had risked everything to find a cure for their plague, and this was how they repaid him?
He racked his brain, trying to make sense of it. Had he made enemies within the pack? Was there a power struggle he wasn't aware of? Or was it something more… something he couldn't even begin to imagine?
His pack hated the Siberians. They saw them as weak, soft, a stain on the proud lineage of Stone Haven. The thought of a Siberian, especially one with the power to save them, walking freely among them… it was anathema.
"So petty and evil of them," he thought, the words a silent snarl in his mind. He knew his pack. He knew their ingrained biases, their simmering resentment. He had hoped the desperation of the plague would have burned away their prejudice, but it had only fueled it. They would rather die than accept help from a Siberian.
He watched Elara, her brow furrowed in concentration as she stitched his wound. She was so close, so vulnerable. And he knew, with a sickening certainty, that those arrows hadn't been meant for him. They had been meant for her. He had simply been in the way.
A cold, possessive rage ignited within him. He wouldn't let them. He wouldn't let his pack's twisted hatred claim her life. He had brought her here, and he would protect her, even if it meant turning against everything he had ever believed in.
"I will never allow them to hurt Elara, no matter what happens," he vowed silently, his hand clenching into a fist. He would become the shield she needed,
As Elara finished bandaging his arm, she looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of concern and suspicion. "We should get moving," she said, her voice cool and distant. "It's not safe to stay here."
Harvey nodded, his throat tight with emotion. He knew she didn't trust him, and he couldn't blame her.
The rest of the journey was silence, only the rustling leaves and the calling of the bird could be heard, her senses were on high alert since she faced the last attack.
"Welcome to Stone Haven," he announced, plastering a smile on his face. his eyes lit up with pride and his voice with a heart felt joy.
Instead of a verbal response, Elara simply hmmphed, a sound that conveyed her skepticism and displeasure far more effectively than any words could. Her eyes narrowed, taking in the village with a critical gaze.
Before they could descend further, some imposing warriors emerged from the shadows of the trees, their faces grim and unreadable. Clad in the same dark furs, they carried their weapons with an easy confidence that spoke of deadly skill.
"Welcome back Beta Harvey," They greeted with their head bow, although they saw Elara they pretended to be unaware of her presence, Elara just rolled her eyes, refusing to greet them as well.
"The Siberian's, did they tried to harm you," one of the warriors questioned, before Harvey could respond, they others draw out their sword and pointed it at her, scaring the wit out of her.
Harvey surged forward, placing himself between Elara and the warriors, his eyes blazing with fury. "Stand down!" he roared, "She is under my protection!"
Elara breath caught in her throat, and her eyes widened with fear, she began to regretted her decision of coming to Stone Haven pack