Kara's POV
We kept moving, walking now, and I saw it in the distance, a castle on a faraway hill.
"That castle is close," I said, scanning the distant hills. "Just a little further." I wondered who lived there. I hoped they would give us shelter; I was so tired.
We reached the castle safely, but the journey had taken its toll on me. My body ached from all the running. The young man kept watch as a guard showed me and Hilda to a secure room.
"Are we safe here?" I asked, looking around. "I don't feel safe yet."
"Don't worry," the young man reassured me. "You and the baby will be taken care of."
At just one knock, the castle gates swung open, and a beautiful woman welcomed us in. The young man and I were given separate rooms to rest.
But I couldn't rest. I couldn't ignore the uneasy feeling gnawing at me, the feeling that something was terribly wrong. My eyes flickered to Hilda, who lay beside me. His eyes seemed to glow in the darkness, and I felt a chill run down my spine.
Meanwhile, back in the castle…
Lira's POV
"We have to leave this castle quickly and entirely," I whispered to Kaden, my heart pounding. We were moving swiftly through the dark corridors, the sound of guards' footsteps fading as we evaded capture. I knew time was running out. "They'll be searching for us. If we stay anywhere around here, they'll find us. We're not safe here anymore."
"I know," Kaden replied, his voice weak but determined. "We have to get out of here. But where will we go?"
I led him through the palace halls, carefully avoiding the guards who were still searching for us. The tension was suffocating, each step taken with the knowledge that we could be caught at any moment.
We made our way outside, slipping into the woods under the cover of darkness. Kaden, still recovering from his injuries, leaned heavily on me and the guard. His mind was on the pack, and I knew what he was thinking. We had to get away from them, far from this place.
Chasa' POV
The scent of blood hung in the air, a harsh reminder of the battle we had just won. I stood tall, watching Zara's troops retreat, their tails tucked between their legs. The fight had been long and brutal, but we had held our ground. Victory was ours.
"We've won today, but this Aisn't over," I muttered to my soldiers, my eyes still scanning the battlefield for any sign of a new threat.
A messenger came running toward me, a scroll clutched in his hand. He was breathing hard, his face pale. "Alpha Chesa, urgent news," he gasped. "Lira has left the castle. She's on her way back home."
My eyes widened in shock. Lira? Leaving the castle? I had been so focused on the fight that I hadn't even thought of her. My daughter, my heir, was now missing.
"What do you mean she's left?" I demanded, my voice sharp. "Where is she now?"
"She's gone," the messenger replied, his voice shaking. "She took her guards with her, and they're headed back."
"Her guards?" I cursed under my breath. This was not good. We had just won the battle, but if Lira was in danger, our problems had just become more complicated.
"We need to go after her," I ordered. "Prepare the soldiers. We're heading back to the castle. Now."
Back at the castle..
Zara's POV
The castle was alive with celebration. Wolves howled, their voices echoing into the night as they cheered for the victory. The air was thick with the scent of blood, but the jubilation of the pack drowned it out. Mira walked up to me, her eyes bright with excitement.
"Zara, we did it!" she said, her voice full of energy.
"Yes, we did," I replied, forcing a smile. But inside, I felt nothing but urgency. Kaden was gone. He and Lira had fled the castle, everything was at risk.
Mira stepped closer, still grinning. "You should join the celebration. We've won!"
"This isn't over," I snapped, my gaze scanning the room. "We need to find them."
Mira looked at me, confused. "Who?"
"Kaden," I said coldly. "He left with Lira, we need to find the child Hilda.
Mira's eyes widened, her confusion turning to concern. "But Kaden... he wouldn't leave the pack like this. Not with everything at stake."
I clenched my fists. I growled. He's already left, including Lira, Kara and the child. They're trying to escape with the child."
Mira's expression changed, a flicker of worry passing over her face. "The child? The one who's supposed to bring destruction to the pack?"
"Yes," I said, my voice low. "The child that Kaden has waited for. If they get away, everything we've worked for will fall apart."
Mira hesitated. "So, what do we do now?"
"We leave tonight," I said firmly. "We find Kaden, Lira, Kara and the child. We don't give them the chance to escape."
Before Mira could respond, a guard ran into the courtyard, his face frantic.
"Alpha Zara!" he gasped, breathless. "You need to see this."