The trees looked the same. Every. Single. One.
Ayla stumbled forward through the damp forest floor, her boots dragging through the mud. Her breath was shallow with exhaustion. She turned in a slow circle, scanning the dense woods.
"This can't be right," she muttered under her breath. "We passed that crooked tree two days ago."
Behind her, Rhett stepped forward, equally tense. His gray eyes scanned the landscape. "I don't understand it. I've been keeping track of the direction. We haven't turned around."
Ayla's chest tightened as frustration bubbled up. "We're going in circles, Rhett. We've been walking for three days and now we're right back where we started!"
"Ayla, I know it seems like that, but—"
"I'm not crazy, Rhett. I know what I saw. I marked that tree with a scratch when we first passed it, and now we're here again! It's like something's messing with us."
Rhett ran his fingers through his hair. "Maybe it's magic. Or something linked to Milo's protection. If he's a seer, maybe he left some kind of barrier to keep people away."
"I'm not trying to break into a fortress, I'm trying to find answers!" Ayla's voice cracked. She stepped away from him, turning her back as she tried to control her breathing.
"I've been through hell, Rhett. Losing my grandma. Nearly getting killed. Dreams that don't make sense. A woman with silver hair telling me riddles. Now I'm lost in the woods with a man who promised to help but keeps leading me in f**king circles!"
The silence that followed was heavy. The wind barely moved. A few birds chirped in the distance, but even they sounded wary.
Ayla turned to him, her voice rising again. "You led us nowhere, Rhett!, all we've done is waste time—"
Rhett's jaw tightened. "Enough, Ayla."
She froze at the tone.
His eyes which were usually calm, now burned with restrained fury. "You think this is easy for me? You think I'm not trying?" His voice cracked slightly. "Do you think I don't stay awake wondering if I'm good enough to protect you? If I'm strong enough to lead you to something I don't even fully understand?"
Ayla stared at him, guilt slowly replacing her frustration.
"I'm doing my damn best," Rhett continued, his voice raw. "I didn't ask for this bond. I didn't ask to care this much. But I do. And every day I'm scared I'm failing you."
Her lips parted, the anger draining from her like a punctured balloon. "Rhett…"
He looked away, breathing hard. "Don't tear me down when I'm already trying to hold everything up."
Silence fell between them, thick and heavy.
Ayla stepped forward, her voice softer now. "I… I'm sorry. You're right. I went off on you and I shouldn't have. I'm just scared. I didn't mean to take it out on you."
Rhett's shoulders loosened slightly. His eyes returned to hers.
"I know," he said quietly. "I'm scared too. But I need us to be together in this, Ayla. Not tearing each other apart."
She nodded her voice barely a whisper. "We will be."
Then he took a step toward her. Close enough that she could feel the warmth of his breath. His hands slowly reached for her waist and pulled her gently into him.
"We'll get through this. You and me," he said.
She nodded again, swallowing hard. "You promise?"
"I do."
And then, he leaned in and kissed her.
It was slow at first, then became deep. Ayla melted into him, letting the warmth of his body replace all the fear and doubt clouding her heart.
Suddenly the mark on her arm the one tied to the Lunaris bond suddenly pulsed with heat. A soft glow broke through the sleeves of her shirt. Rhett felt it too, pulling back slightly, breath-catching.
"Ayla… your mark."
She looked down, eyes wide. The silvery-blue light shimmered softly as if responding to the kiss.
Then a sharp noise shattered the air.
Branches snapped to their left. Then to the right. Footsteps. Too many.
Rhett froze. His entire body tensed.
Then a cold voice echoed through the trees. "Well, well. I finally found you, cursed one."
Ayla's heart dropped and She turned slowly as a figure stepped out from the shadows—Dominic, flanked by five men dressed in black, all armed.
Dominic smirked. "You didn't really think you could hide forever, did you?"
Rhett stepped in front of her, his muscles coiling. "You shouldn't have come."
Dominic chuckled. "Get them!" he ordered his men.
The air was suddenly charged. Rhett didn't hesitate. In a blur of motion, he shifted, bones cracking and stretching as his powerful wolf form emerged—tall, massive, snarling with fury. Ayla gasped at the sight, even after seeing it before, it never got less terrifying.
Then everything erupted.
Rhett lunged at the nearest attacker, claws tearing into flesh. Screams filled the air as Dominic's men scrambled to fight back. Ayla backed up, stumbling over roots, unsure where to go. Blood spattered the leaves. Trees shook as bodies slammed against them. The forest became a warzone.
Dominic stood at a distance, arms crossed, watching.
Rhett fought like a beast possessed, but there were too many. One man stabbed him in the side, and Rhett howled, swiping the man into a tree so hard the bark cracked. But then another jumped on his back.
Rhett turned his head toward Ayla, growling in pain.
"Run!"
"I'm not leaving you!"
"GO!"
His roar shook her to her core. Her legs moved on instinct. She turned and ran into the forest, heart pounding, branches slashing her skin.
Behind her, she heard more growls, a scream, a loud thud—
And then Rhett's cry.
It was loud and Agonizing.
"Rhett!" she screamed, stopping in her tracks. She turned around, but then—
A hand clamped over her mouth.
She thrashed wildly, but another arm locked around her waist, pulling her back.
"No—!" she tried to scream, muffled.
Her eyes darted around wildly. The world tilted. Her heart was hammering.
And then everything went black.