Hazel's POV
I grasped his hand to steady him as he slowly rose to his feet, my eyes scanning the area in panic. Was anyone left? Had he killed them all?
"We need to move… find somewhere to hide," he urged, already taking steps before I could respond. "Come, let's go." His voice was insistent, and I reluctantly followed.
We pushed through the thick forest, the moon hanging high, scattering eerie shadows across the dense foliage of the Forbidden Woods. The leaves whispered with the wind, accompanied by the calls of unseen nocturnal creatures. The deeper we went, the darker and heavier the forest seemed, as if it guarded secrets even I couldn't begin to imagine. Colton moved with steady confidence, his tall figure cutting through the gloom, a quiet anchor in the silence.
"What are we doing here, Colton?" I whispered, my voice barely a thread against the sounds of the night.
He paused, turning to me with a long sigh before drawing a dagger and offering it to me.
"Keep this close," he murmured gently.
I tightened my grip around the hilt, a sliver of comfort amid the storm of unease twisting inside me. The trees loomed closer, their crooked branches stretching like gnarled hands.
As we pressed deeper, the air grew colder. A heavy sense of dread wrapped around me like a shroud. Every crunch of leaves, every snap of a twig, jolted through my veins like fire. Suddenly, a low growl reverberated through the trees, freezing me in place. Colton stiffened beside me, scanning the shadows.
"We should hurry," he said sharply, seizing my hand.
"Where are we even going?" I demanded breathlessly as he pulled me through the undergrowth. My heart pounded as twigs cracked beneath us, owls hooted above, and the forest seemed alive with menace. Glancing back, I swore I could feel something dark pursuing us.
"Trust me, Hazel," Colton whispered urgently. "I know these woods. We'll find shelter soon."
Though his words sought to calm me, the suffocating sense of danger clung to me. I held the dagger tight, its gleam under the moonlight a poor shield against whatever stalked us.
After what felt like endless running, Colton spotted a cave hidden behind a wall of ivy. With a quick look over his shoulder to ensure we weren't followed, he tugged me inside. Cool darkness wrapped around us, the musty scent of damp earth filling my lungs. Everett lit a torch, its flame casting jagged shadows across the stone.
"We'll be safe here," he said, his voice echoing off the walls. "I've used shelters like this before."
I sank against the cold wall, trying to steady my racing heart. In the torchlight, Colton looked calm, almost untouchable. Somehow, his quiet confidence gave me hope. But as I studied him, something strange unsettled me. He looked sinfully beautiful in the glow of fire and moonlight.
Once, Liam's appearance had meant everything, had kept me tethered to him. But when he severed our bond, all feelings for him withered—there was nothing left. Colton, however… why did his presence stir something inside me?
I turned away quickly, forcing my mind to focus on survival, on escaping Liam. Still, the cave pressed us close. No matter how I tried to keep distance, there wasn't enough space. My chest tightened, my breaths shallow as I caught myself noticing everything about him—his shining eyes, his skin aglow in the faint light.
He seemed completely unaffected, gazing calmly at the cave's mouth where the moonlight streamed in. When I sighed, he finally turned toward me.
"Something wrong? You've been sighing," he asked evenly.
Startled, I cleared my throat. "My legs are just sore," I lied.
"Then stretch them out—rest them on mine," he suggested casually.
It was harmless, but I couldn't bring myself to. I looked down, my pulse racing. Yet when I dared look up again, his eyes were locked on mine, intense and unreadable. The air between us grew heavy, and my breath caught. Why was I reacting this way? Why did his closeness feel so different from any man before?
I tore my gaze away, and that's when I saw it—blood. His hand pressed against his abdomen, fingers slick and red. My stomach dropped.
"You're hurt!" I gasped, rushing to him. Only then did I realize how badly—he hissed in pain as I touched t
he wound. He'd lost far too much blood.