Aurora's POV
It was another cold night in the dungeon, but this time there was hope. I was going to explore the new world I found myself in, witness the changes firsthand, and find out what really happened to me when I died.
"Argh!" Rod groaned as he pulled the door open. He walked in, staring at me behind the bars with a curious glare.
"I don't know why, but I couldn't sleep until I brought this."
He passed a blanket to me, avoiding my eyes as he did.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Oh no. No, you don't," he replied, smirking subtly.
"How did you really know about the storage? Are you some sort of spy? Did you once work in Crimson, or have a family member there maybe?"
I took a moment to think of a possible response. "I had family there once, a long time ago. I know the things I do because I was there. I was present for most of it."
"How did you stumble to this side of the war?"
"You said a question, and I have answered," I retorted, and he smiled in response.
"My turn. Why did you back me up even when you don't know who I am?"
"No clue," he exhaled, stroking his chin softly.
"It felt compulsive, like I could feel how frightened you were. It's weird… I haven't felt such a pull like that before."
I was mute because I had a theory concerning that. He must have been mirroring Kane's emotions since he was his beta, after all.
"Thank you for having my back ... and for the blanket."
"Have a good night. You will need the strength tomorrow."
He left me with a lamp that lit up the cell with light and warmth. I covered myself with the blanket and soon fell asleep.
"Wake up," a forceful voice echoed in my head. It was accompanied by flashes—flashes of a burning bird. It was similar to the one I saw right before I woke up in the woods. Curious, I looked closer.
"Wake up!" it growled again, jolting me awake.
I panted heavily, gripping the blanket as I gasped for breath. It took me a moment to realize I wasn't alone.
"Nightmares or memories?" Kane inquired as he stood beside me in the cell. He was dressed in leather, his braided hair cascading down his back.
"Does it matter?" I groaned as I wiped the dirt off my face.
"Is it time to leave?"
"Not quite," he replied as he handed me a new pair of clothes.
"You are not following me with such a scent. We're passing through dangerous woods inhabited by predators."
"Wow, here I was thinking you cared about my hygiene," I remarked with a fake smile.
"And why go through the dark woods? We can take the straight lane there."
"There are no more straight lanes," he replied.
"I almost forgot I'm talking to a dead woman from a decade ago."
"Funny," I scoffed as I rose to change.
"Well? Are you going to turn around, or were you hoping to enjoy the show?"
"Make haste."
He had already turned around before I even took off the old, torn dress I was wearing. I was slipping into the clothes he gave me when I realized something.
"Oh shit!" I exclaimed.
"What?" he replied, instinctively turning toward me.
I yanked the blanket up to cover my bare nipples as he immediately averted his eyes.
"You can respond without looking at me."
"I didn't know you were not done."
"Yeah, because it takes ten seconds to change into an outfit," I retorted sharply.
"I just realized something. The dress I was executed in wasn't what I woke up in."
"What?"
"I was wearing a ragged, torn dress, but that wasn't what I woke up with in the woods," I explained.
"I'm done."
"What you are saying…" He turned sharply, only to collide with me standing right behind him. The freezing sensation that hit me when our eyes locked softened into a powerful pull, a breathless awareness of him that rooted me in place before I could think.
"Uh… the dress is different," I mumbled, feeling the tingling sensation of him holding my arm. I tried to move away, remembering he hadn't even been up to five feet tall the last time I saw him, but I couldn't.
"Ahem!" a voice cut through the moment.
We pulled apart instantly, realizing Rod had been standing at the door, watching the whole thing.
"Am I… interrupting something? Do you guys need some privacy?"
"Shut up, Rod," Kane shot back with a frown.
"What are you even doing here? Don't you have a meeting with the border patrol this morning?"
"That's your job. I'm not the alpha," he replied with a shrug.
"You gave me the task. I gave it to someone else."
"Why? What important duty do you have to ditch the meeting?"
"I'm coming with you," he answered cheerfully.
"No. It's too risky to take you along. The people can't lose both of us," Kane replied firmly.
"You stay and look after the pack while I go find food."
The smile on Rod's face dropped as he walked toward Kane.
"You're entering the Dark Forest with an inexperienced person. No offense, but no matter how strong you are, you can't make it out on your own. So I'm coming. It's not up to you."
They held intense eye contact in silence, creating a suspenseful energy in the room. I watched curiously to see how it would unfold.
"Fine," Kane exhaled deeply.
"We move out in five."
He left the cell, leaving me and an excited Rod alone.
"Road trip!" he cheered like a little girl.
I walked behind him out of the mansion, and every corner buzzed with workers. I could feel their piercing looks as I passed, whispers following me at every turn.
"Relax," Rod said, grabbing my hand when he noticed how on edge I was.
"People gossip—it's the highlight of their day. Just walk with me."
I felt confident by his side, but the look Kane gave when he saw us holding hands spooked me. I withdrew my hand instinctively as I walked up to the horse he was standing by.
"Beautiful," I remarked, gently caressing its strong back, feeling its heart pulsate beneath my palm.
"Can you transform?" Rod asked as he mounted his own horse.
"No, I'm a dormant. I can't transform. I tried."
"You're riding with me," Kane declared. He helped me onto the horse and mounted behind me soon after. I felt swallowed by his aura, his massive frame pressed against me as he grabbed the reins.
"Let's go."
We charged out of the pack lands and into the open field. I took note of the changes, overwhelmed by how many there were, but one thing hadn't changed—the dark woods.
The Crimson pack never had a problem with it since it lay on the opposite side, but it was a no-go zone for people in the territory.
We arrived at the edge of the woods, and the wind carried the pungent stench of blood and rotting flesh toward us. I recoiled, shielding my nostrils from the foul air. The horses neighed, panic rippling through them as well.
"Traders of the deep," Rod muttered beside us. "They try to evade Crimson by passing through the woods to avoid being caught. But something else caught up with them." He gently gripped the dagger sheathed at his side.
"They don't know the secret we do. They don't know the path," Kane rumbled softly. The vibration in his chest was almost soothing.
"First sign of danger, transform and head back to Crescent."
"I'm gassed out. Can't transform till the full moon. I ran out of stamina during our last rescue mission," Rod replied.
"Let's hope for the best then. Hiyah!"
We advanced into the woods, following a stream so the rushing water could mask our passage. I immediately picked up the stench of corpses all around us ;it was the only thing I could detect.
"Shit," Rod grunted. Kane's face tightened with worry, and I knew something was wrong.
"Dark cougars. It's their track."
Fear clenched my chest when I saw how massive the paw print was.
"Dark cougars are real. Shit!"
"Let's go!" Kane roared. We rushed toward the exit path, abandoning caution—they were already on our trail.
"Faster!" Rod shouted, and that was when I heard its purr. The sound sent chills down my spine as I clung to the charging horse.
"We can make it," Kane whispered.
In a blink, everything became a blur as we were thrown from our horses. I struggled to open my eyes and was met with a massive pair of slitted golden eyes. I froze under its hot breath as it lunged to seize me.