Zara quickened her pace.
Ever since entering the Forbidden Forest, that uneasy feeling had continued to follow her. The air inside the forest felt much colder than outside. The towering trees made it difficult for sunlight to reach the ground.
She glanced over her shoulder several times.
There was no one there.
Yet the feeling of being watched refused to disappear.
“Stay calm, Zara.”
She took a deep breath.
“I just need to find Emberrose.”
Her hand touched the small pouch at her waist. Inside was a note about the Forestheart Tonic the doctor had given her.
She couldn't go home empty-handed.
Not after seeing her little brother's increasingly gaunt body.
Not after hearing the doctor say that they were running out of time.
Zara started walking again.
After only a few steps, she heard a branch snap.
Crack.
She stopped.
Slowly, Zara turned around.
Nothing.
Only trees and thin mist drifting between the ancient trunks.
“Who's there?”
There was no answer.
Zara swallowed.
Maybe it was just an animal.
She tried to calm herself and continued on.
But this time, she heard a growl.
Low.
Close.
Very close.
Zara stopped immediately.
A pair of yellow eyes appeared from behind the bushes.
A massive wolf stepped out.
Its gray fur looked darker because the sunlight barely reached this place.
Zara slowly backed away.
“Don't come any closer…”
The wolf growled.
Zara gripped the strap of her bag.
“I won't bother you.”
Instead, the wolf advanced.
One step.
Then another.
Zara retreated.
Then another growl sounded behind her.
Her body tensed.
She turned around.
A second wolf stood among the trees.
“No…”
Zara backed away again.
A third wolf emerged from her left.
Now she was truly trapped.
The three wolves surrounded her.
Zara reached for the small knife she'd brought from home.
Her hand trembled.
But she still raised it.
“I don't want to die.”
The largest wolf lowered its head.
Its fangs were clearly visible.
Zara knew the little knife wouldn't be enough to protect her.
But she didn't want to give up without a fight.
She thought of her little brother's face.
His small body lying in bed.
His shallow breaths.
The hopeful look in his eyes when Zara promised to find medicine.
Tears began to fill Zara's eyes.
“Hang in there…”
She whispered.
“I came here for you.”
The wolf in front of her suddenly lunged.
Zara screamed and raised her knife.
But before the wolf could reach her—
“Back off.”
A deep voice sounded from within the forest.
The wolf stopped.
Zara opened her eyes.
A man stood several yards behind them.
Tall.
Dressed entirely in black.
His black hair was slightly disheveled, but his face looked calm.
Far too calm for someone who had just stepped into the middle of a wolf pack.
His gaze was sharp.
Cold.
It showed not the slightest hint of fear.
The three wolves slowly backed away.
Zara stared at the man in confusion.
“Who are you?”
The man didn't answer.
Instead, his eyes fixed on one of the wolves.
“Grimclaw.”
That single word was filled with hatred.
Zara didn't understand.
But the man's expression grew even colder.
As if the name carried a painful memory he'd kept buried for a long time.
One of the wolves growled.
Then it lunged at the man.
Its movements were too fast for Zara's eyes to follow.
But the man was faster.
He dodged, then slammed one hand into the wolf's body.
BAM!
The wolf was sent flying into a tree trunk.
Zara covered her mouth.
“What…”
The wolf rose to its feet.
Then something impossible happened.
Its body began to change.
Its bones shifted.
The gray fur disappeared.
Its legs transformed into human legs.
Within seconds, the massive wolf had turned into a man.
Zara was rendered speechless.
The knife nearly slipped from her hand.
“A werewolf…”
The man sneered.
“So this human doesn't know what's going on.”
Zara backed away.
Her eyes moved from the man to the other figure facing him.
The man in black remained silent.
His gaze was now fixed on his enemy.
“Get out of my territory.”
His voice was low.
The Grimclaw man laughed.
“Your territory?”
He spat on the ground.
“Moonforge has been dead for a long time, Alaric.”
The name made Zara turn.
Alaric.
So that was the name of the man who had saved her.
Alaric showed no emotion.
But his fists slowly tightened.
“Don't mention my family.”
The Grimclaw man laughed even louder.
“You're still holding a grudge after all these years?”
Alaric's gaze changed.
The coldness that had filled his eyes shifted into something far more dangerous.
Zara could feel it even from several yards away.
Alaric stepped forward.
The Grimclaw man immediately prepared himself.
The other two wolves moved as well.
Zara retreated farther.
She didn't know what was going to happen.
But one thing was clear.
She wasn't in an ordinary forest.
She had entered the territory of creatures that had always been considered nothing more than legends.
And the man named Alaric was no ordinary human.
Alaric suddenly turned toward her.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, Zara forgot to breathe.
There was something strange in the man's gaze.
Not tenderness.
Nor anger.
It was as if Alaric was trying to understand why a human had ventured so deep into his territory.
Then Alaric's nose twitched slightly.
He smelled something.
Zara's scent.
His brows drew together.
That scent was different.
Far too enticing.
Far too unfamiliar.
And somehow, it stirred his wolf instincts.
Alaric quickly looked away.
“Leave.”
Zara was startled.
“What?”
“Get out of the forest.”
Zara looked around.
“I don't know the way home.”
“Not my problem.”
His answer was so cold that Zara fell silent.
But before she could respond, another growl sounded behind her.
One of the Grimclaws moved again.
Alaric immediately positioned himself between Zara and her enemy.
Zara stared at the man's back.
For the first time since entering the forest, she felt a little safe.
But she didn't yet know that safety would only be temporary.
Because far beyond the trees, another pair of eyes was watching them.
And someone had caught the scent of the rare blood flowing through Zara's veins.
That night, the peace of the Forbidden Forest truly came to an end.