Zara froze in the middle of the reading room.
The sound of footsteps drew closer.
One step.
Two steps.
Three steps.
Her hand still gripped the old page that had fallen from the shelf. She held her breath as someone's shadow slowly appeared behind the door.
Zara took a step back.
“Alaric?”
There was no answer.
The shadow moved.
Zara immediately grabbed a thick book from the table.
At least she could use it to hit whatever attacked her.
But before the figure could fully emerge—
the front door of the house flew open.
Zara jumped.
“Zara!”
The voice made her sigh in relief.
Alaric.
Zara hurried out of the reading room.
Alaric stood in the doorway with a cold expression. His coat was slightly damp with dew, while his gaze swept across the entire room.
“What happened?”
Zara pointed toward the reading room.
“I heard footsteps.”
Alaric moved at once.
“Where?”
“In the reading room.”
Alaric strode over. Zara followed behind him.
When they arrived, no one was there.
The window was still closed.
The back door was locked too.
Alaric checked every corner of the room.
There was no sign that anyone had entered.
But then his eyes stopped on something lying on the floor.
A sheet of paper.
Alaric picked it up.
His expression changed.
“Where did you get this?”
Zara pointed at the shelf.
“It fell out from behind the books.”
Alaric read the page.
Emberrose.
He sighed.
“You read this book?”
“I just found it.”
“Don’t touch it again.”
Zara frowned.
“Why?”
“Because I’m the one who’ll read it.”
“You know about this flower?”
Alaric fell silent.
That answer was enough for Zara.
“You do know.”
“A little.”
“Then tell me.”
“Not now.”
Zara began to grow irritated.
“Alaric, I’ve been in this forest for days. I was almost killed by wolves, I saw a human turn into a wolf, and now something has entered your house. I think I have the right to know what’s really going on.”
Alaric looked at her.
“You don’t need to know everything.”
“Why not?”
“Because the more you know, the greater the danger that follows you.”
Zara fell silent.
Alaric placed the page back on the table.
“I’ll tell you when the time is right.”
“And when will the time be right?”
“When you’re ready to accept it.”
Zara sighed.
“That’s always your answer.”
“Because you ask too many questions.”
“And you answer too few.”
For a moment, they stared at each other.
At last, Alaric looked away.
“Sit.”
“What?”
“Sit.”
Zara obeyed, though she was still annoyed.
Alaric walked to the table and poured her a glass of water.
“Drink.”
Zara accepted the glass.
“Thank you.”
Alaric didn’t answer.
But when he saw Zara actually drink the water, his expression softened slightly.
Only for a moment.
Then it turned cold again.
“I want to know something,” Zara said.
“What now?”
“Why do you live alone in a forest this vast?”
Alaric fell silent.
That simple question stirred up something he didn’t want to remember.
A grand house.
A dining table that had once been filled with his family.
His father’s voice.
His mother’s laughter.
Then blood.
Screams.
Fire.
Grimclaw.
Alaric clenched his fists.
“I like it.”
“Being alone?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t you ever feel lonely?”
“No.”
Zara watched him.
She knew Alaric was lying.
Not because of his answer.
Because of his eyes.
There was a deep sadness in them.
Zara didn’t push him.
“Then I won’t ask anymore.”
Alaric looked at her.
“Good.”
Zara gave him a faint smile.
“But I’m still going to look for Emberrose.”
Alaric sighed.
“Stubborn.”
“I just want to save my little brother.”
“I know.”
That answer left Zara silent.
For the first time, Alaric didn’t tell her to go home.
Several hours later, the house grew quiet again.
Alaric was in the main room reading.
Zara sat by the window.
Every so often, she glanced at the forest.
For some reason, ever since she entered that place, she had begun to feel something strange.
This forest was frightening.
But some part of her didn’t want to leave.
Maybe it was because of Alaric.
Maybe because she felt safe whenever he was near.
Zara immediately shook her head.
Impossible.
They had only just met.
How could she feel comfortable around a man who wouldn’t even explain who he was?
“Stop thinking about me.”
Alaric’s voice made Zara jump.
“I wasn’t thinking about you.”
“You’ve been staring at me for a while.”
“Because I’m curious.”
“Don’t be.”
“Why?”
“Curiosity can kill.”
Zara let out a small laugh.
“Isn’t that what people say about this forest too?”
“Yes.”
“And I’m still alive.”
Alaric closed his book.
“That’s because I saved you.”
Zara smiled.
“So you admit you saved me.”
“I never denied it.”
“Then I owe you.”
“No.”
Zara frowned.
“Why not?”
“Because I didn’t save you to get something in return.”
That statement left Zara speechless.
Alaric went back to reading.
But he didn’t know that those simple words made Zara’s chest feel warm.
As evening approached, Alaric went out again.
This time, Zara didn’t try to follow him.
She chose to stay in the house.
But not long after Alaric left, a strange sound came from the direction of the forest.
A howl.
Zara stood up at once.
It didn’t sound like an ordinary howl.
There was something strange and urgent in it.
As if someone were issuing a warning.
Zara approached the window.
Between the trees, she saw a shadow move.
Fast.
Very fast.
Zara stepped back.
Then something slammed into the invisible barrier outside the house.
BANG!
Zara flinched.
Birds took flight from the trees.
She covered her mouth to keep from screaming.
Something slammed into the barrier again.
BANG!
This time, she heard a growl.
Zara ran away from the window.
Then footsteps sounded in the yard.
Not one set.
Several.
Zara immediately remembered what Troy had said that morning.
Grimclaw tracks had been found on the eastern side.
They had come farther in.
And now they might have found Alaric’s house.
Zara backed away until her back hit the wall.
“No…”
She wanted to call for Alaric.
But he wasn’t there.
The growls drew closer.
Then another voice came from outside.
“Find the human.”
Zara froze.
They were looking for her.
Her hand flew over her mouth.
Her heart pounded violently.
She immediately ran to the reading room and hid behind the bookshelf.
A few seconds later—
the front door was forced open.
BANG!
Zara held her breath.
Footsteps entered the house.
One.
Two.
Three.
Someone sniffed the air.
“She’s here.”
Zara bit her lip.
She didn’t dare move.
Then she heard a low laugh.
“That human has to still be in the house.”
The footsteps drew closer.
Zara squeezed her eyes shut.
She wanted to scream.
She wanted to run.
But her body was too terrified to move.
Until suddenly—
a thunderous voice rang out from outside the house.
“How dare you enter my territory.”
Every sound stopped at once.
Zara opened her eyes.
She recognized that voice.
Alaric.
But this time, the man’s voice sounded different.
Much colder.
Far more threatening.
And from behind the reading room door, Zara heard a growl that did not come from a human throat.
Something had awakened the other side of Alaric.
And the intruders had just made the biggest mistake of their lives.