Chapter 7 Shadows of the Past

The cold wind hit Selene's face like a sharp blade. She pulled her cloak tighter, but the chill slipped past, crawling under her skin. The forest stretched out before her, dark and still. But it wasn't the usual night quiet. This silence pressed down, heavy and thick-like the calm before a storm. The thin crescent moon barely lit the swaying tops of the pine trees. Shadows pooled in the dips of the land, deep and black.

Selene's breath came shallow, her lungs tight with a mix of cold and something deeper-fear. Every muscle in her body tightened. She wanted to run, but her feet stayed rooted to the ground. Something was wrong. The air itself felt alive, watching.

Behind her, a shadow slid forward without sound. Dorian stood close, his dark eyes sharp as they scanned the same woods. His usual calm had a flicker of something new-unease. Fear hiding behind his strong, steady gaze.

"They crossed the border," Dorian said, voice low and rough. "More than I thought they would."

Selene didn't speak. Her heart pounded so loud she thought he might hear it. She nodded slowly.

"How many?" Her voice was barely a whisper, cracked by the cold and tension.

Dorian's jaw clenched tight. "Too many. And they're not here to talk."

Selene's hands clenched into fists. The fire inside her sparked. These invaders had no idea what they were up against.

"We fight," she said, her voice steady even if her hands shook. "They won't take this from us."

Dorian's gaze softened, but the worry didn't leave his eyes. "You can't go down there like this. Not alone."

She met his eyes, fierce and unwavering. "I won't sit safe while they burn what's ours."

He stepped closer. The air between them crackled with tension and something else-something warm and dangerous. His breath brushed her cheek. "Then I'm coming with you."

Selene's pulse sped. The nearness of him-the heat of his body-made the fight inside her sharper. She felt fragile and fierce all at once. His eyes searched hers like he was reading every secret she hid even from herself.

"We move now," Dorian said quietly, taking her hand. His grip was firm, steadying.

No more words. They slipped into the forest's edge like ghosts. The trees arched above, branches thrashing in the wind like wild hands. Rain started to fall, soft and cold. Selene stumbled once. Dorian caught her instantly, his arm strong around her waist. The touch lingered just a moment longer than needed-sending a spark up her spine.

"Stay close," he warned. His voice was low, rough with emotion.

"I'm not leaving you," she breathed, fighting the rush of heat inside her.

A deep roar shattered the night, trembling through the ground. It wasn't the howl of a wolf. It was darker. Heavy. Filled with rage.

Ahead, shadows shifted. Large shapes moved with terrifying speed. Eyes glowed like embers in the dark.

Selene's breath hitched. "What are those?"

Dorian's teeth clenched. "Not wolves. Something worse."

Before she could react, a beast charged from the shadows. The ground shook beneath its heavy steps. Dorian shoved Selene aside just as massive jaws snapped shut where she'd been.

She rolled to her feet, heart racing. The creature was black as midnight, with jagged teeth that glistened wet in the moonlight. Its breath reeked of rot and iron.

Selene drew her dagger, cold and sharp in her hand. She swung at the beast's face, the blade cutting through thick fur. Dark blood sprayed across her gloves.

The monster roared and swung a claw. Selene ducked just in time. The wind from the strike brushed her hair, scattering wet strands across her face.

Dorian was there instantly. He hit the creature with a powerful shove, knocking it off balance. They crashed to the ground with a heavy thud. Wood cracked beneath them.

Selene's heart hammered. She scrambled up, eyes wide. She watched as Dorian fought, his muscles tense and precise. The creature growled, vicious and wild. Then it stopped, its head lolled back, unconscious.

Dorian pushed himself up, breathing hard but alive. "We have to move. Now."

Selene opened her mouth to argue. She wanted to fight, to stay and protect what was theirs. But then the forest shifted again. More glowing eyes appeared between the trees. More heavy shapes moved toward them. The scent of blood had drawn them all.

Dorian grabbed her hand, squeezing so tight it hurt. "No time."

They ran. The forest closed around them like a cage. Branches scraped faces and ripped clothes. Selene's lungs burned. Her legs ached, but Dorian's grip kept her steady. The rhythm of his heartbeat next to hers was the only thing holding her together.

When they finally slowed, the cold air bit deep. Snow crunched beneath their feet. Moonlight turned ice silver, cold and clear.

Dorian pressed Selene against a boulder, his hands firm on her shoulders. His breath came ragged. His eyes dark and fierce.

"You scared me back there," he said quietly, voice low.

Selene swallowed hard, her throat tight. "Sometimes I scare myself."

He stepped closer. The roughness in his face softened. "You shouldn't be near me. Not like this. But I can't let you go."

Her breath caught. Every time Dorian said something like that, it pulled her closer. The danger and the war felt far away when he looked at her this way.

Before she could answer, his mouth crushed against hers. The kiss was urgent and rough. It carried all the things they couldn't say with words. Selene melted into him, her fingers tangling in his shirt. The cold, the fear, the night-it all disappeared.

When they finally broke apart, his forehead rested against hers. "I'll protect you," he promised.

She wanted to believe him. Needed to.

Then, a sound cut through the silence. Heavy steps. Slow and sure.

Dorian's eyes snapped open, sharp and wild. "It's not them," he said. "It's one."

Selene frowned, confused. "One what?"

The darkness moved. A tall figure stepped out from the shadows. Cloaked and silent.

The moonlight caught his face.

Selene gasped.

It was Kieran.

Her father.

The man she thought was dead.