Chapter 13

The morning light barely filtered through the thick canopy of trees, casting dappled patterns across the damp forest floor. The scent of pine, earth, and something darker—something feral—clung to the air.

Elara’s heart pounded as she took in the sight before her.

Kier Alden stood at the center of a loose formation of rogues, his expression one of easy amusement. He was dressed in dark leathers, his sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal the symbol etched into his skin—the same crest that had haunted her mother’s journal.

Six wolves surrounded him, their bodies tense, their eyes locked onto her and Leon with silent, predatory focus.

This wasn’t a mere ambush.

This was a message.

Elara forced herself to keep her breathing steady, to shove down the instinctual urge to bare her teeth. She had come here for answers—and she would get them.

Leon, however, was already tensed for a fight. His ice-blue eyes were sharp, his body coiled like a loaded spring. His fingers twitched near the hilt of his blade, his stance speaking of barely contained violence.

Kier’s smirk widened. “I was starting to think you wouldn’t come.”

Elara met his gaze head-on. “You left a trail. Hardly subtle.”

Kier chuckled. “Maybe I wanted to be found.”

Leon shifted slightly closer to her, his presence solid, grounding. “Then start talking before I decide you’re not worth the effort.”

Kier tilted his head, mockingly thoughtful. “Now, that is an interesting proposition. But I don’t take orders from Darkwood dogs.” His red gaze flicked back to Elara. “But you… you might be worth my time.”

Elara clenched her fists. “You knew my mother.”

Kier’s expression didn’t change, but there was a flicker in his eyes—something almost unreadable. “You say that like it’s a question.”

Elara took a step forward, ignoring the way Leon’s fingers brushed against her wrist—a silent warning. She didn’t stop.

“You were part of whatever she was trying to build,” she said, voice unwavering. “The mark on your wrist proves it.”

Kier’s smirk faded, just slightly.

The air between them grew heavier, thick with unspoken things.

Then, finally, Kier exhaled. “Your mother was a visionary.” His tone was almost fond, but edged with something sharper. “She believed in things that most wolves were too afraid to dream of.”

Elara’s stomach twisted. “And you betrayed her.”

Kier’s jaw tightened. The lazy amusement in his posture didn’t disappear completely, but it wavered, just for a second.

“She was wrong,” he said, voice quieter now. “She thought she could change the valley. Unite it.” His red eyes darkened. “But you can’t change something that’s already rotting.”

Elara swallowed, her hands trembling slightly at her sides.

“She died for what she believed in,” she said.

Kier’s gaze flickered, and for a moment—just a moment—there was something almost regretful in his expression.

Then, just as quickly, it was gone.

“And what about you?” he asked, tilting his head. “Are you willing to die for the same thing?”

Leon was in front of her before she could respond.

His blade gleamed in the morning light, the tension in his stance radiating with pure, unfiltered fury.

“Touch her, and you won’t live long enough to regret it,” Leon growled.

Kier laughed, but there was no real humor in it. “Oh, that’s interesting.” His gaze shifted between them, assessing. “This changes things.”

Elara’s pulse spiked. “What does that mean?”

Kier smirked. “It means that I just figured out your weakness.”

Leon moved so fast it was almost a blur. One second, he was beside her—the next, he had Kier pinned against a tree, his blade pressed against the rogue’s throat.

The other wolves tensed, but Kier held up a hand, stopping them.

He was still smiling.

Elara’s breath came in short, sharp bursts.

Leon’s grip on his blade was steady. “Say that again.”

Kier’s smirk widened. “Hit a nerve, did I?”

Leon pressed the blade harder, his voice dropping to something cold and lethal. “You don’t get to speak about her.”

Elara forced herself to move, to reach out and touch Leon’s arm—lightly, just enough to ground him.

The moment her fingers brushed his skin, something flickered in his eyes—his breathing slowing, his muscles loosening, just slightly.

Leon’s gaze flicked to hers, searching.

“Let him go,” she murmured.

A beat of silence.

Then, finally, Leon pulled back.

Kier coughed lightly, rubbing his throat. “See, that’s what I wanted to confirm.”

Elara frowned. “What?”

Kier’s gaze gleamed. “You and him. You’re connected.”

Elara felt the blood drain from her face.

Leon stiffened beside her.

Kier chuckled darkly. “Oh, that’s very interesting.”

Elara clenched her fists. “You don’t know anything.”

Kier’s smirk didn’t fade. “I know enough.” He exhaled, rolling his shoulders. “And I know that the people hunting you? They’re going to love this.”

Elara’s stomach twisted. “Who’s hunting me?”

Kier stepped closer, lowering his voice. “You already know the answer.”

A chill ran down her spine.

Leon took a step in front of her again. “If you know something, say it.”

Kier’s red eyes flickered, the amusement in them dimming just slightly. “The ones who wanted your mother dead?” He tilted his head. “They’re not done.”

Elara’s breath caught.

Kier’s smirk returned, though it was slower this time. Calculating.

“You’re running out of time, Blackthorn.”

Elara’s fingers twitched near the hilt of her dagger.

She had known, deep down, that something darker was at play. That her mother’s past was still alive in ways she couldn’t understand yet.

But hearing it out loud?

It felt like standing at the edge of a cliff.

Leon’s hand brushed against hers, just briefly. A steady, grounding touch.

Elara swallowed hard.

She turned back to Kier. “Then tell me what I need to do.”

Kier chuckled. “That’s the fun part.”

The wolves around him tensed, as if anticipating something.

Then, Kier leaned in—his voice a whisper against the wind.

“You’ll have to choose.”

Elara’s breath stilled.

“Between what?” she asked, barely above a whisper.

Kier’s smirk widened, his red eyes gleaming with something dangerous.

“Between the truth.” His gaze flicked to Leon. “And him.”

The words sliced through the air like a blade.

Elara felt her heart slam against her ribs, the weight of everything crashing down on her at once.

Before she could speak, before she could even process what he had just said—

Kier stepped back.

And in a blur of motion, he and his wolves vanished into the forest, leaving nothing but silence in their wake.

Elara stood there, frozen, her pulse roaring in her ears.

Leon’s fingers brushed against hers again, grounding her.

His voice was quiet.

“Elara.”

She turned to him, her breath catching.

His ice-blue eyes searched hers.

And for the first time, she wondered—

If the choice had already been made.