Chapter 74 Something Stirring

Chapter 74 Something Stirring
Lara

The symbols stayed in my head long after everyone stopped talking about them. Even now, hours later, I could still picture them clearly.

Dark curved markings carved into tree bark deep in the eastern woods. Strange enough to unsettle Elijah. Strange enough to make Axel personally inspect the borders himself.

And somehow… strangely familiar to me.

That was the part I hated most.

I stood near the upstairs window watching snow fall quietly across the village while trying to convince myself I was overthinking everything.

Again.

The patrol guards moved through the paths below with torches and weapons strapped across their backs. Normally, Moonlight Pack felt lively even during winter. There was always someone laughing somewhere. Someone arguing. Someone yelling at Ron for doing something stupid.

Tonight felt quieter.

More alert.

A knock sounded lightly against the open door before Elijah stepped inside.

I didn’t turn around immediately.

“You’re staring outside again,” he said.

“You keep saying that like it’s illegal.”

“It’s concerning.”

That finally made me glance back at him.

He had already removed his coat, though snow still clung lightly to his dark shirt and hair. His eyes settled on me briefly before narrowing slightly.

“You haven’t moved from this spot in almost twenty minutes.”

I folded my arms loosely. “Maybe I like the view.”

“You’re thinking.”

Annoyingly observant man.

Elijah walked further into the room before stopping beside the bed.

“You’ve barely spoken since this morning.”

“I’ve spoken.”

“You threatened Tristan with a book.”

“He was being irritating.”

“He asked if you wanted tea.”

“That’s not the point.”

A faint breath escaped him that almost sounded like amusement before his expression softened slightly.

“Lara.”

The way he said my name made something tighten in my chest immediately.

I looked away first.

Coward.

“It was just a dream,” I muttered quietly.

Elijah was silent for a moment.

“I know.”

“No, you don’t.” I sighed softly before leaning against the window frame. “You didn’t see them.”

The room grew quieter after that.

I felt Elijah’s gaze on me even without looking directly at him.

“There were too many of them,” I admitted eventually. “And they weren’t speaking but somehow it felt like they wanted something from me.”

A cold shiver crawled lightly across my skin at the memory.

Elijah’s voice lowered slightly. “Dreams feel real sometimes.”

“No.” I shook my head slowly. “This felt different.”

That finally made him move closer.

I turned slightly only to find him standing much nearer than I expected.

Too near.

My heartbeat immediately betrayed me.

Moon Goddess.

“You think it means something?” he asked quietly.

“I don’t know.”

And that was the truth.

I didn’t know if this was Seer-related or if my mind was simply overwhelmed after everything that happened recently.

But deep down…

something inside me whispered that the dream mattered.

Elijah studied my face carefully for a moment before speaking again.

“You’ve had visions before.”

I nodded slowly.

“And are they usually like this?”

“No.”

That answer came too quickly.

Too honestly.

Because visions never left fear sitting in my chest like this before.

Even when they were disturbing, there was always clarity eventually.

This dream only felt wrong.

The silence stretched briefly between us while snow continued falling softly outside.

“You should tell Ma Prudy,” Elijah said eventually.

I frowned slightly. “Why?”

“She knows more about Seers than anyone else.”

The thought alone made me uneasy.

I still remembered how strange Ma Prudy looked after hearing about my childhood vision. Like she knew more than she wanted to admit.

“She’ll probably say I’m overreacting.”

“Maybe.”

I narrowed my eyes immediately. “You’re supposed to support me.”

“I am supporting you.”

“That sounded very unsupportive.”

A small smirk tugged at his lips briefly.

The sight distracted me more than it should have.

Again.

Always him.

Elijah’s expression softened slightly afterward though.

“You barely slept,” he said quietly. “And now you’re standing here scaring yourself with theories.”

“I’m not scaring myself.”

“You jumped when Tristan opened the door earlier.”

“That was self-defense.”

“That makes no sense.”

“It makes perfect sense.”

He shook his head slightly before looking back toward the window.

“You’re safe here, Lara.”

Something about those words settled warmly inside my chest.

Safe.

I wasn’t sure the last time I truly felt that way before coming here.

Even in Silver Pack, safety always felt conditional.

Tied to expectations.

Tied to obedience.

But Elijah said it so simply.

Like protecting me wasn’t something he questioned anymore.

The dangerous thing was how naturally I believed him.

“You really think Jacob won’t move yet?” I asked quietly after a while.

Elijah’s gaze shifted back toward me immediately.

“He won’t attack without planning first.”

“But he will eventually.”

It wasn’t a question.

Elijah remained silent for a second too long before answering.

“Yes.”

The honesty should have frightened me more.

Instead, it strangely calmed me.

At least with Elijah, I never had to wonder where I stood.

The room became quiet again after that.

Comfortably quiet this time.

Then suddenly, Elijah reached toward me.

I stiffened instinctively before realizing he was brushing something gently from my hair.

Snow.

Probably from earlier outside.

His fingers lingered slightly longer than necessary before falling away again.

The small touch sent warmth rushing embarrassingly through my body.

Elijah noticed.

Of course he noticed.

His eyes darkened slightly while holding my gaze.

And suddenly the room felt much smaller.

Moon Goddess help me.

I looked away first again.

Weak.

A quiet knock interrupted the moment before it could become even more dangerous.

“Come in,” Elijah called calmly without taking his eyes off me immediately.

The door opened and Ron stepped inside.

His gaze moved between both of us once before he sighed dramatically.

“I always interrupt something.”

“You enjoy being irritating,” Elijah replied flatly.

“Correct.”

Ron leaned lightly against the doorway afterward though his expression turned more serious.

“Axel just got back from the eastern woods.”

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

Elijah straightened slightly. “And?”

“He said the symbols weren’t random.”

The uneasy feeling returned immediately.

Ron looked toward me briefly before continuing.

“The carvings formed some kind of pattern.”

A cold sensation crept slowly down my spine.

“What kind of pattern?” Elijah asked.

Ron shook his head. “Axel isn’t sure yet. But he wants extra patrols around the eastern routes tonight.”

Elijah nodded once immediately. “Done.”

Ron hesitated briefly before adding, “Axel also said the woods felt… strange.”

Silence.

Heavy silence.

Even Ron looked uncomfortable saying it aloud.

Elijah’s jaw tightened slightly before speaking again.

“Double the guards.”

Ron nodded before finally leaving the room.

The second the door shut behind him, the quiet returned.

But this time it didn’t feel comforting anymore.

I looked back toward the snow falling outside slowly while my chest tightened again.

The dream.

The symbols.

The woods.

Everything suddenly felt connected somehow.

And deep down…

I had the horrible feeling that whatever was coming had already started.