Someone In The Trees
Chapter 102:
They moved in the dark. The forest trees were so packed together that they blocked even the tiniest sliver of sunlight from passing through.
Aria moved silently, the strap of her bag digging harshly into her shoulder– She adjusted it for the thousandth time and moved forward. Kael followed a few paces behind her, his senses attuned to evey sound that wasn’t theirs. He had been silent ever since they left the gates, and she didn’t blame him. There wasn’t much left to say.
The dull thuds of their boots on damp earth and chirping of birds were the only sound they had heard since they moved deeper into the forest.
They’d been walking since noon, barely stopping except to drink from a stream. The air was heavy with the scent of rain-soaked leaves and pine.
Aria adjusted the strap of her bag again, and glanced at the path ahead. The same path she’d walked countless times when she was still part of Lucien’s pack. Funny how the same trees looked different when you were no longer welcome beneath them.
“You know,” he said finally, breaking the silence, “you could’ve at least told him goodbye.”
Aria’s jaw tightened. “And say what, exactly? That I’m leaving again because the pack can’t decide whether to worship me or burn me alive?” She let out a breath. “No. That would’ve made it worse.”
Kael frowned, glancing toward her. “He deserved to hear it from you.”
She didn’t reply. What could she have said?
For a while, they just walked. The forest floor was slick with dew, patches of fog curling low between the roots. Birds chirped faintly in the distance, taking flight in sporadic bursts. Aria caught herself checking behind them more than once.
Kael noticed, he always did. “You keep looking back.”
She forced a small, humorless smile. “Can you blame me? The last time we were in these woods, we were surrounded by assassins.”
“Yeah, but this time, we're a lot well rested and healed,” he said, his hand resting casually on the hilt of his blade. “And between the two of us, I like our odds.”
She hummed softly. “Overconfident, as usual.”
“I prefer the word ‘prepared’.”
The path sloped downward, the air growing colder. Mist clung to the undergrowth, and the trees grew denser and older.
By midday, they stopped near a small clearing where the light broke through the branches in pale streaks. Kael crouched near the stream, refilling their canteens while Aria sank against a tree trunk, stretching her sore legs.
For the first time since dawn, she allowed herself to breathe.
“You should eat,” Kael said, tossing her a small pouch of dried meat.
She caught it but didn’t open it. Her gaze had gone distant again, her fingers brushing against the coin in her pocket.
“You’re thinking about him.”
She gave a quiet, almost guilty laugh. “Was I that obvious?”
“Only because I know you,” Kael said.
She laughed, her throat tight. “I wonder if he's woken up…If he's angry..”
Kael gave a look, “He is. And the fact that he's a King means he's royally pissed. I didn’t want to hurry you but we should pick up the pace if you don't want your mate finding us.”
She smiled weakly, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “He won’t.”
But even she knew that was a lie.
They packed up quickly, moving deeper into the woods. The trees grew closer together, their trunks forming tall, skeletal silhouettes. The forest floor muffled their steps, the scent of pine and damp moss thick in the air.
It was Kael who noticed it first, “It’s kind of quiet,” he murmured.
“Really? I didn’t notice.” She cocked her head and listened– no sound. “You're right.”
They waited for some time before moving again. Aria tried to ignore it, but she could feel that same tension crawling under her skin again. And the further they walked, the worse it got. They'd crossed into the older part of the woods where the branches of trees twisted tighter, their barks blackened by age. Where the air was colder.
Kael stopped suddenly, one hand shooting out to catch her arm. “Wait, don’t move.”
Aria froze. “What is it?”
He tilted his head slightly, nostrils flaring. “We’re being followed.” He answered, softly.
Her pulse jumped. “Scouts?”
“Could be,” he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. “But whoever it is, they’re good. Keeping downwind. No sound, no scent… almost.”
Aria’s eyes narrowed. She could feel it now too, that subtle prickle along the back of her neck.
She dropped her bag silently, and reached for a dagger, motioning toward the thicker brush. “We’ll circle and find them. If it’s one of the Council’s trackers, I’d rather they don’t report back.”
Kael's eyes met hers and he gave a quick nod. “You take the left. I’ll flank.”
They split and moved soundlessly through the trees, their movements precise, circling back toward where Kael had heard the movement. The forest swallowed them whole, their shadows passing between the trees. Aria could hear it now, the faintest rustle of leaves, just up ahead.
Her pulse quickened. She shifted her weight, crouching low, waiting for the right moment. The air was so still she could hear her own heartbeat.
A twig snapped.
She lunged forward, claws sliding out, her hand closing around the throat of the shadow that emerged–
“Aria,” came the low growl, deep and raw, more wolf than man.
Her breath caught. The hand gripping his throat trembled, and she slowly looked up. Moonlight broke through the canopy for one small second, but it was enough for her to see his face.
Lucian.
His golden eyes burned against the darkness, sharp and alive, his chest rising and falling like he’d run for days without stopping. His shirt was torn, his skin streaked with dirt and faint scratches. His jaw was tight, his teeth clenched, every inch of him trembling with restrained emotion.
“Lucian,” she whispered, disbelief and something dangerously close to relief cracking her voice.