I didn't hear him follow me.
But I knew he did.
Some presence just… stays.
I kept walking.
Faster now.
The forest thickened around us.
Branches low.
Ground uneven.
My steps stayed steady.
Behind me quiet.
Still there.
Of course.
After a while, I stopped.
Exhaled slowly.
"Are you going to keep doing that?" I asked without turning.
A pause.
"Doing what?"
"Following me."
Silence.
Then
"I'm walking in the same direction."
I turned slightly.
He was leaning against a tree now.
Relaxed.
Like this was normal.
"It's not the same direction," I said.
"It is."
Annoying.
I faced forward again.
"And if I say stop?"
"You won't."
That made me pause.
I have turned fully now.
"Excuse me?"
He met my gaze calmly.
"You don't actually want me gone."
I scoffed.
"That's a bold assumption."
"It's an accurate one."
I narrowed my eyes.
"You're confident."
"No," he said. "Observant."
I hated that tone.
Like he had already figured me out.
Like I was predictable.
I stepped closer.
"Listen carefully," I said. "I don't need you. I don't want you. And I definitely don't trust you."
He didn't react.
Just watched me.
Then
"You trust too easily," he said.
I blinked.
"What?"
A small pause.
"Or too slowly," he corrected.
That irritated me more.
"I don't trust at all," I said firmly.
He tilted his head slightly.
"That's not true."
Silence.
I exhaled sharply.
"You're wasting my time."
I turned to leave.
But
A sound.
Sharp.
Behind us.
I froze.
My wolf reacted instantly.
Alert.
Danger.
Again.
I turned slowly.
The forest had shifted.
Too quiet.
Too still.
Even the wind felt wrong.
"What is that?" I muttered.
He straightened slightly.
"Company," he said simply.
My eyes narrowed.
"That's not helpful."
"Never said I was helpful."
The ground shifted again.
Closer.
Not one.
Multiple.
My heart rate picked up.
"Tell me that's not what I think it is," I said.
He didn't answer immediately.
Which was the answer.
"Great," I muttered.
From between the trees
They emerged.
Not wolves.
Not fully.
Twisted forms.
Eyes too dark.
Movements are too wrong.
My body tensed instantly.
"What are those?" I asked.
"Void beasts," he said.
My stomach dropped slightly.
"That sounds made up."
"They're not."
One of them stepped forward.
Growling.
Low.
Wrong.
My wolf pushed forward.
Ready.
"I just left one problem," I said quietly. "And now this?"
"You attract them," he said.
I turned sharply.
"Do I attract problems now?"
"You attract power."
That made me pause.
The beast lunged.
Fast.
I reacted instantly.
Dodge.
Turn.
Barely missed.
"Not now," I muttered.
It came again.
I was blocked this time.
Pain shot through my arm.
I gritted my teeth.
Behind me
He moved.
Finally,
Not dramatic.
Not loud.
Just precise.
One strike.
The creature dropped.
Gone.
Silence returned again.
I stared at it.
Then at him.
"…Okay," I said slowly. "That was useful."
He shrugged slightly.
"It happens."
I exhaled.
Annoying.
Dangerous.
Useful.
I hated that combination.
The remaining beasts hesitated.
Then retreated.
Too easily.
Too fast.
"Cowards," I muttered.
"You're not their target," he said.
I looked at him.
"Then what am I?"
A pause.
He met my gaze.
"Something worse."
That didn't help.
At all.
I rubbed my arm slightly.
"You're still following me," I said.
"Yes."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Why?"
This time
He didn't dodge.
"Because you're not supposed to be alone."
I stared at him.
Then scoffed lightly.
"Bad timing," I said. "I already chose that."
I turned again.
Walking forward.
But slower now.
Because I could feel it.
Still there.
Still watching.
Still not leaving.
And for the first time…
I wasn't entirely sure I wanted him to.