The forest did not welcome them.
It watched.
Elara felt it the moment they crossed the border. The air shifted, colder, heavier, as if the trees themselves were aware of their presence. Every step forward felt like stepping deeper into something alive.
The mark on her wrist pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
A steady rhythm now.
He is close.
She did not say it out loud.
She did not need to.
Kael felt it too.
His hand never left her wrist.
Not to restrain her.
To anchor her.
Each time the pull inside her tightened, his touch weakened it, grounding her just enough to keep her moving forward.
But it was getting stronger.
Faster.
Like something ahead of them was calling her home.
Rowan moved ahead, silent and alert, his wolf close to the surface. Mira flanked the left, her blade already drawn, her eyes scanning every shadow.
No one spoke.
Even the forest was quiet.
Too quiet.
Elara's breath came slower as they moved deeper. The trees grew denser, the path less clear. Snow covered the ground in uneven layers, untouched.
Untouched.
Her steps faltered.
"No tracks," she whispered.
Kael stopped instantly.
"What."
She looked down.
"There should be tracks. If Lycans passed through here, there would be something."
Rowan crouched, running his hand across the snow.
She was right.
Nothing.
Mira's voice lowered.
"This is wrong."
Kael's instincts sharpened.
"This is not a path."
Elara's chest tightened.
"It is a trap."
The word barely left her lips before the forest shifted.
Not physically.
Something deeper.
The air distorted.
The trees blurred for a fraction of a second.
Then snapped back into place.
Rowan stood quickly.
"We are not alone."
A voice answered from the darkness.
"You never were."
Elara froze.
Not Aldric.
Someone else.
A figure stepped out from behind the trees.
A woman.
Tall. Pale. Her dark hair flowed unnaturally, as if touched by an unseen current. Her eyes glowed faintly violet.
Elara's stomach dropped.
"A witch."
The woman smiled.
"Finally. Someone observant."
Mira stepped forward, blade raised.
"You are far from your coven."
The witch tilted her head.
"Not anymore."
Rowan's voice hardened.
"You are working with him."
The witch's smile widened.
"I am working for the future."
Kael stepped forward, placing himself between Elara and the stranger.
"You will step aside."
The witch's gaze shifted to Elara.
"Such a waste of power."
Elara's chest tightened.
"What do you want."
The witch's voice softened, almost gentle.
"You do not understand what you are."
Elara's jaw tightened.
"I am starting to."
The witch shook her head slowly.
"No. You are resisting it."
The mark on Elara's wrist pulsed sharply.
Pain shot up her arm.
She gasped.
Kael tightened his grip on her.
"Enough."
The witch's eyes flickered with interest.
"Ah. The bond."
Her gaze sharpened.
"It is forming faster than expected."
Rowan stepped forward.
"You are not touching her."
The witch laughed softly.
"I do not need to."
She raised her hand.
The air shifted violently.
The ground beneath them cracked.
Dark energy surged upward, wrapping around the trees like living shadows.
Mira moved instantly.
"Move."
The shadows lashed out.
Rowan shifted partially, claws slicing through one of the tendrils, but more replaced it instantly.
Kael pulled Elara back as another wave struck the ground where she had been standing.
"This is not an attack," he said.
The witch smiled.
"No."
Her voice echoed strangely.
"This is a delay."
Elara's eyes widened.
"For what."
The answer came from behind them.
"You already know."
Every muscle in Kael's body locked.
Slowly, he turned.
Aldric stood between the trees.
Watching.
Waiting.
Elara's breath caught.
The pull inside her surged violently.
Stronger than before.
It nearly brought her to her knees.
Kael caught her instantly.
"Stay with me."
Her voice shook.
"I cannot fight it."
Aldric stepped closer.
"You do not have to."
Rowan growled.
"You will not take another step."
Aldric's gaze flicked to him briefly.
Unimpressed.
"You are not my concern."
His eyes returned to Elara.
"They never were."
The witch stepped back, her role complete.
Mira tried to move toward her, but the shadows blocked her path.
"Let me through," Mira snapped.
The witch only smiled.
"You are already too late."
Elara's vision blurred.
The forest seemed to tilt.
The pull inside her was no longer just external.
It was inside her.
Rising.
Answering.
Kael's grip tightened.
"Look at me."
Her eyes met his.
For a moment, everything else faded.
The pull weakened.
Just enough.
"You choose," he said quietly.
Not a command.
A promise.
Aldric's voice cut through the moment.
"She already is."
Elara flinched.
The mark on her wrist burned.
Light exploded beneath her skin.
Silver and dark intertwined.
Her breath caught.
"What is happening to me."
The elder's voice echoed in her memory.
The bond must be overridden.
Her eyes snapped back to Kael.
The connection between them flared.
Stronger than ever.
Raw.
Uncontrolled.
Aldric stepped closer.
"You feel it now."
His voice was calm.
"You were never meant to belong to them."
Kael's wolf roared.
"She belongs to no one."
Aldric's expression shifted slightly.
Amusement.
"We will see."
The pull surged again.
Harder.
Relentless.
Elara cried out.
Her body leaned forward involuntarily.
Toward him.
Kael grabbed her, pulling her back.
"Fight it."
Tears burned in her eyes.
"I am trying."
The forest seemed to close in around them.
The shadows thickened.
The witch's power holding them in place.
Aldric extended his hand.
"Come to me."
Elara's body trembled.
For a terrifying second
she almost did.
Kael moved.
Not toward Aldric.
Toward her.
His hand cupped her face, forcing her to look at him.
"Stay with me."
His voice was low.
Grounded.
Real.
"You are stronger than this."
Her breath hitched.
The pull faltered.
Aldric's eyes narrowed slightly.
Interesting.
Elara's voice broke.
"I cannot lose myself."
Kael's forehead rested briefly against hers.
"You will not."
The connection between them surged.
Not forced.
Not controlled.
Chosen.
The silver light flared brighter.
The mark on her wrist flickered.
Aldric's expression darkened.
The pull weakened.
Just enough.
Elara gasped.
The hold loosened.
She stepped back.
Her choice clear.
Aldric went still.
For the first time
there was something dangerous in his gaze.
Not anger.
Not frustration.
Recognition.
"You resist me," he said quietly.
Elara steadied her breathing.
"Yes."
Aldric's lips curved slightly.
"That will make this far more interesting."
The shadows began to recede.
The witch lowered her hand.
Rowan stepped forward again, ready to strike.
But Aldric was already stepping back into the darkness.
"This is not over," he said.
"It has barely begun."
And then he was gone.
The forest exhaled.
The pressure lifted.
Silence returned.
Elara's legs nearly gave out.
Kael caught her again.
"You did it."
Her breathing was uneven.
"I almost did not."
Rowan looked around, tense.
"That was not a victory."
Mira nodded.
"That was him testing us."
Elara looked down at her wrist.
The mark was still there.
But different.
Quieter.
Not gone.
Waiting.
Her voice was soft.
"He is not done with me."
Kael's expression hardened.
"Then we make sure he regrets that."
But deep down
they all knew the truth.
Aldric was not just hunting her anymore.
He was awakening her.
And the next time they faced him
resisting might not be enough.