t. Kiera's heart pounded in her chest, the blood rushing in her ears, drowning out everything else. She st

e cabin's single window, his hand brushing aside a threadbare curtain to peer outside. His body was taut, every

e was unmistakable. The wolves were coming, but there was something else in the air. A different kind of danger, som

ng away from the window and striding towa

to this world, and there was no turning back. The wolves, the pack, the Guardians-all of it had been waiting fo

d, her voice trembling despite

ision. He let out a slow breath, then moved toward her. "We fight. We protect the cabin

t a wave of panic through Kiera's chest.

but there was no mistaking the seriousness in his eyes.

ly, a loud bang reverberating through the small building. The sou

an unmistakable edge to it now. He moved swiftly to the door, pre

them, their presence as heavy as the darkness itself. Her pulse raced, and th

ck that rattled the hinges. It was clear th

Do not open the door, no mat

like a shadow in the night. He reached for something from the shelf-a gleaming silver knife, its hilt wra

words were lost on her. Instead, she pressed herself back against the far wall, her gaze

lur of motion, his silver knife flashing in his hand as he collided with the first wolf to enter. The creature's yellow eyes gleamed with hunger

It lunged again, faster this time, but Finn was ready. He twisted, his hand darting out to grip the wolf's throat. In the

ression. Finn's knife met it midair, slashing across its chest. The

ecision, his silver blade flashing with every strike. The wolves were fast, but he was faster. It was like wat

covered in sweat, his muscles straining with each blow, but there was no hesitation in him. Eve

lur, and she couldn't comprehend what she was seeing. Finn was a force of nature, a man who seemed to bend

hing heavily, his silver blade gleaming in the dim light. For a long moment, there was silence, the only sound the hea

racing. Her legs were unsteady, but she mana

e window, his expression hard, unreadable. Then, with a sig

ered across the cabin floor. Blood stained the wooden boards,

d. "They'll come again, and whe

e. She wanted to ask more questions, to understand why this was happening, but the reality of

asked, her voice quiet,

e. "We leave. The pack will be looking for us. We

Kiera's brow furr

ring something far away. "A sanctuary. It's the only place we can hide

one thing for sure-the world she had known was gone, and it wasn't coming bac

nd whispering through the trees as they moved quickly, leaving the wreckage of the fight behind them.

choice. The p

e would have