Chapter 7 Escaping The Fire

Luna’s screams shattered the night. Kaela crouched low behind the thick undergrowth, her heart pounding as she watched the scene before her. In the center of the village clearing, Luna lay trembling in the dirt, her small frame still weakened from the transformation. Ulrich and his enforcers stood in a tight circle around her, their sharp eyes gleaming with malice. “Disgusting,” Ulrich sneered, his boot pressing against Luna’s side. “A she-wolf who dares to shift. You know the law, girl. There is no place for you here.” Luna whimpered, curling in on herself. Kaela’s nails dug into the earth. They had to act now. Terren was beside her, tense and seething. “We can’t fight them all, Kaela,” she murmured, voice low and controlled. “I know,” Kaela whispered. “But we won’t leave her.” Elira swallowed hard. “Then we need a distraction.” Kaela’s mind raced. They were outnumbered, outmatched. The enforcers were stronger, trained, and ruthless. The She-Wolves had just begun their journey—they were nowhere near ready for battle. But they could be smarter. She turned to Myira, the elder who had guided them in secret for so long. “Can you call the wind?” Myira’s wrinkled lips curled into a knowing smile. “You believe in old tricks, girl?” “Just do it,” Kaela whispered. The elder closed her eyes, murmuring an ancient chant, her fingers tracing the air in slow, deliberate motions. For a moment, nothing happened—then suddenly, the wind howled through the clearing, kicking up a thick cloud of dust and leaves. The enforcers staggered back, coughing and shielding their eyes. “Now!” Kaela burst from the bushes, the others following in a silent rush. Elira darted toward Luna, scooping her up in her arms. Terren moved like a blur, slashing at the ropes that bound her. Ulrich snarled, wiping dust from his face. “They’re here! Get them!” Chaos erupted. Terren lunged forward, slashing at an enforcer’s face before retreating. Kaela and the others scattered in different directions, drawing the enforcers away from Luna. “Run!” Kaela shouted. Elira bolted into the trees, Luna clutched tightly to her chest. The She-Wolves followed, their movements swift and calculated. Ulrich and his men tried to chase them, but the thick dust cloud had them stumbling, unable to see. Ulrich howled in frustration. “Find them!” But by the time the dust settled, the She-Wolves were already vanishing into the night. The Hunt Begins Branches tore at Kaela’s skin as she sprinted through the dense undergrowth. The sounds of pursuit filled the forest—howls, rustling leaves, heavy footsteps pounding the earth. “They’re still coming!” Elira called, barely keeping ahead. Terren swore under her breath. “We need to lose them.” Kaela’s mind raced. They couldn’t just keep running—the male wolves would track them through scent, through sound. They needed a place where the enforcers wouldn’t dare to follow. And then she remembered—The Shadow Caves. It was a cursed place, a territory feared by all wolves, filled with whispers of ghosts and spirits long forgotten. Even the bravest of the pack avoided it. Which meant it was the perfect hiding place. “This way!” Kaela veered sharply, leading them toward the forbidden lands. Elira hesitated. “Kaela, that’s—” “I know,” Kaela cut her off. “But it’s our only chance.” A Desperate Refuge The moment they crossed into the Forbidden Forest, the air changed. The wind stilled, the trees loomed taller, and the air grew thick with an eerie silence. Behind them, ulrich and his warriors skidded to a stop. Ulrich hesitated, nostrils flaring. “We’re not going in there,” he growled. “But the she-wolves—” Ulrich’s glare silenced the younger enforcer. “Let them run. That place will finish them off for us.” Satisfied, he turned away, leaving the darkness to swallow the She-Wolves whole. Kaela slowed, her breaths ragged. They had escaped. But as she stared at the looming entrance of the Shadow Caves, a pit formed in her stomach. Had they just run from one night