Mya’s Pov

The dense canopy of the forest above us obscured the morning sun, casting a dim, shadowy light over the forest floor. Birds chirped nervously, their calls sharp and uncertain, and the air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth. My heart raced as I knelt beside Emeric, my hands shaking as I pressed a torn piece of my shirt against the wound in his chest. He lay there, barely moving, his face ashen and drenched in sweat, each labored breath making my own chest tighten with fear.

 Three arrows jutted from his body—one in his side, one in his chest, and another in his leg. Blood seeped from the wounds, soaking into the earth beneath him. I could barely hold back my panic. Each breath Emeric took was shallow and ragged, and his eyes were half-closed, filled with pain and fatigue. I couldn't believe this was happening. My mind raced with what I needed to do, but nothing seemed enough.

 "Emeric, please, stay with me," I whispered, my voice trembling. I tried to keep my voice steady, to keep the fear from showing, but it was impossible. His eyes flickered open for a moment, a weak, pained smile crossing his lips.

 "I'm… trying, Mya," he managed to say, his voice barely a whisper. The sound was like a knife to my heart—strong yet fading, so much like him.

 The helicopter lay a twisted wreck a few yards away, smoke still curling into the air. The pilot, was slumped over the controls, his head lolling to one side. I knew he was dead; the smell of blood and smoke filled my nostrils, mingling with the scent of the forest. Guilt clawed at my insides. If only we hadn't needed to get to Nana so desperately. If only I had insisted we find another way. The pilot would still be alive. But there was no time for guilt now. We had to survive. Emeric had to survive.

 The arrows that pierced Emeric were not ordinary—they were laced with silver and wolfsbane, designed to inflict the most pain and render a wolf powerless. I could feel it in the air, the way the silver and wolfsbane poisoned the area around us, weakening our senses and making my skin prickle with unease. Emeric's wolf was there, but barely. I could sense it, feel it struggling deep inside him, trying to break free, but the wolfsbane had pushed it back, severing its connection to Emeric's consciousness. His face was pale, beads of sweat trickling down his forehead. His body was trying to heal, but it couldn't. Not with the arrows still embedded, poisoning him from the inside out.

 I knew the severity of his injuries. The arrows had to come out, but pulling them without proper care could cause more damage, could make him bleed out faster. And we didn't have anything to stop the bleeding if I did. My heart pounded in my chest, fear gripping me tightly. I didn't know what to do. My mind spun with fear and confusion, paralyzing me in a moment where I needed to act.

 "We need to move, Emeric," I said, my voice more forceful than I felt. "We can't stay here. They might come back." I glanced around, every shadow a threat, every rustle a sign of danger. My senses were on high alert, but the wolfsbane in the air dulled them, making everything feel distant and wrong.

 He nodded weakly, his face contorted in pain. "I...I can't feel my legs."

 My heart ached at his words, but I forced myself to stay calm. "It's okay. I'll help you. We just need to get somewhere safe." The determination in my voice surprised me, but it was the only thing holding me together.

 With a strength I didn't know I possessed, I slid my arms under Emeric's shoulders and began to drag him across the forest floor. Every movement elicited a groan of pain from him, but he didn't complain. His jaw was clenched tight, his teeth gritted against the pain as we slowly made our way through the underbrush.

 The forest was too quiet, too still. I could hear my own breathing, shallow and fast, and Emeric's labored breaths beside me. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig, set my nerves on edge. I knew we weren't alone. I could feel it—the presence of others, of danger lurking just out of sight.

 And then I saw them. Three figures, moving silently through the trees, their eyes glinting with a predatory light. Werewolves. I recognized them by their scent and the way they moved with a predatory grace. These were not allies; these were rogues and hunters, and they had come for Emeric.

 I had heard whispers in the pack of factions forming, of wolves dissatisfied with the current leadership, of those who saw Emeric as a threat. He was one of the strongest alphas, and that made him a target for those who wanted power. These rogues must have been planning this ambush for some time, waiting for the right moment to strike. And now they were here, closing in on us like predators circling their prey.

 Panic surged through me, but I pushed it down, focusing on the task at hand. We needed to hide, to find some way to keep them from spotting us. My eyes darted around, searching for anything that could offer cover. A thick cluster of bushes nearby caught my attention. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.

 "Emeric, we need to hide," I whispered urgently, dragging him toward the bushes. He didn't respond, his eyes closed in a grimace of pain, but I could tell he understood.

 I pulled him into the bushes, crouching low and holding my breath. The leaves scratched at my skin, and the branches poked into my arms, but I didn't care. I watched the three werewolves through the foliage, praying they wouldn't notice us.

 The hunters moved closer, their nostrils flaring as they sniffed the air. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, so loud I was sure they could hear it. I tightened my grip on Emeric's hand, willing myself to stay calm.

 One of the werewolves stopped, sniffing the ground near where we had been just moments ago. My blood ran cold. They were tracking us, following our scent. I needed to do something, to divert their attention, but what?

 My mind raced, and then I remembered the small vial of wolfsbane I kept in my pocket, a last resort. It wouldn't kill them, but it might be enough to confuse their senses for a short time. I reached into my pocket, my fingers closing around the vial.

 I glanced at Emeric, his face contorted in pain, and then back at the werewolves. This was our only chance. I pulled the cork from the vial and tossed it as far away from us as I could. The glass shattered on a rock, and a pungent, acrid smell filled the air.

 The werewolves froze, their noses wrinkling in disgust. One of them snarled, looking around, confused. It worked. I held my breath, praying they would take the bait and leave.

 For a moment, it seemed like they might, but then one of them growled, low and menacing. "They're here. I can smell the blood."

 My heart sank. They weren't fooled. They were too close now, too focused on their prey. I needed a new plan, something more drastic.

 I looked around desperately and spotted a fallen branch, thick and sturdy. It wasn't much, but it was something. I grabbed it, my hands shaking, and rose to my feet. I couldn't let them take Emeric. I wouldn't.

 "Stay back!" I shouted, holding the branch like a weapon. The werewolves turned toward me, their eyes narrowing. They laughed, a cruel, mocking sound that sent chills down my spine.

 "You think you can stop us, little girl?" one of them sneered, stepping forward.

 I tightened my grip on the branch. "I won't let you take him."

 The werewolf smirked, advancing on me slowly, deliberately. "And what are you going to do about it?"

 Panic surged through me, but I forced myself to stand my ground. I needed to be strong, for Emeric, for myself. I couldn't let fear control me. I raised the branch, ready to swing, when suddenly a howl pierced the air, loud and powerful.

 The werewolves froze, their heads snapping in the direction of the sound. My heart leapt. It was a wolf's howl, but not just any wolf. I knew that howl. It was our pack.

 I glanced down at Emeric, and I could see recognition in his eyes too. That howl—it was familiar, comforting, like a lifeline in the darkness. It was our pack, but not just any pack members. It was Alec. Alec, our cousin, who had trained us. He too was an alpha. Relief flooded through me, but I didn't let my guard down. The werewolves were still a threat, and they weren't backing down.

 They growled, their eyes darting between me and the direction of the howl , torn between their instinct to fight and the realization that they were now outnumbered. I could see them weighing their options, deciding whether to attack us and risk a battle with the pack or retreat and save themselves for another day.

 "Leave now, and you might live," I said, my voice steady despite the fear coursing through my veins. I hoped I sounded more confident than I felt, hoped they couldn't see the trembling in my hands or hear the rapid pounding of my heart.

 The werewolves hesitated, glancing at each other, their expressions a mixture of anger and frustration. The leader, a tall, muscular wolf with a scar running down his cheek, took a step forward, his eyes narrowing at me. "This isn't over," he growled. "Emeric is too powerful to be left in peace. You can't protect him forever."

 My breath caught in my throat. They weren't just here to hurt him; they were here to overthrow him, to eliminate him as a threat. Emeric's strength as an alpha had always been a beacon of safety for our pack, but it also made him a target for those who wanted power. And now, in his weakened state, they saw an opportunity to take him down.

 I stood my ground, meeting the leader's gaze with as much defiance as I could muster. "Get out of here," I said, tightening my grip on the branch. "Now."

 For a tense moment, the leader looked like he might attack anyway, but then another howl echoed through the forest, closer this time, and the werewolves finally seemed to realize they were out of time. With a final snarl, they turned and fled into the forest, disappearing into the shadows.

 I collapsed to my knees, the branch falling from my hands. My body shook with adrenaline, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I had done it. I had kept us safe, at least for now. But the reality of the situation quickly settled in. This wasn't over. Emeric was still in grave danger, and the threat of those who wanted him gone would only grow stronger.

 I turned to Emeric, his eyes half-open, watching me with a mixture of pain and pride. "You did good, Mya," he whispered, his voice weak but filled with gratitude.

 Tears filled my eyes, and I nodded, brushing them away quickly. "We're not safe yet," I said, looking around. "But we will be. I promise."

 I helped Emeric to his feet, his weight heavy against my shoulder as he leaned on me for support. Every step was a struggle, but I refused to give up. We needed to find Alec and the rest of the pack, to get Emeric somewhere safe where he could heal and regroup.

 As we made our way through the forest, my mind raced with questions. Who were those rogues? Why were they so determined to overthrow Emeric? And how many more of them were out there, lurking in the shadows, waiting for another chance to strike?

 I glanced at Emeric, his face pale and drawn, his breathing shallow and labored. He had always been so strong, so capable, and seeing him like this made my chest tighten with fear. I couldn't lose him. I wouldn't.

 "We need to move faster," I said, trying to keep the panic from my voice. "Alec is close. I can feel it."

 Emeric nodded, though I could see the effort it took him to keep moving. His body was fighting the poison, trying to heal itself, but without help, he wouldn't last much longer. I had to be strong for him, had to get us both to safety.

 The forest seemed to stretch on forever, every tree and bush looking the same in the dim light. I pushed through the underbrush, my legs burning with effort, my heart pounding in my chest. I could hear the faint sounds of the pack in the distance, the comforting howls of our family calling to us, guiding us through the darkness.