Chapter 5: Don't worry, Olivia, l will protect you

(Olivia's POV)

I don't know how long we've been running.

Time feels slippery… moments stretch and snap like rubber bands as my feet pound against the forest floor. All I know is that I can't stop.

Not with the pack behind us.

Not with Jay beside me, risking everything for a girl who can't seem to keep herself together.

Branches whip at my face as I stumble over exposed roots, my breath hitching in short, ragged gasps.

The air is thick with the smell of pine and damp earth, but underneath it all, I can still catch the faint metallic tang of blood and magic.

My blood… My magic.

It clings to me like smoke, a beacon that screams, Here we are! Come and get us!

"Keep moving!" Jay's voice cuts through the chaos, sharp and urgent. He doesn't look back, but his hand tightens around mine, practically dragging me through the jungle.

I want to tell him to let me go, that he'd be safer without me and that I am starting to slow him down, but the words lodge in my throat like splinters. I can't bear the thought of him turning around and seeing the mess I've become.

The mess I am.

"I'm ruining everything," I mutter, the words barely audible over the sound of our footsteps.

Jay glances over his shoulder, his dark eyes fierce. "No, you're not. You're mine and you are alive, Olivia. That's all that matters right now."

But his voice carries a tightness that wasn't there before. He's worried. I can feel it in the way his grip on my hand shifts from comforting to desperate, in the way his jaw clenches as he scans the terrain for a path I can't see.

He knows as well as I do that we're leaving a trail. And it's only a matter of time before they catch up.

"Breathe, Liv," Jay says, his voice softer now, like he's trying to calm a spooked animal. "Just focus on breathing."

I try.

God, I try.

But every breath feels too shallow, too fast. I can't stop seeing the way they looked at me (the pack I came hoping to be a part of). Tobias, with his lips pulled back in a snarl, his eyes full of hate. Kael, silent and observing, like I was some kind of experiment gone wrong.

And Jay… Jay standing between me and all of them, daring them to try. Protecting me.

I don't deserve it.

Jay slows just enough to let me catch my breath, his eyes scanning the shadows for signs of movement.

"We'll head toward the gorge," he says, more to himself than to me. "The terrain's rough, but they'll have a harder time tracking us there."

I nod, though I can barely process his words. My legs feel like they're made of lead, my muscles screaming with every step.

"Jay…" I start, but he cuts me off with a look.

"Don't even think about it," he says, his voice firm but not unkind. "We're not stopping. Not until I know you're safe."

Safe.

The word tastes bitter in my mouth. I can't even imagine what that feels like anymore.

As we push deeper into the forest, the shadows seem to grow thicker, heavier.

They stretch and twist in ways that make my skin crawl, like they're alive. Like they're watching.

I shake my head, trying to clear the paranoia creeping in. But then I hear it…a whisper, soft and sibilant, curling around the edges of my mind like smoke.

"Embrace it."

I freeze, my breath catching in my throat.

"Olivia, what is it?" Jay asks, his voice sharp with concern.

I shake my head again, forcing my feet to move. "Nothing. I'm fine."

But I'm not fine. The voice is still there, lingering in the back of my mind. Low and insistent.

"You're more than this," it says. "Stop being afraid, Let me show you what you're capable of."

I bite down hard on my lip, the coppery taste of blood grounding me, at least for now.

Jay pulls me to a halt near a group of fallen trees, his chest heaving as he scans the area. "We'll take a minute here," he says, though his eyes never stop moving. "Just long enough to catch our breath."

I sink to the ground, my back against one of the logs. My hands are shaking again, little bursts of blue light sparking and fading with no rhyme or reason. I clench my fists, trying to will the magic away, but it only seems to grow stronger in response.

Jay crouches in front of me, his expression softening. "We're gonna get through this," he says, his voice steady. "I promise."

But I can see the worry in his eyes. He's not sure. And neither am I.

I glance at the ground, at the blackened grass and the faint scorch marks trailing back the way we came. "They're going to find us," I whisper.

Jay reaches out, his hand warm against my cheek. "Not if I can help it."

And just like that, his words light a tiny spark of hope in my chest. It's flickering, but it's enough to get me back on my feet.

As we start moving again, the voice in my head grows quieter, but it doesn't disappear.

"You can't hide forever, Olivia," it murmurs, almost amused. "Sooner or later, you'll have to face what you are."

I don't respond, but deep down, I know it's right.

And that terrifies me more than anything.

The deeper we go into the forest, the harder it gets to breathe.

Not because I'm tired…though, yeah, I feel like my lungs might just pack it in and quit, but because the air itself feels… like it's pressing down on me, more pressure with every step.

I can feel the magic leaking out of me, no matter how hard I try to shove it back down.

Every time my foot touches the ground, it leaves behind this faint flicker, like dew catching the light, except the way it's super useful if you're hunting me down.

Jay notices. He hasn't said anything yet, but I catch him glancing at the glowing streaks behind us, his jaw tight. He's trying to act like he's got it all under control, but the tension in his shoulders says otherwise.

"Jay," I mumble, struggling to keep up with his pace. "I'm making it worse. You know I am."

He doesn't stop, doesn't even slow down. "Not your fault, Liv."

"Doesn't change the fact that they'll find us because of me," I shoot back, my voice cracking. "Maybe… maybe you should just.."

Jay spins around so fast I almost trip over my own feet. "Don't even finish that sentence," he snaps, his eyes blazing. "I'm not leaving you. End of discussion."

I shrink back a little, the force of his words cutting through me like a knife.

He softens almost immediately, his hand brushing against mine. "Look, I get it. You're scared. So am I. But we're in this together, okay?"

I nod, though I don't entirely believe him.

Together feels like a lie when I'm the one setting the whole forest on fire with every step I take.

The sun is setting and the forest feels darker now, the shadows longer and colder.

Every sound makes me flinch; a branch cheeking, leaves rustling, the faint whisper of the wind. It's like the whole world is holding its breath, waiting for something terrible to happen.

And it's all because of me.

I can feel the magic bubbling under my skin.

It wants out. Desperately.

Every time I stumble or lose focus, it surges forward, little sparks of blue light escaping through me.

"Stop fighting it," the voice in my head whispers, soft and coaxing. "You're only making it worse."

I grit my teeth, trying to drown it out. It's not real. It can't be real.

But it's hard to ignore when every inch of me feels like it's about to explode.

Lifting me off the ground, Jay suddenly pulls off the trail, into a dense thicket of bushes. He presses a finger to his lips, his eyes scanning the forest ahead.

"What.." I start to ask, but he cuts me off with a sharp shake of his head.

Then I hear it.

The faint sound of footsteps…no, pawsteps crunching against the forest floor.

My heart slams against my ribs, and I instinctively reach for Jay, clutching the sleeve of his jacket like it's the only thing keeping me grounded.

"They're close," I whisper, barely able to get the words out.

Jay nods, his expression grim. "Too close. We need to move, now."

"Just a little farther," Jay murmurs, his voice low and steady. "There's a stream up ahead. The water might throw them off."

I nod, not trusting myself to speak.

We reach the stream after what feels like an eternity. The water is shallow but fast-moving, cutting through the forest like a silver ribbon. Jay steps into it without hesitation, the cold water splashing up around his ankles.

"Come on," he urges, holding out his hand.

I hesitate for half a second before taking it, letting him guide me into the stream.

The icy water shocks me, momentarily snapping me out of the swirling chaos in my head.

For a few precious minutes, it feels like we might actually stand a chance.

The sound of the water drowns out the noise of the forest, and the current washes away the faint flicker of magic trailing behind me.

But the moment of peace doesn't last.

A distant howl cuts through the air, sharp and chilling. My entire body goes rigid, and I look at Jay with wide, terrified eyes.

Jay doesn't respond right away. He's too busy scanning the trees, his jaw clenched so tight I'm surprised it hasn't cracked.

"Lyra's out there," he says finally, like he's trying to convince himself as much as me. "She'll slow them down. Buy us time."

I want to believe him.

I really do.

But deep down, I know it's only a matter of time before they find us. Lyra might be able to mislead them for a while, but Tobias? He won't stop. Not until he's ripped me apart with his bare hands.

We keep moving, the stream guiding our path. My legs ache, and every step feels heavier than the last. Jay keeps glancing over his shoulder, his body tense and coiled like a spring.

"We're almost there," he says, though I'm not sure he even knows where there is.

But before I can ask, I feel it, a shift in the air, subtle but unmistakable.

"Jay," I whisper, clutching his arm. "Something's wrong."

He stops, his head snapping toward the trees. His eyes narrow, and for the first time, I see real fear on his face.

"Stay close to me," he says, his voice low and serious. "No matter what happens, don't let go."

I nod, my fingers tightening around his. The voice in my head is back, louder now, more insistent.

"They're coming," it says, almost excited. "But you can stop them. You have the power. Just let go."

I shake my head, trying to push it away, but it's like fighting a rising tide.

And then I hear it "THERE THEY ARE!!!".

"They've found us," Jay says, his voice sharp with urgency. "Run."

Jay yanks me forward, his grip firm, but my legs feel like jelly, and my chest is burning.

I want to tell him I can't keep going, but the sound of paws pounding all around us shuts me up real quick.

They're close. Too close.

"Faster, Liv!" Jay growls, his voice rough and panicked.

"I can't!" I gasp, stumbling over a rock under the stream. My foot twists awkwardly, and I barely manage to catch myself before faceplanting.

Jay slows down just enough to steady me, his hands gripping my arms. "Yes, you can. You have to." His tone softens, but the fear in his eyes is impossible to miss.

I don't know how long we run, how many Hours?. My breathing is loud and ragged, and the blood rushing in my ears drowns out almost everything else. Almost.

Tobias's howl rips through the air, deep and commanding. It's not just a signal, it's a promise. They're coming for me, and he's leading the charge.

Jay curses under his breath and swerve left, pulling me with him. The trees are denser here, their twisted roots clawing up from the ground like skeletal hands. My foot catches on one, and this time, I do go down.

"Liv!" Jay spins around, helping me up as I clutch my scraped knee. "You okay?"

"No, I'm not okay!" I snap, tears streaming down my face. "I'm slowing you down, I'm lighting up the forest like a damn beacon, and you're gonna get yourself killed trying to save me!"

Jay grabs my shoulders, forcing me to meet his eyes. "Listen to me. You're not slowing me down. You're not a burden. And I'm not gonna let anything happen to you. Got it?"

He pulls me to my feet and glances around. "There's a cave not far from here. If we can make it there, we'll have a chance."

A chance. Not exactly reassuring, but I'll take what I can get.

The cave comes into view just as the sounds of the pack grow louder.

Jay shoves me inside first, his hand on my back as I stumble into the darkness. The air is damp and cold, and the space is cramped, the walls pressing in on all sides.

"We'll rest here for a bit, the park is too cautious to just rush into a dark cave" Jay says, crouching by the entrance. He's scanning the trees, his body tense and ready to spring into action.

I collapse onto the cave floor, my whole body shaking.

"They're still going to coming," I whisper, barely able to get the words out.

Jay turns to me, his face shadowed but calm. "I know."

Something in his tone sends a chill through me. He's preparing for the worst.

"I don't want you to die because of me," I say, my voice whimpering.

"Stop it, Liv." He moves closer, his eyes boring into mine. "You're worth it, okay?"

Before I can respond, a growl echoes outside the cave, low and menacing. Jay spins toward the entrance, his entire body going rigid.

"They found us," he mutters.

Tobias is the first to appear, his hulking wolf form silhouetted against the moonlight. His yellow eyes lock onto me, and I swear I see a twisted grin stretch across his face.

"Olivia," he drawls, his voice dripping with mockery. "You've caused quite the mess, haven't you?"

Jay steps in front of me, his stance protective. "You're not getting her."

Tobias chuckles, the sound low and dark. "Oh, Jay. Always the loyal puppy. You really think you can stop me?"

Jay doesn't answer. He just shifts slightly, his body coiled and tensed.

More wolves emerge from the shadows, their eyes glowing with predatory hunger.

My heart never stopped hammering in my chest, and the magic inside me starts to build again, hotter and wilder than before.

"Let her go, Jay," Tobias says, his tone almost bored. "You can't protect her. You never could."

"Watch me," Jay growls.

The tension snaps like a rubber band, and Tobias lunges. Jay meets him mid-air, the two of them colliding in a blur of fur and teeth.

I scramble back, pressing myself against the cave wall as chaos erupts around me. The other wolves rush forward, but Jay's fighting like a possessed man, and that seems to be keeping them at bay.

But he can't hold them off forever.

Something inside me snaps. I feel it building, surging, until I can't hold it back anymore. My hands glow with blue light, and the air around me crackles with energy.

"No," I whisper, shaking my head. "Not again."

The voice in my head laughs softly, almost teasing. "You can't fight it, Olivia. This is who you are now. Embrace it."

I squeeze my eyes shut, my whole body trembling. I don't want this power. I don't want any of it.

But then I hear Jay cry out in pain, and my eyes snap open. He's on the ground, blood dripping from a gash on his side. Tobias looms over him, his claws poised for the kill.

Something takes over, drowning out the fear. I push myself to my feet, the magic surging through me like a tidal wave.

"Get away from him!" I scream, and the power explodes out of me in a force and a blinding flash of light. (I somehow slightly directed this one).

The wolves are thrown back, their snarls turning into yelps of pain. The cave trembles, and part of the entrance collapses, cutting off the pack's advance.

When the dust settles, Jay is staring at me, his expression a mix of relief and a bit of fear.

"I told you," the voice in my head whispers, smug and satisfied. "You're stronger than you think."

For once, I don't argue.

Jay crouched beside me, his hand wraps steady around my shoulder, even though his breath came hard and fast. I could barely look at him, knowing every cut and bruise on his body was because of me.

"Hey," he said softly, tilting his head to catch my eyes. "We'll get through this. Together."

I really wanted to believe him.

But the weight in my chest wasn't just fear…it was guilt.

Guilt that I couldn't control whatever I was becoming.

Guilt that I'd dragged him into this.

And guilt that, no matter how much he tried to protect me, I felt like I was dragging him down with me.

"They're not going to stop, Jay," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the echoes of the cave. "Kael... Tobias... they won't stop until I'm dead."

"Let them come," he replied, his tone sharp and defiant. "I'm not letting anyone hurt you."

His words should've comforted me, but they didn't. Because deep down, I didn't think even Jay could stop what was coming. And I wasn't sure I wanted him to keep trying.

I opened my mouth to say something… what, I wasn't sure. But the sharp snap of a branch outside the collapsed cave entrance made the words freeze in my throat.

"They're still out there," he muttered, his voice low and urgent.

Panic surged in me like wildfire. My magic flared again, unbidden, sending faint pulses of light through the cave walls. I slapped my hands against the rocky ground, trying to stop it, but it was like trying to hold back the tide.

"Liv, you've got to stay calm, it's a miracle that this cave hasn't collapsed onto us" Jay urged, his hand over mine.

"I'm trying!" I hissed, my frustration spilling out in an electric snap that singed the edges of my hair. "You think I want this to happen?"

Jay opened his mouth to respond, but the sound of claws scraping against stone cut him off. A low growl echoed through the cave, and my blood turned to ice. Tobias. His scent hit me before I even saw him.

"Come out, little hybrid," Tobias called, his voice dripping with cruel amusement. "We know you're still in there. You've got nowhere left to run."

I am growing tired of all running from Tobias at this point

Jay stood, placing himself between me and the cave entrance.

"Stay behind me," he said over his shoulder, his voice hard and commanding.

"No," I said, scrambling to my feet. My body was shaking, but I forced myself to move beside him. "I'm not hiding while you get yourself killed."

"Liv…"

"Enough!" I snapped, surprising even myself with the force of it. "I don't need you to protect me. Not like this."

Before Jay could argue, Tobias had made it through the rocks blocking the cave and appeared in the entrance, his massive wolf form nearly blocking out the light. His yellow eyes glowed with a sick kind of glee as he stepped forward, flanked by two other wolves.

"You've caused enough trouble, girl," Tobias growled, his lips curling back to reveal razor-sharp teeth. "Time to put an end to this."

My magic flared again, reacting to the threat, and the ground beneath us began to tremble.

Tobias lunged, but Jay was faster. He met Tobias head-on, their bodies colliding with a sickening crunch.

The two other wolves moved to attack, but before they could reach me, the air around us shifted.

It was subtle at first… a faint hum. Then, without warning, everything froze. The wolves, mid-lunge, were suspended in the air, their snarls frozen on their faces. Even the dripping water had stopped, the droplets hanging motionless in the air.

"What the hell?" Jay muttered, stepping back from Tobias's immobilized form. His eyes zipped around the cave, searching for the source of what was going on.

I felt it before I saw it…a presence, heavy, pressing down on me like a physical weight more than usual.

A figure stepped into the cave, their silhouette sharp and unnaturally still against the frozen world around them. I couldn't make out their features, but their voice was unmistakably low, smooth, and laced with amusement.

"Well," the figure said, their tone dripping with mockery, "isn't this an interesting mess?"