Shadows on the Run

Lila stumbled after Kade, her bare feet catching on roots and rocks. The forest was a blur of dark trees and silver moonlight, the air sharp with pine and the coppery tang of her own blood. Her shoulder burned where Jaxon's claws had dug in, and her cheek throbbed from his slap. Every step hurt, but she kept moving. She had to. The baby—her baby—depended on it.

Kade didn't slow down. His long strides ate up the ground, his torn jacket flapping as he wove through the woods like he'd been born here. He hadn't said a word since telling her to follow, and that was fine by Lila. She didn't have the breath to talk anyway. Her chest still ached from the broken mate bond, a hollow spot where Jaxon used to be. She shoved the thought down. No time for crying.

A howl split the night—too close. Lila's head snapped back. "That's them," she gasped, tripping over a fallen branch. She caught herself on a tree, bark scraping her palms. "Jaxon's pack."

Kade stopped, turning to look at her. His gray eyes were hard, like storm clouds ready to break. "How many?" he asked.

"Twenty. Maybe more if he called the patrols." Her voice shook, but she straightened up. "They won't stop. He won't."

He grunted, glancing past her into the dark. Another howl, closer now, joined by a second. "Move," he said, grabbing her arm. His grip was firm but not rough, pulling her along as he broke into a run.

Lila's legs screamed, but she matched his pace. The forest floor sloped down, turning muddy and slick. She slipped, her foot sliding out, but Kade yanked her up before she hit the ground. "Keep going," he growled, his voice low and urgent.

"Where are we even—" she started, but a snarl cut her off. She twisted around. Two wolves burst from the trees—big, gray, with glowing yellow eyes. Jaxon's scouts. They were fast, claws tearing up dirt as they charged.

Kade shoved her behind him, his body tensing. "Stay back," he said, and then he shifted. It was quick—bones popping, fur sprouting—until a gray wolf stood where he'd been. Not as big as Jaxon, but lean and mean, with teeth bared and hackles up.

The first scout lunged. Kade met it mid-air, jaws snapping. They hit the ground in a tangle of fur and growls, claws raking. The second wolf circled, eyeing Lila. She backed up, her hands scrabbling for anything—a stick, a rock. Her fingers closed on a jagged stone, cold and heavy. The wolf sprang.

She swung, smashing the rock into its snout. It yelped, staggering back, blood dripping from its nose. Before it could recover, Kade was there, tearing into its side. The scout howled, twisting away, but Kade didn't let up. He bit down hard, and the wolf went limp.

The first scout was already down, throat torn out, blood pooling in the mud. Kade shifted back, breathing hard, his chest streaked with red. "Told you to stay back," he said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"I didn't have a choice!" Lila snapped, dropping the rock. Her hands shook, adrenaline buzzing through her. "It was coming for me!"

He stared at her, then nodded once. "Fair. Can you run?"

"Yeah," she lied. Her legs felt like jelly, but she wasn't about to admit it. Not to him.

"Good." He turned, heading deeper into the woods. "They'll smell the blood. More'll come."

Lila followed, her mind racing. Kade had taken down two wolves like it was nothing. Who was he? A rogue, sure, but he fought like he'd done this a hundred times. She wanted to ask, but the howls echoing behind them kept her quiet. Survival first. Questions later.

They ran until the trees thinned out, opening into a rocky clearing. A small cave yawned ahead, half-hidden by vines. Kade ducked inside, motioning for her to follow. She hesitated—dark, cramped spaces weren't her thing—but another howl, too damn close, pushed her in.

The cave was damp, smelling of moss and earth. Moonlight barely reached inside, leaving it dim and cold. Lila sank against the wall, her breath ragged. Kade crouched near the entrance, peering out, his body still as a statue.

"They'll find us," she said, hugging her knees. "Jaxon won't stop. He'll kill me. The baby too."

Kade didn't look at her. "Not tonight," he said. "Scent's too messy out there. Blood and mud'll throw 'em off."

She wanted to believe him, but the fear wouldn't let go. "You don't know him. He's… he's brutal. Worse now that I've shamed him."

He glanced at her then, his eyes catching a sliver of light. "I know brutal. You're still breathing. That's something."

Lila's throat tightened. "Not for long if he catches me."

Kade didn't answer. He pulled a small knife from his boot, flipping it in his hand like it was a habit. Silence stretched between them, heavy and thick. She studied him—messy hair, sharp jaw, scars peeking out from his jacket. He didn't look much older than her, maybe twenty-five, but there was something old in his eyes. Tired.

"Why'd you help me?" she asked finally. "Back there, with the hunters. And now."

He shrugged, still watching the entrance. "Didn't feel like watching you die."

"That's it?" She frowned. "You don't even know me."

"Don't need to." He paused, then added, "Seen enough people bleed out. Gets old."

She didn't know what to say to that. Her hand drifted to her belly, feeling the faint curve. "Thanks," she muttered, barely audible.

He grunted, like it didn't matter. Outside, the howls faded, replaced by the chirp of crickets and the rustle of leaves. Lila's eyes drooped, exhaustion crashing over her. She fought it—sleeping in a cave with a stranger wasn't smart—but her body didn't care. Her head tipped back against the stone, and darkness pulled her under.

She woke to a hand on her shoulder, shaking her. "Up," Kade said, his voice low. "We're moving."

Lila blinked, groggy. Gray light filtered into the cave—dawn. Her shoulder ached worse now, stiff and hot. She pushed herself up, wincing. "They're gone?"

"For now." He stood, brushing dirt off his hands. "Found a stream nearby. You need water. And that cut needs cleaning."

She nodded, too tired to argue. They slipped out of the cave, the morning air cool and damp. The stream wasn't far, bubbling over smooth rocks. Lila knelt, scooping water into her hands. It was icy, stinging her lips, but she drank deep. Kade splashed his face, then pointed at her shoulder. "Let me see."

"It's fine," she said, pulling her torn sleeve over it.

"It's not. Smells like infection already." He stepped closer, and this time she didn't flinch. He peeled the fabric back, his fingers careful but firm. The claw marks were red and swollen, crusted with dried blood. He cursed under his breath. "Deep. You're lucky it didn't hit bone."

"Lucky," she echoed, bitter. "Yeah, that's me."

He ignored that, pulling a strip of cloth from his jacket. He soaked it in the stream, then pressed it to her wound. She hissed, jerking away, but he held her still. "Stop squirming," he said. "Unless you want it to rot off."

She glared but let him work. The cold cloth stung, then soothed. He cleaned it quick, tying the strip around her shoulder like a makeshift bandage. "Best I can do," he said, stepping back. "Stay out of fights for a bit."

"Tell that to Jaxon," she muttered.

He smirked—just a flicker, gone fast. "Come on. We're not safe here."

They moved again, following the stream uphill. The forest was quieter now, but Lila's nerves stayed tight. Every snap of a twig made her jump. Kade noticed, she could tell, but he didn't say anything. Good. She didn't need pity.

After an hour, they reached a ridge overlooking a valley. Smoke curled up from the trees below—Jaxon's pack, maybe, or something worse. Kade crouched, scanning it. "We'll skirt around," he said. "Too many scents down there."

"Where are we even going?" she asked, catching her breath. "You've got a plan, right?"

He didn't answer right away. "Somewhere they won't look," he said finally. "Rogue camp. Few days from here."

"A camp?" She frowned. "With other wolves?"

"Yeah. Not all friendly, so keep your head down." He stood, brushing past her. "Let's go."

"Wait." She grabbed his sleeve, surprising herself. "Why're you doing this? Really. You could've left me back there."

Kade looked at her hand, then her face. "Maybe I don't like packs who throw out their own," he said, voice rough. "Maybe I've been where you are. Pick one."

She let go, her chest tightening. "You were rejected too?"

He didn't answer, just started walking. She followed, questions burning in her mind. Whoever Kade was, he wasn't just some lone wolf. And whatever he was running from, it was big. Bigger than her mess, maybe. But right now, he was all she had—and she wasn't about to let him slip away.