Strangers in the Smoke

Lila's knees hit the dirt beside Kade, her hands trembling as she pressed them to his chest. Blood seeped through her fingers, warm and sticky, his breaths shallow and ragged. The camp was a haze of smoke and screams, the wraiths scattering under the rain of fiery arrows. But all she could see was Kade—pale, bleeding, maybe dying. She shook him again, her voice cracking. "Kade, wake up! Please!"

His eyes fluttered, gray and unfocused, but he didn't move. Panic clawed at her throat. She couldn't lose him—not now, not after everything. He'd saved her too many times already.

"Move aside," a rough voice snapped. The silver-haired woman loomed over her, her scarred throat glistening with sweat. She knelt, shoving Lila's hands away to check Kade's wounds. Her fingers moved fast, pressing against the claw marks, blood staining her weathered skin.

"Who are you?" Lila demanded, her voice shaking but sharp. "What do you want?"

The woman didn't look up. "Name's Mara—not your Mara, I'd wager. And I want those damn wraiths gone. You're the reason they're here, so start talking."

Lila bristled, her hands curling into fists. "I didn't bring them! My mate—ex-mate—kicked me out. I've been running since."

Mara snorted, pulling a pouch from her belt. She sprinkled green powder over Kade's cuts—herbs, maybe, sharp-smelling and bitter. "Running straight into trouble. Wraiths don't swarm like that for nothing. You're marked, girl."

"Marked?" Lila's stomach dropped. She glanced at her belly, the baby kicking hard again. "What's that mean?"

"Means something wants you bad," Mara said, tying a strip of cloth around Kade's chest. "Or what's in you. Now shut up—I'm working."

Lila bit her lip, watching as Mara's crew fanned out from the trees. They were a rough bunch—hooded figures with bows and axes, moving like they'd fought wraiths before. Arrows still flew, driving the last of the monsters back into the dark. The alpha wraith roared one last time, flames licking its spiked back, then lumbered off, its pack following.

Sasha limped over, her sword dripping black ooze. Her arm hung limp, blood soaking her sleeve, but her green eyes burned. "Mara," she said, voice tight. "Thought you were dead."

"Thought you were smarter," Mara shot back, standing. "Letting wraiths overrun your camp? Sloppy, Sasha."

Sasha's jaw clenched. "They hit us hard. Too many. What're you doing here?"

"Tracking," Mara said, nodding at her archers. "Wraiths've been moving south for weeks. Led us to her." She jerked her head at Lila.

Lila stood, her scratched arm throbbing. "I told you, I don't know why they're after me!"

"Then figure it out," Mara said, cold as stone. "'Cause they won't stop."

Ryn stumbled up, her hatchet chipped and bloody. "Tor's alive—barely. Lost six others. Camp's a wreck."

Sasha cursed, kicking a broken crate. "We can't hold here. Not with that alpha out there."

"Move to our outpost," Mara said, wiping her hands on her pants. "Half a day east. Stronger walls. You'll owe me, though."

Sasha glared but nodded. "Fine. Get your people ready, Ryn. We're leaving."

Ryn darted off, shouting orders. Lila stayed by Kade, her chest tight. He groaned, stirring, and relief flooded her. "Kade?" she whispered, brushing hair from his face.

"Yeah," he rasped, eyes half-open. "Still here."

"Don't scare me like that," she said, her voice cracking. She helped him sit up, his weight heavy against her. Blood stained the herbs Mara had used, but the bleeding had slowed.

"Had worse," he muttered, wincing as he moved. "Who's the old hag?"

"Mara," Lila said, glancing at the woman. "Saved us. Says I'm marked."

Kade's brow furrowed, but he didn't get to answer. Mara hauled him up, ignoring his grunt of pain. "Walk or be carried, boy. We're moving."

He glared but leaned on Lila, limping as they joined the others. The camp was a mess—tents shredded, fires smoldering, bodies scattered. Rogues grabbed what they could—weapons, packs, a few kids clinging to adults. Tor staggered up, his face bruised, spear in hand. He shot Lila a nasty look but kept quiet.

The group moved east, a ragtag line of survivors. Mara's archers took the lead, their fire-tipped arrows ready. Sasha and Ryn flanked the sides, while Lila and Kade stayed near the middle. The forest was quiet now, too quiet, the wraiths' stench fading into the wind. But Lila's nerves stayed tight—every rustle made her jump.

"You trust her?" she whispered to Kade, her arm around his waist to steady him.

"Mara?" He shrugged, wincing at the motion. "Don't know her. Sasha does. That's something."

"Not much," Lila said, glancing at Sasha ahead. The rogue leader's limp was worse now, her arm dangling useless. "She doesn't trust me either."

"She'll get over it," Kade said. "You saved that kid. Means more than you think."

Lila's throat tightened, remembering the boy's terrified face. "Didn't feel like enough."

"It was," he said, his voice low but firm. "You're tougher than you look."

She managed a small smile, but it faded fast. The baby kicked again, sharp and insistent. She pressed a hand to her belly, worry gnawing at her. *Marked.* Mara's word stuck like a thorn. Was it her? The baby? She didn't know, and that scared her more than the wraiths.

They walked for hours, the sun climbing high. Lila's legs ached, her scratched arm stinging with every step. Kade's breathing grew rougher, but he didn't complain. The group stayed silent, the weight of the attack hanging over them. Finally, the trees parted, revealing Mara's outpost—a cluster of stone buildings surrounded by a high wooden wall. Watchtowers stood at the corners, archers posted with burning torches.

"Inside," Mara barked, waving them through a heavy gate. It slammed shut behind them, the sound echoing like a jail door. Lila's stomach twisted—safe, maybe, but trapped too.

The outpost buzzed with activity—people sharpening weapons, stacking supplies, tending wounds. Mara's crew blended in, barking orders like they owned the place. Sasha led her rogues to a corner, setting up a makeshift camp. Lila helped Kade to a bench, easing him down. His face was pale, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Rest," she said, grabbing a waterskin from a passing rogue. She handed it to him, her hands still shaky. "You look like crap."

"Thanks," he said, taking a long drink. He wiped his mouth, eyeing the outpost. "This place… it's built for war."

"Against wraiths?" she asked, sitting beside him.

"Maybe. Or worse." He leaned back, closing his eyes. "Mara knows more than she's saying."

Lila frowned, watching the silver-haired woman stride toward a stone building. Sasha followed, her limp slowing her down. "She thinks I'm the problem," Lila said. "Like I wanted this."

"You didn't," Kade said, eyes still shut. "But trouble's got a way of finding people like us."

"Us?" She raised an eyebrow.

He cracked one eye open, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Outcasts. Messed-up pasts. You fit right in."

She snorted, but it wasn't funny. Not really. She leaned back, her hand resting on her belly. The baby was quiet now, and that scared her more than the kicks. *What's happening to you?* she thought, fear curling tight in her chest.

A shadow fell over them. Ryn stood there, her hatchet cleaned but her hands still bloody. "Boss wants you," she said, nodding at Lila. "Both of you, if he can walk."

"He can," Kade said, pushing himself up with a grunt. Lila steadied him, ignoring his glare. They followed Ryn to the stone building—a squat, sturdy thing with a thick door. Inside, Sasha sat on a crate, her arm bandaged now, while Mara leaned over a table cluttered with maps and knives.

"Sit," Mara said, not looking up. Lila and Kade took stools, the air thick with tension. Sasha's green eyes flicked to Lila, hard and unreadable.

"Wraiths don't move like that," Mara said, tapping a map. "Not in packs, not with an alpha. Something's stirring 'em up, and it's tied to you." She pointed at Lila, her scarred throat bobbing as she spoke.

"I don't know why," Lila said, her voice rising. "I'm just trying to survive!"

"Survive quieter," Sasha muttered, rubbing her temple.

Mara ignored her. "Your mate—Jaxon. He's an alpha, yeah?"

"Was," Lila said, bitterness sharp on her tongue. "Kicked me out 'cause of this." She gestured at her belly.

Mara's eyes narrowed. "And the father?"

"Human," Lila said, then hesitated. "Dead now. Hunters got him."

"Human," Mara echoed, leaning closer. "You sure?"

Lila frowned. "What's that mean?"

Mara didn't answer, just pulled a small vial from her pocket—dark liquid, shimmering red. She held it up, the light catching it. "Wraith blood. Reacts to power. Old power." She uncorked it, tipping a drop onto the table. It hissed, smoking faintly.

Before Lila could ask, Mara grabbed her hand—fast, rough—and pricked her finger with a knife. Lila yelped, pulling back, but Mara smeared the blood into the wraith drop. It flared, glowing bright red, then purple, smoke curling up in spirals.

"What the—" Kade started, leaning forward.

Mara's face darkened. "You're not just a rogue, girl. You've got old blood in you. And that—" she nodded at Lila's belly—"might have it too."

"Old blood?" Lila's voice shook. "What's that?"

"Means you're trouble," Mara said, corking the vial. "More than I thought. Someone's waking the dark, and you're the key."

A crash outside cut her off—wood splintering, shouts rising. Ryn bolted to the door, hatchet out. "They're back!" she yelled.

Lila's heart stopped as a roar shook the walls—the alpha wraith, louder, closer. Smoke poured through the cracks, thick and black. Mara grabbed her bow, Sasha her sword. Kade staggered up, knife in hand.

"They found us," Sasha growled, glaring at Lila. "Your mess just keeps growing."

Before Lila could snap back, the wall exploded inward, wood and stone flying. The alpha wraith's massive head shoved through, green eyes blazing, jaws snapping. It locked on Lila, and she knew—Mara was right. It wanted *her*.