Chapter 8: The Scent of Blood

POV: Lila

A Trail Too Easy

I run through the woods, my heart racing. Mira's scent pulls me forward like a rope. But it feels wrong…too fresh, too strong. "She wants me to follow her," I whisper.

Branches snap under my feet. The moonlight slices through the trees. It should make me feel safe, but all I feel is... trapped.

Suddenly, I stop. A red-stained cloth flutters from a low branch.

The Blood, My fingers tremble as I reach for it. "Still warm…" I whisper. "But it's not hers. It's too much blood to still be walking."

I fold the cloth in my fist. "She's trying to bait me." I look around too quiet. No wind. No animals.

"She knows I'm coming," I growl. My wolf pushes beneath my skin, ready to come out. But I stop her…for now.

I move again, this time slower, quieter. My ears twitch at every sound. Then I hear him says.

Cassian. His voice is soft, but full of worry. "Run, Mira." So he's with her, But I'm closer to him much closer.

I smile, just a little. "You chose wrong, Cassian."

Into the Hunt

I crouch low behind a bush. Mira's scent mixes with his now. She's limping. I can tell from the way her scent pattern breaks.

"She's injured," I whisper. "She's slowing down."

I should feel bad. But I don't. She took everything from me. My rank. My pride. My mate.

Now she'll pay for she do for me. I close my eyes. Let my wolf take over Bones snap. Skin stretches. My body shifts.

I fall to all fours. My claws dig into the dirt. My fur brushes the leaves. I breathe in…and the world sharpens.

Every sound. Every smell. Every movement. I'm faster now. Stronger.

I leap forward.

Cassian's voice again. Closer this time. "Mira, keep going! Don't stop!"

She gasps. She's crying. I can hear her. She's scared. Good. I growl low, warning them. I'm not hiding anymore.

A flash of movement to my left. Cassian. In wolf form. Big. Dark. Fast.

He slams into me before I can dodge. We roll across the ground, biting, scratching, growling. His teeth snap inches from my face. "Stop this, Lila!" he shouts through our mind-link.

"She betrayed me!" I scream back. "She's innocent!" "She took you from me!" We break apart. I swipe at him. He ducks. His eyes are sad.

"I never stopped caring about you, Lila." "Too late for that!"

The Truth Hurts

I dodge a tree and chase Mira's fading scent. Cassian tries to block me again, but I jump over him and land running.

Mira's just ahead. I can hear her breath. It's shaky, weak.

I shift back into human form as I reach a clearing. She's there—bloody, bruised, and barely standing.

"Mira," I snarl. She turns her eyes into wide and with fear.

"Please… listen." I grab her by the collar and slam her against a tree.

"You think I'm here to talk?" "I didn't betray you not at all," she cries.

"Then why did you lie? Why did you run?" "I had to!"

"Liar!"

Cassian crashes into the clearing. Still in wolf form. He shifts fast, standing between me and her.

"Don't hurt her, Lila."

"Move."

"No."

I laugh bitterly. "So it's true. You chose her." Cassian looks torn. "I didn't choose. I tried to protect you both."

Mira sobs. "I didn't want this. I tried to tell you the truth…"

"What truth?" I hiss. "She was protecting you," Cassian says quietly.

I freeze. "What?" Mira steps forward, shaking. "The blood trail… the lies… they weren't mine."

"Then whose were they?"

"Yours."

I stare at her, confused.

"You were the target, Lila. Not me. I made it look like I betrayed you to throw them off your trail."

I blink.

"You… protected me?" She nods. "But now… they know you're coming."

"Who's they?" Cassian grabs my arm. "We don't have time."

The Pack Arrives

A howl cuts through the night. Then another And another. Mira's eyes widen in horror. "They found us."

Cassian shifts without a word and pushes us both behind him.

I hear the sound of heavy paws thudding closer. Trees rustle. Eyes gleam in the dark.

Ten… maybe more. A new scent hits my nose.

Familiar. Deadly.

Victor. He steps into the clearing, tall, confident, smirking. "Didn't expect all three of you to come together," he says. "How lucky for me." Cassian growls. I step beside him.

"Victor," I spit. "You did this." Victor tilts his head. "Of course I did. You made it too easy, Lila."

"What do you want?"

"You." He snaps his fingers. Wolves circle us. Big ones. Strong. One leaps at me. I shift mid-air and bite down hard. Another lunges for Mira. Cassian tackles it.

We fight like hell, But there are too many. Mira screams.

Cassian's covered in blood.

I can't see where it's coming from.

Victor walks up slowly, calm in the chaos. He raises his hand and everything stops.

The wolves freeze. Cassian drops to one knee. Mira clutches her side.

I pant hard, shaking.

Victor smiles. And then he whispers the one thing that chills me more than anything else.

"You're not the real threat, Lila. She is." He points to Mira. My eyes widen. "What are you talking about?"

"She's the reason this war is coming."

Mira breath. I turn to my face back to her. "What is he saying?"

But Mira's face is pale. Her lips part, And then she says something I never expected to hear.

"I'm… not who you think I am."