Beyond The Sacrifice

Chapter ten

Clara's POV

The soft sound of rain pattering against the cave walls surrounded us, a calming rhythm that made the night feel even more intimate. I was nestled in Marcel's arms, our bodies wrapped in warmth beneath the heavy blankets. His arm was draped around me, strong and protective, and I rested my head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.

It had been three months since I'd arrived, and everything had changed. This place was my home now, and Marcel, my world. We had spent the night wrapped in each other's embrace, sharing words, warmth, and love.

The rain continued to fall, casting a peaceful hush over the forest outside, but it didn't last. I felt Marcel shift beside me. Slowly, he started to untangle himself from our cozy nest, standing up and pulling on his clothes.

I blinked, still drowsy, and pulled the blankets tighter around myself. "Where are you going?" I asked, my voice soft and a little worried.

Marcel glanced back at me, fastening his belt. "Darian called for me," he said, his voice low. "It seems important."

I sat up, a small frown creasing my forehead. "Can I come with you?" I asked. I had been here long enough now—three months—so I knew the pack well. I felt comfortable around them. Darian, the alpha of the tribe, had always treated me with respect, and I'd grown to trust him and the others. I didn't want to stay behind.

Marcel hesitated, studying me for a moment. He seemed torn between wanting to keep me safe and not wanting to leave me alone. Finally, he nodded. "Alright," he said, his voice softening. "But stay close to me, okay?"

I smiled, feeling a little spark of excitement. "I will."

We quickly dressed and stepped out into the rain. The cool drops splattered against our faces as we made our way through the forest. Marcel held my hand tightly, his body tense and alert. Whatever Darian needed to tell him, it was clearly something serious. The rain soaked through our clothes, but neither of us seemed to mind.

We arrived at the meeting spot where Darian was waiting, his expression stern and serious. His tall, imposing figure was framed by the towering trees, his eyes sharp and alert.

"Marcel, Clara," Darian greeted us with a nod, though his tone remained heavy. "Thank you for coming. We have a situation."

Marcel's grip on my hand tightened as he stepped forward. "What's going on?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with concern.

Darian's eyes flicked between us, and I could tell he was choosing his words carefully. "We found an outsider. A human. He was caught wandering the forest. We're not sure what his intentions are, but it's... unusual."

My heart skipped a beat. A human? Here? That wasn't something that happened often. Most people from my village feared this forest too much to venture in. And those who did... well, they never came back.

"What do you plan to do with him?" Marcel asked, his expression unreadable.

Darian crossed his arms, his brows furrowed in thought. "That's the thing. We're not sure. We've never had a human wander in like this. Normally, we'd... handle it the way we handle all outsiders. But with Clara here, I wanted to get your input first. You know how humans think better than any of us."

I swallowed, a strange feeling settling in my chest. "Can we talk to him?" I asked. "Maybe he's just lost. He could be harmless."

Darian gave me a sharp look. "Harmless or not, humans don't belong here. He's already seen too much."

Marcel turned to me, his face calm but thoughtful. "We'll see him first," he said, as if reading my mind. He turned back to Darian. "Where is he?"

Darian nodded toward the trees. "He's being held in one of the caves, under guard. Follow me."

We exchanged a glance, then followed Darian deeper into the forest, the rain still falling in a steady rhythm around us. My heart beat a little faster, unsure of what we were about to face.

Who could this stranger be, and what did his presence mean for us?

Marcel's POV

The rain still clung to us as we entered the cave. Clara followed closely behind me, her hand slipping from mine as we stepped into the dimly lit space. The tension in the air was thick, and my senses were on high alert. Whoever this outsider was, they had caused enough trouble to warrant being held under guard.

As we moved closer, I saw him—a young man, dirty, bruised, and restrained by two of our pack members. His eyes were wild, darting around the room in fear and confusion. He looked like a trapped animal, desperately searching for a way out. But when his gaze fell on Clara, something shifted.

Clara froze behind me, and I could feel the sudden change in her heartbeat, even without looking at her. The man's face contorted in disbelief, and his knees buckled. "Clara?" he whispered, his voice breaking like a dam giving way.

Before I could react, the stranger shoved the guards away, tears streaming down his face. "Clara!" he sobbed, running toward her. I tensed, ready to intervene, but something in the way he moved made me pause. He wasn't a threat. He was desperate.

The men were about to pull him back, but I raised my hand to stop them. I didn't know who this man was, but the way he rushed to Clara, the way he clung to her like his life depended on it—it was clear he meant her no harm.

Clara's arms wrapped around him tightly, her face buried in his shoulder. They held each other as if they hadn't seen each other in years, and maybe they hadn't. Her body trembled in his embrace, and his sobs filled the small cave, echoing off the stone walls. My heart clenched at the sight, but my mind was reeling with questions.

Who was this man?

The guards exchanged confused glances, unsure of what to do next. I took a step forward, my eyes never leaving Clara. My instincts told me to protect her, to pull her away from this stranger, but something held me back.

The man cupped Clara's face in his hands, his eyes searching hers with a tenderness that left me unsettled. "I thought I'd lost you," he whispered before pressing a kiss to her forehead.

I swallowed the lump rising in my throat and called out her name softly, "Clara?"

She turned to me, her face streaked with tears, and my chest tightened at the sight. "That's my brother," she said, her voice trembling.

Her brother. The realisation hit me like a sudden gust of wind. The human standing before me, the one who had been captured and brought to our lands—he wasn't just anyone. He was her family.

For a moment, I didn't know how to respond. My mind raced with thoughts of what this meant, how this changed things. I had heard her speak of him before, but seeing him here, in front of me, was something I hadn't expected.

Clara held onto him tightly, her tears still falling. And all I could do was stand there, watching the reunion, trying to make sense of the surge of emotions I was feeling. Jealousy, confusion, relief—for her, for him—and an underlying sense of protectiveness.

I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to stay calm. This man, this brother of hers, wasn't a threat. Not to her, not to me. But his presence raised a storm of questions, none of which I had the answers to yet.

Still, I knew one thing for certain—I would protect Clara, no matter what came next.

To be continued...