The Roots Beneath

Chapter 12: Into the Woods

The woods felt different today, as though the shadows between the trees were darker, the air heavier. Seren walked slowly along the familiar trail, her feet crunching against the fallen leaves. Normally, the woods gave her peace, but not today. There was a chill that clung to the air, and an eerie stillness that made her heart beat a little faster.

She hadn't been able to shake the strange tension she felt ever since the party a few nights ago. Things with Elijah had been... confusing. Their connection had deepened, and yet, there was something unspoken between them. He was always watching her, protecting her, but never letting her in completely.

She kicked at a stone, frustrated by her own thoughts. The woods had always been her place to escape, but today, the solitude felt less comforting. Even the birds were unusually quiet. The leaves rustled overhead, but there was no breeze, no wind to explain the noise.

Seren stopped, her senses suddenly on high alert.

A branch snapped nearby.

Her pulse quickened, and she turned toward the sound, her eyes scanning the trees for any sign of movement. Nothing. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and a heavy sense of being watched settled over her.

It's just the woods, she told herself. You've been here a hundred times. There's nothing to worry about.

But the unease wouldn't leave her. She turned back to the trail, walking faster now, her breath quickening with each step. The feeling of something watching her grew stronger, and she couldn't shake the sense that she wasn't alone.

Another rustle. This time, it was closer.

Seren froze, her heart pounding in her chest. Slowly, she turned around, her eyes darting through the shadows. At first, she saw nothing but trees and underbrush. Then, a movement caught her eye—a figure, lurking at the edge of her vision, partially hidden in the shadows.

Her breath caught in her throat.

It wasn't human.

The figure was large, its form hunched and animalistic, but there was an intelligence in its eyes that made her blood run cold. It was watching her, its dark eyes gleaming from the shadows. The creature had fur, dark and matted, and even though she couldn't fully see it, she knew instinctively that it was dangerous.

A wolf.

But it was far too large, far too imposing to be an ordinary wolf. This thing was massive, easily larger than any wolf she had ever seen in books or nature documentaries. Its presence alone sent waves of fear crashing through her body.

Seren backed up, her heart thudding painfully in her chest, her hands trembling. The creature didn't move—didn't growl, didn't charge—just watched her with an unsettling intensity.

Run. Every instinct screamed at her to run, but her feet felt like they were glued to the ground.

Just when she thought she couldn't bear the tension any longer, the wolf let out a low growl, and for a terrifying moment, she thought it would lunge at her.

But instead, it turned and bolted into the woods, its powerful body disappearing into the trees in a flash of fur and shadow.

Seren stood frozen, her breath coming in short gasps, her heart pounding so hard she thought it might burst. She stared after the creature, her mind racing, unable to comprehend what she had just seen.

What was that?

She backed away slowly, her legs shaking as adrenaline coursed through her. The woods suddenly felt more sinister, the trees taller and more foreboding, the shadows deeper. She needed to get out of here—now.