Always And Forever | ENG

Chapter Fifteen: The Shadow in the Forest

The days after my conversation with Dean were quieter, more hopeful. A tentative peace had been established between us, but it was fragile. It felt like a piece of glass, cracked but still held together by the thinnest of threads. There were still moments where I could feel the weight of the old tension between us, especially when I gave orders or took charge of a situation. But at least for now, Dean was willing to try.

That, however, was only a small part of the battle. The larger, more pressing issue was the growing external threat. The creature we had encountered in the forest-the one that had been controlled by the mysterious figure-was just the beginning. Every passing day brought more unease. It wasn't just about what we saw; it was about what we hadn't seen yet. What we couldn't see.

The pack was on edge. Patrols were increased, sentries stationed at every possible entry point, and the borders were constantly monitored. The normal routine of the pack was disrupted, and the constant tension weighed heavily on everyone. There was a lingering sense that something was lurking just beyond the reach of our sight, that we were being watched and hunted like prey.

One evening, as I stood at the edge of the pack's territory, staring out into the darkening woods, I could feel it in the air-the silence was wrong. The forest, usually alive with the sounds of crickets, rustling leaves, and distant calls, was eerily still. It was as if even nature itself had grown quiet, waiting for something to break the calm.

"Ace," I called, my voice steady, though the tightness in my chest betrayed my unease. "How's the perimeter?"

Ace stepped beside me, his eyes scanning the horizon. The muscles in his shoulders were tight, his posture alert, but I could see the weariness in his eyes. He hadn't been sleeping well, and neither had I. The weight of leadership was heavy enough, but with this constant threat hanging over us, it felt suffocating.

"All quiet," he replied, his voice low. "But I don't like it. It's too quiet. We've been getting reports of movement at the borders, but nothing substantial. It's like they're testing us."

"They're getting closer," I said, my voice tinged with frustration. I could feel the weight of the responsibility bearing down on me. "We can't keep waiting for them to make their move. We need to find them before they find us."

Ace nodded, his eyes narrowing as he turned toward me. "I've been thinking the same thing. They know we're out here. They know we're on alert. They're waiting for us to slip up."

I felt a chill run down my spine. The idea that we were being watched-stalked-made my skin crawl. It wasn't just the creatures we'd seen. There was something more behind it, something that had yet to show itself.

"We need to find that figure," I said, my voice growing firmer. "The one controlling the beasts. They're the key to everything."

"I agree," Ace said, his jaw tightening. "But we don't know where to look. We don't know who or what they are. All we have are shadows and whispers. And right now, that's not enough."

I turned to him, my thoughts racing. "Then we start looking for answers. We need scouts on the move. We need to track down any sign of them, no matter how small."

Ace didn't hesitate. "I'll get the scouts organized. But you need to be careful, Finley. We're not just dealing with creatures anymore. We're dealing with something far more dangerous. This isn't just an attack on the pack-it's personal."

The weight of his words hit me hard, and I turned back to the darkened woods, trying to keep my breath steady. There was something more to this than a simple territorial dispute. Whoever-or whatever-was behind this was playing a much larger game. And we were the pawns in it.

The days that followed were filled with quiet vigilance. Ace and I worked together to organize the scouts, sending them out in small groups to cover as much ground as possible. The idea was simple: spread out, gather information, and report back. But the more we searched, the more I realized how little we knew. Every lead we followed led to dead ends. Every creature we encountered was just another piece of the puzzle, but we couldn't see the bigger picture.

One afternoon, a scout returned with alarming news. He had been patrolling the eastern border when he noticed something strange-tracks that didn't belong to any known creature. They were too large for a wolf, too distinct for any other animal in the area. And they were fresh.

"We need to move," I said immediately, turning to Ace. "Get the pack ready. We're going on the offensive."

The pack was already in motion, moving with a sense of purpose that hadn't been there before. It wasn't just about defense anymore; it was about taking the fight to them. We couldn't afford to wait for them to come to us-we had to find them before they found us.

The patrols moved quietly through the woods, every sound amplified in the stillness. The further we went, the more oppressive the silence became. It wasn't natural. The forest should have been alive with the usual sounds of wildlife. But there was nothing. Not even the wind seemed to move the trees.

As we neared the location where the tracks had been found, the tension in the air grew thicker. My heart was pounding, each beat a reminder of how far we had come, how much was at stake.

And then, just as I thought we might find something, a low growl echoed through the trees, followed by a rustling in the underbrush.

"We're not alone," Ace said quietly, his hand on the hilt of his weapon.

The pack fell into position, moving with practiced stealth. We weren't just dealing with the creatures we had seen before. This time, we were ready for anything.

But when the creature finally emerged from the shadows, it was not the beast we had fought before. It was something else entirely-something that stood on two legs, its eyes glowing a sickly yellow, and its presence radiating an unnatural aura of power.

This was no wild animal. This was something controlled, something far more dangerous. And it was here to send a message.

"Finley..." Ace's voice was low, filled with a quiet dread. "This is it. This is the one."

I didn't wait for him to say more. I had seen enough. The figure was closer than we realized. And they were sending their army to finish what they started