The Forest Pact

at the sound of

in darkness, save for the gl

she dreamed the whole thing:

is silhouette framed in the pal

d through darkness as

Aurora could hear th

a bit, lookin

truly sleep," he whis

y, a weightedness that felt li

her blanket around her shoulde

g this for a long ti

es as Silas nodded, e

han you'd

r words: how to b

s now?" she

," Sila

ll not be eas

ow you'

hey want

jaw ti

an. And because you

stomach

 to kill me so the fores

ing you," Sila

eed on

cha

sence fu

but not only beca

the window at

n the forest, but

 beneath its

out of here?" she

iced so much

er want to e

gaze h

est is m

pose. Leaving i

r heart breaking at the

tly. "You're not just a protector. You're..

ed to Silas, who turn

ra?" he asked,

d get to know," she sai

ght on Silas' shoulders removed, and whatev

a weak smile forming at 

ed. "I've bee

howl. It was nothing like the mour

a sharper, an

t rigid,

coming,

rt raced. "W

t and turned to her

erupted in

their red eyes flashing like

hold of the cabin, the fl

shape, a giant blur of flesh and fur

r hands shaking but steady enough to aim. With each gunshot, th

ed at her, jaws clampi

t racing, but before it c

e mid-air, his claws h

ed from deep within the

ora shouted over my should

just a second before spinning a

 felt nev

e, her fingers bruised fr

ues began to back away, snarls

the shadows, Silas returned to his human for

tight with anxiety. "Are you oka

he said, though h

by yourself," Aurora said,

ed at her. "I'm not alone

She touched him, with her

l of this alone, Silas," s

more than you realize,"

everything out

red, and all that was left was the tw

, but she was in Silas's arms, being pulle

himself surround her, feeling the constant

a rest," he said

," she responded, u

w rumble from deep in his

rora said, a thin

the canopy, Aurora knew her life would be changed

she was not afraid of wh