The Forest Pact

ell beneath the horizon, the golden tones of

er boots crinkling softl

with everything he

member of the wolf

tened her, but it only fueled s

the entire forest on his wide shoulders, wa

e darkness was filled wit

ed in the distance, and the dist

e never had before, as though she were walking into a

" she finally asked,

lder, his golden eyes glowi

e safe,"

een saying that since we left the

g to face her. His expression

hem," h

owned. "T

he pack. Others. Rogues who

racted to y

inquired, her

ng. "Humans. don't belong here.

a signal

d with a chill. "So, w

ence was en

oner," Aurora grumbled, at

e replied, voice low. "A

to mean s

and trailed after him as

ped a beat whenever his eyes locked with hers or the way his nearness made her

owering pines. In the middle of the grove was a c

e chimney, and the smell of

e?" Aurora said, lookin

s said, opening the

rde

k to allow her entry. Auror

with a modest fireplace, woode

binets were stocked full of jars conta

stuff too?" she asked, trying to

of humor she'd ever seen from him

ty overwhelming her. "So, are you going to tell me what'

, his golden eyes fixed on he

she replied, h

rated breath, smoot

orest

ny map, any

area where the natura

-has guarded it

h excitement as she listene

d it fr

b the balance," Silas said. "Hum

t has its own rules, its own ma

is disturbing it,

nd to, but yes. Your presence

se it, and they'll

et them find me? If I'm such an issue,

hought for an instant that she

," he said. "You care for

re she could protest, a deep gro

t increased in intensity

"Stay put," he barked,

, her heart racing. "You can'

s golden eyes aflame. "

ut

e growled, rem

ain, Silas went out the door,

ed for an instant

ing in her chest, she took the flare g

was alive w

s, their forms too fast and too

reatures with burning red eyes, thei

of the grove, his prese

th tension, and Aurora gazed at

ripple along his skin, a

running motio

muscles curling as hard f

unleashed a bone-shuddering howl, Auro

gues a

ing with a speed and power

ements graceful yet brutal. But the rogues

ound the flare gun as s

ain concealed, but she couldn't

t one of the rogues moving towar

he air, hitting the out

before crumpling to the grou

d over his shoulder

ker on his face-like anger-but then hi

bellowed, his voice

art raced with adrenaline as

d the silver glow of the moonlight. In the midst of the turmoil, Aurora felt an

egrating into the ground like the

the grove, his chest pumpin

human form, his golden ey

king hands outstretched. "Are you all right?

"You shouldn't have come out," he said, though

said, her eyes scanning his. "You

irst time, he smiled all the way. "Y

flushed, but s

ore than I ev

here for a moment, the

ved closer, her heart racing as s

d, he leaned into her touch, h

ide," he said softly, h

d, but she d

ween them, something she

one thing for sure: her bond with Silas