20 BETRAYAL AND PARKNESS BETRAYAL AND DARKNESS VALERIA Really ? I thought I heard you murmuring something , she approached me with suspicion .


    No , I was just thinking out loud .


    Did you manage to sort things out with your boyfriend ? I descended the steps and found her sitting on thest one , suddenly bursting into tears .


    Between sobs , she confessed her struggles with her mate and her parents being the Alphas daughter wasnt easy Dont be like that .


    Theres got to be a solution .


    Dont you have anyone who supports you ? Maybe a sister ? No ! Why are you asking me if I have a sister?! she snapped , lifting her gaze defensively .


    I mean … Sorry , I didnt mean to be rude .


    All of this has me really nervous .


    And no , I dont have a sister or anyone else .


    I nodded , though her reaction felt strangely defensive for such a simple question .


    Oh no , its way toote ! My parents will kill me , and the King must be furious searching for you ! Lets go , lets go now ! She shifted from distress to panic , grabbing my hand and practically dragging me back toward the woods at a near Wait this isnt the way I came from , I protested , slowing my steps as I noticed we were heading in the opposite direction , This is a shortcut ! I came this way , she insisted , but she kept pushing forward through the dark underbrush .


    I stumbled several times over roots due to the poor lighting and the speed we were moving .


    Something felt wrong For starters how did she know I was at the Goddesss altar ? The pieces werent fitting together , and as I looked up , I spotted a raven flying overhead , weaving between the branches .


    Its caw was sharp nothing like when it guided me to the temple before .


    It felt more like a warning .


    Stop .


    Wait a minute … I said stop ! I yanked my arm back , halting in a clearing where the trees thinned .


    What is it now ? she turned , clearly frustrated .


    Where are you taking me ? This isnt the way back to the pack , is it ? I feel like were heading somewhere else .


    I stared at her , alert , scanning the area around me and already nning my escape .


    Why would I take you somewhere else ? Stop with the paranoia ! Come on , I dont have time for your nonsense ! She reached for me again , but I stepped back .


    Frustration and irritation shed across her face .


    I had already seen betrayal up close and it was obvious this girl was leading me into danger .


    20 BETRAYAL AND DARKNES Without thinking twice , I shifted into my small wolf form and bolted into the dark forest .


    The moonlight barely filtered through the thick foliage , offering minimal visibility , yet I ran blindly , hoping the shadows would conceal me .


    The ravens I need to find them .


    I focused on the thought , praying they would guide me back to Aldric .


    But the sound of paws behind me made my heart race faster She was chasing me .


    1 focused entirely on escaping , leaping over roots , pushing through thorny bushes despite the sharp stings on my legs .


    But Adele was stronger .


    The daughter of an Alpha .


    She caught up quickly , and before I knew it , her jaws sank painfully into my hind leg .


    Aaaggt ! I howled as she dragged me back with force , mming my body hard against a tree .


    1 whimpered , feeling my spine crack dangerously .


    You just had to resist , huh ? Damn it ! All you had to do was follow me and stop making thingsplicated ! The gray she wolf snarled from a few feet away .


    Why are you doing this ? What do you want from me ? 1 demanded , struggling to get back on my feet .


    I had always found it strange that , despite my weaknesses , could hear wolves in my mind and respond to their pack messages .


    You need toe with me … Its where the relic the King is looking for is kept .


    You can retrieve it and be a hero ! she spat , lying poorly .


    I dont want to be a hero ! If you know where it is , go get it yourself ! I finally stood , snapping back with anger and preparing to run again .


    But she lunged at me .


    Of course , I fought back like a wild animal .


    I wasnt going to let myself be captured .


    We rolled through the grass , her ws raking my sides while I bit down hard on her fur , raking her body with my own ws .


    But once again , she overpowered me .


    I found myself pinned against a tree , belly up , her massive form pressing on my chest with a paw digging into my throat , cutting off my air .


    I hated how small and weak this wolf form of mine was .


    It was the only shape I could shift into fragile and helpless .


    They never said you had to arrive in one piece anyway ! 2/3  20 BETRAYAL AND DARKNESSY Her furious thoughts echoed in my mind as she bared her teeth , saliva dripping onto my fur .


    She was going for my throat .


    If they wanted me alive , she was doing a terrible job showing it .


    I struggled desperately , baring my own canines , twisting to snap at her .


    Pain radiated from my neck where her ws dug in , but just as I thought she would end me Adele froze .


    Her head snapped up , her eyes shifting from bloodthirsty red to sheer panic .


    I felt her entire body trembling , her paw loosening against my throat .


    What could possibly terrify her so much ? My pulse raced faster when I noticed she wasnt even looking at me anymore but past me .


    Something behind the tree .


    Something I couldnt see .


    Her whole body trembled as she backed away , growling weakly .


    She hesitated for a moment , ncing from me to whatever loomed in the shadows then bolted , vanishing int the darkness like a spirit fleeing a demon .


    And I had the sinking feeling that a demon was exactly what was behind me .


    When I finally managed to push myself upright , turning shakily- The massive ck shadow towering over me wasnt just darkness .


    It was something else .


    Something that made every hair on my body stand on end .


    Tonight , it truly felt like myst .