Happiness was an illusion, much like love.
Chapter 13
Zev
There was nothing peculiar about the forest outside of Hilos. The flora didn’t glow, and the trees were younger. Nor did it carry an eerie cling of danger. Dew beaded every leaf and blade of grass, gleaming under the golden morning light streaming in through the treetops. Gentle wind rippled over the muddy puddles left behind after last night’s rainfall. Nothing seemed amiss, but Zev remained on high alert.
The castle servants woke them before dawn without ceremony or the offer of another meal. The High King didn’t see them off as they were rushed out of the castle before the rest of the kingdom could see them. Neither Zev nor Dyna complained. They were glad to leave such a splendid place founded in gloom behind. The silent Watchers ushered them to the Hilos border and left them with a hefty rucksack of promised supplies. Celestials weren't much for farewells.
Zev turned away from studying the trees when he heard Dyna grunt as she tried to lift the rucksack again. He tightened his lips together, fighting a grin. This was her fifth attempt, but she insisted on doing it herself. She swung the rucksack upward, and the weight threw her back into the mud with a splat. He burst out laughing.
“Zev!” She kicked her feet in the air, struggling to get up.
“I told you to leave it to me, Dyna.” He took her hand and helped her stand. “I’m the strong one, eh?”
“Oh, I suppose.” She sighed and wiped the spattered mud off her ankles.
Zev hauled the rucksack up and slid the thick straps onto his shoulders with no trouble. He added his pack, the chains clinking inside. The sound grated on his ears. He wasn’t looking forward to listening to the clink and chime as they counted down the next six days until the full moon.
By some luck, he was ready to leave Lykos Peak before Dyna’s unexpected arrival. He had spent months deliberating whether to leave. Although he was an outcast, he was free to roam in the outskirts, and there was plenty of prey. Lacking that security unnerved him but going back wasn’t possible.
He needed to get Dyna far away from here. The Pack couldn’t cross into Celestial territory, but they were sure to trek around the ridge to capture him. Once werewolves were on the hunt, they didn’t stop.
“Come, we have a long way to go, and it’s best we don’t linger close to Hilos,” Zev told her. Or Lykos Peak.
He marched on, the threat at his back urging his quick pace. Dyna followed him without a word. They traveled far through the endless forest, crossing through several streams to muddle their scents, but that wouldn’t work for long. Werewolves were skilled trackers. The Alpha was better than most.
As the clear blue sky leisurely turned orange with the approach of evening, he noticed Dyna’s feet drag and her stomach gurgled.
“Let’s stop,” he said as they entered a glade lined by wild shrubs and trees. “I’ll find a secure place to camp.”
“I can keep going.”
“You did well. We covered plenty of ground but it’s time to rest now.” He led her to sit on a large boulder and unhooked the waterskin from his pack, passing it to her.
“Thank you.” She drank while he searched the rucksack for food. The autumn wind had her shivering and rubbing her arms for warmth. The cold wasn’t something that bothered Zev since his kind was always warm, but the tip of Dyna’s nose and cheeks were ruddy.
“Did you bring a coat?”
“No,” she admitted.
“Extra clothing at least?”
“I lost them in the Forbidden Woods.”
“The nights will only grow colder, and that dress won’t be enough to keep you warm,” he said, frowning at the thin fabric of her sleeves. “But I have some money. We’ll buy you a coat in the next town.”
“Thank you, Zev,” she sighed. “It’s unfortunate I lost my cloak in Lykos.”
Her cloak!
That meant the Pack had her scent. They’d be found no matter how many bodies of water they crossed. Adrenaline spiked through Zev’s veins but he didn’t want to frighten her. After this short break, he would carry her on his back and run all night if he had to.
He passed her a burlap pouch filled with dried fruit, forcing a smile on his face. “Here, eat.”
“It was kind of King Yoel to provide us with so much,” Dyna said, exchanging it for the waterskin.
“Aye, it was,” Zev agreed before taking a drink. He tensed when his senses flared in warning of a presence nearby. He slowly lowered the waterskin and wiped his mouth with the back of his arm.
