Page 83 of The Pack

“Zara, come on!” Callum shouted, his hand outstretched.

I lunged forward, my fingers brushing his as I stumbled out into the open air.

Working together, Magnus, Thorne, and Tobias all turned and slammed a large rock into place, the jagged stone grinding against the walls as it wedged into the opening. The sounds of the tribe muffled, their rasping cries fading as the stone blocked the entrance.

For a moment, the world was still, the forest around us eerily quiet.

“Keep moving. That boulder won’t hold them for long,” Magnus commanded.

Without hesitation, we plunged into the trees, the shadows of the forest swallowing us as we ran. My legs burned, my chest heaved, but I didn’t stop.

We weren’t safe yet, but we were together, and that was enough to keep me moving.

CHAPTER 18

Magnus

The forest was unforgiving, a labyrinth of gnarled roots and thick underbrush that seemed determined to trip us at every step. The cold air was heavy with the scent of moist dirt, grass, and rotting leaves, and every sound—the snap of a branch, the rustle of wind through the trees—made my skin prickle with nervous energy.

The pack stayed close, their breaths soft as we pushed deeper into the woods. Zara was quiet, her dark hair tangled and her steps faltering now and then, but she kept up.

I was proud of her.

The sun dipped lower, the golden light fading into a dull orange glow that filtered weakly through the dense canopy. We didn’t stop, not yet. We’d put some good distance between us and the cave, but I wasn’t taking any chances.

“Magnus,” Callum said from behind me, his voice soft, but urgent. “We need to find shelter. She can’t keep running like this.”

I glanced back, taking in Zara’s pale face and the way she clutched at Thorne’s arm for support. She was just barely holding it together.

“I know,” I said softly. “We’ll find something soon.”

Callum didn’t respond, but the faint worry in his gray eyes told me I’d better find a safe place to stop soon.

Ahead, the forest began to thin slightly, the dense undergrowth giving way to a clearer path. An old cottage, half-hidden by ivy and brambles, sat nestled in the trees. Its roof sagged in places, and the windows were cracked, but it was intact. Mostly.

“Perfect,” I muttered under my breath, and my chest loosened with relief. “Let’s go.”

The door creaked as I pushed it open, the sound loud and grating in the stillness. A broken table leaned against the far wall, and a small hearth sat cold and empty, its bricks chipped and blackened.

“It’s not much,” I said, stepping inside and motioning for the others to follow. “But it’ll do.”

Tobias entered first, his dark eyes scanning every corner of the room before nodding in approval. “It’s defensible.”

“Cozy,” Killian said with a grin as he glanced at the broken table. “Just needs a little love.”

Callum helped Zara inside, his arm steadying her as she sagged against him.

“Sit,” he said softly, guiding her to the edge of a battered chair.

She let out a shaky breath, her dark eyes flicking toward me. “Thank you,” she whispered.

I nodded, forcing a faint smile. “You’ve earned a break, lass.”

As the pack settled in, I moved toward the hearth, brushing away the thick layer of damp ash and debris with the edge of my boot. I pulled a small bundle of kindling from the wood pile next to the fireplace and started arranging it, my hands moving automatically as my mind raced.

I hummed softly under my breath, soothing myself with a familiar tune. The melody helped me focus on something normal and mundane after the terrifying events of the past few days.

“Magnus,” Tobias said, his voice breaking through my thoughts.

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