The morning sun had begun to rise. As they ran through the tunnel, arrows wheezed past them
The lethal arrows were coming directly at her but she hardly noticed it before Ravena's blade caught it and knocked it away with a loud clang.
Ravena's steady voice broke through the chaos. " Take Luna Selene out while I hold them off!"
Selene's feeble protests could hardly be heard as he lifted her over his shoulder. He tightened his hold and started to run.
With Ravenas sword flashing as she repelled their relentless assailants the tunnel behind him shook with the intensity of the conflict.
A dim gleam of daylight filtered through the gaps as the exit loomed ahead. Selene was breathing hard and Ethan could feel it against him.
Her strength was rapidly going down. And then….an arrow sped by his ear and sank into a nearby rock.
One of the warriors cried out, "They're right behind us!"
Ethan continued to run. He pushed through the exit and moved forward. Ethan was able to bring Selene out with the help of the other two warriors who had been positioned at the tunnel's entrance.
Selene fell gasping for breath on the ground.
He turned facing the two warriors. "Listen to me, now go the other way. Alpha Rylan and his men will arrive any moment."
While they all nodded, one of them questioned, " What about Ravena and the other warriors?"
Ethan's teeth clenched. "We are short of time. We must leave immediately."
He quickly lifted Selene onto his shoulder. And started running while the other fighters chose a different route.
Hurrying into the open forest where tall trees offered a means for escaping.
As he waded through the bush, his mind racing for a plan, the chilly morning air burned his lungs.
He knew that if they continued to run aimlessly they wouldn't survive long.
***
Rylan's blood boiled in rage back in the chamber as he took in the warrior's words.
"An attack?" he repeated in a low menacing voice.
Sweat trickled down the warrior's forehead as he nodded rapidly. " And as we speak Luna Selene is running away."
Silence filled the room.
And then the tension in the room exploded like a thunderstorm about to blow.
Rylan's jaw tightened as he demanded, "Who are they?"
The warrior answered uneasily. " The attackers are still unknown."
Rylan's fists clenched. "The gates are heavily guarded. All of the entrances are secured. How on earth did they get in?"
His beta, Tristan paused before responding. "With the exception of. . . the tunnel's secret path."
Rylan's once-gold eyes darkened in an instant. "The secret path? It was closed off for years. Only a small number of people were aware of that path."
Tristan's eyes grew stony. "Then someone
knew about it. And gave them information about this path."
Rylan stiffened up. A betrayal. Just thinking about it made his blood boil slowly.
He hurried toward the door and pushed it open with enough force to shake the stone walls without saying another word.
He was determined to keep Selene in his grasp.
***
Ethan could hear their assailants getting closer deep in the forest. His spine tingled from the warriors' unrelenting growls.
He glanced over to see Selene's body becoming limp. With a feeble voice, she said, " Set me down."
"No." Ethan retorted, his hands becoming firmer. " They will catch us. We're not going to stop."
Then he saw it, the river through the trees. They might be able to survive if they could get through.
Ethan pushed forward with new resolve, Selene clinging feebly to his back. Just in front of the rushing water was…
Behind them, a snarling growl erupted.
Ethan was sent sprawling after a crushing punch struck his side.
With a dull thump, Selene's head hit the ground as she fell out of his grasp.
Ethan's body exploded with pain. The air was forced out of his lungs as a strong hand pulled him up and slammed him against a tree before he could react.
A deep voice rumbled with rage and his nose was filled with a familiar scent.
"You think you could take what's mine and run away?"
" Rylan, stop" Selene whispered as she gasped for air.
But Rylan was not paying attention. His hold on Ethan's throat tightened as his golden eyes blazed with anger.
His claws reached out and pressed into Ethan's flesh.
Clawing at Rylan's firm hold, Ethan gasped for breath. Darkness was about to engulf him.
Then, he heard a scream.
ln, a desperate attempt, before she could think, Selene moved swiftly.
The dagger concealed under her dress was held in her trembling hands.
She then drove it directly into Rylan's side.
Rylan staggered backwards in shock mixed with disbelief that Selene could stab him.
His shirt was soaked with dark merciless blood. The pain was hardly noticeable. The fact that Selene had done it made him mad with rage.
Selene's hands remained on the dagger hilt as she stared at him with wide, frightened eyes.
" You…" Rylan exhaled his face displaying a mix of sadness and rage.
There was a strong metallic smell of blood in the air as he grunted sharply and pulled the dagger free.
Scrambling backward Selene flinched, her chest rising and falling in short gasps.
She stumbled, her voice shaking. " I—I had no choice."
Ethan seized the chance to charge forward and throw Rylan to the ground.
Their claws slashed and their fists flew as they rolled across the wet forest ground.
They needed to leave this place. Now.
She yelled. " Ethan! We have to leave."
Rylan was stunned by Ethan's forceful punch to the jaw.
Ethan got up and took Selene's hand. "Jump into the river!"
Their feet banging on the ground they ran toward the river.
Rylan's enraged growl echoed behind them. They heard him crash through as he pursued them.
Despite the searing pain in her ribs, Selene pushed herself forward not minding the burning sensation on her legs.
The rushing waters of the river, which stood just ahead, held the promise of either saving them or disaster.
Ethan dragged her over to the water. "We must cross by swimming."
Selene paused just a second before nodding. They dove into the icy depths together and the current started tugging at them right away.
When Rylan got to the riverbank, he howled in rage. As he saw them swimming away.
"It's not over!"