The Traitor and The Truth

Luke pressed his finger against his lips, signaling the need for a swift departure. "We must escape from this place."

Unable to contain herself, Willow rushed to him and embraced him tightly. "I was afraid I'd never lay eyes on you again."

"I had the same fear," he replied, his voice tinged with pain.

"Why?" Willow released her grip, concerned that she had caused Luke distress. She scanned his body, noting the blood-soaked calf, but his ability to stand on his own gave her some relief. "Are you alright? What about your injury?"

"I'm fine. You needn't worry. But we mustn't waste time, Willow. We have to leave now. Lowell will be here soon."

"How do you know? I don't see him anywhere. He's probably preparing for some ceremony," she remarked.

"Soon enough, he will sense my presence. His sense of smell, like that of a bloodhound, can detect my scent carried by the wind over long distances. That's how a werewolf's olfactory senses work, Willow. Lowell's sense of smell is particularly acute."

"But what about Fenella? I thought she was waiting for me outside. Even without Lowell, she would have pursued us."

Luke remained composed. "Earlier, she was indeed waiting in front of this place. I had to approach her from behind to avoid detection, and then I rendered her unconscious. She won't be an obstacle if we leave now."

"Are you certain she merely fainted?" Willow inquired.

Luke frowned. "I am certain."

"I can't help but feel a bit sorry for her," Willow admitted.

"Why would you feel sorry for her? She's just as wicked as Lowell and Boris," Luke retorted. "Come on, we must go."

"Alright, lead the way." Willow took his hand. "Oh, and Luke..."

"Yes?"

"Thank you for coming to my rescue. I hope you're not angry."

"Why should I be angry?"

"Because I chose to go with Lowell. He intended to kill you, and I couldn't let that happen. I was desperate, and I didn't know what to..."

"No need to apologize," Luke interjected. "I understand why you did what you had to. Now," he tightened his grip on Willow's hand, "hold on tightly and stay close. Understand? If anything happens, ensure you can escape from here. Keep running away from danger."

"No. I want us to escape together."

Luke smiled. "Okay."

They departed from the cabin, briefly pausing to pass by Fenella, who sat slumped against the exterior, appearing peacefully asleep with her eyes closed.

"Are you certain she'll be alright?" Willow asked.

"She'll be fine," Luke assured her. "She's just unconscious. It will buy us enough time to distance ourselves from this place."

Willow nodded, casting a final glance at Fenella before turning and following Luke. They trailed alongside the river, veering away from the lumber mill, and ventured into the depths of the forest.

"Do you think they'll pursue us?" Willow asked, her skin crawling with horror at the prospect of being chased by evil werewolves once again. This time, they had to navigate through the dense forest and thicket, but it felt different from their previous hikes. They had no backpacks filled with supplies, no tents or provisions. They ventured into the forest empty-handed.

"They will undoubtedly follow our trail and continue the pursuit," Luke replied. "That's why we need to create as much distance as possible before they realize you're missing."

By then, Willow had already suspected that Lowell had noticed her disappearance as a potential mate. She quickened her pace, keeping up with Luke, who steadily led the way. Despite Luke's injury and Willow being barefoot, they managed to move swiftly. Still, Willow wished she had grabbed her shoes before leaving the cabin. Her feet, calloused from extensive walking, tread on damp, moss-covered ground, slippery rocks, and obstructive tree roots. Countless sharp thorns from bushes pierced her soles. However, her joy and relief at being reunited with Luke overshadowed the discomfort of her bare feet. She was resolute in her determination to never return to that cabin again.

As they ran through the woods, Willow's mind was plagued by Lowell's unexpected words. She couldn't shake off the unease of not knowing the truth. While running, she called out to Luke.

"Luke, can I ask you something?"

"Later, okay? We need to remain quiet until we've distanced ourselves enough from the group," Luke replied, his focus on their safety.

Willow frowned. "I understand, but it's important."

He glanced back without stopping and locked eyes with her. "Alright, just answer then."

"Did you really kill another werewolf, as Lowell claimed?" she blurted out.

Luke froze in his tracks, his face bearing an unreadable expression as he looked at Willow.

"I'm sorry," she quickly apologized, a smile forming on her face. "I'm just anxious and curious. Knowing the truth would put me at ease, but it wouldn't change how I see you."

Luke sighed. "I had no choice at that time," he confessed. "I discovered your father engaged in a fight with another werewolf named Gunnar. It was just the two of them, and Gunnar had the upper hand. I intervened, fearing for your father's life. I didn't intend to kill Gunnar; it was an unfortunate outcome. We were both out of luck. Logically, I should have been the one to die, as Gunnar was much stronger than me."

"Why were they fighting?" Willow inquired.

"I don't know. Your father claimed Gunnar attacked him because he wanted to rule the pack, and I believe him. However, Gunnar was a highly respected member of the pack, and others might not readily accept that explanation. To avoid the death penalty, your father expelled me from the pack and labeled me a traitor. In reality, he saved my life."

"So the other werewolves believed you were a murderer?" Willow questioned, recalling Lowell's accusations.

"Yes, I believe so. You heard Lowell's accusations. Since that incident, he's the one who hates me the most. He adored Gunnar and always tried to be the closest person to him. Gunnar was strong and influential. He was the second in command of the pack."

"Doesn't that bother you? Why don't you try to explain the truth? You have every right to defend yourself."

"There's no need. Your father knows the truth, and now you do too. That's all that matters."

Willow smiled. "Well, thank you for telling me the truth."

"Of course. Now, let's keep moving. We can't afford to waste any time."

They pressed on through the dense undergrowth, each step instilling a little more confidence that they might actually escape. But suddenly, Luke abruptly halted, causing Willow to come up close behind him.

"What's happening?" Willow's surprise was evident in her voice. "Is something wrong?" She placed a hand on Luke's shoulder, sensing his unease.

"I heard something."

Willow tilted her head, straining her ears to listen. All she could discern were the hoots of owls, the chirping of crickets, and the gentle rustling of leaves as the wind rustled through the trees, swaying them back and forth. Luke scanned their surroundings, his gaze darting among the tall trees and shrubs, but there was no sign of anything amiss.

"I'm not sure," Luke finally replied. "I thought I heard something. Let's keep moving..."

Before Luke could finish his sentence, a sandy-colored wolf emerged from the bushes, knocking him to the ground. It held him firmly, pressing its paws against his chest and threatening to sink its teeth into his vulnerable throat, snuffing out his life in an instant.

"No! Release him!" Willow shouted, grabbing a sizable branch from the ground and rushing toward the gray wolf. However, she abruptly halted in her tracks. Her arms were seized, and her body twisted to face the last person she wanted to encounter—Lowell.

"You shouldn't have run away, Willow," he growled. "Now I won't be able to keep my promise to you."

His grip tightened on her, causing a sharp pain to shoot through her arm. Lowell drew her closer, their faces mere inches apart, his hot breath chilling her to the bone.

"Please, let us go," Willow pleaded, her voice filled with desperation.

Lowell inhaled deeply through his nostrils, closing his eyes as a twisted grin spread across his face, exposing stained teeth. "You reek of fear, Willow. Have I frightened you that much?"

Willow struggled to free herself, but his strength was overpowering.

Lowell chuckled before swiftly turning her around, his arm encircling her waist while the other seized her hair, pulling her closer until her back rested against his chest.

"Boris," he called out to the wolf restraining Luke. "Take Luke back to the mill with us. It's time to bring this to an end. I will perform the mating ceremony with my half-breed, and as a lesson in obedience, we'll execute the traitor."

Willow's heart shattered in an instant. She regretted her choices, wishing she hadn't escaped with Luke. Now she would not only be forced to become Lowell's mate, but she would also lose Luke forever.

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