Chapter 5 Desperate Measures

Lyralei's POV

I watched Sera's breathing slow, her face finally relaxing for the first time in weeks. Even in sleep, she looked exhausted—dark circles under her eyes, cheekbones too sharp, hands curled into defensive fists.

She's killing herself trying to keep us alive.

"Mom," she mumbled, voice thick with sleep. "Dad... I'm sorry..."

My chest tightened. She blamed herself. I could see it in every forced smile, every time she gave me her food, every night she stayed awake while I slept.

This isn't your fault, Sera. It's mine.

I was the weak one. The burden. Seventeen years old and useless. Couldn't shift. Couldn't hunt. Couldn't do anything except watch my sister slowly break under the weight of keeping us both alive.

Mom died protecting us. Dad died buying us time. And what am I doing? Hiding in a shitty cabin while Sera starves herself.

Outside, snow fell softly. Peaceful. Like the world wasn't full of people who wanted us dead.

Mom's words echoed in my mind. "My brave girl. Don't let them break you."

But I wasn't brave. I was a coward. Running. Hiding. Letting my sister carry everything.

Not anymore.

Sera had mentioned a late-night convenience store in the village. They'd have food. Maybe some cash if I was lucky. Enough to get us through another week.

Sera would never agree to stealing.

My hand moved to the small knife tucked in my boot. I can do this. I have to do this.

I found a moldy brick lying on the ground. My hand shook as I carved the letters into the dust:

FINDING FOOD. DON'T FOLLOW. BACK SOON.

She'll be pissed. But she'll understand.

I looked at my sister one more time. Her face was peaceful now, lost in whatever dream held her. For a moment, I almost changed my mind.

No. She needs this. We need this.

I pulled on my jacket and slipped out the door. The cold hit immediately, biting through my thin clothes. Snow crunched under my boots as I headed toward the village.

Just get in. Get food. Get out. Simple.

Behind me, the cabin disappeared into darkness. No going back now.

The village lights glowed ahead. My breath came out in white clouds as I walked faster. The convenience store would close soon.

Dogs started barking somewhere to my left. I froze.

Shit. The hunting patrols.

I changed direction, staying in the shadows. The barking faded. My heart pounded so hard I thought it might burst.

Keep moving. Almost there.

The store appeared around a corner—bright fluorescent lights, a bored teenager behind the counter scrolling through his phone.

Sorry, kid. But we're desperate.

I pulled my hood up and reached for the door handle.

Mom. Dad. Give me strength.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside, the bell above jingling cheerfully.

The teenager looked up with a practiced smile. "Welcome to—"

His eyes registered my appearance. Dirty. Desperate. His smile faltered.

I didn't give him time to think. Grabbed a basket and moved fast down the aisles. Bread. Canned soup. Protein bars. Stuffed everything into my jacket pockets.

"Hey!" The kid's voice cracked. "You gotta pay for—"

I was already running. Slammed through the door. The bell jangled violently behind me.

"Stop! Thief!"

Fuck fuck fuck.

My boots hit ice. I skidded, nearly fell. Caught myself and kept running toward the forest.

Behind me, the kid was shouting. Doors opening. More voices joining in.

"Someone robbed Miller's store!"

"Which way did they go?"

"There! Heading for the trees!"

Keep running. Don't look back.

But my lungs were burning. Three weeks of starvation had left me weak. The forest edge seemed impossibly far away.

A man stepped out from between buildings. Big. Holding a hunting rifle.

"Hold it right there!"

I dodged left. He grabbed at me, caught my jacket. We went down together in the snow.

"Got her!" he yelled. "I got the thief!"

I kicked. Struggled. Managed to break free and scrambled to my feet.

More people were coming. Flashlights cutting through the darkness. Dogs barking.

Run. Just run.

I made it to the tree line. Crashed through underbrush. Branches tore at my face and hands.

"Don't let her escape!"

"Get the dogs on her trail!"

They were organizing behind me. Forming a hunting party. And I'd left a blood trail from the scratches on my face.

What have I done?

I ran deeper into the forest. My lungs were on fire. Legs screaming. But I could hear them gaining ground. Dogs barking louder. Closer.

The forest opened up ahead. I burst into a clearing and—

Dead end. A massive oak tree blocked my path. Rocky cliff face beyond it.

No. No no no.

I spun around. Flashlights broke through the trees. A dozen men at least. All armed.

I was trapped.

Seraphine's POV

A scream ripped through the night.

My eyes snapped open. Darkness. Cold floor beneath me. The cabin walls felt like they were closing in.

Where—

Another shout. Closer. Male voices yelling.

I bolted upright, head spinning. "Lyra?"

Empty space beside me. The floor where she'd been sitting—gone.

No. No no no.

I scrambled to my feet, heart hammering. Dim moonlight filtered through the grimy window. The door stood slightly ajar, snow drifting in.

She left. She fucking left.

That's when I saw it. Scratched in the dust near the doorway:

FINDING FOOD. DON'T FOLLOW. BACK SOON.

"Fuck!" My fist slammed into the wall. Pain shot up my arm but I didn't care. "You stupid, reckless—"

More shouting outside. Dogs barking. Not normal barking—hunting barks. Aggressive. Close.

Oh god.

I lunged for the door, shoving it open. Cold air hit my face like a slap. Through the trees, I could see lights moving—flashlights, torches. A lot of them.

"Got tracks here!" A man's voice. Rough. Excited. "Fresh ones heading toward the forest!"

"She's running!" Another voice. "Get the dogs on her!"

Lyralei.

My sister's scent hit me immediately—fear and desperation mixed with the sharp tang of adrenaline. She'd gone to the village. Stolen something. And now they were hunting her.

You idiot. You beautiful, brave idiot.

I ran. Didn't bother with stealth. Just pure speed, crashing through snow and underbrush toward her scent. My lungs burned. Legs screamed. Didn't matter.

Have to reach her. Have to—

The forest opened up ahead. I could see them now—maybe a dozen men with rifles and flashlights. Dogs straining at leashes. And there, backed against a massive oak tree, was Lyralei.

Blood on her face from scratches. Jacket torn. Eyes wild with terror. Completely human. Vulnerable.

"Don't move!" A big man in a hunting vest aimed his rifle at her chest. "We got you, you little thief!"

"I didn't mean—" Lyralei's voice cracked. "Please, I was just—"

"Shut up!" Another man spat. "Saw you running from Miller's store with food stuffed in your jacket. What else you steal?"

A younger villager pushed forward, face twisted with fear. "That's her! The girl who came through town asking questions! I knew she was trouble!"

"Wolves have been killing livestock for weeks," Hunting Vest said, stepping closer. The rifle never wavered. "And now we got a stranger sneaking around at night, stealing. Maybe you brought those monsters with you. Maybe you know something about them."

They're connecting dots that shouldn't be connected. Fuck.

"I don't know anything about wolves!" Lyralei's hands went up. Surrender. "I'm just hungry. My sister and I, we're just passing through—"

"Where is this sister?" The rifle moved closer to her face. "She part of this too?"

Lyralei's eyes flickered toward the tree line. Toward me.

Don't. Don't give me away.

But I saw the panic building. Seventeen years old. Never transformed. Never had the wolf's strength or speed to protect herself. Just a scared kid who'd tried to steal food and got caught.

This is my fault. I should've been watching her. Should've—

"I asked you a question!" Hunting Vest grabbed her arm, yanking her forward. Hard. Violent.