8.

I wrapped my arms tightly around myself as I wandered through the dense forest, the shadows seeming to shift and twist with each step. Every direction looked the same, thick with towering trees and a carpet of fallen leaves. My heart raced with frustration and embarrassment, a chill creeping up my spine that had nothing to do with the morning air.

“This is just perfect,” I muttered, kicking at a stray branch and watching it bounce away. “Of course, I had to storm off after Lucas’s stupid comments.”

Lucas’s smug, infuriating grin flashed in my mind. “Come on, Lyra. Try and keep up. Or maybe you’d rather wait for a map?” His teasing words had dug under my skin, making me grit my teeth with each taunt. He’d made it sound like it was some grand adventure, but now I was utterly alone—and completely, embarrassingly lost.

“Just keep running, Lyra,” I’d told myself. “What could possibly go wrong?” Well, here I was, no Lucas, no map, just a whole lot of trees and not a clue where to go.

I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the panic inching its way up my throat. The forest was eerily quiet, the birdsong and rustling leaves faded into an unsettling silence. Every direction looked the same, and for a second, I felt like the trees were closing in on me, hiding the path back to familiar ground.

“Maybe if I go this way…” I mumbled, turning to follow a faint trail between the trees, only to stop dead in my tracks as a shadow moved just ahead.

My heart leaped, and I instinctively took a step back, my gaze locking on a man leaning against one of the trees. He was half-shrouded in shadow, his face obscured, but there was a glint of something in his eyes—a look that sent a chill down my spine. I stiffened, my instincts urging me to keep my distance.

“Are you lost?” he asked, his voice low and smooth, like he was amused by the sight of me struggling.

I swallowed, my guard up as I considered my options. He didn’t seem dangerous, but something about him made my instincts scream for caution. The smirk on his lips was just a little too knowing, his gaze a little too intense.

“Yes,” I replied slowly, trying to keep my voice steady. “I got… turned around. Could you point me to the nearest pack?”

He tilted his head, considering me for a moment before nodding. “Of course,” he said with a small smirk. “Happy to help. Just stick close, and I’ll get you where you need to be.”

The idea of walking deeper into the forest with a stranger wasn’t exactly appealing, but I didn’t have a lot of options. I took a hesitant step toward him, keeping my distance, but following nonetheless. As we walked, I kept stealing glances at him. He seemed at ease, navigating the forest as if it were his second home, but he didn’t volunteer much else about himself. I stayed quiet too, feeling the silence stretch between us.

“I don’t see many people out here alone,” he finally said, his tone casual but his eyes sharp. “What brings you all the way out here?”

I hesitated. “I was… running with a friend,” I said carefully, not wanting to reveal too much. “Got separated and ended up lost.”

He chuckled, the sound low and a little unsettling. “Seems like your friend didn’t do a great job sticking around.”

I frowned, the comment stinging more than I wanted to admit. “Guess not,” I muttered, glancing away.

He didn’t say anything after that, and we continued on in silence. The forest around us seemed to grow thicker, the trees towering above, blocking out most of the sunlight. I tried to memorize the way we were going, but every twist and turn blurred together in my mind, each tree looking the same as the last. I was beginning to question just how much he actually knew about this place when he finally slowed down.

“Here we are,” he said, stopping just before a break in the trees. Beyond it, I could just make out the faint outlines of familiar paths, the comforting scent of my pack’s territory drifting through the air. Relief washed over me, but a strange unease lingered as I turned back to him.

“Thank you,” I said, managing a polite nod. “I… appreciate the help.”

He simply inclined his head, his eyes glinting in the shadows. “Of course. Be careful out here, Lyra,” he said, his voice lingering on my name in a way that sent a shiver down my spine. “You never know who might be watching.”

Before I could respond, he turned and melted back into the shadows, his figure disappearing between the trees as if he’d never been there at all. I watched the spot he’d vanished into, a strange sense of unease settling in my chest. My skin prickled as if someone was still watching, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d known more about me than he’d let on.

Turning back toward the pack, I let out a shaky breath, quickening my pace. Every step felt heavier, the shadows deeper, the silence pressing in around me. Lucas was in for it when I saw him again, that was certain—but for now, I was just relieved to be back on familiar ground.

As I finally neared the pack’s edge, I glanced back over my shoulder one last time. The trees stood silent, undisturbed, but the memory of Derek’s smirk stayed with me, lingering like a shadow that refused to fade.

As I stepped into the clearing, the tension finally started to melt from my shoulders, and I drew a deep breath, savoring the familiar scent of the pack’s territory. The distant sounds of laughter and chatter drifted through the trees, and I found myself striding toward them with purpose. But the memory of Derek’s gaze, his unnervingly calm demeanor, and that final lingering smile clung to me like an unwanted shadow.

Who was he? And how had he known my name? I hadn’t mentioned it, I was sure of that.

“Lyra!” A familiar voice rang out, breaking through my thoughts. Lucas. His tall frame came into view, his smirk widening as he jogged over to me, looking far too pleased with himself.

“Well, look who finally decided to join us!” He folded his arms, the corner of his mouth lifting in that all-too-familiar teasing expression. “Did the forest prove too challenging for you?”

I scowled, the frustration bubbling up again. “I wouldn’t have been lost if someone hadn’t distracted me,” I snapped, glaring at him.

Lucas raised his hands in mock surrender, though the amusement in his eyes didn’t fade. “Hey, I thought you were having fun,” he replied, that grin still firmly in place. “Besides, you could use the practice. Next time, maybe you’ll keep up.”

“I was fine,” I muttered, the memory of Derek’s unnerving smile flashing in my mind. I decided not to mention him, not yet. The last thing I wanted was to give Lucas more fuel for his taunts. “I didn’t need anyone’s help.”

Lucas raised an eyebrow, his gaze sharpening. “Really? Because you looked pretty rattled when you walked in. What happened out there?”

I hesitated, searching for a quick excuse. “Nothing happened. I just… got turned around,” I lied, brushing off the unease that twisted in my stomach. “And you were no help, by the way.”

His smirk faded, replaced by a faint frown. “Lyra, if something happened, you’d tell me, right?”

For a moment, his sincerity caught me off guard. Lucas and I had always shared a sort of playful rivalry, pushing each other’s limits and seeing who could get under the other’s skin more effectively. But under that, there was something solid—a bond I knew I could rely on, even if I didn’t always acknowledge it.

“Nothing happened,” I said, softer this time. “Just… ran into some stranger. He helped me find my way back.”

Lucas’s frown deepened, his playful expression gone. “A stranger? Out there? Alone?”

I shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant. “Yeah, but he was just… passing by. It’s not a big deal.”

“Lyra,” he said, his tone suddenly serious.

"You don’t just meet ‘passing strangers’ out in the woods. That’s dangerous territory, especially for someone who isn’t familiar with every path. Next time, don’t go running off alone, okay?”

I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms I sighed looking straight into his eyes.

"You don't get to dictate my life."