Chapter 12 We didnt get out of the market fast enough before the bruised rangers voice rings out behind un horse bur furious Guards ! Over there ! Please stop them ! Oh , you stalking bastard . My heart plummets , and I can practically hear the thud of my stomach hitting the ground . I whip my head around just in time to see him pointing toward us , his face red and blotchy from Enochs chokehold carber Shit The heavy thud of boots grows louder , and I dont need to turn to know whats comi The second the guards turned our way , I knew two things : we were screwed , and this was definitely going to be my fault somehow . Not to mention , theyre pack warriors . Imperial pack warriors . My hand tightens on Enochs . Run ! I scream . And were off The market becomes a blur of colors and chaos as we tear through the stalls . Vendors shout in outrage as we knock over baskets and topple displays . Apples roll across the cobblestones like marbles . sending one particularly unlucky shopper sprawling face first into the mud . You little fuckers ! He yells elbow deep on the muddy ground . Sorry ! I yell over my shoulder , though Im not sure they care about my apology while were causing this much carnage . Enoch stays close , his long legs eating up the distance with ease . Hes silent and focused , but I can feel that same scary aural radiating off him in waves . A sharp whistle pierces the air , and my stomach flips . Theyre gaining on us . Oh Goddess . Faster ! I hiss , though my lungs are already burning , and my legs feel like theyre about to give out . We veer into a narrow alley , the walls pressing in on either side . The cobblestones are slick with rainwater , and I nearly lose . my footing , grabbing Enochs arm for balance . He steadies me without a word his grip firm but careful . This way ! I yank him down another path , this one hidden by overgrown bushes and tangled vines and an oaktree I learned to love . The rain starts to fall , light at first , then harder , soaking through my clothes and turning the ground into a muddy mess . Great fucking timing My hair sticks to my face , my boots squelching with every step , but I dont stop . I cant stop . Stop right there ! The shouts from the Imperial Pack warriors grow tinter , but I dont trust it . 1/5 80 % Chapter 12 We push through the underbrush , branches scraping at my arms and snagging on my clothes . My heart pounds in my chest . with each beat reminding me of whats at stake right now . If were caught , it Lover The Imperial Pack doesnt play games . Theyll drag us back to their territory , and call our Pack Representatives . I know exactly wholl be called to pick us up like misbehaving kids at a principals office Gamma Abel . I promised him that my so called boyfriend here wouldnt cause any disasters ! And if Kallas finds out about this , hell have Enoch kicked out of the Riverstone Pack before I can blink . Hes waiting for this . exact opportunity for us to fuck up anyway . Keep going . I urge , though Im pretty sure Enoch doesnt need the encouragement . The path opens up into a clearing , and my breath catches in my throat . Nostalgia hits me like a sucker punch to the This place . Its been years , but Id recognize it anywhere . The thick underbrush , the canopy of trees that barely lets in any light , the faint scent of moss and rain soaked earth its : where Kallias and I used to sneak off to . Back when he was just a cocky boy too afraid of his fathers wrath to misbehave in plain sight . He used to be such a trouble maker and the Alpha , his father , would scold him to death . After all , an heir to one of the strongest packs in the continent shouldnt be out here in the unclaimed lands aggravating vendors . It was a great time . A time when I was stupid enough to believe I mattered to him . The memory is enough to send a pang of bitterness through me , but I shove it aside . Focus , Taryn . We press on until the rain comes down in earnest , soaking us to the bone . My boots slide on the wet ground , and I barely manage to keep myself upright . Finally , we reach the cave . Hidden behind a curtain of ivy , its the same one Kallias and I used to hide in , though it feels smaller now , darker . I push the vines aside and drag Enoch inside , collapsing against the cold , damp wall with a heaving breath , The silence is deafening , broken only by the steady patter of rain outside . Enoch sits beside me , his massive frame shuddering . I glance at him and my stomach twists . His lips are pale , his skin on the other hand is almost ashen .. What the hell ? Youre freezing . I murmur , shifting closer . He doesnt respond , his green eyes glassy and distant . Panic bubbles in my chest and I reach out to him , pressing a hand to his forehead . Hes cold too cold . Dammit , Enoch , I mutter under my breath 2/5 Chapter 12 Without thinking . I shift into my wolf . My wolf form takes over , my für warm and thick as I curl around 1 80 % Its awkward hes huge , even sitting down , and I feel like a fuzzy scarf trying to cover a boulder but itll have to Not unless we want to die that is . This should help , I think , though Im not sure who Im trying to convince . The rain outside grows heavier , the sound almost soothing if it werent for the gnawing worry in my chest . I glance at Enoch again who is now leaning into the warmth of my fur , his breathing is slow and steady now , but his expression still unreadable . Well , at least this mans not going to die anytime soon My wolf murmurs before she lets me take control . Whats wrong with you ? I mutter , my voice barely above a whisper . He doesnt answer , of course . I make a mental note to ask Dr. Lisa about it later . About why he cant shift , why his body sometimes seems to betray his strength . If he has amnesia , that might be one of the underlying cause he cant communicate with his wolf and shift in command . But for now , I just keep him close , hoping my warmth is enough to chase away whatever shadows linger in his mind from earlier . The silence in the cave is heavier than the rain pouring outside . Enochs shivering has finally subsided , his breathing evening out as I step behind a massive boulder . I shift back into my human form , finally able to stretch myself . Alright , we just need to get back oh wait . The reality of my situation slaps me in the face . I have nothing on . Nada , I look down on myself and back at the exact spot I shifted to my wolf form earlier . Then back at myself . Oh , shit . Pieces of torn fabrics lay on the spot I shifted It was the dress and the freaking underwear I had worn carlier . Enoch rubs his eyes and finally turns to the missing warmth hes been laying on for the last hour . Stay there . I warn as I look around for anything to cover , not bothering to peek out to see if hes listening . The last thing I need is for him to see more than he already has . Hey , uh … I clear my throat , feeling the heat rise to my cheeks as I glance at the boulder separating us . Enoch ? A soft grunt tells me hes listening . I demand . Theres a pause . 3/5 Cluppy 19 Oh Godda , did I just way duri Bayn His voici lusitant , and when I peek around the boulder , he cutting his head like a contured proppe Fuck , hes demurely misunderstanding this I need your shirt Thats what I meant I mp , waving my hand in a flustered motion Crimson is rising up my face and its begining to feel hotter than how it should be Take it off and throw it over here ? His brows furrow , and for a terrifying second , I think hes going to ask why Please dont . The last thing I want to say is I just for my underwear shifting just so I can warm you up Instead , he nods slowly and starts unbuttoning his shirt . The sight of his broad chest as he peels it off almost makes the Sone my train of thought , but I quickly look away before I embarrass myself . Again Stop right there ! I yelp as he starts walking toward the boulder with his shirt in hand to give me . Dont come closer . Just toss it He stops mid step , looking mildly offended but does as I say , throwing the shirt over the rock I snatch it up , pulling it over my head and inhaling the faint scent of pine and earth that clings to the fabric , When I emerge from behind the boulder , hes sitting cross legged near the cave wall , his eyes scanning me with an intensity that makes me squirm . Taryn looks good He mutter , voice hoarse but still as hot , Gosh , why did he have to be such a clueless amnesad ? Thanks , I mutter , plopping down beside him and pulling the oversized shirt tight around me . I dont have any underwear so this will have to do . For a moment , we sit in silence , the sound of rain filling the space between us . Finally , I break the quiet . What was that back there ? Who was that guy ? Enochs jaw tightens , his green eyes flickering with something dark and unreadable . He rubs his temples , his fingers digging into his damp hair as an animalistic groan leaves his mouth in pain . Dont ! I blurt out , panicking . Dont try to remember . Youll hurt yourself again . He freezes , his hands dropping to his lap , and he avoids my gaze . His fingers pick at the bracelet on his wrist the one I gave him earlier and a pang of guilt hits me . Enoch dont know , he mutters after a beat , his voice strained . Enoch cant remember . I frown , watching him closely , but I decide not to push . Hes already carrying enough baggage for a guy with amnesia Fine , I sigh , leaning back against the cold cave wall . But you owe me an explanation later . He nods , his gaze distant , and I let it drop . Exhaustion pulls at my limbs , and before I know it , my eyes flutter shut . The nightmare creeps in slowly . Like always . When Im at my most vulnerable . Flashes of fire and chaos erupt in front of me 4/5 11:41 Sat , 15 Mar A Mt. Chapter 12 My fathers voice , stern and unyielding yells at the background Im not leaving , he says , his face blurred but his insistence etched into my memory Youll die if you stay ! my brother shouts back , his voice cracking with desperation I need to protect someone- My fathers words fade into the roar of the attack , his figue dicappearing in de domes irin The memory twists into something darker , suffocating me until fjolt awake . A strong arm is ripped inson me polling I me close , and I instinctively burrow into the heat , seeking comfort . It takes a second for reality to set in Warmth surrounds me , and for a moment . Im disoriented . Anyone would be with this goddamn head My eyes flutter open to reveal a what the fuck is this ? A bare chest met my eyes , hard as rock yet as comfortable as a pillow I freeze , my eyes snapping up to find myself curled against Enoch . His arm is draped over me protectively , his body protecting me like a furnace against the cold cave air . Before I can figure out how to untangle myself without waking him up , the sound of boots crunching outside the a jolt of panic through me . I twist around , my heart stopping when I see Kallias standing at the entrance , flanked by a handful of pack warniceL His piercing gaze locks onto me , his blue eyes widening as they take in the scene me in Enochs shirt with nothing underneath , Enochs bare chest and arm still loosely around me . Fuck Taryn , Kallias says , his voice low and dangerous . I scramble away from Enoch , yanking the shirt down to cover as much as possible , but the damage is already done . The look on Kalliass face is a mix of shock and barely contained fury . This isnt what it looks like ! I blurt out , my voice high pitched and utterly unconvincing- The corner of Kalliass mouth twitches , but theres no humor in it . Really ? he drawls . Because it looks pretty compromising from where Im standing I groan inwardly , my face burning as I glance back at Enoch , whos sitting up now , looking completely unfazed . If anything . he looks annoyed . Explain , Kallias demands , his gaze flicking between the two of us . Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!