🌙 Episode 16: The Bait
The morning air in the pack territory was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and woodsmoke. Lila pulled her jacket tighter as she walked the path just outside Ethan's cabin. Everything felt different here—wilder, sharper. She couldn't shake the weight of all those eyes watching her yesterday.
But this morning was quieter. Peaceful, almost.
Ethan had left early to meet with Marcus and the other patrol leaders. "Don't go far," he'd said, his hand lingering on hers a little too long, as if he didn't trust the world not to swallow her whole while he was gone.
And maybe he was right.
Lila paused near the edge of the clearing, staring into the endless sprawl of trees. The forest looked beautiful in the light of day, but it still carried a pulse that unsettled her. Like something alive was breathing beneath the bark and soil.
"Not used to it yet, are you?"
She spun at the voice, heart leaping. A young woman stood a few paces away, her expression carefully neutral. She was tall, lithe, with striking green eyes that seemed to see too much.
Lila exhaled shakily. "Sorry—I didn't hear you."
The woman smiled faintly. "You wouldn't. The forest keeps its secrets." She extended a hand. "Kiera."
Lila hesitated before shaking it. "Lila."
"I know," Kiera said softly. "The whole pack knows."
Heat rose in Lila's cheeks. "I'm guessing they're not thrilled."
"They're… wary." Kiera's gaze flicked briefly toward the trees. "But not everyone sees you as a threat."
The kindness in her tone caught Lila off guard. "You don't?"
Kiera's smile faltered, but only for a heartbeat. "No. I think you're brave. Walking into a world you don't understand—that takes courage."
Something in the way she said it felt almost too practiced, but Lila wanted to believe her.
Before Lila could reply, a low horn echoed faintly through the trees. Kiera tilted her head. "Patrol change," she explained. "Means the trails will be quiet for a while."
Lila nodded, though she had no idea what to say.
Kiera studied her for a moment, then leaned closer. "If you're ever tired of being watched like a prisoner, there's a place not far from here. A ridge that overlooks the valley. It's beautiful—peaceful. No one will bother you there."
The idea tugged at Lila's chest. Freedom. A place to breathe.
But Ethan's warning echoed in her head: Don't go far.
Still… wasn't she allowed a little space?
Kiera seemed to read her hesitation. "I can show you. It's safe—I used to go there all the time."
Lila bit her lip. "Maybe later."
Kiera's expression softened into something almost sympathetic. "Of course. Just… if you change your mind, follow the eastern trail at dusk. You'll know it when you see the old cedar with the split trunk."
And with that, she slipped away, leaving Lila staring after her, the forest suddenly too quiet.
---
When Ethan returned hours later, Lila tried to act normal. He looked tired, his jaw tight, but the moment his eyes found her, his expression softened.
"How was your morning?" he asked, brushing a hand over her arm.
"Fine," she lied.
He studied her a little too closely. "Something on your mind?"
Lila shook her head quickly. "Just… trying to get used to things."
He didn't look convinced, but he let it go.
That night, as the pack gathered for their meal, Lila couldn't stop glancing toward the tree line. Toward the path Kiera had described.
Her chest felt tight, restless. She needed air. She needed a place where she wasn't being measured, judged, watched.
So when the fire burned low and Ethan was pulled aside to speak with Marcus, Lila slipped away.
The forest welcomed her with a hush, the moon spilling silver light through the branches. Her footsteps crunched softly on the trail as she followed Kiera's directions.
Her heart pounded with every step. Just for a few minutes. Just to breathe.
Finally, she saw it—the old cedar, its massive trunk split clean down the middle. Beyond it, a faint path curved upward toward a ridge.
The air grew cooler as she climbed, the sounds of the pack fading behind her. Her lungs ached, her body trembling with anticipation.
When she reached the ridge, she gasped. The valley spread out below like a painting, the forest stretching endlessly, the moonlight painting everything in silver. For a moment, all her fear melted into awe.
"This is… incredible," she whispered.
"You like it?"
Lila froze. The voice wasn't Ethan's.
From the shadows stepped Kiera, her green eyes gleaming in the moonlight.
Relief washed through Lila, though unease quickly followed. "You… scared me."
"Sorry." Kiera smiled faintly. "Didn't mean to. I thought you'd come."
Lila turned back to the view, trying to steady her heartbeat. "It's beautiful."
"Yes," Kiera said softly. "Perfect for getting lost."
Something in her tone made Lila's skin prickle. She turned slowly. Kiera was closer now, her expression unreadable.
A twig snapped behind them.
Lila's stomach dropped. She spun toward the sound—and froze.
Shadows shifted at the tree line. Multiple figures, eyes glowing faintly gold in the dark.
Her breath caught. "Kiera… what—"
But Kiera only stepped back, her smile cold now. "Don't run. It'll only make them chase harder."
The rogues stepped into the moonlight.
Lila's chest constricted, panic flooding her veins. Ethan's warning screamed in her head, too late.
She was the bait.
And the trap had just sprung.
---
✨ End of Episode 16