CHAPTER 224: HIS LITTLE LOVE

[ Old World - Blackmoon Colony - The woods beyond ]

"Dadaaa," Freya squealed in Kieran’s arms. Her cute little voice bubbled with excitement as they approached the woods. "Down, down, down!"

The forest air was cool as Kieran stepped off the stone path and into the soft give of the woods. His daughter jumped against his chest, her little fists tugging impatiently at his collar.

Kieran laughed, shaking his head. "Patience, my little troublemaker. Cerbs isn’t going anywhere."

But patience wasn’t in her blood.

The moment his boots hit the edge of the undergrowth, she wriggled like a fish and practically leapt out of his arms. "Dadaaa...let me go!"

"Whoa, whoa!" Kieran chuckled, reaching to catch her but missing as her tiny feet took to the mossy ground. "Freya...hey!"

The little girl giggled wildly, her curls bouncing as she sprinted forward. "Cerbs! Cerby...Cerby!"

Kieran jogged after her, his smirk widening...his mind swelling with dopamine, and some endorphins...that he badly needed . "You are going to give your Dada a heart attack, you know that? Poor me isn’t as fast as you. " He joked but she wasn’t listening...she was gone already.

The little one was too fast for her size, for her age.

Her little legs carried her with surprising speed, dodging roots and branches as though she had been born for the woods. Kieran narrowed his eyes, his jog breaking into a run, breath coming quicker to match the rhythm.

"Freya! Slow down!" he called out...half laughing, half serious. "I mean it!"

But she only turned her head, her grin turning cheeky and mischievous. "Catch me, Dada!"

Kieran huffed a laugh, pushing harder to close the distance...only to realize he had to actually try. Really try.

And still, she was pulling ahead.

A low growl rumbled to their left. Then came the flash...glowing eyes in the shadows, a black form slinking between trees.

Goofy old Cerbs.

The hound’s massive body flickered in and out of sight, shadows stretching and folding around him.

One moment he was ahead of Freya, the next he was gone, reappearing behind her.

Freya shrieked with laughter, clapping her hands. "Cerbs! Peekaboo!"

Cerbs gave a guttural rumble that sounded suspiciously like amusement. His form blurred, vanished, then reappeared a few feet ahead, tail flicking like a dark flame.

"Hide n’ seek! I love it, Dada! " Freya squealed, breaking into a run again.

Kieran pressed a hand against a tree, pausing just long enough to watch the scene. His chest heaved, but his eyes softened. The way she ran, the way Cerbs teased her...it was like watching sunlight chase shadows before the dawn breaks... so many nights he sat there without a trace of sleep, staring as the nights turned again into nights. Hoping to get some news about Autumn... anything would do.

But all he was left with was their little bundle of joy... their daughter Freya. This was all that was left in his life... his only hope... his only sunshine.

"Cerbs!" Freya squealed again, stomping her tiny foot as the hound vanished just when it was within her tiny reach. "Come back! No cheating!"

The shadows stirred.

Cerbs emerged right behind her this time, his massive snout nudging her back gently.

The little girl screamed so loud it echoed through the trees, spinning to throw her arms around his thick neck. "Got you!"

Cerbs huffed, lowering himself to the ground as though allowing her victory.

Kieran finally caught up, bending over with his hands on his knees theatrically, laughing between breaths. "Moon above, Freya... you nearly outran me."

Freya turned, still clinging to Cerb’s neck, her grin wide and wild. "Dada, I win!"

"Yes, yes," Kieran chuckled, straightening with a shake of his head. "You beat Dada and Cerbs.It’s a double kill. What am I supposed to do with a little terrifying wolf like you, huh?"

Freya wrinkled her nose, holding up her tiny fist proudly. "Play more!"

Cerbs rumbled again, his glowing eyes sliding to Kieran as though daring him to deny the child.

Kieran exhaled a laugh, running a hand down his face. "Great. Even Cerb’s on your side now."

Freya clapped her hands, bouncing on her toes. "Again, Cerbs! Let’s go again!"

And just like that, the hound blurred and vanished, reappearing deeper between the trees. Freya gasped and tore after him without hesitation.

Kieran groaned, but his smile lingered. "Goddess above, save me... this is never going to end, is it?" Not that he wanted to... this was his lifeline. He was just worried about one thing... Freya’s overflowing energy. He was yet to understand it completely.

And he of all people knew how dangerous uncategorised power could be... and how it could also act as a danger magnet... All he wanted was to help Freya understand her own powers... keep her profile low... keep her safe.

Still, he ran after her when she called...because no matter how fast she was,how powerful or how mischievous, he knew he would never let her run alone.

She was the soul of his soul... the core of his shattered world!

But then he noticed...

Cerbs’ dark form flickered again, vanishing between the trees. Only this time... he didn’t reappear right away.

Freya gasped, her eyes lighting up with mischief. "Cerbs! Hide more!"

Then, with a squeal of delight, she tore off deeper into the woods, her little legs pumping furiously.

"Freya!" Kieran barked, cursing under his breath as he sprinted after her. "Not so far, damn it!"

Her laugh rang back through the trees...high pitched...bubbling...like the little sunshine that she was. "Catch me, Dada! Cerbs is hiding!"

"Cerbs is..." Kieran’s words cut short as the hound reappeared in the distance. But this time his movements were different.

Not playful. Not teasing.

He was running flat out, his hulking body stretched long and lean, muscles straining. His claws ripped through the earth with every bound, scattering dirt and leaves.

His head whipped once to the side, ears flattened, eyes glowing like fire...like an animal on the run.

Kieran slowed for a beat, chest heaving. His eyes narrowed...and then glowed golden...his wolf awakening."He is not... he’s not playing anymore.Freya,wait."

"Dadaaa!" Freya’s voice called again, oblivious, giddy with the chase. "Cerbs is fast! But I can be faster!"

"No...Freya, stop!" Kieran thundered, panic flashing through his chest. He pushed harder, lungs burning. "Freya! Come back, now! That’s an order!"

But she only laughed, her curls bouncing more as she darted after the hound.

Cerbs let out a low, guttural snarl...not aimed at her, but at something ahead. It raised every hair on Kieran’s neck.

His stomach dropped.

"Fuck..." Kieran hissed, already ripping at the hem of his shirt as he ran. "He is scared. Something’s chasing him?! Fuck! This is bad! Freya! Girl, listen to Dada! "

He didn’t hesitate. He threw himself forward, bones snapping, fur bursting across his skin as he shifted mid stride. His wolf’s form thundered onto the forest floor, massive paws devouring the distance.

"Freya!" his voice growled through their mind link...his voice urgent, his tone commanding like he never used with her before. "Stop! Stay where you are!"

But his daughter didn’t slow down at all.

Didn’t stumble. Didn’t even falter.

To her it all added to the excitement... It was all fun and games.

She turned back just to laugh as she saw her father’s wolf chasing after her.

Her tiny body blurred...and then, before his eyes, bones cracked, limbs reshaped.

The little girl’s laughter turned into a howl as fur spilled across her skin.

Freya shifted.

And ran on, unbothered, right after Cerbs.