CHAPTER 448: THE ENCOUNTER

Marro’s breath came in short, sharp bursts as he darted through the underbrush, scratches painting his arms and legs like war marks.

The midday sun filtered through the canopy above, warm and golden, but it offered no comfort. Not to him. Not to a boy who had no home, no family, and no future left to run to.

He stumbled over a root, caught himself, and kept running.

He didn’t know where he was going, just that he had to keep moving.

If he stopped, the memories would catch up. And they would drown him.

He had seen his entire family dead.

He regretted the fact that he would never have a normal family again.

It was all his fault.

Alpha Hunter had come like a shadow with fangs.

A monster dressed as a wolf. He’d torn through their home, through their pack, through everything.

And Marro, just eleven, had understood what it meant.

Now that he had lost everything he understood better.

Now he was just a ghost in the trees.

Alone.

Hungry.

Terrified.

But still moving.

Because somewhere out there, someone had to help.

Someone had to care.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The forest had thickened by the time Jasmine paused to rest. She slid off Kire’s back, her boots sinking into the loamy ground as she rubbed her swollen belly. The baby had started kicking again. She whispered a soft apology.

"I know," she murmured, brushing her palm over the curve of her stomach. "This is reckless. But I have to find him."

Kire let out a quiet rumble of agreement, nudging her side with his nose. Jasmine looked up at the canopy.

The sun had passed its peak, and time was slipping through her fingers.

Every minute Xaden remained missing felt like a knife in her chest.

They hadn’t been able to track his scent. It was as though the forest had swallowed him whole.

But the attackers... their scent had lingered. And Jasmine, stubborn as ever, had decided to follow it.

She climbed back on Kire’s back, clinging tightly as the wolf sprinted through the trees.

They followed the fading trail, faint, but still there. Still real.

Then, out of nowhere, Kire skidded to a violent stop, claws digging into the dirt.

A small figure had stumbled into their path.

Jasmine gasped and pulled on Kire’s fur to steady herself.

The boy, thin and filthy, no more than ten or eleven, froze like a deer caught in a glow.

His wild brown eyes locked on hers. Then he turned and bolted.

"Wait!" Jasmine called. "It’s okay, we’re not going to hurt you!"

The boy didn’t stop. His limbs were trembling, legs pumping with panic.

But he was slow from hunger, and Jasmine could see the way his knees buckled slightly with each step.

Kire didn’t chase. Jasmine slid down and slowly approached, careful not to startle him further.

"Hey," she said softly, crouching and opening the leather pouch at her waist. "Are you hungry?"

The boy hesitated, his eyes narrowing. He looked like he might bolt again.

"I have food," she said, pulling out a strip of dried meat. "You can have it. I’m not asking anything from you."

He hesitated a moment longer. Then, cautiously, he approached.

He snatched the meat from her hand, eyes still wary, and took a small bite.

"Thank you," he muttered, chewing like someone who hadn’t eaten in days.

"You’re welcome," Jasmine said gently. "You don’t have to be afraid of me."

The boy looked up at her, chewing slower now. "You’re not one of them?"

Jasmine frowned. "One of who?"

He didn’t answer.

She didn’t push. She nodded toward the path. "You can be on your way. Stay safe."

He gave a small nod and turned.

But just as he did, Kire’s ears perked, and he let out a low, focused growl.

Jasmine’s eyes snapped toward the wolf as he moved forward with purpose, nose low to the ground, following something.

"Kire?" she called. "What is it?"

The boy turned, confused, as the great wolf suddenly sprinted toward him.

"No!" Jasmine shouted. "Wait... Kire!"

The boy screamed and tried to run, but his legs gave out. He collapsed to the ground, covering his head as Kire lunged forward.

And stopped.

There was no attack. No bite.

No blood.

Instead, Kire nosed at the boy’s shirt, sniffed intently, and then reached into the boy’s tattered pouch with a practiced nudge.

He pulled out something small and leather-bound.

A wristband.

Jasmine gasped.

She rushed forward, kneeling beside Kire and taking the object with shaking hands. Her eyes widened.

The material was wolf leather, marked with a carved insignia she knew too well, Xaden’s mark.

Torn slightly at the edge, stained with something dark. Blood, maybe.

She gently touched the marked insignia and she had flashes of memory.

She put it to her lips and closed her eyes.

She looked at the boy, her voice breathless. "Where did you get this?"

The boy clammed up instantly, eyes darting around, panicked.

"I’m not going to hurt you," Jasmine said again.

She placed a hand over her belly, her voice trembling. "Please. I swear on my unborn baby. I’m only trying to help. I need to find the man who owns this."

The boy’s eyes fell to her stomach, and he blinked slowly.

"He’s in danger," Jasmine whispered. "Please. You could help me save him."

For a moment, nothing.

Then, in a quiet voice, the boy said, "My friend gave it to me."

Jasmine’s breath caught. "Your friend?"

The boy looked down at his feet. "He was hurt. Really bad. I helped him."

Tears stung Jasmine’s eyes. "Is he... is he alive?"

The boy nodded, slowly. "He was when I left him."

Relief almost buckled her knees. She reached forward and gently touched the boy’s shoulder.

"What’s your name?"

"...Marro."

"Marro," she whispered. "Can you take me to him?"

He looked away. "I don’t know if he’s still there. I didn’t want them to follow me. If they do, they’ll kill him too. Like the way they killed my family."

Jasmine stared at him? Her heart braking into pieces.

This boy had lost everything, she could see it in his eyes, but he had still protected Xaden.

Still cared.

"Marro," she said, voice thick. "You are the bravest boy I’ve ever met."

He didn’t smile, but something in his eyes softened.

Jasmine looked to the sky. The sun was beginning to dip. Time was slipping again.

But now... now she had hope.

And she wasn’t letting go.