erie howl from the forest still echoed in her ears, fading into the distance, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something-or someone-was still watching. "Where are we going?" she

truth was, she had felt something. A strange energy curling beneath her skin. A restless itch in her veins, like something inside her was trying to wake up. It had started recently-small things at first. A heightened awareness of sounds, a sharper sense of smell, the feeling that her body wasn't entirely hers anymore. But she had written it off as stress, exhaustion, maybe even paranoia. Now, standing here in the dark, with Kaidën looking at her like he already knew, she felt exposed. "You're insane," she whispered, taking a step back. Kaidën tilted his head, his lips curling slightly-not quite a smile, not quite a smirk. "Am I?" Before she could respond, another howl shattered the silence. This one was closer. Too close. A primal fear shot through Lyra's spine, setting her nerves on fire. Kaidën's expression hardened. "We need to go. Now." - They moved quickly through the forest, Kaidën leading the way. Lyra's lungs burned as she ran, branches clawing at her clothes, damp earth slipping beneath her boots. Every instinct screamed at her that whatever was out there-whatever was hunting her-was closing in. The forest sloped downward, and suddenly, a structure emerged from the shadows. A cabin. It was old, worn, the wooden walls weathered by time and nature. The windows were dark, and the door hung slightly ajar, but it stood solid against the night. Kaidën reached it first. He pushed open the door without hesitation. "Inside." Lyra hesitated, glancing back toward the trees. The shadows seemed to move unnaturally, stretching and twisting. Then, a deep, guttural growl rumbled through the darkness. Lyra didn't think-she bolted inside. Kaidën followe