Awakening (Born From Shadows #1)
Chapter Twenty-Two

“This is so boring,” Tatianna exclaimed as the hours passed. They had been traveling for a few days and nothing eventful had happened. “I almost want the Hunt to replace us.”

“It’s not that bad,” Nik told her. “It’s peaceful.”

“Well, I am not used to peaceful, and I know you don’t like peaceful. Why else would you come on this trip?” she asked rhetorically.

“Maybe I came because an Elven girl caught my eye. Or maybe it was to get away from my nagging older sister, I guess you will never know,” he replied.

“If I knew nothing would happen, I wouldn’t have left Avalla. I thought this Hunt was supposed to be dangerous. They can’t track for shit,” she replied.

“You really do want them to replace us, don’t you?” He chuckled.

“Why else do you think I’ve let the fire burn for longer these past nights?” She answered.

“I thought that was because you were cold,” Nik replied. “I am not letting you do that anymore.”

Ida slowed down her pace. “What is it?” Tatianna asked Nik.

“I didn’t do anything,” he replied. Ida shifted her head from side to side then reared up on her back legs causing Tatianna to fall into Nik. Had he not been there to catch her she would have fallen off the horse.

“Ida, easy girl. What is it?” he asked the animal, patting its side in a comforting manner. The horse snorted and threw her head to the side again.

Tatianna was busy scanning the tree line and path, trying to see anything or hear something but nothing caught her attention. Not until she felt something tug her attention, drawing her towards the forest. Without thinking she dismounted Ida and walked into the wood. It felt as if a string was pulling her, guiding her towards something.

Then she saw those bright amber eyes of the wolf she saw days ago. Was it following her? Did it feel the same tug towards her that she felt to it? The wolf did not move or try to run away. It did not snarl at her as she approached, but rather stood still and stared at her.

“Tatianna!” A distant voice called; it was Nik. She assumed he was calling to see where she went but her focus remained solely on the wolf. She carefully approached it and stuck her hand out towards the side of its head having no idea why. Her hand felt a slight jolt when her hand touched the wolf, and she ran her fingers through its dark grey hair. It was soft yet mangled at the same time. Something inside her seemed to realign, and she felt a connection to the wolf. Stronger than anything she had ever felt before.

The animal did not recoil at her touch but leant into it. “Tatianna! Where are you!” Nik shouted from on top of Ida. Tatianna stood up from her crouched position in front of the wolf, not wanting to leave it behind, but neither did she want to worry Nik.

“Come with me,” she pleaded to the wolf. Its ears pricked up at the sound of her voice and it rubbed itself against her leg. An answer, a yes.

When she finally exited the forest, the wolf was bound to her side and shock threaded her bones, but it was not the wolf’s loyalty that surprised her. It was the sword pointed at Nik’s throat.