Chapter 268 The discovery

Chapter 268: Chapter 268 The discovery

Piper’s POV

My breath caught in my throat. "Us?"

He nodded, his voice soft. "Yes, Piper. Us."

I looked at our hands, with his fingers intertwined with mine. "Jax, I..."

He stepped closer, and I could feel the warmth of his body. "Piper, I have been wanting to tell you something."

My heart was pounding so hard I could barely hear myself think. "What is it, Jax?"

He reached up and brushed a strand of hair from my face. His fingers lingered on my cheek, and I forgot how to breathe.

"Piper," he whispered. "I have been wanting to tell you that I..."

Jax suddenly stopped.

His eyes went wide, and I saw the color drain from his face.

"Jax?" I asked. "What is it?"

He dropped my hand and pointed to the ground. "Piper, look."

I looked down, and I felt my blood run cold.

There were footprints. Very fresh ones at that.

They were deep and clear, pressed into the ash-covered ground. They led away from the cave, toward the north. I could see the outline of boots, and I could see the way the ash had been disturbed.

Jax knelt down and examined them. When he spoke, his voice was grim. "These are recent, Piper. Very recent."

I felt the fear rise in my chest. "How recent, Jax?"

He looked at me, and his gray eyes were serious. "Hours, Piper. Maybe less."

I turned and looked around. The gray landscape was empty, but suddenly I felt eyes on me. I felt like we were being watched.

"Jax," I said, with my voice shaking. "We need to go back. Now!"

Jax stood and grabbed my hand. "Run, Piper. Now!"

Jax carried the little firewood we had gathered, not letting me carry any, and we ran.

The ash kicked up beneath our feet as we sprinted toward the cave. My lungs burned, and my legs ached, but I did not stop. I could not stop.

Jax’s hand was wrapped tightly around mine, pulling me forward. "Keep going, Piper. Do not stop."

I could hear my heartbeat in my ears, loud and insistent. The cave entrance came into view, and I felt a surge of relief.

We burst into the cave, and I collapsed against the wall. My chest was heaving, and my legs were shaking.

Talia was on her feet instantly. "Jax? Piper? What happened?"

I could barely speak. "Talia, we found something."

Kaelen was on his feet instantly, with his gray eyes sharp. "What did you find?"

Jax’s voice was grim, and he was still breathing hard. "There were footprints, Alpha. Fresh ones that were heading north."

Silas stood. "How fresh, Jax?"

Jax shook his head. "Hours old, Silas. Maybe less."

Cain moved to the entrance, with his eyes scanning the landscape. "They know we are here."

Kaelen’s voice was steady, but I could see the tension in his jaw. "How many?"

Jax shook his head. "I could not tell, Alpha. But there were enough."

Talia reached for my hand, her voice soft. "Piper, are you okay?"

I looked at her, and I felt the tears prick at my eyes. "Talia, I am scared."

She squeezed my hand. "It is okay, Piper. We are together."

Kaelen looked at the group, with his voice calm and steady. "We cannot stay here."

Jax nodded. "If they know we are here, Alpha, they will come back with more."

My voice was shaky. "Where do we go, Alpha?"

Kaelen looked at Talia. "North. Toward the fortress."

Silas nodded. "We were heading there anyway, Alpha."

Cain spoke from the entrance. "Moving in the open is dangerous, Alpha."

Kaelen’s voice was firm. "Staying here is more dangerous."

Talia stepped forward, with her voice steady. "Then we move tonight."

Kaelen looked at her. "Talia, the silver dust is worse at night."

"I know," Talia said. "But we do not have a choice, Kaelen."

Kaelen looked at her, and I saw the conflict in his eyes. He wanted to protect her. He wanted to protect all of us.

Talia’s voice was soft but firm. "Kaelen, we have to go."

He nodded, his voice low. "We move at dusk. We travel north, and we do not stop until we reach the fortress."

Jax nodded. "I will gather what supplies I can, Alpha."

I squeezed Talia’s hand. "We are with you, Talia."

She looked at me, and I saw the determination in her eyes. "I know, Piper. Thank you."

Talia looked at the cave entrance, and I saw her grip her pendant. She whispered something, too quiet for me to hear, but I knew what she was saying.

She was telling her mother she was coming. She has always done that for the past few days.

Kaelen took Talia’s hand. "Together, Talia."

Talia squeezed his hand. "Together, Kaelen."

I watched them, and I felt the hope rising in my chest. I loved the way they were strong together, and they were unstoppable.

Jax moved to stand beside me, with his voice low. "Piper, are you okay?"

I looked at him, and I saw the concern in his eyes. "I am okay, Jax."

He reached for my hand, with his fingers warm around mine. "I am sorry. About earlier, I mean."

I shook my head. "It is okay, Jax."

He squeezed my hand. "I meant what I said, Piper. Every word."

I looked at him, and I felt the warmth spread through my chest. "I know, Jax."

We stood there, side by side, watching the gray light filter through the cave entrance.

The scouts knew we were here, and we had to move. But we were together, and that was all that mattered.

I looked at the cave entrance, and I made a promise to myself. I would survive this. We all would.

And maybe, just maybe, I would get my happy ending too.