Chapter 239 The night travelers

Chapter 239: Chapter 239 The night travelers

Talia’s POV

I sat by the dying fire, with my eyes fixed on the dark tree line.

My body was heavy with exhaustion, but my mind would not stop racing. Every shadow looked like a figure, and every rustle of leaves sounded like footsteps.

Kaelen appeared beside me a while later. "You should rest," he said.

I shook my head. "I am fine."

"Talia, you have not slept at all." He walked closer to me.

"I cannot sleep," I admitted. "Every time I close my eyes, I see that wolf. And I feel them watching."

Kaelen knelt beside me. "Then let me watch, Talia. You need to rest."

I opened my mouth to argue, but before I could speak, Silas and Cain walked over. Silas’s face was serious, and Cain’s eyes were scanning the tree line.

"Alpha, Luna, We will take over the watch," Silas said.

I looked at him. "You do not have to..."

"Luna, you are exhausted," Silas cut in. "You cannot keep going like this."

Cain nodded once. "We have the watch."

Kaelen looked at them. "Thank you."

Silas nodded. "Take her to rest, Alpha. We will keep watch until dawn."

Before I could argue, Kaelen lifted me into his arms. I wanted to protest, but I was too tired. I leaned into his chest, and I let my eyes close.

"Rest," he said. "I have you."

I felt him carry me to the back of the distant tent we built, and I let myself relax a bit.

As I laid down, I could hear Piper and Jax talking faintly in the distance. I smiled softly, and drifted off to sleep.

The morning light filtered through the trees, pale and thin, and I woke to the sound of the group packing up camp. My body was stiff, and my muscles ached, but I forced myself to sit up.

Kaelen walked to me and knelt beside me. "How are you feeling?"

"I am tired," I admitted. "But I am fine."

He studied my face for a moment. "We need to change our approach. We cannot travel out in the open anymore."

I nodded. "I know."

He stood up and addressed the group. "From now on, we will travel at night. We sleep during the day, and we stay off the main paths and hide in caves."

Jax groaned. "Caves? I hate caves."

Piper shook her head. "Jax, stop complaining."

"I am not complaining," Jax said. "I am just stating a fact. Caves are cold, damp, and full of things that crawl."

Silas looked at him. "Would you rather sleep out in the open where whoever left that wolf can find us?"

Jax was quiet for a moment. "...No."

"Then caves it is," Kaelen said.

Jax threw his hands up. "So let me get this straight. We are sleeping in caves, traveling at night, and hiding from something we have not even seen yet."

Kaelen looked at him. "Yes. That is exactly what we are doing."

"And you do not think that is insane?" Jax asked.

"I think it is necessary," Kaelen said.

Piper shook her head. "Jax, would you rather be out in the open where whatever did that to the wolf can find us?"

Jax was quiet for a moment. "No. But I would rather be somewhere warm."

"Then stop complaining and help us pack," Piper said.

Jax sighed. "Fine. But I am going to complain the whole time."

"We know," Silas said.

Piper looked at me. "Are you okay with this?"

I nodded. "I trust Kaelen. If he says we need to travel at night, then we travel at night."

Jax sighed. "Fine. But I am still going to complain the whole time."

"Again, Jax, we know," Silas said.

We found the first cave as the sun began to rise. It was dark and damp, and the walls were slick with moisture. The entrance was narrow, and hidden behind a curtain of vines.

Jax ducked inside and looked around. "This is cozy. If cozy means cold, wet, and smelling like mold."

Piper walked in behind him. "It is a shelter, Jax. That is what matters."

I found a spot against the wall and sat down. My body was heavy, and my eyes were burning, but I could not sleep, because my mind was racing.

Kaelen sat beside me. "You should rest."

"I cannot," I said. "I keep thinking about her."

"About your mother?" he asked.

I nodded. "I keep wondering if she is still alive. If she knows we are coming to save her, and if she is scared."

He reached over and took my hand. "She is alive. And she is not scared."

"How do you know?" I asked.

He looked at me, and his gray eyes were soft. "Because she is your mother. And you are not scared."

I felt the tears prick at my eyes. "I am scared."

"Maybe," he said. "But you are still moving forward. That is what matters."

I squeezed his hand. "Thank you."

I looked up at the cave ceiling, and I thought about my mother. I wondered if she had ever been in a cave like this, and I wondered if she had ever been scared and alone, waiting for someone to come for her.

"Kaelen," I said.

He looked at me. "What is it baby?"