Chapter 240: The Northern Way

The wind whispered through the bare trees, carrying the faint tang of smoke and ash from the Black Market, now a ruin of charred wood and shattered lives. Tobias, still in the guise of William, crouched silently at the edge of the clearing. Jarek’s small group of rogue wolves, tense and alert, huddled behind him and the children, their breaths misting in the cold afternoon air.

Tobias gave a barely perceptible nod. Recognition passed in Jarek’s eyes, and the rogue finally lowered his weapon, though his hands remained close, ready to strike again if needed.

"Why... why are you dressed like that?" Jarek asked, voice low, wary. He gestured at Tobias’s disguise—the ragged remnants of William’s clothing, the bloodstains that had dried and darkened, the way he carried himself with a predator’s grace even under the mask.

Before Tobias could answer, whispers carried from the others in the clearing. They had heard the word—Owl—and they moved closer, drawn by the name.

Tobias raised a hand sharply. "Quiet," he said in a clipped voice, letting the weight of the command settle over them. "There’s a reason I’m dressed this way." He scanned the forest edges, noting the distance to Victoria’s men and the wind carrying sounds from their direction. "I don’t have time to explain everything now. We have to move. I’ll show you a different route."

The children, holding onto Jarek’s hands, looked up at Tobias with wide eyes. Fear had been etched into them in the Black Market, and their small bodies trembled at every sound in the forest. Tobias’s gaze softened slightly, just for a moment, as he crouched lower.

"This way," he whispered, motioning north. "We head to the North. Keep close, keep low, and do exactly as I say."

Jarek’s brow furrowed. "North? That’s... far. And even if we make it, will they accept us?" His voice carried the disbelief and skepticism of someone who had lived outside the protection of any pack for years. "We’re rogues, Owl. They’ve seen our kind—outcasts, scavengers. How can you be sure they’ll let us in?"

Tobias’s eyes glinted under the shadow of the hood. "They’ll accept you," he said simply. "Tell them Tobias sent you. That’s all they need to know. The Alpha will understand."

"Is that your name?" Jarek asked him.

Tobias nodded. For years, they had all worked together, but they only knew him as Owl. Most of the workers were rogue wolves who had been searching for work and acceptance for years. They trusted Tobias, and he had given them a source of livelihood just like his father had done for some others.

Tobias was certain that Orion would accept them. He was also certain that Orion would get annoyed when they reached there and Tobias wasn’t with them, but he had a mission to carry out. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

The group of rogues exchanged uneasy glances, the tension in their shoulders easing just slightly at the promise of sanctuary. Tobias’s certainty was contagious in a way, a steady force against the chaos and fear surrounding them.

"We don’t have the luxury of rest," Tobias continued, voice low, deliberate. "The path is dangerous. Victoria’s men are still out there, and they’ll be combing through the forest until they think this hunt is complete. Move quickly, quietly, and stay together. I’ll guide you as far as I can, then you’ll have to keep going. Understand?"

Jarek nodded sharply. "We understand. We’ll follow you."

Tobias led the way, moving with careful, deliberate steps. Every branch that cracked underfoot, every snap of a twig, was noted and avoided if possible. Ryker paid attention, always alert, ears twitching at the faintest sound—the distant clash of steel, the faint shout of a human, or the whisper of an animal fleeing through the brush.

The path Tobias chose wound through denser forest, deliberately circling around areas where Victoria’s men could emerge. He avoided the main trails, relying on small animal tracks, broken undergrowth, and subtle depressions in the soil to guide the group. Each movement was calculated; each stop brief but necessary for rest and observation.

Hours passed in this tense march. The sun dipped lower, filtering through skeletal branches and casting long, jagged shadows across the snow-dusted forest floor. Tobias kept a steady pace, letting Jarek and the others set the children’s rhythm, pausing only when necessary to allow the youngest to catch up.

At one point, Jarek leaned close, whispering with cautious urgency, "Where exactly are we going?"

Tobias glanced over his shoulder, eyes scanning the forest behind them. "Out of here," he said simply. "I’ll take you along a route far from Victoria’s reach. It may take days, but you’ll be safe. That’s what matters. Keep low. Don’t draw attention. Don’t make noise that can alert the beasts—especially."

The rogue’s eyes widened as he absorbed the warning. "Days? You mean... we’re really going to make it all the way to the North? And you mean beasts like Skylurs?"

Tobias nodded. "Yes, beasts like Skylurs."

"Aren’t they dangerous?" the boy’s sister asked.

Tobias nodded. "Yes, but there are more beasts in the North. People only know of Skylurs, but there are more. And you’ll make it to the northern pack."

The group exchanged uneasy glances, a mixture of hope and disbelief in their eyes. But the weight of Tobias’s certainty gave them courage, and slowly, their footsteps followed his into the northern shadows of the forest.

The first night fell in near silence. Tobias moved through the undergrowth, a shadow among shadows, guiding the group along narrow animal paths that wove around fallen trees, brambles, and frozen streams. Every so often, he paused to listen. The distant laughter and shouts from Victoria’s men still echoed faintly, reminders that the hunt had not ended and that danger remained real.

At one point, the group halted at a shallow ravine, snow-covered and slick. That was a signal that they were around the northern border. The North itself was still far, but they were close. It was the one place where snow fell continuously.

Tobias gestured for them to crouch behind a cluster of rocks. The children huddled close to Jarek, whose hands tightened around the crude weapon he held.

"Stay down," Tobias whispered, his eyes scanning the other side of the ravine. "Do not move until I say. Be ready to follow my lead immediately."

Minutes stretched as the forest seemed to hold its breath. Tobias’s instincts were keen; he felt the slightest shift in the wind, the faint crunch of distant footsteps. Finally, he signaled, and the group moved across the ravine, keeping to the shadows, pressing close to the ground.

By dawn, the group had moved several miles, Tobias taking them through the denser parts of the forest, avoiding open clearings where they could be spotted from a distance. The cold bit into their faces and fingers, and fatigue pressed on every step, but Tobias never slowed his pace unnecessarily. Every decision was calculated: when to rest, when to push forward, when to slip silently through brush.

At midday, they reached the edge of a small clearing. Tobias crouched, taking stock. The North was not visible yet, but the forest floor sloped gradually in that direction. The constant snowfall hinted that they were close.

"This is where I leave you guys," Tobias told them.

Jarek turned sharply. "You are not coming with us?" he asked.

Tobias shook his head. "No. I’ve been home for far too long too. You can continue from here alone."

"It’s still a long journey, especially on foot, but remember: keep low. Do not alert the beasts. Stay hidden and follow the trail. No matter how long it may be, stay together," he told them.

Tobias didn’t wait for them to reply. He turned and began running back toward the direction of the Black Market. He had been gone for hours already. From the sounds he heard, the massacre was still ongoing. Ryker was skilled like that after all. He took a shorter route back to the woods around the Black Market. Tobias was determined. After all, there was a reason Orion had trusted him to get information, and he wasn’t going to let him down.

Jarek’s lips tightened, a faint worry shadowing his expression. He had trusted Tobias with his life before, but now the thought of parting made him uneasy. "May... may the Moon Goddess watch over you," he whispered, almost reflexively. A short, sincere prayer slipped through the quiet, meant to guide Tobias and shield him from harm in the forest’s depths.

And while Tobias went back, Jarek and the others continued forward.