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After a time, Tillman veered off the trail, heading uphill to a rocky outcropping. He effortlessly scaled the boulders then turned to look expectantly at Laith with a questioning snort.
Laith grinned. “Want to show off the view, do you?” He climbed up to join the bear. At the top, Laith’s breath caught. They were perched above the treetops now. The valley spread out below them like a rumpled blanket, silvered in the moonlight.
“It’s gorgeous,” Laith breathed.
Tillman made a sound of satisfaction. He settled on his haunches beside Laith, providing a sturdy buffer against the night’s chill. Laith leaned into the bear’s warmth with a contented sigh. No other words were needed.
They sat in tranquil stillness and watched the moon rise over the valley. Despite the troubles still ahead, Laith treasured this magical moment, here in the wild with the man he was falling in love with. For now, the rest of the world could wait.
Laith and Tillman stayed on the rocky outcropping, soaking in the tranquil beauty of the moonlit valley. As the night deepened, a comfortable drowsiness settled over Laith. He leaned his head against Tillman’s sturdy shoulder, eyes drifting closed.
A sudden crack of gunfire shattered the stillness.
Laith jolted upright, heart hammering. Beside him, Tillman let out a furious roar. Laith scrambled to peer over the edge of the rocks. Down below, a lone figure with a rifle stalked through the trees. A hunter.
“I’ve seen a lot of signs saying that hunting isn’t allowed in Midnight Falls,” Laith whispered.
The bear dipped its head.
Rage boiled up in Laith on Tillman’s behalf. This intruder had no right to be here, endangering the creatures that lived in Midnight Falls.
Tillman snarled, muzzle curling back from his sharp teeth. He looked ready to charge down the slope and confront the hunter directly. Before he could, Laith grabbed a handful of fur.
“Wait,” he whispered. “We need to be smart about this.”
Tillman huffed impatiently but stayed put. They tracked the hunter’s movements through the trees. After a moment, Laith pointed.
“There. See that ravine? We can loop around and get in front of him. If we move fast, we can drive him out of the forest without putting ourselves at risk.” Laith looked at him. “Then again, you might get shot. What do you think we should do?”
Tillman dipped his furry head toward the ravine. Together, they scrambled back down the rocky outcropping. Keeping low, they slipped through the moon-dappled trees, using the terrain to mask their approach. Adrenaline sang through Laith’s veins. He’d never confronted an armed hunter before.
They reached the edge of the ravine, crouching in the shadows. In the distance, they could hear the crunch of footsteps on dry leaves as their prey crept closer.
Without a sound, Tillman lumbered out onto the path, blocking the hunter’s retreat. The man froze, his eyes widening in terror.
“Drop your weapon and get out of our forest,” Laith growled, stepping out from behind a tree, fists clenched at his sides. “And don’t come back.”
The guy dropped his rifle as if it were on fire and turned to run. As he fled, Laith allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction. “Well, that was easier than I expected.”
Tillman grunted in agreement, pawing at the discarded rifle. “We should destroy it,” Laith said. Nodding, Tillman carried it over to the edge of the ravine and hurled it into the depths with a satisfying crash.
Side by side, they made their way back to their original trail. As they emerged from the trees onto a moonlit meadow, Tillman stopped abruptly, sniffing the air. His ears pricked forward.
“What is it?” Laith whispered.
Tillman growled low in his throat and nudged at Laith’s leg urging him lower. “Is it someone else?”
The bear growled softly, hackles raised as he stared into the gloom-filled forest.
Another hunter.
Laith’s pulse quickened. After dealing with the first one, he’d hoped the rest of their night could be peaceful. But of course it couldn’t be that easy.
He pressed close to Tillman’s side, peering warily into the dark forest. The shadows between the trees seemed menacing now, holding unknown threats.
How many goddamn hunters were roaming the forest tonight?
There—a hint of movement. Laith tapped Tillman’s shoulder and pointed. The bear’s eyes narrowed, muscles coiling in readiness.
