The Untold Forest by Elisa Menz (web ebook reader txt) 📗

came out, sleeping should be his priority. Considering he arrived at the village minutes ago, after two weeks of touring the neighboring tribes, he earned his rest.

His treacherous feet took him to Hakken’s cave.

After discovering the matriarch welcomed a human girl into the tribe, his anger forced him to leave sooner than planned. Her proximity made him lose control over his emotions and concealing his hate became difficult. With no chance to go near her since Hakken wouldn’t let her out of his sight, he needed to be smarter.

Ever since his return from the mountains, Kniv followed his every move. Did the old man morph into a hawk? Every night they sat in the middle of a calm dinner, minding their own business. But as soon as the human entered his thoughts, Kniv would pin him with a scowl.

Is he reading my mind? His inexplicable sharpness annoyed the wits out of him.

Regn took some time away to calm down. He couldn’t rush this. But he had made a promise; to kill every human who dared enter the Forest. To learn he missed the punitive incursion to the castle disappointed him, but fate allowed him the chance to end the life of the human who survived the killing. In his eyes, she was twice as deserving of this death. She belonged to their murderous race, and she lived amongst those who broke the law. Why Hakken saved her was beyond his understanding.

Perhaps that’s why he lurked in the early morning, torn between killing her now or talking some sense into Hakken.

“What do you want, kid?” Regn jumped at the sound of his voice; Hakken stood under the shadows of the entrance.

He didn’t sound friendly. He didn’t look friendly.

Regn straightened, trying to sound calm. “I just got back.” He caught him off guard. What could he possibly say?

“And you came to pay a visit? Did you miss me, kid?” The gloomy hunter took a step outside.

Regn focused not to flinch under his murderous gaze. No point in lying, but he should be smart. “I want you to tell me what you are planning to do with her. Why would you bring her to our home?”

Under the faint light of dawn, Hakken’s shadowed features resembled those of a wolf ready to pounce. He should have planned this better. Questioning a man who communicated mostly on grunts didn’t feel so smart now, but Regn managed to hold his gaze. Inwardly, he raked his mind to remember a safe escape route in case Hakken decided he was better off without his head.

“I don’t owe you an explanation. She’s mine.” Hakken crossed his arms, looking so dangerous and menacing, the hair on the back of his head bristled. “Stay away from Maeve. I know your opinion about humans.”

Of course, he did. Regn never kept a secret about how much he hated them. Humans were outsiders with a terrible reputation. They cared not about balance or the damage they caused. After all, common knowledge around the guardians of the Forest stated the same; humans destroy—ignorant and selfish creatures.

This situation defied his beliefs. One of his own was defending a human. “She does not belong here. You are breaking the law,” he said, grinding his teeth.

The looming darkness surrounding the man followed his every step. This time, Regn couldn’t help to recoil, but he stood his ground when Hakken towered right in front of him.

“I understand your pain, kid. I respect it,” he said, “but touch a hair in her head, and I’ll rip every limb in your body. You’ll learn what pain really means.”

Hakken

The chilly air made him shiver, but he stood outside his cave until Regn’s footsteps faded in the distance. Tonight’s visit unnerved him. The rascal was the biggest threat in the village, always grumbling about his hate and his desire for revenge.

A stupid kid who couldn’t separate his delusions from reality. Maeve wouldn’t hurt a fly. Why should she suffer?

Fortunately, she slept soundly when he walked in. He wouldn’t be able to rest now. His mind wandered farther while his eyes sought her lovely face. The sight of her calmed him.

The war had long ended, but some wounds remained open. Hakken’s pain and shame would never be completely gone. After these last wonderful weeks, busy and high-spirited as he was, the ghosts of the past still haunted him.

But some important things changed. He had Maeve now, and taking off and leaving her on her own was not an option. For being a responsibility, she was a pleasant one. Ever since her arrival, Hakken smiled more, and—to everyone’s bewilderment—he started conversing, joking, and asking for help from his tribe members. The change in him amazed everyone; he would no longer dally in his cave or isolate himself.

Who would have known? Taking care of a youngling mended his broken heart. Or at least kept the rusty old thing beating.

The sun rose, and a sleepless Hakken remembered another child who needed him once. The one he failed to support long ago. As soon as the war ended, losing so many lives forced the tribes to find a way to protect their youngest. Many were now orphans.

Their leader—a seasoned warrior—had fallen in battle. The current matriarch inherited his position, and it was a relief when the old mother took charge of the village. She made sure everyone was safe and cared for.

Hakken had been an exception. He resisted their help. He ran away. Nor the matriarch nor Kniv figured out what to do with him, so they let him be to focus on the children who were not ready to face this harsh world on their own.

Against all odds, one of the children became obsessed with him. The memories of those days came back.

“How come you hunt alone? Kniv says we should always join a group. If we’re wounded, we need to—”

“Piece of advice, kid. Don’t listen to what Kniv has to say.” No matter how far he went, the damn kid was on his tail.

The pestering nomad brat was fast. “I like