Alex's POV
11 Years Ago,
The roar cut through the forest like a death knell, and I ran, lungs burning, feet pounding, with nothing but dread in my veins. The trees whipped past me, branches clawing at my arms and face as I pushed on, the forest floor blurred under my feet.
Every leaf, every crack of a twig was a warning sign, telling me I was too late. But I wasn't stopping. Not until I saw him.
I should never have left Theo alone.
Only minutes ago, we'd had a fight. A petty, foolish argument. I'd told him he wasn't ready to face the beasts that lurked here, but the boy—barely five—had stood up to me with a defiance far too big for his small frame.
Those piercing blue eyes, framed by tousled black hair, had glared up at me as if I was the one who didn't understand, as if he could prove me wrong.
"It's because you don't trust me," he'd snapped, his voice brittle, like he wanted it to sound strong but couldn't quite get it there. "You think I'm weak like the others say!"
