One quiet morning, Elion approached Lunarya with a gentle smile and something hidden behind his back. When he revealed it, Lunarya gasped softly—a delicate flower, its petals kissed by dew and shimmering faintly in the light.
"What kind of flower is this?" she asked, awe in her voice.
Elion stepped closer, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "When I was gathering firewood this morning, I found it blooming all alone. The moment I saw it, I thought of you," he murmured. "It felt like it blossomed just for you."
He placed it gently into her hand and walked away without another word.
From the shadows, I appeared beside her, watching her expression carefully.
"I still don't think you should trust him so easily," I said. "There's something strange about him."
But Lunarya only smiled down at the flower, holding it close to her chest. "Langshen… if he meant to deceive me, I would have sensed it by now. For a whole month, he's cared for me more gently than anyone ever has."
I placed a hand on her shoulder. "Love can be blinding, Lunarya. Just promise me you won't forget who you are."
I vanished, leaving her with the flower and her thoughts.
She sat in silence, fingers gently brushing the petals. Her eyes lingered on its fragile beauty—then closed, as she pressed it over her heart.
---
Two Months of Silence
Days passed quietly, until one morning Elion stood at the door with a strange look in his eyes.
"I have to go down the mountain," he said. "I need to earn a little money… but I'll return."
Lunarya's heart dropped. "How long will you be gone?"
He stepped forward and took her hands, squeezing them gently. "As soon as I'm done, I'll come back. Straight to you."
She nodded slowly, eyes filled with quiet worry. "Be careful."
"I will."
He left.
That night, as wind whispered through the trees, Lunarya sat alone in her room. Her heart beat restlessly—an ache she couldn't name growing in her chest.
She didn't leave the house. Not once. She simply waited.
Days turned into weeks. Weeks into months.
And then—knock knock.
Her heart leapt.
She flung the door open. "Elion…!"
Tears spilled as she threw herself into his arms. "Where were you?! I waited for you every day…"
Elion hugged her tightly. "Forgive me. The people I worked for didn't let me leave. But I thought about you every second."
He stepped back slightly, cupping her cheeks.
"Every meal without you was empty," he said, voice rough with emotion. "My heart ached, Lunarya."
Her eyes trembled. "Are you… are you telling the truth?"
"I love you," he whispered. "I didn't know it until I was away. But now I do. I love you."
She blinked, stunned.
"I love you too," she whispered back.
Elion leaned in, his lips brushing hers—until she turned away suddenly, cheeks red. "You…"
She bolted outside, flustered.
Elion laughed, following her.
---
A Love That Felt Like Forever
After that, they became inseparable. They wandered together—through forests, over hills, across starlit lakes. They laughed, explored, and shared whispered dreams beneath the stars.
One day, by a riverbank under a curtain of willow branches, Lunarya sat cradled in his arms.
"Elion… let's stay here a few days," she murmured.
He ran his fingers through her hair. "Wherever you wish, Arya… I'll follow."
She smiled, eyes drifting shut.
Later that night, long after they had fallen asleep, Lunarya stirred.
Something pulled at her spirit. The moon was full, its silver light humming with energy.
She sat up—but Elion was gone.
Curious and uneasy, she stepped outside.
Across the river, bathed in moonlight, she saw him.
Floating.
Silver light streamed into his body. His eyes were closed, his posture calm—absorbing energy from the moon itself.
Lunarya's breath hitched.
"Could he be… a wolf too?" she whispered.
But still, she clung to hope.
Even when something deep inside her whispered—look closer.
---
The Next Morning
At dawn, Elion prepared food by the riverside. Lunarya approached quietly and sat beside him.
"What are you making?" she asked with a soft smile.
He glanced at her with a lazy grin. "Your favorite."
He passed her a piece of roasted meat. She took a bite, savoring the taste.
Elion leaned his head gently on her shoulder.
"I'm lucky to have you," he said.
Lunarya stilled. Her heart beat faster.
She turned her head slightly, brushing her lips against his hair.
But somewhere, buried beneath all the love and laughter…
A single crack had begun to form.
A question without an answer.
A truth still hidden in the shadows.