Night fell gently for the first time in what felt like years.
No tremors.
No screams.
No scent of blood carried on the wind.
Just quiet.
Soft, warm, living quiet.
The tribes were scattered across the clearing, resting in little pockets of warmth and flickering firelight.
Dragons curled like great living embers.
Wolves slept in tight clusters, tails brushing each other's backs.
Elves meditated with hands over their hearts.
Leopards lounged on high branches, grooming their fur.
Kanah sat near the center of the camp, wrapped in a thick fur cloak someone had draped over her earlier.
She pulled it tighter around her shoulders.
Owain appeared behind her before she even heard him, his presence unmistakable—heavy, warm, grounding.
He sat behind her, legs bracketing her hips, his chest pressed against her back.
Kanah leaned back instinctively.
Owain exhaled shakily into her hair.
"You're cold," he murmured, pulling her deeper against him.
"I'm not," she whispered.
"You're always cold when you're thinking too much."
She paused.
"…is that a wolf thing?"
"It's a mate thing."
Her cheeks warmed.
He wrapped both arms around her waist, chin on her shoulder, breath slow and even.
But she felt the tremor beneath it.
Not from fear.
From restraint.
Owain was holding himself back—fighting the urge to bury her under him and never let go.
His instincts were still howling from the war.
She placed her hand over his.
"Are you thinking too much too?"
Owain's voice rumbled low.
"I'm thinking about how close I came to losing you."
Kanah's breath hitched.
"Owain…"
He didn't let her finish.
His arms tightened, pulling her flush against him.
"You died in front of me," he whispered, voice cracking.
"Not literally—but inside. I felt your body give. I felt the moment you broke."
He swallowed.
"I'm not over it, Kana."
Her throat tightened painfully.
She squeezed his hand.
"I know."
Owain rested his cheek against her temple.
"But I'm trying," he murmured.
"For you. Always for you."
Kanah turned her face toward him.
He brushed his nose against her cheek.
A soft, tender wolf gesture.
Kanah's heart melted.
"Come here," she whispered.
Owain didn't hesitate.
He cupped her jaw and kissed her.
Softly.
Slowly.
Not hungry.
Not claiming.
Just… there.
Like he had been holding this moment inside him through every battle, every wound, every breath.
Kanah's fingers slid into his hair, pulling him closer.
Owain groaned softly against her mouth, a shiver running through his body.
He deepened the kiss only slightly—
just enough for their lips to mold together,
just enough to taste her breath,
just enough to feel the pulse of her heartbeat against his chest.
When they parted, he leaned his forehead against hers.
"You have no idea," he whispered, voice thick, "how badly I wanted this."
Kanah smiled.
"I think I do."
He huffed a shaky breath, almost a laugh.
THE OTHERS NOTICE
They weren't alone for long.
Helion, perched lazily on a branch overhead, flicked his tail and smirked.
"Well, isn't this cozy," he drawled.
"Finally getting your moment, wolf?"
Owain growled immediately, wrapping his arms tighter around Kanah's waist, pulling her protectively against his chest.
"Go away."
Helion grinned wider.
"Make me."
Kanah flushed.
Yllas landed nearby, folding his wings with calm precision.
"Helion," he said, "don't antagonize him."
"Why not? It's fun."
Gerrin arrived last, offering Kanah a gentle smile.
"How are you feeling tonight?" he asked softly.
Kanah opened her mouth—
Owain answered for her.
"She's fine."
Kanah elbowed him lightly.
"Owain—"
"I'm answering," he growled into her neck.
"You're tired."
Gerrin chuckled under his breath.
Helion leaned forward on his branch.
"So, Kana," he teased, "is this a permanent arrangement? The wolf glued to your back?"
Owain snarled.
Yllas stepped closer, eyes scanning Kanah slowly—much too slowly.
"She should rest beside someone warm," Yllas observed, "wolf or otherwise."
Owain nearly lunged.
Gerrin held up both hands.
"Please don't start a fight. We just ended a war."
Kanah's face burned.
She looked between the three beast lords—
dragon
elf
leopard—
all watching her with open emotion.
Different kinds.
But unmistakable.
She swallowed.
"I… don't know what comes next," she admitted softly.
Owain stiffened behind her.
"Kana—"
She reached back, squeezing his hand.
"But I know I'm not alone."
Owain exhaled, tension loosening.
Helion arched a brow.
"Well," he said, "we're not letting you wander off into the woods again. Not after all that."
Yllas crossed his arms.
"And not after you tore apart a perfected brood with your bare resonance."
Gerrin nodded.
"You're important to all of us."
Kanah blinked.
"All of you?"
They exchanged looks.
Owain bristled.
Helion stretched.
Gerrin softened.
Yllas's eyes warmed.
Kanah's heart beat too loudly.
Owain buried his face in her neck again.
"Later," he growled.
Kanah smiled.
QUIET FIRELIGHT
Eventually the others drifted away.
Owain didn't let her go.
Not once.
She eventually shifted to sit between his legs, her back against his chest, his arms around her like a living blanket.
The fire crackled softly.
Crickets hummed.
Wolves slept.
Dragons breathed smoke into the air like rising stars.
Owain's nose brushed her hair.
"You smell like safety," he murmured.
Kanah's cheeks warmed.
"Is that good?"
"It's everything."
She leaned her head against his shoulder.
"I feel safe with you too."
Owain's breath stopped.
Literally stopped.
His heart hammered against her back.
"Kana…" he whispered, voice raw.
She turned, looking up at him.
His eyes glowed gold in the firelight.
"Yeah?" she whispered.
He cupped her cheek.
"If you say things like that," he murmured slowly, "I'm not going to let you sleep alone tonight."
Her breath caught.
"Owain…"
He nuzzled closer, lips brushing her temple.
"Not to mate. Not to claim. Not to rush."
He kissed the corner of her mouth.
"Just… to hold you."
Her chest tightened.
"Owain… I'd like that."
He froze.
Then trembled.
Then exhaled the deepest breath she'd ever heard from him.
His voice broke into her ear.
"Thank you."
He wrapped her in his arms, pulling her tightly against him as if anchoring his entire world.
Kanah closed her eyes.
For the first time in a very long time—
there was no fear.
No war.
No pain.
Just warmth.
Just peace.
Just him.