ELIAS CROWE POV
I never expected heroism to taste like blood and regret.
I was halfway through polishing my combat gauntlets when the first shout echoed down the corridor. The clang of boots followed, urgent, insistent, my heart thudded. I recognized that shout, Aria Valen's voice, steady with anger, laced with something sharper.
Dropping the rag, I sprinted toward the Training Halls. Torchlight flashed up the stairwell walls, casting dancing shadows as I bounded down the stone steps two at a time. My wolf woke in my veins, a low hum of adrenaline that sharpened my senses, I didn't know exactly what I had walked into, but I knew it would involve Aria, her stormy blue eyes, her rigid shoulders, the subtle tension around her scar that I'd come to recognize as a shield.
When I reached the arena doors, they were already thrown open. I pressed my palm against the cold iron and slipped inside.
The combat pit was crowded, students gathered on the benches, mostly Betas and a scattering of Alphas, drawn by whatever drama had erupted. In the center of the sand-covered floor stood Aria, fists clenched at her sides, cape of navy blazer swirling around her hips, across from her, three older students, two Omega-class girls and a Beta boy, were circling like wolves at a kill.
One of the girls, tall with golden hair tied back in a braid, snapped, "You think you're special, Valen? The Moonblood Princess? You're a joke." She laughed, and the other two joined in, circling closer.
Aria's jaw flexed. I stepped forward, but she raised her hand. "No," she said quietly, voice cold as moonlight. "This is my fight."
My teeth ground together, I wanted to wade in, to knock them aside with rune-fueled strength. Yet I hesitated, I'd promised her space, promised not to interfere unless she asked and right now, her shoulders read "handle this myself."
The Beta boy, shorter but wiry, spat, "We're just testing your reputation, see if it's more than rumors. Ready?"
He lunged first, swinging a padded training sword in a wild arc. Aria sidestepped, cloak flaring, and countered with a single precise strike that caught his wrist, the clatter of wood on wood rang out. The boy yelped, stumbling back.
The golden-haired girl scoffed. "Not bad for a Beta's pet but can you handle us both?"
She and the other girl closed in. Their strikes were coordinated, one distracted, one aimed to harm Aria parried and blocked, but the third strike clipped her shoulder, sending a sharp sting through the scar that curved like a silver crescent. She gasped, staggered, and I felt my pulse spike.
I tore through the bench row and vaulted into the pit, ignoring the surprised yelps around me. I drew a breath and focused, calling to the runes on my gauntlets, they shone faintly, old magic, the kind that trembled at contact with other powers.
The golden-haired girl spun to face me. Her eyes widened as she saw the ward flicker, she hesitated, and I took the opportunity to close the distance. With one careful strike, I clanged a gauntleted fist against her training sword, sending it flying, she dropped to one knee, winded.
The other two rushed me, I ducked under a wild swing, grabbed the third student's arm, and twisted, sending her sprawling. The crack of her shoulder armor echoing in the hall made my gut twist, I let her go, stepping back.
Aria remained frozen for a second, then shook herself free and stood beside me. Her eyes met mine, grim, proud, but also wary.
"Elias," she said, voice steady though her lips quivered. "Thank you, I told you not to"
"I know," I replied, sweeping a hand through my hair. My knuckles ached, I clenched and unclenched them, tasting copper on my tongue. "But I couldn't let them hurt you."
She opened her mouth, looked like she was about to protest, then closed it. I exhaled, the tension draining slightly.
The three students scrambled to their feet, brushing off dust. The golden-haired girl's cheeks were flushed with anger and embarrassment. "This is private," she hissed. "You have no right to"
"Enough," I said, voice low, every syllable weighed with intent. "Leave us."
They glared at me, but something in my stance, the proud lift of my chin, the flicker of runic light on my gauntlets made them hesitate. They muttered curses, then turned away, shoving each other as they retreated up the steps.
When the hall cleared, Aria exhaled slowly. "You saved me," she said, quietly, as though surprised.
I closed the distance until I stood beside her, shoulders barely touching. "That's what friends do."
She stiffened, head tilting. "Friends?"
The word fell between us like a challenge, I met her gaze, she looked uncertain, haunted by scars she didn't want to show. I realized my heart thudded, not just from the fight, but because I cared more than I had admitted.
"Friends," I confirmed. "But if you want more space… just say the word."
She paused, the pretense of indifference wavering. Finally, she exhaled. "I don't need a knight."
"I'm not your knight." I gave her a small, crooked smile. "I'm your neighbor."
Her lips twitched, I almost laughed. The moment felt fragile, like the hush before dawn and then came the tremor in her voice.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I shouldn't have"
I closed the small gap between us and placed a hand on her unscarred shoulder. "You don't have to apologize."
Her wolf stirred beneath her skin, I could feel it, a gentle thrum of power, a plea not to let her down again, I squeezed her shoulder. "Hey," I said softly, "I've got your back."
She looked at my hand for a moment, then met my eyes. "Don't make me regret trusting you."
I nodded. "I won't."
Moments like that, simple vows in the shadows of moonlight, felt more important than any prophecy or power. They were the building blocks of something real.
We left the pit together, our steps in sync. In the corridor, the scent of pine and damp stone carried us back to the alcove, the dust from combat clung to us, an unspoken badge of survival.
Once inside, I retrieved a clean rag and began wiping sand and sweat from her gauntlets. She sat silently, head bowed.
I tore a strip from my own training shirt and handed it to her. "Wrap your shoulder," I said. "The scar might sting with every move."
She took it, fingers brushing mine, the contact sent warmth up my arm, she bound the cloth around her arm carefully, pressing down on the bruise.
"I thought I could handle them," she said quietly. "I've faced worse in the wild."
"You shouldn't have to," I replied. "Not here."
Her fingers stilled, I saw her swallow hard. "Thank you," she whispered.
I set down the rag. "Anytime."
She rose and met my gaze. "Come to my room later," she said unexpectedly. "I need help with rune translation."
My chest tightened. "I'll be there."
As she left, I sank onto the bench and exhaled. My wolf purred, a soft affirmation in my mind, I tucked my gauntlets aside and stretched my legs. The adrenaline drained, leaving behind the ache in my knuckles and the taste of iron.
I allowed myself a small smile, protecting Aria wasn't just a duty or promise, It was something more, an echo of loyalty deeper than any bond I'd known.
And in the quiet aftermath of bruises and moonlight, I realized that perhaps this, this slow forging of trust, was exactly what I had wanted all along.
Because some wounds ache long after they heal, but some bonds only grow stronger when tested by fire.
And mine with Aria Valen was just beginning.