My legs were killing me.
I'd been running for hours. Everything hurt my feet, my lungs, my chest where Kaelen ripped the bond away. But I kept going because what else could I do? Go back and be his slave?
Hell no.
The trees got weirder the farther I went. Darker, twisted up like nightmares. This was Ashveil now. The place parents warn kids about. Where rogues live. Where people vanish.
Mom used to say "Nothing good comes out of Ashveil."
Guess I was about to find out.
I could still hear howls behind me sometimes. Far away but there. Hunting me.
The sun was setting. The sky turns purple through the branches. I needed water. Food. Somewhere to hide.
But I'd just run without thinking.
Real smart, Aelara.
I leaned against a tree to catch my breath. That's when everything hit me again.
My parents. The Moon Scholars.
They studied prophecies and old moon stuff. Boring lectures that put me to sleep. Then five years ago, soldiers came at night. Dragged them out with the other Scholars. Called them traitors.
Killed them all before sunrise.
I was sixteen. No wolf, no parents, suddenly a traitor's kid. The pack shoved me in servant quarters like garbage.
Everyone said the Lycan King ordered it. King Vaelor Noctyrr decided they were dangerous and had them executed.
I hated him for that.
My foot caught on something and I went down hard.
"Dammit—"
I looked back.
A boot. Connected to a leg. Connected to a man slumped against a tree.
"Oh shit!"
I scrambled back. Was he dead?
Then his breathing is shallow and barely alive.
He was huge. Even crumpled space , I could tell. Broad shoulders, torn dark clothes. Blood everywhere.
I should run. He could be a murderer.
But I couldn't move.
Maybe because I'd been running all day. Maybe because I knew what being left behind felt like.
I moved closer. His body is changing into a blue color. The wounds had black edges.
Poison.
"Great."
Nobody is around. Just me and this dying stranger.
Mom's voice in my head. "The Moon sees who helps and who walks away."
"Hope you're happy, Mom," I muttered.
I grabbed under his arms and pulled.
Holy crap he was heavy. My arms felt like they'd rip off, but I dragged him behind thick bushes.
He didn't wake up.
I ripped my dress and used it to wipe blood from the worst cuts. The poison was spreading. Black veins under his skin.
He was gonna die.
I had a tiny water bottle, almost empty. Poured it over his wounds. Then wrapped more dress strips around the deep cuts.
Wouldn't save him. But maybe it'd help.
A raindrop hit my face.
"No—"
The sky opened up. Rain poured down so hard I couldn't see. Thunder crashed. Lightning flashed white.
Soaked instantly. Freezing.
I squinted through the rain. There—a dark hole in the rocks maybe twenty yards away.
Cave.
"Come on," I told him, grabbing his arms. "We're not dying today."
Dragging him through mud in a thunderstorm was the worst. My feet kept slipping but I kept pulling.
I fell face-first once. Just laid there thinking about my life choices.
Then got up and kept going.
Finally made it. Pulled him inside and collapsed.
Small cave. Dry.
I just laid there, everything hurting.
I had to move. Get warm or we'd die.
There was old wood at the back. Dry wood.
"Thank you, random stranger."
I got my flint out. Took forever with shaking hands but finally got a fire going.
Heat. Actual heat.
The fire lit up the cave. The poison was worse now. Black lines up his neck. Lips turning blue.
Freezing. Dying.
His shirt was already torn. I pulled it off—tried not to stare—and hung it by the fire.
Got his boots off. Expensive leather. Too nice for Ashveil.
Then I looked at myself. My dress was dripping. I was shaking hard.
I turned away and peeled off my dress. My slip was less wet.
Hung it by the fire and moved closer to the flames.
Stopped shaking after a few minutes.
But he was still ice cold.
I'd heard healers talk about this. Dying from the cold—you share body heat.
Just survival.
I spread his cloak near the fire and laid next to him. Pulled it over us both.
His skin was freezing.
I pressed closer, and handed over his heart. The beat was so faint.
"Don't die. You owe me."
Time passed. Fire crackling. Rain pounding. Slowly his skin warmed up.
His heartbeat got stronger.
I fell asleep listening to it.
Dreamed about Kaelen sneering.
*You're nothing.*
I woke up gasping.
Fire was embers now. Rain quieter.
And the man was awake.
Silver eyes staring at me.
We were pressed together. My hand on his chest. Faces six inches apart.
"Uh. Hi."
"You saved me." His voice was rough. Deep.
"Yeah. Still not sure why."
A tiny smile. Even half-dead he was gorgeous.
"Where are we?"
"Ashveil. Some cave."
He tried to sit up. Winced hard.
"Don't move, idiot. You were poisoned. Almost died."
He settled back. "How long?"
"A few hours maybe."
His eyes dropped to my hand on his chest. I yanked it back, remembering I was in my underwear.
"Thanks for not leaving me."
"I make bad decisions."
"Why'd you help?"
"Seemed right."
He studied me. "You're running from something."
"So are you. Nobody ends up poisoned in Ashveil having a good day."
A small smile. "True."
Quiet.
"What's your name?"
Names were dangerous.
"Lara."
"I'm Vae."
Also a lie.
"What happened to you?"
His jaw tightened. "Wrong place, wrong time. Some people didn't like what I said."
"They tried to kill you."
"Did you kill them back?"
His eyes went cold. "Some."
Should've scared me. Didn't.
"Are they still looking?"
"Probably."
"Great. We're both being hunted."
I laughed. This was insane.
"You're running from a pack," he said.
"How'd you know?"
"That's a rejection mark." He looked at my neck.
My hand flew to my throat.
"None of your business."
"Fair. I'm sorry. Rejection hurts."
"You have no idea."
More quiet.
"Why'd you call me little moon?" I asked.
He frowned. "What?"
"Earlier. You said little moon."
"Did I?"
"Yeah."
"It fits. You shine in the dark."
My heart stuttered. Nobody ever said anything like that.
"That's actually nice."
"I can be nice sometimes."
"You look like you eat people."
He laughed. "Only on Tuesdays."
"What day is it?"
"No idea."
"Then I'm safe."
His eyes locked on mine. "You're safe with me, Lara. I promise."
The way he said it made warmth spread through my chest.
The rejection wound had gone quiet. Not gone. Just quiet.
Like he made it hurt less.
"We should sleep. You need to heal."
"So do you."
"I'm fine."
"You're exhausted."
"Fine. But stay on your side."
"I wouldn't dream of it."
I settled back, pulling the cloak over us.
His warmth soaking into me. Heartbeat steady.
"Lara?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
"Stop thanking me."
His hand covered mine on his chest. Warm, rough, strong.
"Not an idiot. Brave."
My throat went tight. Nobody ever called me brave.
"Go to sleep, Vae."
"You too, little moon
I closed my eyes. Listened to his heartbeat.
For the first time since the rejection, I didn't dream about Kaelen.
I dreamed of silver eyes.
When I woke up just to find his arm wrapped around me, pulling me close like I was precious treasure..
I didn't pull away myself ...