Estella lips curved faintly, the beauty of the forest momentarily making her forget the storm raging inside her. Yet, curiosity tugged at her heart.
"Why did you bring me here, Crassus?" She finally asked, her voice soft . "Not that I mind... I actually like it here. It feels... dreamy."
Crassus leaned against a tree, his sharp blue eyes fixed on the horizon as if searching for something only he could see.
The sunlight dappled across his dark hair, making him look almost at peace—a stark contrast to the hardened man she had come to know.
"I found this place when I was a teenager," he began, his voice low, as if the forest itself demanded quiet. "Whenever I needed somewhere to think, I'd come here... away from everything.
Whenever my mind was too loud... this place had a way of making it quiet again."
Estella's eyes flicked toward him, surprise flickering across her face at his sudden vulnerability.
Crassus shifted his gaze to her, his expression softening. "I brought you here hoping it would do the same for you... even if just for a little while."
"Thank you," she whispered, wrapping her arms around herself. "I think... it's already working."
A small smile tugged at Crassus' lips before he looked away, as if afraid she'd catch it. "Good."
She inhaled deeply, letting the calmness seep into her mind, easing the tension that had been weighing on her heart.
Her gaze shifted to Crassus, who stood a few steps ahead, leaning against a tree with his arms crossed. His expression was tranquil—a rare sight that made him look almost... vulnerable.
Estella found herself watching him longer than she intended, curiosity flickering in her chest.
"I didn't expect you to be the type to seek quiet places like this," she admitted, breaking the silence.
"You always carry yourself in such a...sophisticated, dominant way. You're the leader of the pack—everyone respects you. I never thought you'd need a place to... find solace."
Crassus turned his head slowly, meeting her gaze. There was something unreadable in his dark eyes, something distant—like memories buried beneath the surface.
"I wasn't always like this," he said quietly, his voice low and steady. Estella blinked, surprised by the confession.
For a moment, she saw past the stoic mask he always wore, catching a glimpse of the man behind the leader.
Something in her chest tightened, but she said nothing and only waited.
Then crassus continued "I was always an unruly child growing up... never giving my mother and father any peace of mind."
His lips curled into a faint, bitter smile. "I liked going places I was told not to go, playing pranks on the elders. They always reported me to my parents... but I didn't care."
Estella's eyes widened slightly, disbelief flickering in her gaze. Crassus? Unruly? She couldn't imagine it.
The Crassus she knew was the most grounded person she had ever met—not that she knew many people like him. But she kept her thoughts to herself, letting him continue.
"I always knew I would take over my father's mantle one day," he went on, his voice quieter now. "But I never thought it would be so soon. I thought... I could still afford to be reckless. My mother and father would always be there to clean up my mess."
His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. "But they weren't." Estella's heart clenched at the raw vulnerability in his tone.
"My father... his beta... and a few warriors... they went to ambush the demon wolves. There were reports of them lurking nearby... carrying out some kind of activities in our area."
Crassus's fingers curled into fists at his sides. "They should have trapped the demon wolves... ambushed them first... but instead—" His voice broke. "They were the ones ambushed."
The room felt colder all of a sudden. Crassus furrowed his head, his whole body trembling as if the memory itself was eating away at him.
Estella couldn't stop herself. She stepped forward, wrapping her arms around his waist, her warmth seeping into him. "It's okay," she whispered softly, pressing her cheek against his chest.
For a moment, Crassus stood frozen—like he'd forgotten what comfort felt like—before his arms came around her, holding her tightly.
"My father gave it his all... to let some of the warriors escape." His voice was muffled against her hair. "They made it back to the pack... but when we got there... it was too late."
"My father gave it his all... to let some of the warriors escape." His voice was muffled against her hair. "They made it back to the pack... but when we got there... it was too late."
Estella closed her eyes, feeling the steady thud of his heart against her ear.
"There was no part of his body that wasn't damaged," Crassus went on, voice barely above a whisper. "His wolf body... it was cut into two... and even those two parts were riddled with wounds."
A shudder ran through him, and Estella's hold tightened instinctively.
"I'm so sorry, Crassus..."
Estella's heart ached for Crassus. She had always seen him as this indomitable force — cold, strong, and unwavering. It never once crossed her mind that someone like him could have carried such a painful burden.