"You should've stayed away from me."
Kaelen's voice was low, but the weight of his words made Ariana freeze. His back was turned to her, muscles tense, the dim moonlight casting shadows on his scarred skin. The air was thick with unspoken emotions, the tension palpable as if the very night held its breath in anticipation.
Ariana's fingers curled into fists, a surge of determination washing over her. "Is that really what you want?" she asked, her voice firmer than she expected. She took a step closer, her heart pounding in her chest.
Kaelen let out a breath, slow and controlled, as if the act of breathing was a challenge in itself. "What I want doesn't matter." His tone was detached, yet there was an undercurrent of pain that tugged at Ariana's heart.
Frustration bubbled inside her, rising like a tide that threatened to overwhelm her. "Stop doing that," she snapped, her voice rising. "Stop deciding what's best for me. I'm not some lost human girl who needs to be protected from the big, bad wolf."
Kaelen turned sharply, his golden eyes burning with something unreadable, a mixture of sorrow and anger. "You don't understand, Ariana." The intensity of his gaze pierced through her, and for a moment, she felt exposed, as if he could see right through her defenses.
She stepped forward, refusing to back down. "Then make me understand." Her voice was steady, almost challenging, as she stood before him, daring him to share his truth.
His jaw tightened, as if he was fighting something inside himself. "I'm cursed." His voice was rough, laced with self-loathing, and Ariana felt her heart ache for him. "I lost my wolf. I lost my right to lead. And the longer you stay near me, the more danger you're in. Do you think Lucian will stop just because I want to keep you safe?"
Ariana inhaled sharply, the name sending a chill down her spine. "You think I'm afraid of Lucian?" The anger in her voice was unmistakable, a fierce defiance that blazed like fire.
Kaelen let out a bitter chuckle. "You should be." His words hung in the air, heavy with implication.
Ariana shook her head, stepping even closer, closing the distance between them. "You're the one who's afraid, Kaelen. Not of Lucian. Not of losing. You're afraid of feeling something again." Her voice softened, but the challenge remained, a gentle push against the walls he had built around himself.
His silence was all the confirmation she needed, a weighty acknowledgment of the truth she had spoken.
Ariana reached out, her fingers hesitating before brushing against his forearm. His skin was warm despite the cold night air, a stark contrast to the chill that seeped into her bones. Kaelen flinched slightly, but he didn't pull away, a small victory that sent a flutter of hope through her.
"You keep pushing me away, but you still protect me," she said softly, her heart pounding in her chest. "You keep saying you're dangerous, but you never let harm come to me. So tell me, Kaelen..." She tilted her head, looking straight into his eyes, searching for the truth. "Which part of that sounds like a man who doesn't care?"
Kaelen's throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. His breathing was uneven, a telltale sign of the turmoil within him.
"It doesn't matter what I feel." His voice was hoarse, almost vulnerable, like a fragile thread threatening to snap. "This can't happen, Ariana. I can't give you what you deserve."
Her chest tightened at his words, a pang of hurt mixed with determination. "And what exactly do you think I deserve?" she asked, her voice steady, refusing to back down.
Kaelen clenched his fists, his gaze dropping to the ground as if the weight of the world rested upon his shoulders. "Someone whole. Someone who isn't cursed. Someone who—"
"Enough." Ariana's tone was sharp, her patience snapping like a taut string. "Stop acting like I don't get a say in this." She stepped closer, her heart racing, willing him to see her resolve.
Kaelen exhaled through his nose, a growl rumbling in his chest, the sound primal and raw. "You don't know what it's like to live with this, Ariana."
"And you don't know what it's like to live with my past." She took a deep breath, her voice softer now, a soothing balm amidst the storm. "I know what it's like to feel broken, Kaelen. To feel like no one would ever love me if they saw the worst parts of me. But you know what? That's not true. And it's not true for you either."
Kaelen was quiet, his expression unreadable, and for a moment, the world around them faded away, leaving only the two of them suspended in time.
"I see you," she whispered, her voice barely above a hush. "And I'm still here."
A muscle twitched in his jaw, a flicker of vulnerability crossing his face. "For how long?" His voice was barely above a whisper, as if he feared the answer.
Ariana didn't hesitate, her heart thrumming in her chest. "For as long as you let me."
Something in Kaelen's gaze shifted—something raw and unguarded. He reached out then, his fingers barely grazing her cheek, hesitant, as if afraid she might disappear at any moment. But she didn't.
She leaned into his touch, her heart soaring as warmth spread through her. And for the first time in years, Kaelen let himself believe that maybe—just maybe—he wasn't alone anymore.
The moon was high, casting a silver glow over them when they finally broke apart, the tension between them shifting into something quieter, something unspoken yet understood.
Ariana looked up at him, her lips curling into a small, knowing smile, a beacon of hope amidst the darkness. "So... are you done pretending you don't care?"
Kaelen exhaled, shaking his head slightly, a hint of a smile ghosting across his lips. "Ariana, I—"
But before he could finish, a distant howl cut through the night, sharp and haunting, echoing through the trees like a warning.
Kaelen's entire posture changed in an instant, the warmth between them extinguished as his eyes darkened, muscles tensing in an instinctive reaction. The playful banter that had filled the air moments before evaporated, replaced by an urgency that crackled like electricity.
Ariana turned toward the sound, her heart racing. "That wasn't one of yours, was it?" she asked, her voice edged with concern.
Kaelen's expression turned grim, the light in his eyes dimming. "No. And that means trouble." His tone was serious, the gravity of the situation pulling her into focus.
Ariana felt a shiver run down her spine, an instinctual warning that sent adrenaline coursing through her veins. "How bad?" she asked, her voice steady despite the fear curling in her stomach.
Kaelen's gaze flickered toward the shadows beyond the trees, his jaw tightening as he assessed the situation. "Bad enough that we need to move. Now." His command was firm, no room for argument.
Ariana nodded, adrenaline flooding her system as she prepared to follow him into the unknown. They were no longer just two individuals caught in a web of emotions; they were partners thrust into a dangerous world where shadows lurked and threats loomed just beyond the treeline.