The moon hung high, casting a ghostly glow over the camp. Aurelia's eyes flicked from side to side as she stood rigid in the courtyard, her body still as a statue. The collar around her neck burned, the magic twisting and tightening whenever she tried to shift, but she wasn't going to let that stop her.
Not tonight.
"They're here," Kaelen's voice broke the silence, pulling her from her thoughts.
A rogue wolf had slipped into their territory, and Kaelen had given her no choice but to watch. He stood tall beside her, his eyes scanning the darkness, every muscle in his body alert, ready to spring into action.
Aurelia wanted to turn away, to ignore the chaos unfolding before her, but she couldn't. The collar kept her grounded. Her wolf roiled inside her, but she kept it contained, at least for now.
"Stay close," Kaelen ordered, his tone cold and commanding as always, but there was something different about tonight. Something… more urgent.
She could feel the tension radiating off him, his presence almost suffocating. "I don't need protection," she muttered, though it was more out of habit than belief.
"I didn't give you a choice," he replied, voice clipped.
A loud snarl echoed from the woods, followed by the thundering of paws. Kaelen's eyes flashed silver, his own wolf fighting to break free. He shifted his weight, preparing to run. Aurelia's heart pounded in her chest as the rogue wolf emerged from the shadows—eyes wild, fur matted with dirt.
Kaelen didn't hesitate. He lunged forward with the speed and precision of a seasoned hunter, his body shifting into the form of the wolf in a blur of muscle and fur.
Aurelia took a breath, her body screaming for her to follow, but the collar around her neck kept her from shifting. Her wolf howled inside her mind, begging to be set free, but she resisted. Focus, she told herself.
Her senses, however, were another matter. Despite the collar, she could feel the pull of the moon and the earth beneath her feet. It wasn't enough to break the magic, but it was enough to sharpen her awareness.
She closed her eyes, letting her other senses take over. Her ears caught the faintest rustle in the underbrush—more than the rogue wolf she could see. There was another, waiting. Not good.
Without thinking, Aurelia reached out, her voice sharp. "Kaelen, behind you!"
Kaelen whipped around, just as a second rogue wolf—larger, darker—leapt from the shadows, teeth bared, aiming for Kaelen's exposed side. But Kaelen was quick. He twisted mid-air, his claws raking through the rogue's chest before it could land a blow.
Aurelia's heart raced. She wanted to move, to do something, but the collar kept her chained to the ground, a silent, suffocating force that robbed her of her full strength.
The rogue snarled, retreating into the trees, wounded but not defeated. Kaelen's growl echoed through the night as he pursued it into the woods, but his focus lingered on the second rogue for a moment longer.
When the dust settled, Aurelia's pulse was still rapid. She knew what Kaelen had done, but what he didn't see was the quick, decisive move she had made—warning him before the attack even landed. It wasn't much, but it was something. Something she hadn't expected to do.
The collar burned at her neck, as if it knew. She could feel her wolf stirring again, trying to break free.
But the moment passed. Kaelen was back, his form shifting smoothly back into his human shape, his chest heaving with exertion. His gaze locked with hers, searching for something—answers, maybe, or an explanation for what had just happened.
"Why did you warn me?" he asked, his voice low but filled with something she couldn't place.
Aurelia stood taller, the defiance in her gaze never wavering. "I didn't want you dead," she said bluntly, the words coming out before she could think better of them.
For a moment, he said nothing. His silver eyes studied her, as if he were seeing her for the first time. She couldn't tell what he was thinking—he was too guarded, too unreadable. But there was something in his expression now, a flicker of recognition. Or maybe curiosity.
Kaelen took a step closer, his eyes never leaving hers. His body was still wound tight with tension, but something had shifted between them.
"Why?" he asked again, his voice softer this time.
Aurelia clenched her fists at her sides, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "I didn't come here to die," she said, more quietly this time, as though the admission had surprised her too. "I'm not your enemy."
Kaelen's lips twitched, almost as if he wanted to smile but couldn't bring himself to. His gaze dropped to the collar at her neck, his expression darkening.
"This isn't over," he muttered, more to himself than to her. "There's more to you than just a captive, isn't there?"
Aurelia's eyes narrowed, her throat tightening. What does he mean by that? But before she could respond, Kaelen's hand shot out, gripping her arm with surprising gentleness.
"You should rest," he said, his voice gruff. "You've done enough for one night."
His touch lingered, the heat of his skin seeping through her sleeve, making her pulse quicken despite herself. She wanted to pull away, to tell him to keep his distance, but something in her—something deep and primal—kept her rooted in place.
And then, as if sensing her hesitation, Kaelen drew her closer, his other arm wrapping around her waist, pulling her against his chest.
Aurelia froze, her breath caught in her throat. She could feel the warmth of his body, his heartbeat against hers, and for a split second, the chaos of the night seemed to melt away.
"Kaelen…" she started, her voice barely a whisper.
"Shh," he said softly, his grip tightening ever so slightly. "You're safe now."
But Aurelia wasn't sure she felt safe. Not really. Not with the collar still choking her wolf's power. Not with Kaelen's arms around her, holding her close as if he could protect her from the storm inside her.
For a moment, neither of them moved. It was as though time itself had stopped, leaving them suspended in a fragile moment of quiet.
Then, Kaelen pulled back just enough to look down at her, his silver eyes soft but intense. He didn't let go, though. His hands stayed firm, anchored around her, as if he were afraid she might slip away.
Aurelia's heart pounded in her chest as she met his gaze. This—whatever it was—hadn't been planned. It wasn't part of her escape, her survival. But in that moment, she wasn't sure what she wanted anymore.
The collar around her neck pulsed again, and with it, her wolf roared, trying to break free.
Kaelen's eyes flicked to the collar, and something unreadable passed across his face.
"Let me go," she whispered, but the words felt hollow, like she wasn't sure if she wanted him to.
Kaelen didn't answer. He just held her tighter.