t was qui

s still floated in the sky like silent prayers, but most of the

couldn'

er how tightly she wrapped herself in blankets or silence. It wasn't just

s. The night air was crisp, laced with the lingering scent of smoke, w

stirred,

s-it was felt, burned into the soul like a sacred mark. Kael ha

w

been her refuge-when the pack ignored her, when whispers filled the air like poison, w

ge above the river. As a child, she used to run this trail barefoot, daring

didn't feel l

t like

helped. Brea

she sme

steel, threaded with something darker. Kael. Her

gone, sleeves rolled to the elbows, and the raw edge of his presence made the air

stopped

here?" she asked, vo

nch. "I could a

ed. "Could

er cou

the things they weren't saying. Aria crosse

did

idence

bond doesn't exactly mak

ned. "You're the

ght, his silver eyes gleamed with something c

he said simp

ched. "I had

always

for

think I wanted this? That I asked for it? The Moon Godd

ime, unreadable. "You don't k

" she challeng

voice a whisper of iron. "Yo

sappeared into the trees, f

ning dawned

t, not really. Her body moved through familiar motions-stretch, stance, strike-but

," came a voi

ir pulled into a messy braid, a staff in

sleep," Sele

't wa

ld out the staff. "The

ted it wit

rst-strikes, blocks, footwork. But Aria

Her staff cracked against

her teeth.

lking. There's

ward with a flurry of strikes, her body snapping into rhythm

tte

s, wood against wood, until Ari

muttered. "He felt the

eople run from what they want mos

seem scared

He's spent his whole life be

t her. "What

one was nearby. "You know the rumors, right? That Ka

"I thought s

ealer then-said the Luna vanished one night. Left a

l's afraid... of

ne the way she hurt him. Or worse-o

her hands. "That d

t make it easier

burned. And though the pain in her chest didn't fade, Ar

her aching limbs. Her thoughts drifted to Kael again-to the glimpse o

what he was hiding.

afraid of the b