Vane'

ir breath. Lyra stood there, her pulse still racing, her mind a whirlwind of confus

of the one

rk, ancient tale meant to scare the weak. This wa

ightly. She wanted to shout, to fight against the truth, b

lways-his body tense, his eyes locked on hers with an intensity that made her heart skip.

above a whisper. "What does that

ween her and the lifeless body of the rogue. She could see the conflict i

the price is. But I do know this: whatever it is, it's not just about u

"So, we're meant to

d we share... it's a force of nature. A curse, yes. Bu

er throat tight. "You mean lik

ing. "I don't want to lose you, Lyra. I don't want this to destroy us

ape. She had never been a stranger to loss, to pain. But this... this felt d

ael," she said, her voice tremblin

f. When he opened them again, his gaze softened. "I won

n't make her feel safer. I

aid quietly, her voice breaking slightl

lmost too much to bear. Every part of her wanted to pull away, to

s already bound to him. She could feel it in her

she fought, it was neve

aid, his voice rough with emotion. "But i

e fear in his eyes that she felt in her chest. He was just as

something el

break free. A hope that maybe, just maybe,

softly, more to herself than to hi

t something you defy, Lyra. It's writte

e could feel the weight of his words, the truth sinking

iar stir of her wolf, clawing at

mind-a warning-but i

fate," the voice whi

he glanced around, but there was no o

ng her closely.

hed. "My wolf. She's..

idened. "What

ng to steady herself. But the words kep

words feeling heavy in her mouth. "That we have

ooked down at the rogue's body. The weight of the p

e curse that had begun to shape their lives, twisting everything

them in the face, and

run from it.

el said quietly, his voice r

he burden of their fate. Together.

losing everything