The moon hung in the sky, pale and distant as Aria paced the war room, her fingers tapping restlessly against the table. Word had come in from the border patrol—there were strange signs of movement from enemy clans, and Nigel hadn't reported back in hours.
She hadn't meant to think about him. She shouldn't have.
But the silence lingered—his absence too pronounced. She couldn't shake the knot in her stomach, the instinct that something was wrong.
"Aria, you need to rest," Kael said from across the room. He had been standing quietly, waiting, watching her grow more tense by the minute.
But she ignored him. Her mind was elsewhere. "I'll rest when Nigel comes back."
"You're not responsible for him anymore," Kael said firmly, his voice holding a note of concern masked by his usual coolness. "He's made his choices."
"I know what he's done." Aria's tone was hard, but it cracked. "But I still care. And if he's in danger…"
Kael didn't argue this time. He knew better than to challenge the wolf in her.
Hours later, Aria rode out with a small group of warriors, her heart pounding in her chest. They scoured the land near the border, her eyes darting between trees, scanning for any sign of her former mate.
It was the smell that led them—blood.
The scent grew stronger the deeper they ventured into the woods. When they found him, it was like a punch to the gut.
Nigel lay unconscious on the forest floor, his clothes torn, covered in scratches and bruises. His wolf form was weak, trembling beneath his skin.
"Get him back to camp!" Aria commanded, her voice strained.
They moved quickly, but her eyes stayed fixed on him—on the man who had once been everything to her.
Back at the camp, Aria knelt beside him, her hands shaking as she pressed a cloth to his wounds. He groaned softly as he regained consciousness, blinking up at her.
"Aria?" he rasped, his voice hoarse.
"Don't speak," she said, her tone sharper than she intended. "You're hurt."
His eyes closed for a moment, then reopened, his gaze heavy with regret. "I didn't… I didn't want you to see me like this."
She softened, but only slightly. "What happened?"
"They ambushed me. I didn't expect them to attack so soon." He winced as he tried to sit up. "I underestimated them."
Aria's chest tightened, but she pushed the feeling aside. "Why didn't you report back? Why didn't you send word?"
He looked at her, his eyes full of pain. "I didn't want to drag you into this. You're already dealing with enough, Aria."
"I can handle it," she snapped, but her voice wavered.
He reached out weakly, grabbing her wrist. "I'm sorry. I should have been honest with you. I should've trusted you."
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Aria's eyes filled with something she hadn't expected to feel: understanding. She had to take a deep breath to steady herself.
"I'm angry with you, Nigel. But I still care. And I think… I think I can forgive you."
He closed his eyes, relief washing over his face. "Thank you. I don't deserve it, but… thank you."
Aria looked at him, her emotions a tangled mess of hurt and love. "I'm willing to try, but as friends. Nothing more."
Nigel nodded, his expression full of gratitude.
Later that night, Kael found them talking near the fire. His gaze shifted from Aria to Nigel, and the tension between them was palpable.
Kael stepped forward, his voice low. "You're still here."
Aria glanced at Kael, sensing the change in his tone. She was quick to reassure him, "Nigel's not a threat. He's just… trying to make amends."
Kael's jaw clenched. "I don't like this."
"I'm not asking you to," Aria replied, her eyes soft but firm. "I need him to heal. And I need time to heal, too."
Kael didn't respond immediately. He just stood there, his fist clenched "Just know this, Aria," Kael said, his voice low and dangerous, "I won't let him hurt you again."
Aria met his gaze, her tone serious. "I'm not asking you to protect me from him."
For a long moment, Kael said nothing. Then, without another word, he turned and walked away, the firelight flickering on his retreating figure.