Chapter 15: The Fall Before the Rise
The council room was still, save for the rhythmic ticking of the old wall clock and Aria's shallow breathing. She sat slouched in her chair, her fingers curled into fists, eyes unfocused.
Kael was gone.
The silence he left behind echoed louder than any words he could've spoken.
She had thought pushing him away would make her stronger, but now she only felt hollow—like a blade with no edge.
The door creaked open.
She didn't look up.
"Word is you're unraveling," came a voice both familiar and distant.
Her gaze snapped to the doorway, and there he was—Nigel, dressed in a dark coat, his expression unreadable as he stepped into the room.
Aria stood slowly. "What are you doing here?"
"Rumors travel fast," he said simply, closing the door behind him. "I heard Kael left. And I had a feeling you'd be doing what you always do when things get hard—building walls."
She swallowed, the sting of his words sharper than she wanted to admit. "You're not in a position to judge."
"I'm not judging. I'm worried."
That disarmed her. He didn't sound angry or smug. Just... honest.
He walked toward her slowly, then stopped a few paces away. "You've been leading this pack like a warrior, but you forget—leaders break too. And they need people to catch them when they fall."
Aria looked away.
"I'm not saying I'm that person," Nigel added gently. "But Kael tried to be. And maybe you were too afraid to let him."
Her breath hitched.
Before she could answer, a deafening howl shattered the quiet. Then another. Then—panic.
A warrior burst into the room. "Alpha! We're under attack! It's them—the ones who nearly killed Nigel. They've returned. With more."
Aria's blood ran cold.
Nigel turned to her instantly. "You knew they'd come back eventually."
"Yes," she muttered, already moving. "But not like this."
Outside, chaos had erupted.
The pack's defenses were thin—several warriors out on mission, others still recovering. The enemy wolves, massive and feral, tore through the outer perimeter. Screams echoed through the forest.
Aria shifted into her wolf form, silver fur glinting under the midday sun, and charged into the fray.
Nigel followed, rallying fighters as best he could, but the numbers were against them.
Wolves fell left and right. The air was thick with blood and smoke. Aria fought with everything she had, but exhaustion was setting in, her strength buckling under the weight of endless blows.
She stumbled, a gash along her flank leaking crimson.
And just as a massive rogue lunged at her from behind—
A blur of fire-red fur and fury collided with it mid-air.
The rogue flew back.
Aria turned, panting, her eyes wide.
Kael.
He stood tall, his wolf form fierce and burning like dawn fire, his warriors flanking him in tight formation. Without a word, he launched into the battle, tearing through the enemy like a storm reborn.
Aria's heart twisted.
He came back.
Even after everything.
Even after she pushed him away.
The tide turned. With Kael's reinforcements, the enemy lines began to falter. One by one, the rogues were either taken down or forced to retreat.
When the last one fell, and the silence returned, the battlefield was littered with broken bodies—but they had survived.
Kael shifted back to his human form, sweat and blood streaking his face, his chest rising with every breath.
He looked at her.
And for a long moment, neither said a word.
Just eyes.
And the storm that never truly passed between them.