By the end of her second week at the Shadowfang den, Elara's body ached in places she didn't know could hurt. Bruises colored her skin like war paint, and every morning began with the sting of effort and ended with the burn of resilience. Still, she rose. Still, she fought.
Kael watched her grow stronger, watched her push past her own fears, and with every sunrise, the bond between them deepened—yet, it was also changing.
It had grown more intense, more alive. She could feel his emotions now, faint and fleeting, like whispers on the wind—his worry, his anger, and sometimes, his longing.
But she also sensed something else.
Doubt.
That evening, as she sat by the river just beyond the den, Kael found her. The sun had already dipped behind the trees, leaving streaks of gold and violet across the sky.
"You're avoiding me," he said quietly.
Elara didn't turn. "I needed to think."
He sat beside her in silence, the sound of water filling the gap between them.
"You feel it too, don't you?" she asked after a long pause.
Kael nodded slowly. "The bond. It's growing faster than it should. Stronger."
"Is that… bad?"
"No," he said. "But it's dangerous."
Elara frowned. "How?"
Kael turned to her, eyes glowing softly in the dim light. "If we give into it too soon—if we complete it before you're ready—it could overwhelm you. The bond will root itself deep. There's no going back."
She hesitated. "Do you want to complete it?"
His silence spoke volumes.
Then, softly, he said, "I want you. But not because fate says so. I want you to choose me—fully, when you're ready."
Elara looked at him then, her eyes vulnerable but fierce. "And if I never am?"
He smiled, sadness in the curve of his lips. "Then I'll wait. A thousand moons, if I have to."
The wind stirred between them, carrying the scent of pine, rain—and danger.
Elara's hand found his.
She didn't say anything else, but her heart spoke for her.
And far off, in the forest's dark edge, a silver-eyed hunter watched the pair from the shadows—waiting for the b
ond to reach its peak… so he could break it.
---