Safety

Ailith

Consciousness returned slowly, like wading through a thick fog. The first thing I became aware of was warmth – a stark contrast to the bone-deep chill that had consumed me for what felt like an eternity. Soft furs cradled my body, and the crackling of a nearby fire filled my ears.

For a moment, I allowed myself to bask in the comfort, my mind still hazy with sleep. But then, like a bolt of lightning, reality crashed over me. My eyes flew open, heart pounding as I took in unfamiliar surroundings. Rough-hewn wooden walls. A stone fireplace. The scent of pine and woodsmoke. This wasn't my room in the pack house. Panic clawed at my throat as memories flooded back – Kael's cruel words, the Rite of Severance, fleeing into the forest. I scrambled to sit up, my body protesting the sudden movement. It was...

"It's alright," a deep, soothing voice said. "You're safe."

My gaze snapped to the source – a man, tall and powerfully built, with shaggy black hair and the most striking golden eyes I'd ever seen. He held his hands up in a placating gesture. Garrick. The name snapped into my mind. This was his cabin.

Trying to run my fingers to my tangled hair, I sucked air into my lungs and willed my thudding heart to relax. "I'm sorry. I was disoriented for a minute."

Laugh lines crinkled at the edges of his eyes as he smiled at me. "It's okay. That's understandable." He wiped his hands on a kitchen towel he had in his hands. "Are you hungry?"

"I...yes, thank you," I managed, my voice hoarse.

"I've got some stew made. Come on in the kitchen when you're ready."

I nodded and watched as he walked from the room. As I shifted under the blankets of the bed, I suddenly became acutely aware of the unfamiliar fabric against my skin. I looked down, seeing myself dressed in clothes that clearly belonged to Garrick – a soft, oversized flannel shirt and loose pants.

Heat rushed to my face as I realized the implications. This stranger had undressed me, cleaned me up, and redressed me while I was unconscious. Embarrassment flooded through me, quickly followed by a wave of vulnerability that made me want to disappear into the furs.

But beneath that... a tiny spark of gratitude flickered. He could have left me in my wet, dirty clothes. Instead, he'd gone out of his way to make sure I was warm and comfortable.

Holding up the pants with one hand, I followed my nose and made my way to the small, tidy kitchen. Garrick looked chagrined when he turned from the stove and saw me clutching the too big clothes to my much smaller frame.

"Sorry I didn't have anything to fit you better. Your clothes were soaked through. I figured those were better than leaving you in yours."

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to meet his gaze. "It's... it's fine. Thank you."

Garrick motioned toward the small table, a smile quirking his lips. "So, where did you come from?" he asked gently, placing a steaming bowl of food in front of me.

I opened my mouth to respond, then hesitated. How much should I reveal? Without my wolf – and the thought of that loss sent a fresh stab of pain through me – I couldn't sense whether this man was truly trustworthy. In the past, I would have relied on my wolf's instincts, on the pack bonds that connected us all. But now...

Those golden eyes held mine, patient and kind. They reminded me so much of Kael's, of the Alpha power that had once drawn me in. But where Kael's gaze had turned cold and cruel, Garrick's remained warm, filled with genuine concern.

He saved your life, a small voice in my head whispered. The least you can do is give him something.

Still, caution made me pause. "Why do you want to know?" I asked, buying myself a moment to think.

Garrick's eyebrows rose slightly, but his voice remained calm. "Well, I rarely…scratch that…never have visitors out here so I have to admit my curiosity is getting the best of me. Plus, if you have family or friends looking for you, I could help get word to them that you're safe."

The mention of family sent another pang through my heart. I have no one now, I thought bitterly. No pack, no mate, no home.

But Garrick was still waiting for an answer, his golden eyes watching me with a mixture of curiosity and concern. I took a deep breath, making my decision.

"The Whispering Woods," I said finally, my voice barely audible even to myself.

As Garrick repeated the name, I studied him more closely. He was undeniably handsome, with strong features and a physique that spoke of hard work and training. In another life, I might have appreciated his rugged good looks more. But now, with my world shattered and my future uncertain, his appearance was just another detail to catalogue as I tried to make sense of my situation.

"That's quite a ways from here." Garrick's rumbling voice seemed determined to slip past some of my defenses. "Whatever brought you to my door, whatever—whoever you're running from – you're safe."

I wanted to believe him. Goddess, how I wanted to believe that I was truly safe, that I had found a haven in this wilderness. Yet, trust had been broken, along with the bond with my mate, leaving me feeling exposed and defenseless.

"I... I don't remember how I got here," I said, the lie feeling like gravel in my throat. "Everything's a blur after..." I trailed off, unable to voice the betrayal that had sent me fleeing into the night.

Garrick studied me carefully for a long moment, those stunning golden eyes locked on mine, but then nodded, not pushing for more information. "You don't have to explain anything right now," he assured me, picking up a spoon. "You're exhausted, I'm sure. Why don't we eat then you can rest more if you need to."

As his gaze released me and he started eating, I blew on a spoon of seasoned meat and gravy while studying him. I had to admit, I was curious about him as well. What had brought him to this remote cabin? Was he running from something too?

But even as curiosity about my mysterious rescuer bloomed, the reality of my situation pressed down on me as heavy as the mountains I had been moving towards. What was I going to do now? I had no pack, no mate, no home. The future I had planned and worked for had crumbled to dust in a single night. And without my wolf... the loss of that integral part of myself left me feeling hollow, incomplete.

We finished the simple meal in silence and as the food warmed my belly, the tension that had been holding me together started to let go and I found myself suddenly exhausted.

"Here," Garrick said softly, bringing my eyes back to him and offering me a steaming mug of tea. As I wrapped my hands around its warmth, he settled into a chair nearby, giving me space while still remaining close.

"Ailith," he began carefully, "I know you've been through something traumatic. I won't press you for details you're not ready to share. But I need to ask – are you in any danger? Is someone looking for you?"

I stared into the depths of my tea, weighing how much to reveal. "I'm not... I don't think anyone is following me," I finally said. "And, I can't go back to where I came from. That's not an option anymore."

Garrick nodded, his expression thoughtful. "The Whispering Woods are at least a couple of days away, and the journey through these mountains isn't easy, especially for someone unprepared."

I tensed, unsure how to answer without revealing too much. "I... I traveled a long way," I hedged. "I don't really know where I am in relation to... to my old home."

Garrick rocked slowly in his chair, giving off the impression of total relaxation, but his eyes were sharp on mine. "Where were you headed?"

I bit my lip, fighting back the wave of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. "I didn't have a destination in mind," I admitted. "I just... I had to leave. To get as far away as possible."

Garrick leaned forward, his golden eyes intense. "Ailith, I want to help you. But I need to understand what I'm dealing with. Are you in some kind of trouble? Running from the law?"

"No!" I said quickly. "Nothing like that. It's... it's complicated. Personal." I took a deep breath, trying to find words that wouldn't reveal too much. "I lost everything. My home, my family, my... my place in the world. I couldn't stay there anymore. So, I ran."

An intense expression I didn't recognize flashed across Garrick's face before it settled back into sympathy. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "I can't imagine how difficult that must be."

We sat in silence for a moment, the crackling of the fire the only sound. I sipped my tea, letting its warmth seep into me, grounding me in the present.

"What are your plans now?" Garrick asked gently.

I laughed, a hollow, bitter sound. "I don't have any plans. I don't even know where I am, really. I just... I need to figure out who I am now, without..." I trailed off, unable to voice the depth of my loss.

Garrick nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Well, you're welcome to stay here while you figure things out. At least until you're fully recovered and have a better idea of your next steps."

His offer sent a conflicting wave of relief and wariness through me. On one hand, the thought of having a safe place to rest and regroup was incredibly tempting. On the other, I barely knew this man. Could I really trust him?

"That's very kind of you." I pushed some of my tangled hair behind my ear. My fingers caught in a knot, and I let my fingers fall from my head. "But I don't want to impose. And I have no way to repay you for your hospitality."

Garrick waved off my concerns. "You're not imposing. And I don't need payment. Honestly, it's nice to have some company out here."

That piqued my curiosity again and the question popped out of my mouth before I could process that it was probably not a great thing to ask. Especially if he was hiding out here. "Why are you out here, Garrick? It seems like a very isolated place to live."

A shadow passed over his face, there and gone so quickly I almost thought I'd imagined it. "I needed some time away from... from my responsibilities. To think, to plan. This cabin gives me the space to do that."

I nodded, understanding all too well the need for escape. But there was clearly more to his story. Those golden eyes, the strength that radiated from him even as he tried to appear non-threatening – he reminded me so much of the Alphas I had known. But that was impossible. There were no wolf packs this far north, except for…

Despite my wariness, I felt an inexplicable pull towards him. It wasn't just gratitude for his help, or appreciation for his rugged good looks. There was something more, something that called to a part of me I thought had been silenced forever.

Garrick's golden eyes met mine over the rim of my mug, and I quickly looked away, heat rising to my cheeks. His gaze held an intensity that both thrilled and unsettled me. It reminded me of how Kael used to look at me, in the early days of our relationship. Before everything went wrong.

The thought of Kael sent a fresh wave of pain through me, tempering any warmth I might have felt towards Garrick. I had trusted before, had given everything to a man I believed would stand by me forever. That trust had been shattered, leaving me adrift in a world that suddenly seemed full of threats.

As I finished my tea, I tried to sort through the tumult of emotions roiling within me. Grief for all I had lost mingled with a tentative curiosity about this strange, isolated man who had taken me in. Fear of the unknown future loomed large, but beneath it, I felt the stirrings of something else. A determination, small but growing, to survive this. To find a way forward, with or without a pack, with or without my wolf.

Garrick's voice broke through my reverie. "Do you want some more?" he offered, his tone matter-of-fact but not unkind.

I shook my head, offering a small smile of thanks. As he took my mug, his fingers brushed against mine for the briefest moment. Even that fleeting contact sent a jolt through me, my skin tingling where he had touched.

Garrick seemed unaffected, moving to clean up with efficient ease. But I caught him glancing at me more than once, his expression unreadable. Was he trying to figure me out, just as I was puzzling over him?

The domesticity of the scene felt both comforting and surreal. Less than a day ago, my entire world had been torn apart. Now here I was, in a stranger's cabin, feeling safer than I had any right to.

But could I truly trust that safety? Garrick had shown me nothing but kindness, yet I knew firsthand how quickly kindness could turn to cruelty. And there were still so many unanswered questions. Who was he really? What had brought him to this isolated place? And why did he affect me so strongly?

As Garrick finished tidying up, he turned to me, his stance relaxed but alert. "You look exhausted," he said, his deep voice tinged with something that made me want to obey. "Why don't you get some more rest? We can talk more when you're feeling stronger."

I nodded, realizing just how bone-weary I truly was. As I rose to return to the small bedroom, I found my eyes drawn to Garrick once more. He moved about the cabin with purpose, each action deliberate and controlled. There was something almost regal in his bearing, a quiet authority that seemed at odds with his isolated existence.

I knew I couldn't stay here forever. Sooner or later, I would have to face the world again, would have to figure out who Ailith was without a pack, without a mate, without the wolf that had been such an integral part of my identity. But for now, in this moment, I allowed myself to simply exist. To be warm, and fed, and as safe as I could be in a world that had suddenly become so uncertain.

But those thoughts were too complex, too fraught with painful memories to dwell on now. As I snuggled down into the blankets and sleep began to claim me once more, I allowed myself a moment of gratitude. Whatever tomorrow might bring, whatever challenges lay ahead, I had found a moment of respite in this strange, isolated cabin with its even stranger inhabitant.

My last coherent thought before drifting off was a quiet prayer to the Moon Goddess. Not for answers or for a clear path forward, but simply for the strength to face whatever lay ahead. As I slipped into dreams, I could have sworn I felt a comforting presence – not quite my wolf, but something ancient and wise – wrap around me like a protective blanket.