Alaric’s POV I could feel Elowen’s hand trembling in mine, but as I gently threaded my fingers through hers, I didn’t want to let go. It was a silent promise, a vow to show her that she wasn’t alone, no matter what anyone else said. We were walking away from the chaos, away from the whispers, away from the hurtful words that had been thrown at her. I could sense her reluctance, the fear that still lingered in her, but I wasn’t going to push her. I just wanted to be there for her, even if she wasn’t ready to lean on me completely yet. I kept my grip light, giving her the freedom to pull away if she wanted, but I didn’t think she would. She didn’t pull away. We walked in silence for a while, the only sound our footsteps against the pavement. I could feel her nerves, her heart beating a little too fast, and I hated that she was scared. But I knew that over time, I would make her understand that she didn’t have to be scared of me. When we reached my house, I stopped in front of the
Elowen’s POVDinner was quiet, almost peaceful. The meal Alaric had made was simple—roasted chicken, some vegetables, and bread—but it was delicious. I tried to focus on eating, though my mind was still racing. His kindness was overwhelming, and I didn’t know how to process it. After everything that had happened, the chaos, the bullying, and the constant reminders that I wasn’t supposed to be here, I had never imagined this... a night like this.We ate mostly in silence, with only the occasional soft murmur from Alaric, asking if I wanted more of something or if I was comfortable. It wasn’t forced, though. He didn’t push me to talk. He just let me be.When dinner was over, we cleaned up together, and then Alaric led me to the living room. It was cozy, the fire still crackling softly in the fireplace, and the storm outside raged on, the sound of rain pounding against the windows. I felt a strange sense of calm, but at the same time, the storm inside me didn’t quiet.I wanted to ask him
Elowen's Pov The soft glow of dawn filtered through the curtains, stirring me from sleep. I blinked slowly, the world around me coming into focus. And there he was—Alaric—lying beside me, still lost in his dreams. I stayed still, not wanting to wake him, but my eyes couldn’t help but trace his features. Even asleep, he was breathtaking. His dark lashes cast faint shadows on his cheeks, his jawline sharp yet softened by the stubble from a night unshaven. His lips, parted slightly, held an effortless allure. How could anyone look this good without even trying? A memory from last night stirred in me, warmth flooding my chest. He had been there for me, his steady voice and strong embrace chasing away every shadow of doubt. The way he’d wrapped his arms around me, the way he’d held me like I was the most precious thing in the world—it still lingered, wrapping around me like a second blanket. I reached out, hesitating for a moment before brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead.
Elowen's POVAlaric stepped out of the car first, his movements smooth and deliberate. My heart pounded as I watched him walk around to my side, pulling the door open with a quiet click. His hand extended toward me, a small, reassuring smile playing on his lips."Come on, Elowen," he said, his voice steady but laced with an undertone of authority.I hesitated for a moment before taking his hand, the warmth of his fingers grounding me. He intertwined them with mine, his grip firm yet gentle, and helped me out of the car. The cool air hit me, but it wasn’t the chill that made me shiver—it was the sight in front of me.The courtyard of the academy was packed. Students lingered by the fountain and along the stone pathways, but all eyes seemed to be on us. Ranon and Theron stood near the entrance, their postures tense, their gazes locked onto us like a hawk tracking its prey. Theron’s jaw tightened, his sharp features carved into a mask of displeasure. Ranon’s lips pressed into a thin lin
Elowen's POVThe tension followed us like a storm cloud as Alaric led me past the crowd and into the academy’s grand halls. The buzz of whispers and hushed conversations trailed behind, the echoes of their disbelief lingering in the air. My face burned, and my pulse raced, but Alaric’s grip on my hand kept me grounded. "Keep your head up," he said, his voice low but firm. "Don’t give them the satisfaction of seeing you doubt yourself." I nodded, swallowing hard, but my gaze instinctively darted toward the reflective marble floors and the intricate carvings along the walls, avoiding the stares I could still feel. The kiss had stirred something in the air, something volatile. I couldn’t shake the sensation that we’d crossed a line, one I wasn’t ready for. "Alaric!" Theron’s voice rang out behind us, sharp and furious. His footsteps echoed as he stormed toward us, his long strides closing the distance quickly. Ranon followed close behind, his expression cold and calculating, the tensi
Theron 's POV My breath came out in sharp gasps as I stormed through the empty corridor, my boots echoing against the marble floors. The rage burned inside me like wildfire, relentless and consuming, tearing through every shred of control I had left. Her hand in his. Her smile directed at him. His kiss on her lips.The images replayed in my mind, each one more unbearable than the last. I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails bit into my palms, the pain doing nothing to calm the storm within me. She’s mine. My wolf snarled, his voice a guttural roar in my mind. He was fighting me, pushing against the walls I’d built to keep him contained. She’s ours, Theron! And you’re just standing there, letting him have her! "I don’t care!" I growled aloud, my voice echoing in the empty hall. Liar, my wolf snapped. I reached the far end of the corridor, stopping only when I could feel the cold stone wall against my hand. Without thinking, I slammed my fist into it. The sharp jolt
Theron 's POV The moment she turned away from me, something inside me snapped. I couldn’t let her walk away—not this time. Before I even realized what I was doing, I ran after her, closing the distance between us in a heartbeat. Grabbing her arm, I spun her around, pulling her close, our bodies pressed together. “Elowen,” I growled, my voice raw with desperation. “Let me go, Theron!” she cried, struggling against my hold. Her small hands shoved at my chest, but I wouldn’t budge. Her tear-filled eyes locked with mine, pleading silently for freedom. “Please,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Let me go.” The sight of her tears tore at something deep inside me, but my wolf was unrelenting, howling for me to claim her, to make her ours. Before I could stop myself, I leaned in, my lips brushing against hers with the intent to claim what was mine. But she shoved me back, her strength surprising me. “No!” she screamed, her voice cracking with fury. I barely had time to proce
Elowen's POV I didn’t know where I was going. My feet moved on their own, dragging me further away from the confrontation with Theron. My vision blurred with tears, and my chest felt tight, like a vice squeezing the air out of me. His words, his actions—they replayed in my mind on a loop, tearing me apart piece by piece. I wiped at my cheeks, but the tears wouldn’t stop. They kept falling, hot and relentless, until my whole body trembled from the weight of it all. I wandered through the academy grounds aimlessly, not caring where I ended up. The ache in my chest was unbearable, and my knees threatened to buckle with every step. Somehow, I found myself on unfamiliar ground. The trees here were taller, denser, casting heavy shadows over the path. I stopped for a moment, glancing around, and my stomach twisted. I was in his territory. Alaric’s. Panic gripped me, my hands shaking as I realized where I was. I shouldn’t be here. I wasn’t supposed to cross into his domain without reaso
Theron’s POVThe moon, a silent sentinel in the inky sky, cast long, skeletal fingers of light through the heavy velvet curtains of our shared chamber. The silvered illumination painted Elowen’s face in stark relief against the deep shadows of the room. She had finally succumbed to the exhaustion that clung to her like a shroud, her breathing shallow and uneven, each inhale a fragile whisper against the silence. Tucked beneath layers of soft, comforting blankets, she looked unnervingly small, almost childlike, her usually vibrant presence muted, subdued. Her dark hair, usually a riotous tangle, now lay spilled across the white linen pillowcase like a pool of dark ink, framing her pale features.Alaric sat vigil on one side of the bed, a weighty tome resting in his lap, its pages untouched. His gaze remained fixed on Elowen, his intense focus a silent testament to the fear that still lingered in the air. Ranon, ever restless, was sprawled in the large armchair near the dying embers of
Alaric’s POVThe weight of her in my arms was a stark contrast to the vibrant, fiery spirit that usually defined Elowen. She was a whirlwind of motion, a sharp wit, a force of nature barely contained within her slender frame. To feel her so pliant, so utterly still, sent a fresh wave of icy dread washing over me. She barely stirred as I carried her across the worn threshold of our shared sanctuary, the grand doors of the mansion closing silently behind us, shutting out the lingering shadows of the dawn.Her head nestled beneath my chin, her dark, tangled hair brushing softly against my jaw. One arm, usually so quick to gesture or to reach out in affection, lay loosely around my shoulder, offering no real support. The other rested limply in her lap, her fingers pale and still. I hated this. I loathed the sight of her diminished, drained of the incandescent energy that usually crackled around her like summer lightning. ‘Fragile’ was a word that should never be associated with Elowen. Sh
Alaric's pov She was curled in on herself, her bare feet pale against the damp earth. Her head rested against the rough stone armrest, her posture suggesting she had succumbed to exhaustion mid-sob. And then I saw it – the stark crimson stain seeping through the roughly wrapped fabric around her lower leg.Ranon reached her first, dropping to his knees beside her with a strangled cry. “Elowen!” His voice, usually so steady, trembled with undisguised fear.She stirred weakly, her long eyelashes fluttering open like she was fighting her way back from a deep, troubled dream. “Ranon…?” Her voice was barely a whisper, thick with exhaustion.“What the hell are you doing out here?” he breathed, his hands hovering over her, as if afraid to touch her and break her further. His eyes darted over her pale face, her slumped posture, the bloodied bandage.Theron and I reached them seconds later, our breath coming in ragged gasps. The sight of her – so small, so vulnerable, her face ashen and her e
Alaric’s POVDawn bled across the horizon, painting the ancient stone floor of our shared chamber in hues of rose and gold. The light, usually a welcome sight, felt like an intrusion this morning, starkly illuminating the emptiness beside me. My hand, still heavy with the remnants of sleep, instinctively reached for the familiar warmth of Elowen’s presence.It met only the cool, crisp linen of undisturbed sheets.A jolt, sharp and unsettling, shot through me. My eyes snapped fully open, the lingering fog of sleep instantly banished. The blanket she habitually burrowed beneath lay folded with an unnerving tidiness at the foot of the bed, a stark testament to her absence.“Elowen?” The name escaped my lips, a rough whisper in the echoing silence of the room.I pushed myself up, the silk of my sleep shirt clinging uncomfortably. My gaze swept the room, lingering on the small, familiar details – the scattered books on her nightstand, the half-finished sketchpad resting against the wall, t
Elowen’s POVThe midnight air was a cool balm against my fevered skin, heavy with the earthy scent of rain-soaked soil and the sharp, clean fragrance of pine. A gentle breeze whispered through the trees surrounding the training grounds, carrying with it the distant hoot of an owl and the rustling of unseen creatures in the undergrowth. But the peace of the night was a stark contrast to the turmoil that raged within me.I sat hunched against the rough stone of the training pavilion’s outer wall, my injured leg stretched out before me. Each shallow breath sent a fresh wave of throbbing pain radiating from the deep gash that marred my inner thigh. The wound, a testament to my reckless desperation to push beyond my limits, was a dark, angry red against the pale moonlight. It pulsed with a dull ache that mirrored the ache in my heart.I shouldn’t have come out here. The rational part of my mind, the part that still clung to a semblance of self-preservation, screamed at me. It was foolish,
Elowen’s POVDays bled into nights, each one a relentless cycle of training, exhaustion, and the gnawing fear that clung to me like a second skin. Sleep offered little respite, my dreams filled with swirling shadows and the echoing whispers of a past I didn’t remember, yet felt deep within my bones.The Academy, once a sanctuary, now felt like a cage. Every glance, every hushed conversation, seemed to center around me, a constant reminder of the change that had irrevocably altered my place within its walls. The awe in some eyes felt like a judgment, the unease in others a premonition of the fear I myself harbored.Caelum remained a peripheral figure, a silent observer whose presence was a constant, unsettling hum beneath the surface of my awareness. He didn’t approach me, didn’t offer any further cryptic pronouncements. He simply watched, his gaze unnervingly knowing, as if he held the missing pieces of my fractured identity. And that silence was perhaps the most terrifying thing of a
Ranon’s POVShe was really slipping away. The realization was a slow, agonizing unraveling, like a precious tapestry being pulled thread by thread. It wasn’t a conscious decision on her part, not a deliberate act of distancing. Elowen’s heart, when given, was a fierce, unwavering thing. There were no lukewarm affections in her soul. This was something more profound, more elemental. Like a fragile skiff caught in the relentless pull of an unseen current, drawn towards a distant, powerful shore I couldn’t even glimpse. It was as if a stronger moon had begun to govern her tides, an astral influence I was powerless to counteract.Every time she walked past me in the Academy halls, her very presence thrumming with a nascent magic that shimmered just beneath her skin, a faint, ethereal glow that seemed to emanate from her very bones, I felt it. It was a subtle shift in her aura, a deepening of the shadows that lingered in the depths of her usually vibrant eyes, a quiet intensity that separa
Ranon’s POVFrom the shadowed vantage point of the balcony overlooking the training pit, I watched her move. She was a whirlwind of raw power, a dance of untamed energy that both captivated and terrified me. Each strike, each parry, was imbued with a ferocity I hadn’t seen before, a primal strength that seemed to emanate from the very core of her being.Elowen was changing, evolving into something magnificent and terrifying. The girl I had known, the one I had fiercely protected and possessively loved, was fading, replaced by a force of nature I barely recognized. She was shedding the constraints of her past, breaking free from the mold we had unknowingly cast for her.And with every passing day, with every flicker of that burgeoning power in her eyes, I felt her slipping further and further out of my reach. The invisible thread that had bound us together for so long was fraying, threatening to snap entirely.Alaric was a constant presence at her side now, a silent guardian and patien
Elowen’s POVThe silence in the Academy was a suffocating blanket, heavy with unspoken truths and the tremor of impending change. It wasn’t the peaceful hush of a sleeping forest, but the strained stillness before a lightning strike, the air thick with a tension that prickled my skin.Since Caelum’s pronouncements had shattered the carefully constructed reality I’d known, I felt like a fractured mirror, each shard reflecting a distorted version of myself. Something primal had awakened within me, a dormant power stirring from its ancient slumber. It pulsed beneath my veins, a low, insistent hum that vibrated through my bones, a wild and untamed thing that both terrified and intrigued me.The following morning was a blur of avoidance. I skirted the familiar paths where I might encounter Theron’s simmering fury, Alaric’s quiet concern, or even Ranon’s possessive gaze. Their worry would feel like a cage, their need to protect me a suffocating weight. I wasn’t ready to be handled, to be s