Chapter 5
The forest was alive with the whispers of the night. The faint rustle of leaves in the wind mingled with the distant howl of wolves, their cries carrying a foreboding promise of danger. Aria stumbled over a root, clutching her satchel close to her chest as Damon led her through the woods. His movements were swift and deliberate, each step purposeful as he scanned the area, his keen senses attuned to every sound.
“Where are we going?” she asked, her voice trembling as she struggled to keep up with his long strides.
“Someplace safe,” Damon replied curtly, his focus never wavering.
Aria bristled at his tone. “I thought Lunar Falls was supposed to be safe. Isn’t that why you brought your pack here?”
Damon stopped abruptly, turning to face her. His deep blue eyes glinted in the moonlight, a mix of frustration and concern etched into his features. “Lunar Falls was safe until Silas decided to make it his hunting ground.”
“And now it’s my fault?” she shot back, her hazel eyes narrowing.
“No,” he said, his voice softening. “It’s not your fault. But it’s not just about you, Aria. My pack, my people—they’re all in danger now. And if Silas gets to you, we’re all as good as dead.”
His words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken truths. Aria bit her lip, a wave of guilt washing over her. She hadn’t asked for any of this—for Damon’s protection, for Silas’s attention, or for the mate bond that seemed to complicate everything. But the reality was undeniable: she was now at the center of a conflict she barely understood.
“Fine,” she muttered, adjusting the strap of her satchel. “Lead the way, Alpha.”
Damon’s jaw tightened at her sarcastic tone, but he turned without a word and continued through the forest.
They emerged into a small clearing, the moon casting its silvery light on a modest cabin nestled among the trees. The structure was old but sturdy, its wooden beams weathered by years of exposure to the elements. Damon pushed the door open and stepped inside, gesturing for Aria to follow.
“This is where you’ll stay,” he said, lighting a lantern and setting it on a wooden table. “It’s far enough from the village that Silas won’t find you easily. And the wards my pack placed around the perimeter should keep out most threats.”
Aria stepped inside, her eyes scanning the cabin. It was simple but cozy, with a small fireplace, a single bed, and shelves lined with jars of herbs and dried flowers. The faint scent of pine and lavender filled the air, a subtle reminder of her own shop.
“I guess this will do,” she said, setting her satchel on the table.
Damon leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms over his chest. “It’s not just for you. I’ll be staying here too.”
Her head snapped toward him, her eyes wide with disbelief. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Silas’s wolves are still out there, and I’m not leaving you unprotected.”
Aria let out a frustrated groan. “I don’t need a babysitter, Damon.”
“This isn’t up for debate,” he said firmly. “You can be as stubborn as you want, but until Silas is dealt with, you’re stuck with me.”
She glared at him, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “Fine. But don’t expect me to roll out a welcome mat.”
Damon smirked, the corner of his mouth twitching in amusement. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
The hours passed slowly as the two of them settled into an uneasy coexistence. Aria busied herself by organizing the shelves, her hands trembling slightly as she tried to focus on something other than the weight of Damon’s presence. He, meanwhile, stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the darkness outside, every muscle in his body taut with vigilance.
“Do you ever relax?” she asked, breaking the silence.
“Not when there’s a threat looming,” he replied without looking at her.
She rolled her eyes. “You’re going to burn out if you keep carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, you know.”
Damon finally turned to face her, his expression unreadable. “And what about you, Aria? How long do you think you can keep running from your past before it catches up to you?”
Her breath hitched, his words hitting closer to home than she cared to admit. “That’s none of your business,” she said, her voice cold.
“It became my business the moment Silas set his sights on you,” he shot back.
Aria’s fists clenched at her sides. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know enough,” Damon said, his voice softening. “I know you’ve been hurt. I know you’ve been abandoned. And I know you’re scared to let anyone in because you think they’ll leave you too.”
Her heart ached at his words, the truth of them cutting deep. But she refused to let him see how much they affected her. “You think you’ve got me all figured out, don’t you?”
“No,” he admitted. “But I want to.”
The vulnerability in his voice caught her off guard, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to respond. She turned away, busying herself with the jars on the shelves.
“Why do you care?” she asked after a long pause.
Damon hesitated, his gaze lingering on her back. “Because you’re my mate,” he said quietly.
Her hands froze, the jar she was holding slipping from her grasp and shattering on the floor. She turned to him, her hazel eyes wide with shock.
“What did you just say?”
Damon took a step closer, his deep blue eyes locked onto hers. “You heard me. You’re my mate, Aria. The bond—it’s real. I’ve felt it from the moment I saw you.”
Aria’s mind raced, her heart pounding in her chest. She had heard of mate bonds before, the unbreakable connection between two wolves—or, in rare cases, a wolf and someone else. But she had never imagined it would happen to her.
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “That’s not possible. I’m not... I’m not like you.”
“You don’t have to be,” Damon said, his voice steady. “The bond doesn’t care about bloodlines or species. It just is.”
Aria backed away, her breathing shallow. “This is insane. I can’t—I won’t—”
“Aria,” Damon said, his voice gentle but firm. “I’m not asking you to accept it right now. I just need you to know that I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you. Not because of the bond, but because I care about you.”
Her chest tightened at his words, the sincerity in his voice both comforting and terrifying. She wanted to believe him, to let herself trust him. But the scars of her past were too deep, the walls she had built around her heart too strong.
“I need some air,” she said abruptly, brushing past him and stepping out into the cool night.
The moon hung high in the sky, its pale light casting long shadows across the clearing. Aria leaned against a tree, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. She couldn’t deny the pull she felt toward Damon, the strange sense of connection that had been there from the start. But she wasn’t ready to let him in—not yet.
“Running won’t make it go away,” Damon’s voice came from behind her.
She turned to see him standing a few feet away, his silver hair glowing in the moonlight.
“I’m not running,” she said defensively.
“Yes, you are,” he said, stepping closer. “And I get it. Trusting someone—it’s hard. But you don’t have to face this alone, Aria.”
She looked away, the vulnerability in his eyes too much to bear. “I’ve been alone my whole life. It’s what I know.”
Damon reached out, his hand gently brushing against hers. “Maybe it’s time to try something new.”
For a moment, she let herself lean into his touch, the warmth of his hand grounding her in a way she hadn’t felt in years. But the sound of a distant howl shattered the moment, pulling them back to reality.
“They’re getting closer,” Damon said, his voice tense. “We need to be ready.”
Aria nodded, her resolve hardening. She didn’t know what the future held, but one thing was certain: she wasn’t going down without a fight.
As they returned to the cabin, side by side, the weight of the coming battle hung heavy in the air. And though the path ahead was uncertain, Aria couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope—a hope that, for the first time in her life, she might not have to face the darkness alone.
