Morning came quietly.
Too quietly.
I opened my eyes slowly.
Still alive.
Good.
The forest looked different in daylight. Less threatening. Less… honest.
I sat up, brushing dirt from my clothes.
My body ached.
But I could move.
That was enough.
A scent hit me.
Fresh.
Close.
I froze.
Not the creature from last night.
Different.
Cleaner.
Wolf.
But not from my pack.
My wolf stirred instantly.
Alert.
Curious.
I stood slowly.
"Come out," I said.
No fear.
No hesitation.
Just readiness.
A pause.
Then
A voice.
"Most people say 'hello' first."
Male.
Calm.
Too calm.
I turned.
He stepped out from behind a tree.
Tall.
Relaxed.
Watching me like he'd been there a while.
I didn't like that.
"You've been following me," I said.
Not a question.
A fact.
He shrugged slightly. "Observing."
"Same thing."
"Not quite."
Annoying.
I crossed my arms.
"State your business."
His lips curved faintly.
"You're direct."
"I'm not interested in wasting time."
"Clearly."
His gaze flicked over me quickly, assessing.
Not like the others.
Not possession.
Not hunger.
Just… evaluation.
Still dangerous.
"What do you want?" I asked.
"To make sure you weren't going to die out here."
I blinked.
That wasn't what I expected.
"I'm fine."
He tilted his head slightly.
"You fought a shadow crawler last night."
I stilled.
So he saw that.
"And?"
"And most wolves don't survive that."
I held his gaze.
"I'm not most wolves."
A small pause.
Then
"I've noticed."
Silence stretched between us.
I didn't trust him.
But I wasn't leaving either.
Not yet.
"Who are you?" I asked.
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he stepped closer.
Not too close.
Just enough.
"Someone who knows what you are."
My chest tightened.
"What am I?"
His eyes locked onto mine.
"Rare."
The word landed quietly.
But it hit hard.
I didn't react.
Didn't give him that.
"You talk too much in riddles," I said.
"And you ignore obvious truths."
I scoffed lightly.
"Try me."
Another step.
Now we were close enough to feel the space between us.
Tension.
But different.
Not like before.
Not forced.
Just… present.
"You broke three bonds," he said.
My jaw tightened.
"News travels fast."
"Not this fast."
A pause.
"I was there."
That surprised me.
I didn't show it.
"Watching?" I asked.
"Yes."
"Why?"
His gaze didn't waver.
"Because something about you felt wrong."
That again.
Wrong.
Different.
Dangerous.
I was getting tired of those words.
"Then stay away from me," I said.
Simple.
Clear.
Safe.
He shook his head once.
"Can't do that."
"Not my problem."
"It will be."
I frowned slightly.
"I don't need help."
"I didn't offer help."
That made me pause.
"Then what are you doing here?"
This time
He answered directly.
"Waiting."
"For what?"
His gaze held mine.
"For you to realize you can't do this alone."
Silence.
Then
I smiled.
Not soft.
Not friendly.
Sharp.
Cold.
"You're wrong."
My wolf stirred in agreement.
"I've been alone since the moment I was rejected."
A beat.
"I just didn't know it."
Something shifted in his expression.
Respect?
Maybe.
"Then prove it," he said.
I stepped back.
Creating distance.
"Watch me."
I turned.
Didn't wait for a response.
Didn't ask him to follow.
But I could feel it
His presence.
Still there.
Still watching.
Still not leaving.
And for some reason…
That didn't bother me as much as it should have.