Chapter 2 Whispers in the Mist
Ronan half-carried Aria through the underbrush, his arm strong around her waist as she limped along. The forest was alive with night sounds crickets chirping, owls hooting but every rustle made her flinch. Her side throbbed where the rogue’s claws had sliced deep, and blood soaked through the makeshift bandage he’d applied. The distant howl echoed again, closer this time, sending a chill down her spine.
“Easy,” Ronan murmured, his golden eyes scanning the trees. “We’re almost there. My cabin’s just ahead off the grid, no pack scents to track.”
Aria gritted her teeth against the pain. “Why are you helping me? You don’t even know me.”
He chuckled softly, a sound that cut through the tension like a warm breeze. “Let’s just say I’ve got a soft spot for underdogs. Or under-wolves, in this case. Besides, those Shadowclaws are scum. Taking them out was a pleasure.”
They emerged into a small clearing, where a rustic cabin nestled against a rocky outcrop. Smoke curled from the chimney, and the scent of herbs wafted out lavender, wolfsbane, things to mask scents and heal wounds. Ronan kicked the door open and guided her to a worn couch by the fire. “Sit. I’ll brew something for the pain.”
As he rummaged in a cupboard, Aria took in the space: simple, lived-in, with shelves of dried plants and old books on lore. No pack insignia, no photos just a lone wolf’s den. “You’re really alone out here? No family? No… mate?”
Ronan paused, his back to her, then turned with a steaming mug. “Family’s long gone. As for a mate…” He shrugged, handing her the drink. It smelled earthy, bitter. “Fate hasn’t been kind to me either. Drink up it’ll knit those wounds faster.”
She sipped, wincing at the taste but feeling warmth spread through her limbs. “Kael… he was my fate. Or so I thought. One minute, the bond was everything. The next, he looked at me like I was poison.” Tears welled up again. “What if it was all a lie?”
Ronan sat across from her, his golden eyes steady. “Bonds don’t lie, Aria. But people or magic can twist them. I’ve seen weird stuff in my travels. Curses, artifacts… packs torn apart by shadows you can’t fight with claws.”
She met his gaze, searching for deception, but found only sincerity. “You think someone did this to him? To us?”
“Possible. But right now, focus on healing. Stay here a few days. I’ll teach you how to suppress your wolf, blend with humans if you need to run far.”
Aria nodded, exhaustion pulling her under. As sleep claimed her, Ronan’s voice faded: “Rest easy. You’re safe here… for now.”
A year slipped by like fog over the mountains. Aria had taken Ronan’s advice to heart, fleeing deeper into neutral territory and settling in Eldridge, a quaint human town where the biggest drama was the annual fall festival. She rented a cozy apartment above a coffee shop, working as a barista by day and mixing herbal remedies by night potions to dull her wolf’s urges, to hide the scent that might draw predators.
Life was… quiet. Predictable. No howls at midnight, no pack politics. But the bond’s echo lingered, a dull ache in her chest, like a song half-remembered. Ronan visited every couple of months, slipping in like a shadow with tales of wandering packs and forbidden ruins. He’d become a friend maybe more, though neither acknowledged it.
One crisp autumn evening, as rain pattered against the windows, Aria wiped down the counter at the shop. The bell jingled, and she looked up with her practiced human smile. “What can I get"
The words died. Kael stood there, drenched from the storm, his blue eyes locking onto hers with a hunger that made her heart stutter. He looked… different. Leaner, shadows under his eyes, like he hadn’t slept in weeks. The bond flared, unbidden, pulling her toward him despite everything.
“Aria,” he breathed, stepping closer. Water dripped from his leather jacket onto the floor. “Gods, it’s really you.”
She backed up, bumping into the espresso machine. “What are you doing here? How did you find me?”
“I searched everywhere. Trackers, scents, even human databases.” His voice cracked. “The pack’s in trouble Shadowclaws pushing borders, allies turning. But that’s not why I’m here.” He ran a hand through his wet hair, desperation etching his features. “I don’t remember rejecting you. That night… it’s gone. A blank slate. But every damn night since you vanished, I’ve dreamt of you. Us. Bonded, happy. Those dreams they’re so real, Aria. Like memories trying to break through.”
Her mind reeled. No memory? Dreams? “You humiliated me,” she snapped, voice low to avoid drawing attention from the few lingering customers. “In front of everyone. You said I meant nothing.”
Kael flinched as if slapped. “I… what? The elders told me what happened, but it’s like hearing a story about someone else. I swear, I’d never do that willingly. Please, just talk to me. Five minutes.”
She glanced at the clock closing time. With a sigh, she flipped the sign to “Closed” and led him upstairs to her apartment. It was small, cozy: bookshelves, a kettle on the stove, no trace of her wolf life. Kael filled the space, his presence overwhelming.
“Sit,” she said curtly, pouring tea to steady her hands. “Explain.”
He paced instead, agitation rolling off him in waves. “After you left, things fell apart. Blackouts mine, then others. Mates forgetting each other, loyalties fracturing. I thought it was stress at first. But the dreams… you’re in every one. Laughing, touching, like we were meant to be.” He stopped, facing her. “What if something stole that night from me? What if the bond’s still there, fighting?”
Aria’s heart twisted. Part of her wanted to believe him, to fall into those arms. But the pain was too fresh. “And if it’s a trick? Or worse, if you really meant it?”
Before he could answer, a knock echoed at the door sharp, insistent. Aria froze. Ronan? Or something worse?
Kael’s eyes narrowed, his wolf senses alerting. “Who’s that? You expecting company?”
She shook her head, pulse racing. As she approached the door, a familiar voice called through: “Aria? It’s me. We need to talk now.”
Ronan. And from the urgency in his tone, trouble had followed Kael straight to her doorstep.
