Her lip quivers.“No commands?”
“No commands,” I say firmly.
Her eyes search my face, desperate for a lie.But she won’t find one because it isn’t there to be found.Finally, she nods once, tiny but real.
Then she whispers, almost too soft to hear.“Okay.”And I finally release the breath I didn’t know I was holding.
****
Hours later, she eatsagain, two more careful sips of broth, I feel something in her ease.Just a little.Like the knot of fear in her chest loosens enough to breathe.
Her hands shake when she sets the bowl down.
“Are you okay?”I ask.
She nods, though she looks exhausted.“Just ...tired.”
“Lie down.”
She does.Then she looks at me in a way that steals my breath.
“Can you...”she hesitates, cheeks flushing faintly, “sit closer?”
My pulse spikes.“Yes,” I murmur.
I move the chair right beside the bed.She exhales shakily and burrows deeper into the bedding.My hand rests on my knee.
Slowly, very slowly, she stretches her fingers toward the edge of my chair.Not touching.Not quite.Just closer.Close enough that I can feel the heat of her skin.
My chest throbs but I don’t move an inch.
She closes her eyes, breathing slow, careful breaths.
The bond flickers again, this time warm and soft.Like the first spark of a fire not yet strong enough to catch.Pain doesn’t follow, not this time.Just heat and connection.
And ...hope.
Her voice is faint when she speaks again.
“Silas?”
“Yeah?”
“Please don’t go.”
My throat tightens.“I’m right here,” I whisper.
“I know.”A shaky breath.“Thank you.”
Her fingers inch just a little closer.Not touching but only a heartbeat away.My dire wolf goes still and my pulse thunders.
“I’ll always stay, Aria” I breathe.
And for the first time since the rescue, the bond glows faintly.Steady, warm, and more alive than ever before.Not whole.Not healed.But alive.
She falls asleep like that, her hand close enough to touch mine, but not yet brave enough to try.And I guard her until the sun moves across the sky and shadows stretch long across the floor.Because she asked me to stay.
And I don’t break promises to the woman fate carved into my soul.
