9: Bonds That Burn

The path to the cabin is silent—but not in a comforting way. It’s a silence that crackles with tension, thick with unspoken words hanging between Shadow and me like knives suspended in the air. His embrace had offered a fleeting sense of safety, but now all I feel is the weight of our differences, the burden of the secrets he still keeps.

“How much farther?” I ask, finally breaking the stillness.

“A few more minutes,” he replies without looking at me.

His tone is flat, almost mechanical. He seems lost in thought, and I can’t help but wonder if he’s thinking about Caleb—the threat he poses—or about me, a human who probably never should’ve crossed his path.

We arrive at the cabin just as the first hint of sunlight bleeds over the horizon. It’s an old place, almost falling apart, with wooden walls weathered by too many storms and windows coated in dust. Yet, when I step inside, I’m surprised to find the interior clean and orderly. A fireplace rests in one corner with a neat stack of wood beside it, and a couple of blankets are folded over a worn-out sofa.

“Is this yours?” I ask, glancing around.

“A friend’s. He’s… far away now.”

His answer, like everything about him, is vague. I don’t push—it’s too late, and I’m too tired to unravel his riddles.

After checking that all the windows and doors are secure, Shadow lights the fire. The flames cast flickering shadows on the walls, and for a moment, I let myself breathe. But the peace doesn’t last.

“Who is Caleb to you?” I ask suddenly, the question escaping without warning.

He freezes, his back tense as he places another log on the fire.

“A mistake from the past,” he finally says, turning to face me. “One that refuses to let go.”

“A mistake? That’s all? Because he doesn’t seem to see it that way.”

Shadow sighs, running a hand through his disheveled hair.

“Caleb and I… we were brothers in everything but blood. We were raised together by the same clan. We shared everything—training, hunts, even dreams of a better life. But things changed when I started questioning the rules… challenging the hierarchy.”

“And he didn’t agree?”

“Not only did he disagree. He betrayed me.”

His voice is bitter, thick with a restrained fury he’s barely keeping under control.

“That’s why he hates you so much,” I murmur, more to myself than to him.

“No. He hates me because I forced him to face his own cowardice.”

His words hit me like a blow. As much as I want to understand his world, I realize I’m still just scratching the surface.

Night falls quickly, bringing with it a creeping unease I can’t shake. Shadow moves through the cabin with the ease of someone used to constant vigilance, but I’m too exhausted to stay alert.

“You should sleep,” he says, settling into a chair by the fire.

“And you?”

“I’ll keep watch.”

“Do you always do that?” I ask, folding my arms.

“Do what?”

“Carry everything on your own like you don’t need anyone.”

Shadow looks at me, his golden eyes glowing in the firelight.

“It’s not about needing anyone. It’s about keeping you safe.”

“Maybe I’m not as fragile as you think.”

He leans forward, elbows on knees, his gaze locked on mine.

“It’s not your fragility that worries me, Amelia. It’s my world. And what it might do to you.”

His honesty disarms me—but it also fuels something hot and restless inside me.

“You know what? I’m tired of you deciding for me.”

“That’s not what I’m—”

“Oh, really? Because so far, all you’ve done is push me away, shield me, or tell me to run.”

I stand, the anger bubbling to the surface.

“If you truly wanted to protect me, you would’ve left me out of this from the beginning.”

“I tried!” he growls, standing too. “Do you think I didn’t know? From the moment I met you, I knew this was a mistake. But I couldn’t… I couldn’t stay away.”

His confession steals my breath. The silence that follows is so heavy it feels like the air itself might break.

“So what do we do now?” I ask at last, my voice softer.

Shadow steps closer, his hands finding mine—strong, yet careful.

“Now, we fight. Together.”

The early hours of the morning crawl by. Shadow and I sit on the floor near the fireplace, sharing its warmth and trying to find some calm amid the storm. But even in this fragile moment of peace, I can’t ignore the sense that something dark still looms over us.

“Do you think Caleb will come back soon?” I ask quietly.

“I don’t know. But I doubt he’ll give up.”

“Why not?”

“Because he’s more stubborn than I am.”

His answer pulls a surprised laugh from me, and he smiles—just briefly. But the moment passes, his expression darkening again.

“Amelia, I need you to understand something. Whatever happens from here on out… you have to trust me.”

“I always have.”

“No, not always. And I don’t blame you. But if Caleb comes back, there won’t be room for mistakes.”

I nod, even though the thought of facing Caleb again twists my stomach.

“I won’t let anything happen to you,” Shadow says, voice steady as a vow.

I want to believe him.

But deep down, I know…

The shadows around us are larger than either of us can truly grasp.