Chapter 2: Shadows on the Edge

“Please don’t leave me.”

Fingers sinking into the ragged fur, Ashryn felt warmth pulsing beneath his palms. Breath rattled unevenly from the creature’s throat, thin and fragile. One eye flickered upward, glazed over with pain.

It had been three days since the ceremony ended. She had been living in the forgotten corners of the woods, surviving on bitter roots and tart berries, curling up inside hollowed-out tree trunks at night. Patrols rarely ventured near these edges—just the way she liked it. Now, she moved through the shadows like someone who had already vanished.

An hour ago, he found the animal lying motionless by the dried-up creek bed, where pebbles peeked through the shallowwater. Deep, raw gashes marred its side—wide and brutal. A fierce fight had taken place at the edge of the land, leavingits mark behind.

"Hold on," Ashryn said, her voice stiff from disuse. Silence had weighed heavily between them for too long. A slow breath broke the stillness before he moved closer. This time, his hands moved without asking first. Help felt different now—quieter, sharper at the edges. He didn’t explain why; only that it was happening.

A soft whimper escaped from the animal as one paw twitched sideways.

Ashryn tore a long strip from his tattered shirt. Though it was dirty, it would have to suffice. He pressed moss into the deepest cuts before tightly winding the cloth around the animal’s belly. Despite his trembling hands, his movements remained quick and steady.

Footsteps on wet stone carried risk. Aid attracted attention, and attention came at a price. These runners bore Kaelor’s mark—loyalty that led directly to his door.

Yet, leaving was not an option for Ashryn.

Breathing more slowly now, the wolf held Ashryn's gaze. A quiet moment passed, then a subtle hint of gratitude appearedin its eyes.

Ashryn told him, though a trace of doubt lingered beneath her words. added softly.

Water from the stream seeped into the moss he had gathered. His busy fingers brushed away clumps caught in the tangled fur. Keeping his hands occupied prevented his thoughts from wandering back—back to what Kaelor had said beneath thecold stars: how he meant nothing at all.

A low hum lingered beneath his ribs—fainter than before, yet still present. It was like a mark on the skin that refused to fade away.

Ashryn’s fingers moved swiftly as she pushed that thought aside, concentrating fully on the task at hand.

As daylight began to fade, the wolf mustered enough strength to lift its head. It gave a slow lick across Ashryn’s fingers, then grew still. Its breathing slowed, eyelids gently closed, and sleep claimed it without warning.

Ashryn sank into the shadow cast by the rock, surrendering to the heavy weight pressing through his bones. Hunger gnawed sharply and loudly within him. He hadn’t eaten since dawn the previous day, and the few berries he had picked earlier were now nothing but stems and seeds. The silence surrounding him felt oppressive, as if time itself was holding its breath.

He would need to venture deeper into the woods the next day, leaving behind all areas claimed by packs. Perhaps he would come across a quiet stretch where loners occasionally wandered.

Breathing was painful now, but staying still was not an option.

The crickets suddenly fell silent. Nearby, a twig snapped in the woods.

Fear gripped him suddenly. The world fell silent, save for the pounding pulse behind his ears. Not a muscle stirred.Shadows lengthened between the tree trunks, growing darker by the second.

Nothing stirred.

A crawl crept across his skin, tiny legs skittering just beneath the surface. An unseen gaze bore into him. Was it certain?Absolutely.

Still deep in slumber, the wolf remained motionless. Ashryn rose, stiff and cautious with every step.

He said hello, but it came out quieter than he intended.

Silence was the only response.

He stepped back, one pace at a time. The water lapped at his heel where the land sloped into the stream. The silencemade the splash resonate like a shout. Then, stillness settled once more.

That was when the scent reached him—wet earth after a storm, woodsmoke clinging to ancient bark—and beneath it all, a trace of iron. His wolf stirred within, restless now, releasing a soft cry as if recalling a forgotten name.

Kaelor.

Ashryn felt his chest tighten with each breath as he spun slowly, his eyes searching the darkening edges surrounding him. The gloom deepened with every passing moment.

He spoke into the silence. name is on your lips, I can tell. he pressed them together tightly. Then a question slipped out: do you want from me? Shadows shifted where you stood.

A silence lingered, but the scent grew stronger, drawing closer.

A whimper escaped from the injured wolf as it lifted its muzzle—less of a snarl, more like a hesitant greeting.

A sinking feeling stirred within Ashryn. The animal sensed Kaelor nearby—perhaps it even caught a glimpse of him from its place on the ground.

“Show yourself,” Ashryn’s voice cracked. “Stop hiding.”

A shape shifted just beyond his sight. He turned quickly but saw nothing—only tree trunks standing darkly in the fading light.

Breathing was painful. That sharp, relentless pull in his gut dragged him toward a place he desperately tried to keep his eyes closed to.

“Why do you care?” The words escaped before Ashryn could stop them. “You rejected me. Called me broken. So why—”

From the rock wall, a shape detached itself about thirty paces away. A shadowy figure broke free and moveddownward.

Ashryn held her breath.

A shape stood out as clearly as anything. Tall and broad, it sliced through the evening light, frozen in place. From afar,Ashryn felt the weight of Kaelor’s gaze upon him—like a stone pressing down on his chest. Even the air seemed to hold its breath.

Both figures remained motionless, as time stretched thin, tinged with danger.

Kaelor moved forward in a single, fluid motion.

The messenger wolf struggled to its feet, limping as it made its way toward the Alpha.

He tried to stop it, but the animal ignored him. Pressing onward, the creature slithered through the open space, leaving behind a faint red trail on the dried foliage it had passed over.

His gaze remained frozen on her features, unwavering and fixed throughout the silence.

A sudden fire ignited behind Ashryn’s ribs—still intact, pulsing fiercely and undeniably. It refused to fade.

A whisper formed on his lips. From afar, she caught the words it carried.