three

Aria barely slept at night after Kael left, his words kept replaying in her head.

She didn't understand him. If he didn't want her, why had he come back, and if he cared about her safety, why had he rejected her in front of everyone?

She was tired of trying to understand him.

By morning, Aria had decided she wanted nothing to do with Kael Nightbane.

Unfortunately, the Moon Goddess seemed to have other plans.

Aria was outside collecting water when she heard a strange sound from the forest.

She stopped. Normally, there would be wolves moving between the houses or children running around.

Today, everyone seemed to be inside.

Aria frowned, then she heard a growl. Her hand tightened around the bucket when another growl followed. This one was closer.

She slowly turned toward the trees but saw nothing. She took a step backward and a wolf suddenly rushed out of the forest.

Aria screamed, dropped the bucket and ran. She didn't know where she was going, she only knew she had to get away.

The wolf chased her, Its claws digging into the ground as it gained on her.

Aria glanced over her shoulder and felt her heart drop to her stomach, It was huge and its eyes were red.

She stumbled and The wolf lunged at her. She threw herself to the ground and the animal flew over her and crashed into the dirt.

She scrambled backward, her entire body trembling.

As she tried to make sense of what was happening, another wolf came out of the trees and then another.

Aria's blood ran cold, there were three of them now and they didn't look normal. Their movements were wild, almost as if they had lost control of themselves.

She tried to run again but one of the wolves blocked her path.

She backed away and swallowed in fear.

"Please..."

The wolf growled and she knew it couldn't understand her. She looked around desperately but there was nowhere to go.

The wolf lowered its head then it charged at her and her entire body froze.

A dark figure appeared between them and moved so quickly that Aria barely saw him. He grabbed the wolf by the neck and threw it several feet away. The other two wolves attacked and Kael shifted.

Aria had seen wolves before, but never one like him. His wolf was enormous, black from head to tail, with golden eyes that looked almost identical to his normal ones.

He attacked the first wolf before it could reach her.The fight was brutal and fast. She pressed herself against a tree, watching helplessly.

Kael was much stronger and within moments, the three wolves retreated into the forest.

Kael shifted back and stood breathing heavily, blood running down his arm.

Aria stared at him, her entire body still trembling.

"You came back."

Kael looked at her.

"I told you I would make sure you're safe."

"You also said you didn't want me."

His expression tightened as he stared at her.

"This isn't the time."

Aria looked toward the forest.

"What were those things?"

"Feral wolves."

"Why were they attacking the village?"

"I don't know yet."

He walked toward her and she immediately stepped back.

"Don't."

Kael stopped, unsure of what to say or do next.

She looked at the blood on his arm.

"You're hurt."

"It's nothing."

"You were protecting me."

"I was protecting my mate."

Aria's expression changed and she almost scoffed.

"You rejected me."

Kael looked away.

"The bond still exists."

"That doesn't explain anything."

"It doesn't have to."

Aria stared at him in disbelief, she hated how calm he sounded. She hated even more that part of her was relieved to see him.

Kael looked toward the village.

"We're leaving."

Aria blinked and scoffed.

"What?"

"We can't stay here."

"I'm not going anywhere with you."

"You have to."

"No, I don't."

Kael's eyes hardened.

"Those wolves weren't here by accident."

Aria looked toward the forest.

"Then tell the Alpha."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because whoever sent them may already be watching the pack."

Aria shook her head.

"You expect me to believe that?"

"I expect you to understand that you are no longer safe here."

"I've lived here my entire life."

"And now you're my mate."

She flinched at the word, now she was his mate.

His expression softened for only a second.

"Aria, listen to me."

She looked at him.

"How do you know my name"

he sighed deeply at her question "I heard it from people around" Kael had accidentally picked it up after following her around the market, people really liked to gossip.

"If those wolves came because of the bond, they will come back."

"Then I'll stay inside."

"They attacked you in the middle of the village."

She had no answer to that.

Kael stepped closer, his expression softening even more.

"I can protect you."

Aria let out a small laugh.

"You couldn't even protect me from yourself."

He went still, the words had clearly hit him. Aria immediately looked away feeling a bit guilty at her own words.

"I didn't mean..."

"You did."

Silence settled between them. Kael looked toward the village again.

"We leave now."

Aria shook her head.

"No."

He looked at her and sighed

"I'm not going with a man who rejected me."

"I know."

"Then stop telling me what to do."

Kael walked closer.

"Would you rather stay here and wait for those wolves to come back?"

Aria's stomach twisted. She didn't want to admit it, but she was afraid, she didn't even know the reason why they had tried to attack her.

Kael didn't miss the fear in her eyes.

He lowered his voice when he spoke again..

"I won't force you."

She looked at him skeptically, like she had much of a choice..

"But you should come with me."

Aria looked back toward the village, her home, everything she knew. Then she remembered the wolves. She looked at Kael again and let out the deepest sigh.

"Where are you taking me?"

"My territory."

"Your territory?"

"It's safer."

"For how long?"

"Until I know why they're after you."

Aria hesitated then she sighed deeply again.

"Fine."

Kael nodded.

"Pack a few things."

She walked toward her house and he followed.

"You're coming inside?"

"I'll wait outside."

"Good."

She disappeared through the door and he stood beneath a tree. His wolf was restless as he waited. He could still feel Aria's fear through the bond and It bothered him. He had spent the entire time hanging around close to her like a creep because of the damn bond, but a part of him was relieved that he did or she would have been hurt badly.

Kael told himself that taking her away was only about keeping her alive, but when she had been attacked, something inside him had gone completely wild.

He had wanted to tear the wolves apart, not because she was his mate but beause someone had tried to hurt her.

A deep frown settled on his face, he didn't like that thought. He had only just met this human girl

A few minutes later, Aria came outside carrying a small bag.

"That's all?"

"I don't own much."

Something about the way she said it made Kael look at her. He didn't comment and they started walking.

For the first hour, they walked in complete silence and Aria spent it wondering if she had lost her freaking mind. Why did she agree to follow him so easily and why did she feel relieved that he did. was he accepting her now?

The forest became thicker as they moved farther from the pack and Aria struggled to keep up.

Kael noticed this and slowed his steps. She noticed too and her cheeks grew a bit warm.

"You don't have to slow down."

"I know."

"Then why are you?"

"Because you're human."

Aria frowned and almost rolled her eyes.

"I can walk."

"I didn't say you couldn't."

She rolled her eyes and Kael almost smiled. They continued walking and a few hours later, Aria stopped, she couldn't go on any longer

"I need water."

Kael looked around, he was used to going on his own.

"There is a stream nearby."

He led her through the trees and when they reached the stream, Aria knelt and drank. Kael stood nearby, watching the forest.

"You can relax," she said.

"I'm relaxed."

"You're standing like you're waiting for someone to attack us."

"I am."

She sighed deeply and glanced at him

"You're exhausting."

Kael glanced at her.

"You've known me for less than a day."

"And somehow you've already managed to annoy me."

To her surprise, the corner of his mouth lifted but it disappeared almost immediately.

Aria stared at him in disbelief

"Did you just smile?"

"No."

"You did."

"You imagined it."

She shook her head and she almost smiled too since the ceremony. Then a branch snapped behind them and Kael's expression changed instantly.

"Stay behind me."

Aria stood up quickly, her stomach dropping. we're the Feral wolves back,why did they want to attack her.

"What is it?"

"Don't move."

Three wolves stepped out from between the trees ans Aria's heart dropped to her stomach.

Kael moved in front of her so fast when one wolf charged. He shifted and attacked.The other two went around him while one headed straight for Aria.

She tried to run but herr foot caught on a root and she fell. The wolf lunged at her but Kael appeared in front of her again and the wolf's claws caught his shoulder instead. He growled and attacked with enough force to send the wolf crashing into a tree.

"Kael!"

He turned toward her and shifted back

"Are you hurt?"

She shook her head.

"No."

He came toward her, blood was running down his shoulder.

"You're bleeding."

"I'll heal."

"You got hurt because of me."

"No."

"But..."

"I said no."

He crouched in front of her, his golden eyes meeting hers.

"Are you sure you're not hurt?"

Aria stared at him. This was the same man who had looked into her eyes and rejected her.The same man who had told her he didn't want her, yet he had thrown himself between her and a wolf without thinking twice.

She looked at his injured shoulder.

"You don't act like someone who doesn't care."

Kael's face went still for a moment before he looked away.

"I never said I didn't care."

Aria's heart skipped and she swallowed

"What did you say?"

Kael stood up and looked at his tattered clothes.

"Get up."

She stared at him, still trying to process everything that had just happened.

"Kael."

"We need to keep moving."

He started walking again and Aria followed slowly but not without glancing at the injured wolves. She didn't understand him. But, she wondered if there was more behind his rejection than she had originally believed.

Kael kept walking without looking bac because he knew if he looked at her again, he might say something he wasn't ready to admit...He cared, he was sure that it was because of the stupid bond... How was he going to fix this.