Semua Bab The Moon Choose Him, I Didn´t : Bab 21 - Bab 30

(Kael’s POV) I felt it before I saw it. The shift in the air. Subtle. Then wrong. “Stay behind me,” I said instantly, pulling Aria slightly back as my gaze locked onto the forest. Lila was already moving. Of course she was. She stepped into position at my side, her posture tightening, senses sharp, ready. “They’re here,” she said quietly. Not one. Multiple. The shadows shifted between the trees. Too controlled to be animals. Too silent to be normal wolves. “Show yourselves,” I ordered. Silence. Then— Movement. Figures emerged slowly from the darkness. Not rushing. Not hiding. Walking forward like they had every right to be there. That alone told me everything. “They’re not pack,” Lila murmured. “I know.” Because I could feel it. That same wrong presence. Stronger now. Closer. Aria’s hand tightened slightly where I still held her wrist. I didn’t let go. “Kael…” she whispered. “I’ve got you.” Even as I said it— I knew

(Aria’s POV) I woke up gasping. The first thing I felt— Was the bond. Stronger. Calmer. Different. It didn’t feel like something pulling me anymore. It felt like something… settled. My hand instinctively moved to my chest. Then lower— To the mark. Warm. Alive. Real. Everything from before rushed back at once. The attack. The light. Kael— My breath caught. I sat up quickly. “Kael?” The door opened before I could move. He was already there. Of course he was. His gaze locked onto mine instantly, sharp, searching. “You’re awake.” “I—yeah…” Something shifted between us. Subtle. But real. The bond reacted. Not violently. But deeply. His eyes darkened slightly. “You feel it.” Not a question. I nodded slowly. “It’s… different.” “Because it is.” A pause. Neither of us moved. Then— “Don’t go outside alone,” he said. That made me frown slightly. “I wasn’t planning to—” “Good.” Too fast. Too firm. I

(Aria’s POV) Sleep came fast.Too fast.Like something was pulling me into it.I didn’t fight it.Maybe I should have.Darkness welcomed me again.But this time—It wasn’t empty.It was waiting.The same space.That void between something real and something else.And I knew—He would be there.“You came back.”I didn’t turn immediately.Because this time—I wasn’t surprised.“I didn’t choose this,” I said quietly.A soft exhale behind me.Almost… amused.“Not consciously.”I turned.Adrian stood there.Closer than before.Not cautious.Not distant.Watching me like I was something he had already lost once.“You keep doing that,” I said.“What?”“Talking like you know me.”His expression shifted.Subtle.“I do.”My chest tightened.“No,” I said quickly. “You think you do.”“I know you better than he does.”That hit.Harder than I expected.“Don’t,” I said sharply. “Don’t bring him into this.”“Why not?” he asked quietly. “Everything about you is already tied to him.”The bond pulsed.

(Aria’s POV) He was there.I knew I saw him.Even after he disappeared—Even after the trees stood still again—That feeling didn’t go away.Watching.Waiting.“Aria.”Kael’s voice pulled me back.Firm.Grounding.But not enough.“Did you see him?” I asked.“Yes.”Of course he did.That didn’t make it better.My chest tightened as I stared at the edge of the forest, my mind replaying that moment over and over again.He didn’t hide.That was new.And worse—He wanted to be seen.(Kael’s POV) This is changing.He’s not testing anymore.He’s pushing.I tightened my grip on her hand slightly.Not enough to hurt.Enough to remind.She’s not alone.“You’re not going near that tree line again,” I said.Immediate reaction.“I wasn’t planning to,” she replied, but her tone—Defensive.That’s the problem.She doesn’t see him as a threat.Not the way she should. (Aria’s POV) “You keep doing that.”His eyes narrowed slightly.“Doing what?”“Deciding things for me.”Silence.Heavy.The bond re

(Aria’s POV) He didn’t leave.That was the problem.Most threats came, attacked, and disappeared.Adrian didn’t.He stayed.Not close enough to touch.Not far enough to ignore.Watching.Always watching.My chest tightened as I stood near the edge of the clearing again—this time not alone.Kael was behind me.Close.Too close.Like he didn’t trust the distance.Like he didn’t trust me with it.“You’re doing it again,” I said quietly.His voice came from just behind my shoulder.“Doing what?”“Standing like I’m about to run.”A pause.Then—“You are.”That made me turn.“I’m not trying to run.”His gaze locked onto mine.Dark.Focused.Unmoving.“You’re thinking about going to him.”The words hit harder than they should have.Because I couldn’t deny it.(Kael’s POV) She’s not lying.That’s what makes it worse.She’s not choosing him.But she’s not rejecting him either.And in a situation like this—That’s the same thing.“You feel him,” I said.Not a question.She hesitated.That was