terns on the rocky ground. Kaelan stood alone, his gaze lost in space, his head filled with the events of the day. Elara. He had never met a woman like her.

rge, or some kind of strange and inexplicable attraction? Questions swirled around him, amplified by the icy mou

ised or rejected. Seeing her like this, a mixture of confidence and vulnerability floating in her dark eyes, Kaelan felt his he

» he asked in a quiet, almost mocking tone, hoping to

ve seen much worse than the forest and its dangers.

a force that unsettled him, and he couldn't h

memory perhaps, before she turned to him again. "Sometimes loneliness becomes unbearable, even for those

h nevertheless weighed like an invisible shadow around her. Kaelan felt a pang in his

ly, "to confide when you've l

in him. " Yes. We learn to protect ourselves behind walls,

connected by a strange understanding, a silent complicity. He then realized that he knew almost nothin

voice. "But I feel that you are hiding a lot of things. Where are you from,

silent promise not to betray his trust. "I come from a place I would lik

f silence pass, wondering if he could push further, break this barrier of secre

wept away by a force I couldn't understand. This scourge... I have already se

in his eyes. "So, you didn't just come fo

Kaelan. This scourge, this thing that is spreading amo

ntly brushing hers, a spark of electricity

ored on his. "I don't know everything yet," she whispered. "But I feel that this scourge is only t

lurk around them. He wanted to trust her, but he still felt Theron's reluctance, the doubts of the pa

om their nocturnal rounds, exchanging low words, murmurs of worry. He knew that Elara's arrival had aroused susp

uttered, almost to himself. "Your pre

f defiance and resignation. "What

ut I have a feeling that your presence here has mean

or seeking shelter. I have no certainty, Kaelan, I only h

simply the recognition of two beings worn down by life. Kaelan wanted to believe her. Against all lo

ron appeared in their field of vision, his face closed, his

gaze. "You seem very close to our guest. Don't you th

an Alpha, he had to remain cautious, wary of strangers. But he couldn't de

ra is not here to harm us. She has already suffered from the sa

she brings this blight with her. Who's

not there to destroy. At least, he was convinced of it. But how could he convince his pack

but firm voice, "then watch me. Watch every moveme

'm not here to

ced a hand on his friend's shoulder, trying to calm him down. "We will dis

ed some hostility. "Very well, Kaelan. I will resp

ispers from the pack and the suspicious looks probably wouldn't stop an