POV: Rae
Rae's heart beat fast as she followed Jake through the hallways of the council building. She was still very angry, hearing the pack's yelling and disapproval in her mind. She wanted to be closer to Nyra, but she wondered if she made the right decision and if they could survive this.
Each step felt harder than the last, Their steps couldn't be heard because of the shadows, but she still remembered the angry shouts. Evil, betrayer, disgrace, She remembered the words like scars on her body.
But she did not move when Kade quickly looked at her like before during his council announcement. He looked away, but not with anger, it made her chest hurt, She felt better, she realized. She was relieved that his eyes were no longer on her, The sadness he felt was gone, replaced by someone nice and comforting.
She had chosen Nyra, She would not change her mind.
But she still wanted to hurt the pack in return, She thought about them being scared, unsure, and doubting the rules they had followed for a long time. This thought made her fists tighten, like both ice and fire in her veins.
The talking was getting louder, They were saying that Rae's unusual love was becoming a problem. The pack had a lot of rumors that were more than just words. They whispered about the Moon Goddess's betrayal, the alpha's weakness, and the sister who dared to love his mate.
Then Jake stood at the end of the hallway, his large body blocking the light. Rae knew she could trust him. He was a true warrior who had trained her since she joined the pack. He was her adoptive father, but also her protector. He stepped forward, his voice quiet but firm.
"Enough," he said softly, His single word affected everyone there. It showed his authority, love, and the shared history between student and teacher.
The crowd became quiet,
Jake went to stand in front of Rae and Nyra, crossing his arms to protect them, He looked at the pack, making eye contact with everyone, even those who were angry or scared.
"We will not fight tonight," he said, "We will leave, We will let everyone calm down."
The tension broke, with some people being silent and others hesitantly agreeing. He gestured quickly and started taking them toward the side exit.
Rae followed, with Nyra holding her arm in relief. It felt like escaping a burning building, scary and intense, but also freeing.
Outside, the cold air of the forest felt like a wave. It was cold, rough, and alive. Rae breathed in deeply, smelling pine, moss, and wet earth. She closed her eyes, letting the world come back into focus. Nyra breathed out quietly next to her, leaning on Rae's shoulder.
They walked quietly among the trees, following only the moon and Jake's steady steps. The night seemed haunted wolves cried from faraway mountains, bugs made their night music and every sound now felt bigger, no longer comforting.
Rae breathed out, not knowing she had been holding it in. Nyra held her hand tight, They didn't say anything, but their connection was strong, real, here, unforgettable.
Jake spoke softly from behind them, "We will stay tonight at the old lookout tower, It is safe, for now."
Rae nodded, her voice rough, "Thank you."
Jake didn't look at her, He just nodded and kept going.
They got to the tower, with stones partly covered in moss, and weak ivy climbing its walls. It had been empty for many years, not used since before Kade took over. But right now, it felt like a safe place.
Inside, the fireplace had been cold for a long time. Rae put her hands near the bars and acted like she was starting a fire. Nyra came over, and Rae let her lean on her shoulder.
They sat down, legs out, bags next to them. Rae watched Nyra gently move a piece of hair away from her face. In that moment, Rae couldn't stop the blink she had been holding back all night.
"Are you okay?" she whispered.
Nyra nodded but didn't look at her. Their connection felt close, real, impossible to deny.
Rae's heart hurt, Nights Whisper, An old power hidden inside Nyra, now shown. That alone could break any protection Rae tried to make.
She swallowed hard, "What if they never stop coming?"
Nyra looked up, her eyes shining with bits of moonlight, "They will come for us, But we aren't running away."
Rae moved closer, touching their foreheads together, She could feel their connection sending warmth, two parts of one thing. "I love you."
Nyra's face turned red, Her voice quiet like the forest around them. "I love you too."
Rae moved closer, The pain changed, old wounds, new hope joining into something strong. Her wolf still wanted to fight, but for the first time, she felt another want growing, to protect, to be loyal, to see what could be.
She closed her eyes and put her head next to Nyra's, They stayed like that for a while, listening to the forest breathing, the beat of their connection, and something so special it shined even in the darkest night.
Yet Rae knew it wouldn't last forever,
The pack might wait tonight, but tomorrow, tomorrow they will come.
Her jaw tightened. She held Nyra's hand tightly, remembering the moment. No matter what happens, no matter what problems they face, she would stand with Nyra. Not fighting back, Not giving in, Just together.
And in that quiet tower, with only the forest and them, Rae let herself hope for the best.
They arrived at a peaceful valley hidden just past the southern edge of the group's land. Rae had never been there before. The path was overgrown, forgotten, and probably removed from maps on purpose, but Jake seemed to know every turn perfectly. Nyra held Rae's hand tightly during the whole trip, their silence communicating more than words ever could.
The small building Jake led them to was old, but neat. Pieces of wood were stacked nicely near the door. The curtains were closed. They were safe, for the time being.
Rae could barely wait for the door to close before she fell onto the wooden seat inside, every part of her body shaking from the shock of what had just happened. Nyra stood in the doorway, her chest going up and down as she looked out into the shadows, as if still thinking someone would follow them.
Jake moved around them like a quiet protector, checking the windows, making the lock stronger, and turning on the old lights. "You'll be safe here," he said finally, breaking the silence. "Only I know about this place. My grandfather built it before the fight with the Moonspire group."
Rae looked up at him. "How long until the council finds us?"
Jake didn't answer right away. Instead, he bent down in front of her and put a hand on her shoulder. He looked gentle, tired, but also proud. "They'll try… but they won't find you before we're ready."
His words should have made her feel better, but Rae couldn't get rid of the worry growing inside her.
When Jake finally left, promising to bring things they needed the next morning, the small building became strangely quiet. Rae turned to Nyra, who hadn't moved. Her eyes were fixed on the trees lit by the moon through the cracked wooden window.
"Are you okay?" Rae asked quietly.
Nyra blinked, slowly turning to look at her. "I should be asking you that."
Rae tried to laugh a little, but it came out shaky. "I guess we both should be asking each other."
For a long time, they just looked at each other. Rae saw the same uncertainty reflected in Nyra's eyes, the disbelief, the fear, and a hint of something like guilt. But underneath it all, Rae saw love, the kind she didn't know she needed until now.
Nyra walked across the room, kneeling in front of her. "I meant it, Rae," she whispered. "Every step, every word. I chose you."
"I know," Rae whispered back, her voice breaking. "And I chose you."
Then they kissed gently, not with the passion of rebellion or desire, but with something deeper. It was the kind of kiss that said we're in this together, even if the world is falling apart around us.
They held each other through the night, curled up on the floor with only one blanket around them. The wind howled outside, and the trees creaked like old bones, but inside the building, Rae felt warmth, safety, and purpose.
And yet…
As Nyra slept peacefully next to her, Rae stared at the ceiling, unable to calm her thoughts.
Had she made the right choice?
She had believed it then, when she held Nyra's hand at the holy place, when she faced the council and went against what was normally done. Her feelings had never been more obvious than they were right then.
But now, away from all the commotion, in the quiet of being kicked out, uncertainty slowly came in like smoke under a closed door.
She thought about how Kade had looked at her before he turned away, There was so much sadness in his eyes then, He didn't yell at all, He didn't ask her to stay, He just looked at her.
A part of her was angry that she still cared about him. That even now, her heart hurt when she pictured the hurt look on his face.
But it wasn't really hurt, Not actually.
She had never promised him anything at all, The connection the group wanted, forced between the leader and best fighter, wasn't what she wanted, It was what they wanted, A simple story based on power, not love.
And Nyra…
Nyra had really seen her for who she was, She understood her strong personality and matched it with a calm strength, When Rae was about to give up, Nyra had helped her with only kind words and being there for her.
She thought about the group calling her a "monster", about how the older members' eyes were full of dislike. She could still hear them, talking quietly like snakes hiding in the grass.
Not normal, bad, shameful,
Rae made her hands into fists under the blanket.
Let them say what they want,
She didn't need to prove anything to people who never tried to understand her at all. Let them follow their family lines and old ways. She had chosen love, and if the Moon Goddess had really connected her soul to Nyra's, who were they to break it?
Still, the quiet bothered her, The thought that this being away might never stop, That the home she'd worked hard to protect might never be hers again at all.
Was this love strong enough to keep going while hiding?
Would Nyra ever feel bad about going through this hard time with her?
Rae turned her head to watch Nyra sleeping, The girl's eyelashes moved a little, her breathing steady and quiet, There was no fear on her face at all, No doubt, Only calm.
And suddenly, Rae understood,
She would deal with every punishment, Every time of being away, Every bad thing they said about her, Because this, this right here, was worth it all.
The world could be angry, Let it be.
She kissed Nyra's forehead softly and closed her eyes, letting herself fall asleep at last.