The rain began to fall—sharp, cold droplets. Esther looked at the two men, each offering a form of deadly love.
Samuel offered a life of constant risk, anchored by honest, powerful love. Fortune offered a dangerous partnership, driven by a cold, compelling secret that could free Samuel, but at what cost to the world?
Esther walked past Samuel's protective stance and stopped directly in front of Fortune. She looked at his pale, beautiful face, the eyes that held centuries of secrets.
"You promise me freedom, Fortune," she said, her voice steady. "But freedom that comes from control is still a cage. I choose the honesty of the struggle."
She reached out and gently pushed the antique book from his grasp. It fluttered to the wet ground.
Then, she turned back to Samuel, stepping fully into the circle of his powerful, pine-scented warmth. She wrapped her arms around his waist, holding him tightly.
Samuel's relief was immediate. He held her close, his arms shaking slightly.
Fortune watched them, a flicker of pure rage in his eyes before it was masked by his usual icy amusement. "So be it. The shadow will wait for the day the wolf fails to control his savage heart."
He gave a slight, formal bow, then vanished into the sheeting rain, silent and swift.
Esther clung to Samuel. The storm broke fully, but in the circle of the wolf's embrace, she felt utterly safe. Their love was a bond, a difficult pact with the supernatural world. It was a commitment forged in danger, warmer and stronger than any high school romance.