When the Moon No Longer Answers the Wolf Chapter 2

Her thoughts receded, leaving only a bitter emptiness in their wake.

She tore her gaze away and stood beneath a Moonglow Tree, unclasping the wolf-fang charm she had worn at her hip since she was a hundred years old—the first gift Kaelen had ever given her.

This tree, too, had been his doing. He had transplanted it from the Fae Lands to the courtyard just because she liked it.

She had once poured out her heart to him under these very branches.

But it had all been for nothing.

Now that she was leaving, it was time to pack her things and erase every trace of herself from Blackwood Manor.

Back in her room, Aurora silently gathered the objects that were monuments to her brazen, unrequited love for Kaelen.

The wolf-fang charm she had woven herself, the dagger sheath she had carved for him, and the hundred or so letters she had written.

She remembered how her hands, used to holding a sword, had been pricked and bloodied from weaving the charm.

Kaelen had tossed it into the fireplace without a second glance.

In the dead of winter, she had pulled it from the hot ashes with her bare hands. When she looked up, he was already gone.

Without hesitation, Aurora placed them all into a wooden box.

Finally, she found a painting.

It was from the anniversary of her parents' death. Kaelen, trying to cheer her up, had taken her to the human world to have it painted.

In the portrait, he was looking at her with such tenderness. Back then, he truly had cherished her.

But now, the memories were like spinning blades, cutting deep into her heart.

Kaelen had shown her what it felt like to be loved, and then he had shown her exactly what it felt like to have that love torn away.

*Thud.*

Aurora slammed the box shut, sealing away her foolish, stubborn love along with it.

That night, she slept fitfully.

In her dreams, she was back in the last great war. Snow covered the ground, and the entire Silvermoon territory was stained red with the blood of her parents and her pack.

She stood in the middle of it all, wailing, pushing at her parents' lifeless bodies. "Father, Mother, wake up…"

A torrential rain poured down on her, but there was no one to shield her.

Kaelen, dressed in black, walked past, his gaze sweeping over her with cold indifference before he moved on. There was no pity.

He didn't pull her into his arms. He didn't whisper words of comfort.

Aurora woke with a gasp, tears streaming down her face.

What if her dream had been real? What if Kaelen hadn't taken her in all those years ago? Would their bond have ever grown so deep?

Would he have ever taken root in her heart, growing there for all these years?

Aurora shook her head, forcing the thoughts away.

After washing up, she walked into the courtyard. Thinking she might never return, she decided to visit the ruins of the Silvermoon territory to pay respects to her parents.

To her surprise, Kaelen was standing in the courtyard.

She paused, gave him a slight nod, and then started to walk past him in silence.

This was completely unlike her.

Even after he had turned cold, she would always rush to his side every time she saw him.

But now, their shared senses told Kaelen that Aurora’s heart was unnervingly calm.

He frowned, unsettled by the sudden change in her.

He couldn't stop himself from calling out, "Where are you going?"

It had been so long since Kaelen had shown any concern for her.

Aurora froze, her lips tightening. "I have things to do…"

Kaelen paused, his frown deepening.

Before he could say more, Seraphina emerged from the main house.

At the sight of her, Aurora’s breath hitched—Seraphina was wearing Kaelen’s cloak.

"Kaelen!" She walked straight to him, sparing a moment to greet Aurora. "Are you going out, Aurora?"

Aurora didn’t answer. A second later, Kaelen’s icy gaze shot toward her. "Aurora, why don’t you respond? How many times have I taught you…"

Aurora lowered her eyes and cut him off. "Hello, Seraphina."