Chapter 4: The Forbidden Love

Building Bridges

Aria stood at the edge of the clearing, searching the starry woodland for any sign of Kael, her pulse racing in her chest. She was aware of the risk they were courting by meeting in secret, so she was anxious at every sound of the leaves rustling and the wind whispering. I shouldn't have her here. Neither of them ought to be here.

But there was no denying the draw.

It was unlike anything she had ever felt. Something more profound than instinct or desire—a magnetic force pulled at her entire soul—it was the tie. However, the fact that it was banned simply served to intensify the allure of their relationship.

She felt a sense of relief when Kael appeared from the shadows and locked eyes with her. They were silent for a while. They weren't obliged to. A period of intense stillness occurred during which all of their emotions could be read in one glance: dread, yearning, and the weird, thrilling sensation of challenging all they had ever known.

Are you certain of this? Kael came up to her, his voice gentle and almost timid.

Aria said, her voice wavering a little, "I don't know." "But I can't avoid you."

The smell of dirt and pine clung to him as he took a step closer. "I cannot either."

Authentic Talks

Aria and Kael sought solace in the peaceful hours under the cover of darkness, away from prying eyes and the ongoing tension of their tribes. The bluster and animosity they displayed in public faded away in their private sessions, exposing them as raw and made available to one another.

As they slept side by side beneath the stars one evening, Kael turned to look at her, his eyes softening. Have you ever wondered what would have occurred in a different situation? If we had not been raised in competing clans?

Aria gasped for air. She was too terrified of the what-ifs to let herself consider it. Now that I was sleeping next to him, though, the question seemed obvious. Maybe things would have turned out differently when we met. Perhaps we might have been free to love without all of this "—between us," she said, gesturing to the large forest that surrounded them and symbolized the weight of their split worlds.

With their fingers gently entwining, as though to test the strength of the flimsy tie they were forging, Kael's hand brushed against hers. It's peculiar, is it not? How destiny operates. The one person suited for me out of everyone in the world is someone I ought to despise.

Squeezing his hand, Aria said, "I could say the same." I don't detest you, though. I am unable to.

Her words carried vulnerability, and Kael felt something deep inside him give way, and the barriers he had spent his whole life constructing started to come down. "I cannot either."

They talked about their early years, their anxieties, and their dreams. Kael admitted that he had always felt pressure to be the leader and the ideal member of his clan, and that meeting Aria had caused him to reevaluate everything he had taken for granted.

Aria shared her personal anxieties of failing and never being sufficient for her family or herself as individuals. But she didn't have to be flawless to be with Kael. All she had to do was be herself.

Joyful Moments

There was joy and passion in their stolen moments. Between their thoughtful exchanges, they discovered happiness in the small things—things that neither of them had ever freely experienced before. Being with someone who recognized the responsibility of their duties yet provided a moment of temporary respite from them felt freeing in some way.

They happened to stumble onto a secret lake one evening, with the surface of the water reflecting the silver moon. Releasing his shoes and plunging into the refreshing water, Kael flashed a rare, cheeky smile. "Come on," he beckoned, his eyes shining with playfulness. "You're too afraid, I bet."

Aria folded her arms, acting like you're not impressed. "Afraid? Of what kind? Getting wet on my feet?

"Of losing," he shot her in the face with a water splash.

"Oh, you're right on!" With a giggle, she removed her shoes and dove into the water after him.

As they raced one another into the lake, splashing and taunting, their troubles were briefly forgotten, and their laughter resounded throughout the forest. Upon their eventual demise on the beach, drenched and panting, Kael surprised Aria by gazing at her with an unexpected warmth.

"You know, I don't think I've ever been this happy," he remarked, his voice growing lower.

His remarks made Aria's heart race. "Neither am I."

That's when she understood that these times with Kael were special, even if they were dangerous, and there was always a chance they might be discovered more content than she had ever been. Their forbidden romance was pure and something worth fighting for, despite everything else.

A Lovely, Prohibited Romance

Even though their nights together were short, they were always priceless, full of whispered vows, secret kisses, and the exhilaration of knowing they were defying social conventions. The danger around them made every touch, look, and grin feel even more intense.

But their relationship just got stronger and more unshakable with each encounter. A werewolf and his mate had become more than just that. Something far bigger than their clans or the customs that attempted to keep them apart united these two souls.

Laying beneath the stars, Kael's arm around her, and her Aria leaned her head against his chest and said, "Do you think we'll ever be free to love each other openly?" in a whisper.

Kael softly caressed her hair with her fingertips. "I'm not sure. I will fight for you no matter what, though I am certain of that. For us.

Aria felt her heart race at what he said. Loving someone so intensely in a world that wouldn't let it happen was terrible. But she realized at that moment that Kael was worth the chance. The risk was worthwhile for them.

And for a little moment, as they slept asleep under the moonlight, Aria gave herself permission to think that their love was stronger than all obstacles.