Exiled

They stood together for a long time, wrapped in the quiet stillness of the forest. The world around them seemed to fade, leaving only the soft sounds of the wind in the trees and the steady rhythm of their breathing. The moment of peace felt fragile, as though the slightest movement or word might shatter it, and neither was eager to let it go.

Kael finally broke the silence, his voice low and contemplative. "I don't know what the gods are thinking," he said, while glancing up at the sky, as if he could see them. "But at least now I know why I couldn't stay away from you."

Nova tilted her head, a spark of amusement lighting her golden eyes. "Couldn't stay away from me?" she teased, her lips twitching into a faint smile. "That's a little dramatic, don't you think?"

Kael glanced down at her, the corner of his mouth tugging upward in a reluctant grin. "Oh, you think it's funny, do you?"

"A little," she admitted, her laughter soft but genuine. "You're usually so stoic and mysterious, and now you're telling me you were drawn to me by divine intervention? It's kind of adorable."

Kael groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Adorable? That's not exactly the image I was going for."

Nova grinned, her teasing expression softening as she reached out to touch his arm. "I'm just saying… it's nice to know I'm not the only one who felt it."

Kael's gaze softened, and he reached for her hand, his fingers brushing against hers. "You're not," he said quietly. "I felt it from the moment I saw you. Even when I told myself to stay away, I couldn't."

Nova studied him, her amusement fading into something deeper. "Why did you try to stay away?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kael's jaw tightened, his amber eyes darkening. "Because I didn't think I could protect you. Because I've already failed before."

Nova frowned, her chest tightening. "What do you mean?"

He hesitated, his hand dropping to his side. For a moment, she thought he might brush her off, but then he exhaled heavily and gestured for her to sit. "You deserve to know," he said finally, his voice tinged with regret. "But it's not an easy story to tell."

Nova sank onto a fallen log, watching as Kael remained standing, pacing restlessly. His shoulders were tense, his movements rigid as he began to speak.

"I was born into a family like most cubs," Kael began, his voice low and distant, as though he were speaking to the trees more than to her. "Loved, cherished. My parents doted on me, and my older siblings—two brothers—never let me forget I was the runt of the litter. It was a good life, simple and safe."

He paused, his jaw tightening as he stared into the distance. "But nothing stays simple forever. One day, I went out to the woods near our village to play. I was young, eager to explore, and I wandered farther than I should have. When I came back, the air was heavy with smoke. The ground was wet with blood. My family… my pack… they were gone."

Nova's breath hitched. "What happened?"

"Hunters," Kael said, the word laced with venom. "Not Shadowmarks, not at first. Ordinary humans. They discovered what we were and saw us as monsters. They came in the night, armed and organized. My parents fought to protect the pack, but they were outnumbered. I wasn't there to help. I wasn't there to say goodbye."

Nova's heart clenched at the raw pain in his voice, but she stayed silent, letting him continue.

"I ran," Kael said, his voice steadier now, though the tension in his shoulders spoke of a pain that hadn't lessened over the years. "What else could I do? I was a cub with no one left, no home, no direction. I thought I'd die out there, alone in the wilderness. But then… he found me."

"Who?" Nova asked softly.

"An old wolf," Kael said, a faint smile tugging at his lips, though it didn't reach his eyes. "His name was Ingram, he was a wanderer, an outcast in his own way. He saw me for what I was—scared, broken, and desperate to survive. He took me in, taught me what it meant to be wolf. How to hunt, how to defend myself, how to control the change. He became… everything. A mentor, a father figure, even a friend."

"What happened to him?" Nova's voice was barely above a whisper.

Kael's expression darkened, the faint smile vanishing. "The Shadowmarks happened. They discovered what he was and marked him for elimination. He was older, slower, but he still fought like hell to stay free. They didn't kill him quickly, though. They wanted information—about me, about others like us. He was tortured Nova. By the time I found him, it was too late."

Nova's breath caught, her heart aching at the raw pain in his voice. "Kael…"

"I found out too late," he continued, his voice hardening. "By the time I reached him, there was nothing left to save. The ones responsible thought they'd gotten away with it. Thought they could just move on to their next victim."

"But you didn't let them," Nova said, understanding dawning in her eyes.

Kael nodded, his jaw tight. "I hunted the one responsible down. A man who was rich, powerful, and untouchable by human laws. But he wasn't untouchable by me. I didn't just kill him—I made it clear to his kind that there would be consequences for what they did."

Nova shivered at the cold fury in his tone. "And that's why you were exiled?"

Kael turned to face her, his eyes filled with a mix of defiance and guilt. "Yes. The Shadowmarks aren't just anyone—they're influential people. Politicians, celebrities, wealthy elites. People whose disappearances draw attention. The pack had to clean up my mess, covering up his death to protect our world from exposure. My actions endangered all of us, and for that, they cast me out."

Nova's hands tightened on her knees. "But what you did… it wasn't wrong. You were avenging someone you cared about."

"Maybe," Kael said quietly, his expression softening. "But vengeance doesn't come without a price. I was reckless, Nova. I let my anger blind me to the bigger picture, and others paid for it."

Nova stood, crossing the distance between them. "You did what you thought was right. And if they couldn't see that, then they don't deserve your loyalty."

Kael's gaze searched hers, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his features. "So, it doesn't disgust you? Knowing what I've done—that I killed someone?"

Nova's expression softened, though her voice carried a grim edge. "How could it? When you found me, I'd just killed my own parents. Maybe it's not the same, but I'm no stranger to death." She paused,"What you did wasn't wrong. If anything, they should be looking to you as an example. You fought for someone who mattered to you. That's more than most can say."

His gaze softened, and he reached for her hand, pulling her closer. "You're impossible," he murmured, his voice warm.

Nova smiled, her heart steady as she met his gaze. "And exactly what you need," she said simply.