SOMETHING NEW BETWEEN THEM
The days that followed felt… different.
Not just peaceful.
Lighter.
The forest was alive again.
Warriors moved through the land rebuilding what had been lost—homes, borders, trust.
And somehow—
Aria found herself in the middle of it all.
Not as an outcast.
Not as a weapon.
But as someone people looked to.
Respected.
It still felt strange.
She stood near the river, watching the water flow quietly over smooth stones.
The sound was calming.
Grounding.
For once, her mind wasn’t filled with battle strategies or warnings of danger.
Just… thoughts.
Lucian.
She frowned slightly.
“…When did that start?”
“Talking to yourself now?”
She didn’t turn.
“You’ve been standing there for a while.”
Lucian stepped beside her, hands casually in his pockets.
“Wasn’t sure if I should interrupt.”
Aria smirked faintly.
“You just did.”
“Yeah,” he said, glancing at her.
“No regrets.”
Silence settled between them again.
But it wasn’t awkward.
Not like before.
The tension between them had changed.
Shifted into something quieter.
Something warmer.
Lucian leaned slightly against a nearby rock.
“You’ve been busy.”
Aria nodded.
“People keep asking questions.”
He raised a brow.
“About the Void?”
“About everything.”
She sighed softly.
“I don’t always have answers.”
Lucian shrugged.
“You don’t need to.”
Aria glanced at him.
“That’s easy for you to say.”
He met her gaze.
“No, it’s not.”
For a moment—
Something passed between them.
Unspoken.
But understood.
Aria looked away first.
Her fingers brushed lightly against the surface of the water.
“…Things are changing.”
Lucian followed her gaze.
“Yeah.”
“New alliances, new rules…”
She hesitated.
“New responsibilities.”
He tilted his head slightly.
“And new chances.”
Aria looked at him again.
“What do you mean?”
Lucian didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he pushed himself off the rock and stepped closer to her.
Not too close.
But closer than before.
“Everything’s not about survival anymore.”
His voice was quieter now.
“Which means…”
He paused.
Then finished softly.
“…we actually get to choose what we want.”
Aria’s breath slowed slightly.
“What we want…”
She repeated it like it was something unfamiliar.
Lucian nodded.
“For once.”
Silence stretched between them again.
But this time—
It felt heavier.
Not uncomfortable.
Just… full.
Rowan’s voice suddenly broke through the moment.
“Okay, I’ve officially decided something is going on here.”
Aria closed her eyes briefly.
“Of course you have.”
Rowan walked toward them with a grin.
“You two keep disappearing together.”
Lucian rolled his eyes.
“We’re standing by a river. Very suspicious.”
Rowan pointed between them.
“Exactly.”
Aria turned toward him.
“What do you want, Rowan?”
“Food.”
Lucian sighed.
“Of course.”
Rowan shrugged.
“And also—meeting.”
Aria frowned slightly.
“Another one?”
Rowan nodded.
“Apparently, the Alpha King wants to discuss something important.”
Lucian’s expression shifted slightly.
“Important how?”
Rowan’s grin faded just a bit.
“…Something about the boundary.”
Aria straightened.
“The Void?”
Rowan nodded.
“Yeah.”
“Well,” he added, forcing a smile again,
“peace didn’t last that long.”
Aria glanced at Lucian.
The moment from earlier faded slightly.
But not completely.
Something remained.
Something unspoken.
Lucian noticed.
He gave her a small nod.
“We’ll finish that conversation later.”
Aria’s lips curved faintly.
“…We better.”
Rowan looked between them again.
“I’m telling you—something is definitely going on.”
They both ignored him.
—
The clearing felt tense again.
Not like war.
But like anticipation.
The Alpha King stood at the center, his expression serious.
Elias stood beside him.
Aria stepped forward.
“What happened?”
The King didn’t waste time.
“The boundary moved.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“…Moved?”
Elias nodded.
“It expanded.”
A quiet ripple of unease passed through the group.
Lucian crossed his arms.
“That doesn’t sound good.”
Aria looked toward the distant shimmer.
The thin line between worlds.
It was faint from here.
But she could feel it.
Stronger than before.
“Why would it expand?” she asked.
The Alpha King’s gaze settled on her.
“That’s what we need to find out.”
Silence followed.
Then—
Aria spoke quietly.
“…Or something is trying to come through.”
The wind shifted again.
Cooler this time.
Carrying something unfamiliar.
Not darkness.
Not danger.
But something new.
And unknown.
Lucian stepped beside her.
“…Looks like peace comes with complications.”
Aria’s eyes stayed on the horizon.
“…Or consequences.”
_______________
STOP SCROLLING.
Yes… YOU. ??
You’ve been reading silently, screaming at my characters, catching feelings, getting angry… and yet, we’ve never actually talked.
Doesn’t that feel… wrong? ??
I’m done with that.
I want more than readers.
I want a circle. A space. A little chaos-filled family where we can be unfiltered, loud, and completely ourselves ????
So I created a private WhatsApp group… not for everyone, just for those who really want to be part of us.
And here’s the catch—
I can’t drop the link here.
So if you want in…
DROP YOUR NUMBER or send me a message privately ??
I’ll be the one adding you myself. Personally.
Inside?
?? Raw story discussions (even the crazy theories ??)
?? Real-time reactions and spoilers
?? A chance to promote your own stories/groups
?? And a space where you’re not just a reader… you matter
But don’t take too long…
Not everyone gets in ????
I’m watching. I’m waiting.
Are you coming… or staying silent? ??