Rhea.
Remus leads me through the dark, quiet hallways of the pack house, I feel his hand holding mine—firm but gentle.
His touch is warm, and though I don't know where he's taking me, I can't help but trust him. The silence around us feels dense, broken only by the soft rustle of our footsteps on the polished floor.
The shadows cast by the dim moonshine create strange patterns on the walls, making everything seem more mysterious, yet I find comfort in his presence. My emotions are all over the place, but his hand in mine is like an anchor, keeping me steady.
We move through the house without a word, the stillness almost eerie.
I steal a glance at him, trying to read his expression, but his face is calm, focused on something I can't quite figure out. The silence between us feels thick, but it's not uncomfortable. It's like there's an understanding that words aren't needed right now.
Still, my mind is racing with questions, my heart pounding in my chest. I don't know where we're going or why, but something in the way Remus is leading me—confident, sure—makes me want to trust him even more.
We finally reach a door at the far end of the hallway. Remus pauses for a moment, his eyes meeting mine. There's something in his gaze—something tender, almost protective—that makes my breath hitch. Without a word, he pushes the door open and leads me outside.
The cool night air hits my face, and I breathe it in deeply, trying to calm the swirl of emotions inside me. We're outside now, walking along a narrow path that winds through the trees.
The forest around us is dark and still, the only sound the soft crunch of leaves under our feet. The moonlight filters through the branches, casting a silver glow on everything. It's beautiful, in a quiet, almost haunting way.
Remus squeezes my hand gently, pulling me closer as we walk. I want to ask him where we're going, but something holds me back. Maybe it's the way he's holding me, or the way the night seems to wrap around us like a blanket, but I don't want to break the spell. Instead, I just follow him, trusting that wherever he's taking me, it's somewhere I need to be.
After what feels like forever, we reach a small clearing in the woods. My breath catches in my throat as I take in the sight before me. There, in the middle of the clearing, is a small, crystal-clear lake.
The moonlight dances on the water's surface, making it look like it's covered in tiny diamonds. Surrounding the lake are wildflowers of every color, their sweet scent filling the air. It's like something out of a dream, so beautiful and serene that it almost doesn't seem real.
Remus lets go of my hand and steps back, watching me as I take it all in. "I come here whenever I need to clear my head," he says softly, his voice breaking the silence. "I thought you might need it tonight."
I turn to look at him, my heart swelling with emotion. I can see the concern in his eyes, the way he's watching me so carefully, like he's trying to make sure I'm okay. It's overwhelming, the way he cares, and for a moment, I don't know what to say.
"It's beautiful," I finally whisper, my voice thick with unshed tears. "Thank you."
He steps closer, reaching out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear. His touch is gentle, his fingers brushing against my skin in a way that sends a shiver down my spine. "You've been through a lot," he murmurs, his voice low and soothing. "I wanted to give you a place where you could just… breathe."
I can't hold back the tears anymore. They spill over, running down my cheeks as I look up at him. "Why do you care so much?" I ask, my voice trembling.
Remus's expression softens, and he reaches out to wipe away my tears with his thumb. "Because I love you, Rhea," he says simply. "And I want you to be happy."
The words hit me like a punch to the gut, taking my breath away. He's said it before, but somehow, hearing it here, in this beautiful, secluded place, it feels different. More real. More… everything.
Before I can say anything, he pulls me into his arms, holding me close as I cry against his chest. His embrace is strong and comforting, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I let myself relax, let myself just… be.
We stay like that for a long time, wrapped up in each other, with only the sound of the wind in the trees and the soft ripple of the lake to keep us company. It's peaceful, and for the first time since arriving in Shadowclaw, I feel like maybe—just maybe—I can find a place here.
Finally, Remus pulls back, looking down at me with a small smile. "Come on," he says, taking my hand again. "There's more I want to show you."
He leads me around the edge of the lake, to a small, grassy spot under a tree. There, set up just for us, is a blanket with a basket of food and a bottle of wine. The sight of it takes my breath away.
"I thought we could use a little escape," Remus says, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Just the two of us."
I can't help but smile, the stiffness in my chest easing just a little. "You really went all out, didn't you?"
He chuckles, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Only the best for you."
He then leans in slowly, his eyes locked on mine, and before I knew it, his lips were on mine, warm and soft. I inhaled sharply, feeling the intensity of the moment as I kissed him back, my hands instinctively wrapping around his neck. My body moved on its own, shifting until I was hovering over him, every inch of me pressing against him.
The kiss deepened, our tongues meeting in a slow, deliberate dance. It felt like every touch, every brush of our lips was setting off sparks inside me. My heart raced, pounding so hard I could feel it in my chest, but I didn't want to stop. The way he kissed me, the way he made me feel-it was like nothing else mattered.
Our hands moved with a mind of their own, exploring, touching each other in just the right places. His fingers trailed down my back, leaving a trail of warmth in their wake, while my hands found their way into his hair, tangling in the soft strands. The feeling of his lips, his touch, the way his body responded to mine-it was overwhelming, but in the best way possible.
We were lost in the kiss, in each other, our breaths mingling as we moaned softly into each other's mouths. The world around us faded away, leaving only the heat between us, the undeniable connection that pulled us closer and closer until we were completely out of breath. Reluctantly, we pulled back, gasping for air, our foreheads resting against each other as we tried to catch our breath.
My chest rose and fell rapidly, my heart still racing from the intensity of it all. I was still on his lap, my body pressed tightly against his, and I could feel the way his heart was beating just as fast as mine. There was something about the way he looked at me in that moment, something that made my stomach flutter with a mix of nerves and excitement.
"I love kissing you," he murmured, his voice low and rough with desire. The words sent a shiver down my spine, making me feel warm all over. Before I could respond, his lips were on mine again, this time slower, more deliberate. He gently nibbled on my lower lip, coaxing a soft moan from me that I couldn't hold back.
His hand slipped under my shirt, his fingers brushing against my skin, making me gasp.
The sensation of his touch, so warm and tender, sent waves of pleasure through me. I arched into him, my hands gripping his hair tighter as I kissed him with everything I had.
Every kiss, every touch, every sound we made—it was like we were getting lost in each other all over again.
We kissed until our lips were sore, until we were both out of breath, gasping for air. But even then, we couldn't seem to stop. His hands roamed over my body, leaving a trail of fire wherever they touched, while I clung to him like he was the only thing keeping me grounded. The way he made me feel, like I was the only person in the world that mattered, was intoxicating.
Finally, we broke apart, both of us breathing heavily, our foreheads resting together once more. My skin was flushed, my lips tingling, and I couldn't help but smile as l looked at him, feeling a combination of contentment and longing. It was like every kiss, every touch, was pulling me deeper into him, making me crave more.
"I could kiss you forever," he whispered, his voice abundant with emotion, his breath warm against my lips. The way he looked at me, like I was his everything, made my heart swell with affection.
He pulled me closer, wrapping his arms around me as we settled back into each other, our breathing slowly returning to normal. But even as we sat there, wrapped up in each other, the memory of his kiss lingered, making me feel warm and sate in a way I hadn't felt in a long time. And as I rested my head against his shoulder, I knew that this was just the beginning of something deeper, something more powerful than I could have ever imagined.
"Something needs to be done about my mother," Remus said suddenly, his voice cutting through the comfortable silence. His words snapped me back to reality, reminding me of the chaos earlier. I had almost forgotten about it—Tessa accusing Aria of stealing, Elara shaming me and my family simply because I wasn't the Luna she wanted for her son. I sighed, trying to shake the thoughts away.
"I even talked some sense into Tessa earlier too," Remus mumbled, his hand moving in soothing circles on my back. His touch was comforting, but the pressure in my chest didn't ease.
"When is this going to end, please?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. I buried my face in the crook of his neck, inhaling his scent deeply. He always smelled so good, like fresh pine mixed with something uniquely him. The scent was intoxicating, and for a brief moment, I wanted to lose myself in it, to forget everything and just stay in his arms.
Remus sighed, his breath warm against my hair. "The annoying thing is, my father isn't even saying anything about this matter," he said, his irritation evident.
I pulled back slightly to look at him, my eyebrows furrowing. "Why is that?" I asked, my voice filled with genuine curiosity. I couldn't understand how the Alpha could remain silent while his family tore itself apart.
Remus hesitated for a moment, his gaze distant as if he was lost in thought. "My mother... she's always led everyone, especially my father," he began, his voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of bitterness. "She was more like the Alpha of the pack, even though my father held the title. He let her do whatever she pleased, always giving in to her wishes."
I listened carefully, my heart aching for him as he revealed this part of his life. I could hear the disturbance in his voice, see the way his jaw tightened as he spoke. This was clearly something that had bothered him for a long time.
"When she decided it was time for him to retire, he didn't resist. He stepped down as Alpha and handed the reins to me. But she thought she could still control everyone, including me," Remus continued, his tone growing more intense. "But I'm not like my father. I won't let her control me, especially when I know she's doing wrong."
His words hung in the air, heavy with the unspoken conflicts that had likely been brewing for years. I could see how much this weighed on him, how much he struggled with the expectations placed on him by his mother.
"Remus..." I whispered, reaching up to cup his face in my hands. He looked at me, his eyes filled with emotions, and something softer, something vulnerable that he rarely showed.
"I just want to protect you, Rhea," he said quietly, his voice raw. "But it feels like I'm constantly fighting a battle on all sides. My mother, Tessa, this entire pack... sometimes, it's overwhelming."
I nodded, understanding more than ever what he was going through. "I know it's not easy," I said, my thumb gently stroking his cheek. "But you don't have to do this alone. I'm here with you, Remus. We'll get through this together."
A small, almost sad smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "I'm not used to having someone stand by me like this," he admitted, his voice soft. "But it means everything to me that you're here, Rhea."
I leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. "We'll figure it out," I whispered against his mouth. "No matter what, we'll find a way."
For a moment, we just stayed like that, wrapped up in each other, letting the comfort of our connection relieve the tautness that had built up over the day.
But as much as I wanted to stay in this bubble with him, I knew we couldn't ignore the issues forever. Elara, Tessa, the pack—they weren't going to just go away. We would have to face them head-on, together.
"She thinks she can control everything," Remus said after a long pause, his voice more determined now. "But not us, Rhea. She won't control us."
I nodded with a soft smile. "We will find a way out," I agreed. "We'll make our own decisions, and we'll stand by them."
He smiled then, a real smile that made my heart flutter. "That's my girl," he murmured, pulling me closer. "We'll get through this. Together."