Days passed quietly, with the sound of birds in the trees and the crackling of the fire in our cabin. Asher and I had found our peace, the world outside feeling miles away. We spent our days in the woods, exploring, walking hand in hand, talking about everything and nothing. There was something magical about our little life here, away from all the chaos, away from the world that had once tried to tear us apart.
Asher would disappear into the woods at night, hunting for us. I could never get used to the way he moved—his steps silent, like he was one with the forest, his senses sharper than anything I could imagine. When he returned, he'd always have a smile for me, his eyes glowing with something wild, something untamable. And in those moments, I could feel my heart beat faster, knowing that I had found something special, something worth fighting for.
But even in this place of peace, something didn't feel right. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched. I'd see quick shadows between the trees, hear things in the wind that didn't belong. Every time I tried to push it aside, it would come back, stronger, more urgent. And it wasn't just my imagination.
That night, after another beautiful evening spent watching the sun set together, the feeling returned. I tried to ignore it, tried to tell myself that it was nothing, but my stomach twisted with unease.
Asher had gone out hunting. The air was thick with the smell of damp earth, the sky painted with stars. I waited for him, but the minutes stretched on, then hours. I tried to distract myself, but my thoughts kept racing, my mind full of worry.
Something was wrong. I could feel it in my bones.
I couldn't wait any longer. I grabbed my jacket and stepped outside, calling out his name into the night. "Asher? Asher!" My voice echoed through the trees, but there was no reply.
I started walking, my feet heavy with dread, the shadows growing longer and deeper with each step. My heart was pounding in my chest, louder than anything around me. I called his name again, but still no answer. The forest seemed too quiet. Too still.
And then, I saw him.
He was lying on the ground, his body twisted in a way that made my stomach lurch. Blood was smeared across his clothes, his face pale.
"Asher!" I screamed, running to him, my breath catching in my throat. I dropped to my knees beside him, my hands trembling as I touched his face. "Oh, my God, Asher. What happened? Are you okay?"
He opened his eyes slowly, and for a moment, I couldn't tell if he even recognized me. His pupils were wide, filled with pain, and yet there was something in them—something that made my heart break.
"Emilia," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "I'm sorry... I was ambushed."
His words were like a punch to the gut. "By who? Who did this to you?" I asked, my voice cracking, my hands shaking as I tried to help him sit up.
His eyes darkened. "The Hunters... They found us."
The world seemed to freeze. The Hunters. I had heard whispers about them, but never thought they would come this close. Never thought they'd hurt him. They'd been chasing us for so long, but I thought we were safe here. In our little world, I thought we were untouchable.
But now I knew. The danger was real.
I could feel panic rising in me, threatening to take over. "No," I whispered, shaking my head. "No, we were supposed to be safe. We—"
Asher grabbed my hand, his grip tight, his fingers cold but firm. "We'll fight back, Emilia," he said, his voice low but steady. "We'll take them down. Together."
I looked into his eyes, and I saw that fire again—the one that burned so brightly, that never let anything stand in his way. He was hurt, barely able to sit up, but the determination in him never wavered.
And in that moment, I knew. No matter what happened next, we would face it together. We would survive it together.
I helped him to his feet, supporting him as we walked back to the cabin. The world outside was still dangerous, but inside, with him beside me, I felt safe. As we reached the cabin, I guided him inside, my heart aching with worry. I didn't want to see him like this—broken, hurt. The man I loved, the one who had always been so strong, so fierce, now seemed so fragile.
But even in this moment, when everything seemed impossible, I couldn't stop myself from feeling the love that burned in my chest.
He sank onto the couch, wincing from the pain, and I knelt beside him, gently cleaning the blood from his face. "I hate seeing you like this," I whispered, my hands trembling as I worked.
Asher reached up, cupping my face in his hand, his touch so soft, so tender. "I'm sorry you have to," he said, his voice low, filled with emotion. "But I'm not going anywhere. Not without you."
His words broke me. I leaned down, pressing my lips to his, soft at first, then deeper as the heat between us grew. His lips tasted of blood, of pain, but the love in his kiss made everything else disappear.
"I love you," I whispered against his lips. "I'll never leave you."
His hands tangled in my hair as he pulled me closer, his body warm against mine. "I love you too," he breathed, his voice rough with need. "Always."
In that moment, I knew that no matter what the future held, we would face it together. The Hunters, the dangers, everything. We would survive. And I would never let him go.
As I pulled away, I looked at him, my heart full of love and determination. "We'll fight them, Asher. We'll fight for our future. For us."
He nodded, his eyes full of that same fire. "Together. Always."
And as we sat there, wrapped in each other's arms, I knew we had no choice but to fight. For our love, for our life, for everything we had.