The forest around them felt different now. Less menacing. Maybe it was because they had come to an uneasy understanding, but as they walked together—Aurora, Kael, and Dorian—it felt like the weight of the world had shifted just slightly. For the first time in a while, Aurora didn't feel entirely alone in this strange, dangerous world of wolves.
They had been traveling for hours, the night stretching on like an endless road. Kael, ever watchful, kept his eyes on their surroundings, while Dorian seemed more relaxed, though Aurora could tell he was still thinking about something. His words from earlier echoed in her mind—about his past, about the things he had done—and it left her with more questions than answers.
"How much further?" Kael asked, breaking the silence. His voice was steady, but there was a hint of frustration beneath the surface.
Dorian glanced over his shoulder, his golden eyes gleaming faintly in the dim light. "Not much. We're almost there."
Aurora's feet ached from the long journey, but she didn't complain. They had to keep moving. They had no choice. The longer they stayed in the open, the more likely Ashar's forces would find them. That thought alone was enough to keep her from slowing down.
"I still don't understand why we're doing this," Aurora said, her voice soft, almost to herself. "I mean… working with Dorian's pack. Why trust them?"
Kael glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "We don't have a choice. We need allies, even if they're not the ones we want."
"I know," she said. "But it's hard. It's hard to trust someone who's from a rival pack. Someone who—" She stopped herself. Dorian's past had shaken her more than she wanted to admit. She didn't want to seem weak, especially in front of him.
Dorian slowed down and turned to face them. "You're right. You have every reason not to trust me. I can't change that. But trust isn't something that happens overnight. It's built, piece by piece." He paused, his eyes flicking between Kael and Aurora. "It's about choices. And right now, we have to choose whether to fight Ashar together or lose everything."
Aurora met his gaze. There was sincerity in his eyes, though she couldn't tell if it was enough. Kael didn't say anything, but she could feel his gaze on her as well, like he was waiting for her to say something.
"How do we even know we can trust you?" she asked, the question slipping out before she could stop it. She regretted it the moment the words left her mouth, but it was too late.
Dorian's expression softened. "I understand your doubt. Believe me, I do. But you have to understand something—Ashar is a threat to everyone, not just you, not just Kael. We're all at risk."
Aurora studied him for a long moment, unsure of what to think. Could they really trust him? Could they trust anyone in this world?
"Look," Dorian continued, his voice quieter now, "I'm not asking you to forget what I've done. I'm asking you to see that sometimes, we have to make hard choices. Choices that might not feel right in the moment but are necessary to survive."
Aurora felt a chill in her chest. She could see the truth in his words. They weren't just fighting for survival anymore. They were fighting for something bigger—a future where they weren't ruled by fear, where they could take control of their own destiny.
"We can't stop now," Kael said, his voice firm. "Not when we're this close."
They were getting closer, Aurora realized. Closer to Dorian's pack. Closer to something that could change everything. But she still wasn't sure what to expect.
Dorian turned and kept walking, his pace steady, but this time there was something different about him. His steps were more deliberate, and his posture had shifted. There was a quiet strength about him now, something more than just the dangerous wolf she had seen earlier.
As they walked, Dorian spoke again, his voice low. "Trust is fragile. I know that better than anyone. But sometimes, you have to take a leap of faith. You have to give people a chance to show you who they really are."
Aurora wasn't sure if he was talking about himself or about Kael, or even about her. But his words lingered in her mind, and for the first time in a long while, she felt the weight of the world lift just a little bit.
The sun had started to rise by the time they reached their destination—a small clearing surrounded by dense trees. In the center of the clearing was a campfire, still smoldering from the night before. A few wolves were scattered around, their eyes watching them as they approached.
Dorian's presence seemed to settle the camp. The wolves stood up, their movements slow and deliberate, but there was no hostility in the air. They were just… waiting.
"This is my pack," Dorian said, his voice calm but commanding. "I know you're not comfortable with this, but you'll need to trust them if we're going to fight Ashar."
Aurora looked around at the wolves. Some were lounging near the fire, others sharpening weapons or making small talk. But they all seemed to watch her, their eyes intense, as if judging her worth.
"I don't know if I can," she whispered to Kael, her voice barely audible.
Kael gave her a sharp look, his hand brushing against hers. "We have to. This is the only way."
She nodded, but her heart was heavy. How could she trust them? How could she trust anyone anymore?
Dorian stepped forward, his voice rising. "I know you don't like it. But we don't have time for hesitation. Ashar's forces are growing, and they won't stop until we're all dead. If we're going to stand a chance, we need to unite, even if it's only for this moment."
One of the wolves, a tall, scarred male, stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he assessed Kael and Aurora. He had a deep, gravelly voice. "What makes you think we'll fight with you, Dorian? You've been out for yourself for so long, and now you expect us to follow you?"
Dorian's gaze hardened. "I don't expect you to follow me. I'm asking you to fight for your survival. We're not just fighting for ourselves anymore. Ashar will tear everything apart. He's not just after the throne. He's after control. And if we don't stop him now, we won't have anything left to fight for."
The wolf, whose name was Tarek, seemed to think about it for a moment, his eyes shifting to the others around the camp. One by one, the wolves looked at each other, and then back to Dorian.
Finally, Tarek spoke. "Fine. We'll help. But don't think for a second that we're doing this for you. We're doing this because we have no other choice."
Dorian gave a slight nod. "That's all I'm asking for."
Aurora looked at Kael, who seemed to relax just slightly, though the tension in his body was still palpable. This was a turning point. They had made it this far, and now they had to trust that these wolves would honor their word.
Dorian turned to Aurora then, his eyes softer now. "We may not be friends, but if you want to survive, we have to stick together."
Aurora took a deep breath and nodded. She wasn't sure if she was ready to trust them, but she knew one thing for sure—this was the only way they were going to have a chance against Ashar.
She was no longer just a princess in a castle. She was part of something much bigger now. And if she wanted to survive, she had to learn how to build bridges, not just trust.
They were all in this together, whether they liked it or not.
And with that, the fragile bridge of trust between them had been built, one shaky step at a time.