Old stories

Greg’s POV

I hesitated, glancing around to make sure no one was within earshot. I lowered my voice, the weight of my brother’s words still pressing heavily on my chest. “He knows, Anna. Or at least, he suspects. He saw me sneaking back to the palace last night and stopped me in the garden. Told me he knew what I was doing and warned me to stop before someone gets hurt.”

Anna’s face paled, and I could see the flicker of fear in her eyes. She took a step closer, her voice barely above a whisper. “What are you going to do? Does he know about…us?”

I shook my head, though I wasn’t entirely sure. “I don’t think he knows the full extent, but he’s not stupid. He’s paranoid and constantly looking for any reason to get rid of me. If he finds out that we’re together, he’ll use it against us. Against you.”

Anna bit her lip, her expression conflicted. She reached out, resting a hand on my arm. “I’m sorry, Greg. I never wanted to put you in this position. I just… I didn’t expect any of this. I didn’t expect to care this much.”

I placed my hand over hers, feeling the warmth of her touch. “None of this is your fault, Anna. It’s my brother’s game, and he’s playing it to win. But we can’t give him any ammunition. That’s why we have to be careful.”

She nodded, her eyes meeting mine with a mixture of resolve and sadness. “I understand. It’s just…I hate having to hide. It feels wrong.”

I sighed, understanding her frustration. “I hate it too. But until we figure out how to deal with him, we have to be smart about this. He won’t hesitate to use you to get to me.”

Anna’s shoulders slumped slightly, but she forced a small smile. “I guess this is just another part of the story, huh? The secret romance between the wolf prince and the fox spy. It’s like something out of one of those old tales I heard growing up.”

Her attempt at humor lightened the mood, and I found myself chuckling despite the gravity of the situation. “Old tales? I’d like to hear about those.”

Anna’s smile widened, and she settled down on a nearby bench, patting the spot next to her. “Alright, but don’t laugh too hard. My grandmother used to tell me all these wild stories when I was a kid. About forbidden love, kingdoms at war, and heroes fighting against impossible odds.”

I sat beside her, intrigued. “Sounds familiar.”

Anna nodded, her eyes distant as she recalled the memories. “There was one story she used to tell me all the time. About a fox spirit who fell in love with a wolf warrior. They were enemies, bound by duty to destroy each other, but they couldn’t resist the pull between them. The fox was clever and mischievous, always one step ahead, and the wolf was strong and noble, determined to do what was right.”

I smiled at the thought. “And I’m guessing it didn’t end well for them.”

Anna laughed softly, a bittersweet sound. “No, it didn’t. They tried to keep their love hidden, but eventually, they were discovered. The fox’s clan turned on her, and the wolf’s pack hunted them down. In the end, they were forced to make a choice—betray each other or die together.”

I could see the sadness in her eyes as she spoke, and I knew she was thinking of us. The parallels were too obvious to ignore. “Which did they choose?”

“They chose each other,” Anna said, her voice barely a whisper. “But it came at a cost. They lost everything—home, family, everything they had fought to protect. But they were together, and in the end, that was enough for them.”

We sat in silence for a moment, the weight of her words settling between us. I could see the flicker of doubt in her eyes, the fear that our story might end the same way. But I refused to believe that. We were different. We had to be.

“I won’t let that happen to us,” I said firmly, my hand squeezing hers. “I don’t care what Cole throws at us. We’ll find a way to make this work.”

Anna’s gaze softened, and she leaned her head against my shoulder. “You always make it sound so easy.”

I smiled, though I knew it was anything but. “It’s not. But I’ve faced worse odds before. We just have to be smarter, stronger. And if my brother thinks he can intimidate us, he’s in for a surprise.”

She chuckled, the sound light and reassuring. “You’re right. I’ve seen you in battle—I know you’re not someone to mess with.”

“And neither are you,” I added, nudging her playfully. “Don’t forget that. You’re not just some spy. You’re Anna. The girl who faced down a prince and didn’t back down.”

Anna laughed, her spirits lifting. “That’s one way to put it.”

We sat there for a while longer, talking about nothing and everything—our dreams, our fears, the impossible future we both wanted but didn’t dare to speak aloud.

She told me more stories from her childhood, about her family and the fox clan that she had been forced to leave behind. I listened, hanging on to every word, trying to piece together the puzzle of the woman sitting next to me.

She told me about her brother, held hostage by Cole’s command, and how she had been forced into the role of a spy.

The anger in her voice was high, and I felt a familiar surge of rage at my brother’s manipulations. He had hurt so many people, twisted so many lives to fit his plans. But Anna’s story felt personal—it was a reminder of just how far Cole would go to maintain control.

“It’s strange,” Anna mused, her voice thoughtful. “Growing up, I always dreamed of escaping the expectations of my clan. I wanted adventure, freedom…something more than the life that was planned for me. But now, I’d give anything to go back. To have that simple life again.”

I nodded, understanding all too well. “I used to dream of freedom too. But every step away from my brother’s shadow feels like it’s pulling me deeper into his games.”

Anna looked at me, her eyes filled with empathy. “We’re trapped, aren’t we? By our pasts, by our families. By everything we never chose.”

I turned to her, taking her hand in mine. “Maybe. But that doesn’t mean we can’t change it. We have each other now. That’s something worth fighting for.”

She smiled, squeezing my hand. “You really believe that?”

I leaned in closer, my forehead resting against hers. “I do. And I promise, no matter what happens, I’m not going to lose you. Not to my brother, not to anyone.”

For a moment, it felt like time stood still. The world outside the training grounds, the palace politics, the looming threats—all of it faded into the background. It was just us, tangled in a story that was far from perfect but ours all the same. And as long as we had each other, I knew we could face whatever came next.

We stood up, hand in hand, ready to face the day. There were no guarantees, no promises that we could keep this secret forever.

We would write our own story—one where the fox and the wolf didn’t have to hide. And no matter how dangerous the road ahead became, we would face it together.