Chapter 47

The moonlight transformed the forest into a world of silver and shadow, every branch and leaf shimmering under its glow. I tightened my cloak around me, the chill of the night biting at my skin. My heart raced, both from the thrill of sneaking out and the fear of what I might find.
The full moon procession.
I’d heard whispers about it—sacred, forbidden, a time when the wolves embraced their true forms under the moon’s watchful eye. It wasn’t meant for my eyes, they’d said. But the mystery had been too enticing to resist. I wanted to see Rowan, I wanted to see what the procession looked like. It was all part of the intelligence that I was supposed to be gathering to bring down his whole kingdom. So I had to do it.
The closer I got, the quieter the world became. Even the crickets seemed to hush as though they, too, were reverent. I crept through the trees, every step deliberate, my breath shallow. Then, I saw them.
My breath caught in my throat.
They moved together in the clearing, wolves of every colour and size, their coats gleaming like silk in the moonlight. Their howls filled the air, haunting and beautiful, as though they were singing to something ancient and powerful. It was mesmerizing, otherworldly.
They would have smelled me but like I had been taught I had covered myself in a particular powder, one that would make them miss my smell. It would also allow me remain unseen.
I was feeling so confident that I would not be seen until I was.
I barely noticed the stick under my foot and it snapped with a loud crack.
The sound echoed like a warning shot. My stomach dropped as one of the wolves broke away from the pack.
It was enormous, its silver-gray coat glinting like liquid starlight. Its amber eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe.
I took a shaky step back, but my foot caught on a root. I tumbled to the ground, my cloak tangling around me. I was exposed now, helpless. My pulse thundered in my ears as the wolf approached, its steps slow and deliberate.
“Stay calm,” I whispered, though I wasn’t sure who I was trying to convince.
The wolf stopped a few paces away, tilting its massive head. There was something in its eyes, something... familiar.
“Rowan?” The name fell from my lips before I even realized I’d spoken.
The wolf blinked, and my heart stumbled. It took another step forward, sniffing the air between us. Then, to my utter astonishment, it lowered its head and nudged my outstretched hand.
I froze, my breath catching. Its fur was impossibly soft and warm under my fingers. A strange, electric sensation ran through me as I dared to stroke its neck. It didn’t pull away.
“You... you recognise me,” I whispered, my voice trembling with awe.
The wolf made a low, soft sound—not a growl, but something gentler. Understanding. Agreement.
I should have been terrified. This was no ordinary wolf; this was a creature of power, of legend. But I wasn’t afraid. Instead, I felt... safe. Protected.
“I shouldn’t be here,” I murmured, guilt prickling at the edges of my thoughts.
The wolf didn’t move. It stayed by my side, its amber eyes watching me with a quiet intensity that made my chest tighten. It felt like it was trying to tell me something, though I couldn’t understand what.
Minutes passed, or maybe hours. Time seemed to stretch and blur in the moonlit forest. I wanted to stay there forever, connected to this creature in a way I couldn’t explain.
But the wolf finally turned, glancing toward the procession in the distance. I knew it had to go, and yet, when it looked back at me one last time, I felt an ache in my chest I couldn’t name.
And then it was gone, disappearing into the shadows of the trees.
I sat there for a long time, staring at the place where it had stood. My fingers still tingled from the feel of its fur, and my mind swirled with questions. What had just happened?
Rowan's wolf recognized me and for some reason, I was sure it recognized me, Ariadne. The real me, not the new persona that I was forced to put on.

...............

Back in the castle, the grand halls felt colder than usual, their polished stone floors and towering walls echoing with silence. My footsteps barely made a sound as I wandered aimlessly, still wrapped in the cloak I had worn to sneak out. My mind was a tangled mess of thoughts, replaying every detail of my encounter with the wolf. With him.
Rowan.
The way he’d looked at me, the way he’d stayed by my side instead of driving me away like he should have—it didn’t make sense. And yet, it felt as though something profound had shifted between us in that clearing.
I shook my head, trying to make sense of it, but the questions swirled endlessly. Why had he approached me? Why had I felt so... connected to him?
I turned a corner and froze. Prince Lucian was standing there, leaning casually against a stone pillar. His golden hair caught the light of the sconces on the wall, and his piercing green eyes locked onto me the moment I appeared.
“Lady Arin,” he said smoothly, his voice carrying an edge of amusement. “You’re out late. Something on your mind?”
My heart stuttered, but I forced myself to appear calm. “I could say the same for you, Your Highness. Don’t you have more pressing matters to attend to?”
He chuckled and pushed off the pillar, stepping closer. “Nothing more pressing than you, it seems.”
I frowned, unease prickling at the edges of my composure. Lucian had always been charming, but there was an intensity to him tonight that set me on edge. “If you’ll excuse me, I was just heading back to my chambers.”
But he moved to block my path, his expression softening into something almost earnest. “Wait. Please. We need to talk.”
I stiffened, unsure of where this was going. “About what?”
“About us,” he said, his voice quieter now. “You’ve been avoiding me, Arin. Ever since I made my intentions clear.”
Heat crept into my cheeks. I knew exactly what he meant—his marriage offer. He’d caught me completely off guard with it, and I’d done everything I could to sidestep the subject since.
“I... I haven’t been avoiding you,” I said, though the words sounded weak even to my own ears.
His gaze sharpened, and he took another step closer. “Don’t lie to me. You’ve been running from this, from me. But I need an answer, Arin. I need to know where you stand.”
I opened my mouth, but no words came out. My thoughts were still tangled in the forest, with the wolf who had looked at me as though he knew me better than I knew myself. And now here was Lucian, demanding an answer I wasn’t sure I had.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Do you understand what I’m offering you? A chance to stand beside me, to be more than just another courtier lost in the crowd. You deserve more than that, Arin. You deserve someone who sees you for who you are.”
His words were heavy, and for a moment, I felt the weight of everything he was saying. But then he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “I see you. I see all of you and I want you."
My heart pounded, and before I could think better of it, the words tumbled out of my mouth. “Yes.”
He blinked, his expression shifting from surprise to triumph in an instant. “Yes?”
“Yes,” I repeated, louder this time, though my voice trembled. “I’ll marry you.”