Luna Aurora (Alpha Fenrir)

Chapter 241

The fire crackled faintly in the clearing where Elyra and Dain had made camp for the night. The stars stretched endlessly above them, their silvery glow mirrored in Elyra's hair. Days of running, hiding, and constant vigilance weighed heavily on them, and the silence between them felt heavier still.

Elyra broke the quiet first, her voice soft and hesitant. "I don't know how much longer we can keep this up." She pulled her knees to her chest, her golden eyes flickering with uncertainty. "But I can't imagine facing it without you."

Dain, sitting a few feet away, looked up sharply. His fiery orange eyes softened, the harsh lines of his expression easing. "You won't have to," he said, his voice low but fierce. "I'd die before I let anything happen to you."

Elyra's breath caught, the depth of his words settling over her like a weight. She wanted to look away, to pretend the emotion in his eyes didn't make her heart race, but she couldn't. Instead, she reached out hesitantly, brushing her fingers against his. Dain froze, his entire body taut with tension, but he didn't pull away. "Elyra," he began, his voice strained, "I don't think I can keep pretending."

frowned slightly. "Pretending

he confessed, the words tumbling out in a rush. "That all

thudded painfully in her chest. "Dain,

can't lie to you. You're the only person I've

she didn't know if she wanted. "I feel it too," she admitted, barely above a whisper. "But

why we

other," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "But we can't act on

fight it together," he said finally, the determination