Luna Aurora (Alpha Fenrir)

Chapter 254

The forest stretched endlessly before them, its thick canopy filtering the sunlight into muted greens and golds. Elyra walked slightly ahead, her pendant glowing faintly as it guided their way. Every so often, she glanced back at Dain, who carried Matthew's pack in addition to his own. His eyes scanned their surroundings constantly, his posture tense, as if anticipating another attack.

They stopped to rest by a stream, the sound of rushing water soothing but unable to erase the tension in the air. Dain knelt to fill a canteen, wincing slightly as he flexed his hand. Elyra noticed the deep scrape across his knuckles, raw and bleeding. "Let me see that," she said, kneeling beside him before he could protest.

"It's fine," Dain muttered, trying to pull his hand away.

"Stop being stubborn," Elyra said, grabbing his wrist firmly. She pulled out a cloth and dipped it into the stream, her touch gentle as she cleaned the wound.

The closeness made Dain's heart pound. Her silver hair caught the sunlight, casting an ethereal glow around her, and the warmth of her hands sent an ache through him he couldn't ignore.

Dain's voice was low,

asked, looking up. Their eyes met, golden against fiery orange, and the world seemed

now felt like a tether pulling them closer, tighter, until there was no space left between their souls. His hand moved on its own, brushing a strand of hair from her face. Elyra's breath hitched, her hand still resting on his.

did. He stood abruptly, breaking the moment. "We can't," he said, his voice rough. "We

herself to smile. "You're right. We should

threatening to overwhelm him. Elyra stayed silent, focusing on the path ahead, but her chest ached with the weight

circle of ancient stones, their surfaces etched with glowing runes. The

stepping toward the largest stone. Her pendant pulsed, as if drawn to the

grabbed her arm. "Don't touch it. We don't

her voice trembling. "I can feel

creatures with glowing red eyes. The beasts snarled and lunged,