The delicate chime of the wind catching the curtain's small ornament echoed through the room. Outside, a thick cloud drifted across the sky, momentarily obscuring the sun. The red veins in the knight's eyes gradually faded, and clarity returned to his gaze.
As Caelum Valtaris regained his senses, he froze, his face paling as he realized the position he was in with the young princess. His broad frame had cornered the slender girl, his hands daringly cupping her face. The warmth of her skin beneath his palm was soft, almost fragile, as if he could envelop her entirely with a single motion.
Like a caged bird, delicate and vulnerable.
This scene had haunted his dreams countless times.
The mere thought of it made his breath hitch, his chest tightening with a primal urge to pull her into his arms. But he couldn't. Caelum's demeanor was always reserved, almost cold, and no one would guess the clumsy, desperate longing that burned within him. He yearned for Aurelia Delensar to feel even a fraction of what he did—enough to make his heart race with joy.
He fought to restrain himself, his body and mind tearing apart in the struggle. One voice mocked his cowardice, taunting him for hiding his true nature, for not embracing the strength of his Lycan heritage. Another voice was far more insidious, urging him to act, to claim what he desired like the beast he truly was.
The pain was overwhelming, crushing him with a force that threatened to shatter his bones. His temples throbbed, veins bulging as he ground out the words, "Your Highness, please allow me to excuse myself for a moment."
Without waiting for her response, he vanished from the room.
Aurelia frowned, watching the door close behind him. She slowly curled up on the chair, her smile fading. "He's acting like a madman," she muttered, her voice tinged with unease. His gaze had been unsettling, and she didn't like it. "If it weren't for my brother's sake, I wouldn't tolerate him looking at me like that."
"A starving dog eyeing a bone isn't even that intense," she grumbled, her frustration bubbling over. She had no one to confide in, so she whispered her complaints to the empty room.
After a moment, she rubbed her reddened eyes, sniffling softly. "How dare he touch my face? It's so infuriating!" Her voice rose in indignation. "I hate it! I hate it so much!"
She had never been so brazenly disrespected before. And to make matters worse, she couldn't simply dismiss him as she once would have—Caelum was too valuable to her brother.
With a frustrated kick, her foot collided with the leg of the chair, leaving a bruise on her ankle. "Ow!" she cried, tears welling up. "This is all his fault!"
Angry and hurt, Aurelia decided to run away—this time without her knight.
The Holy Light Chapel in the Kingdom of Delensar was the safest place she could think of. She was confident she didn't need Caelum's protection to live there on her own. Before leaving, she wanted to take her beloved white dog, Snow, with her. But when she asked the servants, they all shook their heads, claiming they hadn't seen the beautiful little creature.
"That's strange. I thought I left him with the servants," Aurelia murmured, her worry growing.
She returned to her room and knocked on Caelum's door. "Caelum, are you in there?"
No answer.
Was he not in his room? She recalled his strange behavior earlier and doubted he would have left at such a time. Could he have fainted?
Biting her lip, she hesitated, her hand hovering over the door handle. A strong premonition stopped her, as if a ferocious beast lurked behind the door, waiting to pounce on her like a foolish lamb.
"Caelum, are you asleep?" she called again, standing on tiptoe to peer through the window. But the thick blackout curtains blocked any view of the interior.
"I'm going to the chapel. If you don't come out, I'll leave without you!" she announced.
Silence.
"I'm really leaving!" she insisted.
Still, no response.
With a sigh, she gave up. She trusted Caelum to take care of Snow; it wasn't something a princess should worry about. Casting one last glance at the closed door, she turned and walked away.
Behind the heavy curtains, a massive black wolf lay hidden, its tail curling around the fabric to create a narrow slit for its gaze. Its predatory eyes followed the young princess, savoring the memory of her soft skin beneath its claws. She was like pure snow under the sun, delicate and irresistible—a perfect target for a beast's hunger.
The wolf's dark fur blended seamlessly with the shadows, its presence undetected. Suddenly, Aurelia stepped closer to the window, and the wolf's heart skipped a beat, fearing it had been discovered. But she remained oblivious.
Through the thin curtain and the glass pane, the wolf leaned in, its snout brushing where her lips would be. A soft, almost imperceptible sound escaped as it licked its muzzle, satisfied.
Noticing the worry on Aurelia's face, the wolf—Caelum—felt a pang of guilt. Was she concerned for him? The thought was both sweet and painful. He had been forced to flee earlier, his transformation too sudden to hide. To make her worry was a failure on his part as her protector.
Yet, despite his remorse, a wave of joy washed over him. When she mentioned going to the Holy Light Chapel, he didn't feel the usual urge to stop her. Let her go for a few days. The Blood Moon's influence was too strong, and he couldn't return to his human form for at least a week. The chapel was the safest place for her.
The black wolf watched her retreating figure with longing. Seven days. Just seven days apart. His princess would return to him soon, and they would never be separated again.