Chapter 4: The Rejected Boond
1472 Words
The cabin was unusually quiet.
Morning sunlight streamed through the cracked window, warming the worn wooden floor. Elara busied herself sorting herbs into small bundles, but her thoughts kept drifting to the mysterious man standing outside.
Cassian.
He had hardly spoken since the Imperial soldiers left.
When she finally stepped outside, she found him standing at the edge of the clearing, his back turned toward her. His black cloak stirred gently in the breeze as he stared into the endless trees of Blackwood Forest.
"You shouldn't be standing," she said, walking over. "Your wounds haven't fully healed."
"They're healed enough."
His voice was calm, but distant.
Elara folded her arms.
"You always say that."
A faint smile crossed his lips, though it disappeared almost instantly.
"I owe you my life."
"You don't owe me anything."
"I do."
He turned to face her.
The silver in his eyes shimmered beneath the morning light.
"I've stayed here longer than I should have."
Her smile faded.
"You're leaving."
"I have to."
The words struck her harder than she expected.
She barely knew him. They had met only a day ago.
So why did the thought of him leaving hurt?
She forced a small laugh.
"You still haven't told me what you're running from."
"It isn't something I can explain."
"You don't trust me."
His expression softened.
"It's because I do."
She frowned.
"That doesn't make any sense."
Cassian stepped closer.
"It will."
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Birds chirped overhead, oblivious to the storm brewing between them.
Finally, Elara broke the silence.
"Will I ever see you again?"
Cassian closed his eyes.
He wanted to say yes.
He wanted to promise her that he would return.
But promises were dangerous.
Especially for someone like him.
"If fate is kind..."
"...perhaps."
Her chest tightened.
She hated that answer.
He reached into his cloak and pulled out a small leather pouch.
"There are gold coins inside."
She immediately pushed his hand away.
"No."
"Take them."
"I didn't help you for money."
"They'll help your village."
"I said no."
Cassian looked at her with quiet admiration.
Most people would have grabbed the pouch without hesitation.
Not Elara.
She had risked her life for a stranger and expected nothing in return.
"You truly are different," he murmured.
Before she could ask what he meant, he removed the black ring from his finger.
The imperial wolf crest glinted in the sunlight.
He hesitated.
Then slipped it back on.
Not yet.
If anyone recognized the ring, it would place her in even greater danger.
"I'm sorry," he said softly.
"For what?"
"For dragging you into my world."
Before she could respond, he turned and walked toward the forest.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
Elara stood frozen.
She wanted to call his name.
To ask him to stay.
Instead, she watched him disappear between the ancient trees.
The clearing suddenly felt empty.
Too empty.
She looked down at the glowing silver mark on her wrist.
It pulsed with warmth.
As though protesting his departure.
---
Several miles away...
Cassian stopped walking.
Without warning, a sharp pain shot through his left wrist.
He clenched his fist.
The silver mate mark burned like molten fire.
"So soon..."
He had hoped distance would weaken the bond.
Instead...
It grew stronger.
The pain spread to his chest.
His wolf growled restlessly inside him.
Go back.
"No."
She is our mate.
"I know."
She needs us.
"I know!"
His voice echoed through the silent forest.
He leaned against a tree, breathing heavily.
"I can't bring her into this."
Not while assassins hunted him.
Not while traitors lurked inside his own palace.
Not while an ancient curse threatened everything he loved.
The only way to protect Elara...
...was to stay away.
Even if it tore him apart.
---
Back in Ashford Village, Elara returned home before sunset.
The villagers sighed with relief when they saw the Blood Moon Herb.
Little Lily's mother fell to her knees in gratitude.
"You found it..."
"I promised I'd try," Elara replied gently.
Working through the evening, she brewed the rare herb into a healing medicine.
Hours later, Lily's fever finally began to break.
The child smiled weakly.
"Thank you... Sister Elara."
Tears filled her mother's eyes.
"You saved her."
The villagers celebrated quietly, praising Elara's courage.
Yet despite the joy around her...
She couldn't stop thinking about silver eyes.
Or the lonely man who had walked away without looking back.
That night, after everyone had gone home, Elara sat alone outside her small cottage.
The crimson glow of the Blood Moon had faded.
Only countless stars remained.
She unconsciously touched the mark on her wrist.
"Who are you, Cassian?"
The mark suddenly burned.
A cold wind swept across the village.
Dark clouds swallowed the stars.
Elara frowned.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Exhausted, she went inside and lay down.
Sleep claimed her almost instantly.
---
She found herself standing in a vast silver field beneath an enormous full moon.
The air shimmered with ancient power.
White flowers stretched endlessly in every direction.
"Where am I?" she whispered.
A soft laugh echoed behind her.
She turned.
A woman dressed in flowing silver robes stood several steps away.
Her beauty was beyond human.
Moonlight seemed to dance around her.
Her silver eyes were filled with both sorrow and kindness.
"You've finally awakened."
Elara took a cautious step back.
"Who are you?"
The woman smiled gently.
"I have watched you since the day you were born."
"I don't understand."
"You will."
The woman's expression suddenly changed.
Her eyes widened in alarm.
She looked toward the distant horizon.
Shadows were spreading across the silver field.
Dark figures emerged from the mist.
Countless of them.
The woman's voice became urgent.
"Listen carefully."
"They are coming."
"Who?"
"You must run."
Elara's heart pounded.
"Run where?"
The woman reached toward her, but her body began fading into silver light.
"The Church..."
"...must never find—"
Her words were cut off.
Everything shattered.
---
Elara bolted upright in bed, gasping for breath.
The room was dark.
Rain lashed against the windows.
Her heart raced uncontrollably.
The dream had felt real.
Too real.
Then—
The silver mark on her wrist flared with blinding light.
A voice echoed clearly inside her mind.
Ancient.
Powerful.
Filled with desperate warning.
"Run... they are coming."
The light vanished.
Silence returned.
A loud knock suddenly echoed from somewhere outside her cottage.
Three slow, heavy knocks.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Elara's blood ran cold.
- Writer
