Moon Bounded

Chapter 2 Elara POV

The cabin was colder than I remembered. Even with the wood stove crackling to life, the chill seemed to seep into the walls, a quiet reminder that this place had been empty for far too long. I hadn't unpacked much—just the essentials—and even those felt out of place here. The city seemed so far away, like it belonged to another version of me entirely.

I stood at the window, mug in hand, watching the treetops sway under the weight of the wind. The forest beyond the cabin stretched for miles, a sea of black and green shadows rippling under the twilight. It was beautiful in a way that was almost unnerving—too vast, too still, too quiet.

That quiet didn't last long.

A knock on the door echoed through the cabin, sharp and deliberate. My heart jumped, spilling a bit of tea onto my fingers. Who would be out here this late? Black Hollow wasn't exactly teeming with visitors, and I hadn't told anyone I'd arrived.

I hesitated before opening it, half-expecting the wind to whip through the gap and find nothing but the empty porch. Instead, I saw him.

"Azerin?" I breathed, blinking against the shock of recognition.

He stood there, framed by the dark forest, his broad shoulders just visible in the low light of the porch lantern. His dark hair was tousled, damp from the misting rain, and his sharp green eyes fixed on me like he was searching for something. He looked different, older, but there was no mistaking him.

"Elara," he said, his voice low and steady. It sent a shiver through me that had nothing to do with the cold.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, stepping back to let him in.

He hesitated for the briefest moment, as though crossing the threshold might cost him something. When he finally stepped inside, his presence seemed to fill the room, an unsettling mix of familiarity and something heavier—something darker.

"I heard you were back," he said simply, his tone unreadable.

"Word travels fast," I muttered, closing the door behind him. "I only just got in yesterday."

Azerin nodded, his gaze wandering around the cabin, taking in the unpacked bags and untouched shelves. Then, as his eyes returned to me, his expression softened—just a little.

"I'm sorry about your aunt," he said quietly.

"Thanks," I murmured, glancing down at the tea in my hands. "It's... strange, being back here without her."

He didn't say anything for a moment, the silence between us thick with unspoken words. Finally, he shifted, his voice hesitant. "You didn't have to come back, though. Not here."

I frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"This place... it's not safe," he said, his gaze dropping to the floor as though he couldn't quite meet my eyes. "The town. The forest. The cabin. None of it is safe, Elara."

There was a weight to his words, a warning I didn't quite understand. "You're going to have to be more specific," I said, crossing my arms.

He sighed, shaking his head slightly, and for the first time, I noticed how much his appearance changed. "Just... trust me. If you can leave, you should."

"I just got here," I said, my voice sharper than I intended. "And last I checked, this is my aunt's cabin, not yours."

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might argue. But then he stepped back toward the door, his hand in his hoodie pocket moved as if he was going to take them out but decided against it.

"I'm serious, Elara," he said, his voice low. "Black Hollow isn't what it used to be. And neither am I."

With that, he turned around and pulled the door open and stepped out into the night, disappearing into the shadows before I could ask what he meant.