The Enemy’s Mate

In the Dark

The forest was a living nightmare.

They were already tired of running. Aurelia’s legs burned, her feet slammed against stones and roots in the forest. She gasped, her hair was like a nest of twigs and leaves. She had lived in the castle her entire life-This was clearly the opposite of the life she left behind.

Ryker’s hand was locked in hers. He moved very fast with his body cutting through the darkness easily which made her very slow. He was still bleeding on his forehead

Don’t stop, “he growled.” They’re close.I can hear it. He held her very tight, as if letting go would kill him.

“My feet are bleeding!“she screamed, I can’t run any longer. My chest hurts. “Just try,” he begged.

Before they could move any further she stumbled and hit her knee on a stone. She screamed.

Ryker stopped. He wasn’t thinking straight. He lifted her onto his back.

“Ryker,put me down!” she shouted. “I won’t. you deserve this, ”Ryker replied.

She laughed- she felt very comfortable on his broad shoulders. She wrapped her hands around his neck. He carried her through the forest like she weighed nothing.

She buried her face in his shoulders and prayed. An hour passed and they lost track of time. Suddenly they weren’t running, they were flying.

Ryker’s bleeding turned ragged. He kept moving faster, he didn’t stop. Not when a branch slashed his face, not when his wound reopened. He kept moving, driving at something she didn’t fully understand.

Soon they found a cave -barely more than a hollow in a rock. They stepped in. The cave was small, hidden , dark, dry and safe.

He lowered her gently, put her down and collapsed on the wall. Lungs burning. She reached for him and sat beside him. His wounds were deep. His grey eyes burned with defiance and pain.“”You’re bleeding,”she said.” His leather vest was soaked with blood

“I’m fine,” Ryker replied. Clearly you’re not.

She tore a strip of her gown and pressed it against his wounds. He growled in pain. “”You’re impossible,”she muttered,”pressing the cloth harder against his wound.

He winced but didn’t pull away. “I’ve been called worse.”

“By who? The villages you burned?”

“By your father’s generals.” A ghost of a smile crossed his lips. “They had more colorful language.”

“You need a doctor,” Aurelia said.There are no doctors here. “There are only wolves.” And I’d say wolves are safer options than your father’s knights.

“You keep saving my life,”He muttered.”Why?” You could have let me die. Your father would have given you a kingdom, a wealthy husband.

You had everything. The good life, the crown, comfort. Instead you’re here. Bleeding, barefoot hiding in an unknown cave. You chose to run with an enemy you barely know. Why this?

You’re not my enemy, you’re my father’s.

You’re the one my wolf chose, and she’s never been wrong about anything. Not once. And I trust my wolf more than I trust my father.

Tears ran down his cheek.

He was strong, feared by thousands and when he was with her, he became vulnerable. He moved forward, kissed the corner of her lips. One second she stared at him, the next his mouth was on hers.

Finally, her wolf rumbled.

His lips were rough, demanding and desperate. As if he was trying to tell her everything he couldn’t say. She felt his finger dig into her waist, felt the shudder that ran through his body. The man she was supposed to hate was the only man who made her feel alive.

When they parted he pressed his forehead on hers.

They both went silent,

For a moment, just for a moment nothing seems to exist. Not the kingdom, not the war, just the cave, the dark and the bond like gravity pulling them together.

“Thank you,”he muttered.”Thank you for not leaving me alone.

She reached for his hands and whispered. You’re not alone anymore, we’re in this together.

“But I’m scared,” Aurelia said. Scared of what exactly Ryker replied.

“I’m scared of losing you.” He went still completely.

He extended his hand as though she was made of glass-slow, trembling as though she might disappear.

He wrapped his arm right around her, pulling her so close she could feel every heartbeat

She leaned on his chest.

“You won’t lose me,”he promised.

“I’ve survived wars, assassins,your father’s entire army. I’m not going anywhere.”

“You better not.” He pressed a kiss to her hair. “I swear it.”

His calloused fingertips grazed a tangled strand of her hair, tucking it behind her ear.

She felt safe in the hands of an enemy, but she was sure she made the right choice.

And For the first time in what felt like forever, she let the air fill her lungs. She sank into his touch, into the rough warmth of his palm against her frozen cheek. Didn’t speak. Didn’t move.They simply were two broken souls finding wholeness in the silence, in the dark, in each other.

She fell asleep to the rhythm of his heartbeat.

Somewhere outside, wolves howled, her father planned his revenge. A war was coming. But here, in a hidden cave, with an impossible man she felt something she never expected.

“Peace.”

Together, she thought.whatever comes next, we’ll face it together.