The Engima's Luna

Chapter Five : In His Arms

For a few moments, nothing happened.

Then the pressure inside Seraphina disappeared.

Completely.

She stood frozen in the middle of the clearing.

Her breathing slowly steadied.

The burning beneath her skin faded.

The trembling stopped.

For the first time since touching the Moon Tree, she felt...

Free.

Seraphina looked down at her hands.

The silver light was gone.

The forest was quiet again.

She let out a shaky breath.

"It's gone."

Her wolf was quiet too.

Not frightened.

Not restless.

Just peaceful.

Seraphina closed her eyes.

A small smile appeared on her lips.

"I can breathe."

But the relief didn't last long.

Her legs suddenly weakened.

She swayed.

Azael moved before either of his brothers could react.

In an instant, he crossed the distance between them and caught her before she could hit the ground.

Her body fell against his chest.

He tightened his arms around her, making sure her head didn't strike the ground.

"Seraphina!"

Rhydian moved closer.

"Is she hurt?"

Azael didn't answer immediately.

His attention was entirely on the woman in his arms.

Seraphina looked different now.

Without the fear in her eyes, the tension had disappeared from her face.

Her long hair had fallen loosely around her shoulders.

Her breathing was soft and steady.

Azael carefully moved a strand of hair away from her face.

His fingers paused.

She was warm.

Soft.

So different from the dangerous power that had filled the forest only moments ago.

His wolf stirred inside him.

Mine.

Azael's expression hardened slightly.

He didn't like how strongly the word affected him.

He had known her for only minutes.

Yet holding her felt strangely natural.

As though his arms already knew where she belonged.

His gaze moved over her face.

There was something peaceful about her now.

Something gentle.

But he had already seen what lived beneath that softness.

She had been terrified of hurting the people she loved.

Even while losing control, her first thought had been about protecting them.

Azael understood that instinct.

Perhaps that was what drew his attention to her more than anything else.

"She's exhausted," he finally said.

Kaelen approached and looked at Seraphina.

"Can you sense anything?"

Azael closed his eyes briefly.

He could feel her heartbeat against his chest.

Steady.

Alive.

Safe.

"She's fine."

Rhydian released a breath.

"Thank the Moon."

Kaelen looked toward the clearing.

"We should take her back."

Azael's arms tightened slightly around Seraphina.

"Not yet."

Kaelen frowned.

"Why?"

"She's finally calm."

His gaze lowered to her again.

"Moving her now might disturb her."

Rhydian crouched beside them.

"You've been holding her for less than a minute."

Azael glanced at him.

"And?"

Rhydian smiled.

"Nothing."

Kaelen gave his brother a warning look.

"Leave him alone."

Azael ignored them.

His attention returned to Seraphina.

There was something about her that he couldn't explain.

The bond between them was already there.

He could feel it.

Deep.

Ancient.

And far stronger than anything he had ever experienced.

He didn't know what she was.

He didn't know why the Moon had chosen her.

But he knew one thing.

He didn't want to let her go.

Not tonight.

Not while she was unconscious.

Not when every instinct inside him was telling him to keep her safe.

Seraphina stirred in his arms.

His entire body went still.

Her fingers curled lightly against his chest.

A small sound escaped her lips.

Azael looked down at her.

For the first time, something unfamiliar touched his expression.

Something almost gentle.

"Rest," he murmured.

Seraphina didn't wake.

But her body relaxed against him.

Rhydian watched the two of them quietly.

Then he looked toward Kaelen.

"We should probably tell the Blackwood family."

Kaelen nodded.

"They're already worried."

Azael stood carefully, keeping Seraphina secure in his arms.

Kaelen looked at him.

"You aren't planning to carry her all the way back, are you?"

Azael's answer was immediate.

"Yes."

Rhydian raised an eyebrow.

"Of course you are."

Azael didn't respond.

He simply looked down at Seraphina.

For someone he had met only tonight, she had already become impossible to ignore.

And somewhere deep inside him, his wolf had already made its decision.

Protect her.

Keep her safe.

Never let her face this alone again.

Azael turned toward the path leading back to the pack.

Kaelen and Rhydian followed beside him.

Three mates had found each other beneath the Moon.

But none of them yet understood why.

And somewhere beneath the ancient roots of the Moon Tree, something far older than the pack had begun to awaken.