Lunas Wildfire

The Quiet Escape

The pack lands were alive with movement and energy, but I stayed far from the center of it all. Instead, I found myself at the edge of the forest, sitting on a large, moss-covered boulder near the stream. The sound of rushing water was a soothing backdrop to my thoughts, which had been a storm of emotions since last night.

I wasn’t bitter—I had promised myself I wouldn’t be. Aaron had always been honest about what we were, what we could be, and what we couldn’t. And yet, knowing something doesn’t make it hurt any less.

I leaned back against the rough bark of a tree, staring up at the canopy of leaves above me. Sunlight filtered through in patches, dappling the forest floor in a soft, golden glow. This was where I always came to think, to breathe, to escape.

Aaron’s voice still echoed in my mind, the sincerity in his words as he let me go. You’re incredible, Emmy—wild, strong, and everything I could have wanted in a partner.

I sighed, hugging my knees to my chest.

I had loved him. Maybe not the way mates were destined to love each other, but it was real. And now that chapter of my life was closed, a quiet ache lingering where something solid and comforting used to be.

I wasn’t surprised when I heard soft footsteps behind me. Lily was never one to give me too much space, and she always seemed to know when I needed her.

“Thought I’d find you here,” she said, stepping into view with a small smile.

I gave her a half-hearted grin. “I figured you’d be busy with Jackson or helping Aaron’s mate settle in.”

Lily snorted, sitting down beside me on the boulder. “Aaron’s mate doesn’t need my help. She’s already got him fawning over her like a lovesick puppy.”

I chuckled despite myself, shaking my head. “Good for him. He deserves that.”

Lily studied me for a moment, her sharp blue eyes soft with concern. “And what about you? How are you doing?”

I hesitated, debating whether to brush her off or be honest. Eventually, I sighed. “I’m okay, I guess. It’s not like I didn’t know this would happen eventually. I just… I didn’t think it would feel like this.”

“Like what?” she asked gently.

“Like I lost something,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “Even though I knew it was never really mine to keep.”

Lily reached over, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “You loved him,” she said simply.

I nodded, biting my lip to keep the tears at bay. “Not in the mate way. But yeah, I did.”

“It’s okay to feel sad about it,” Lily said. “Losing someone you care about, even if it’s for the right reasons, still hurts. You don’t have to pretend it doesn’t.”

I let out a shaky breath, leaning into her comfort. “It’s not like I’m angry at him or his mate. I want him to be happy. I just… I need some time.”

“Take all the time you need,” Lily said firmly. “No one’s rushing you. And if anyone dares to try, you know I’ll put them in their place.”

I laughed softly, wiping at my eyes. “You’re the best, you know that?”

“I do,” she said smugly, making me laugh again.

We sat in silence for a while, the sound of the stream filling the quiet. Lily didn’t press me to talk more, didn’t try to fix things. She just sat with me, her presence a steady anchor in a sea of uncertainty.

Eventually, she nudged me gently. “Come on. Let’s go grab something to eat. You can’t hide out here forever.”

I hesitated but then nodded. “Okay. But only if you promise not to make me talk to anyone.”

“Deal,” she said, standing and offering me a hand.

As we walked back toward the pack lands, I felt a small glimmer of hope. I didn’t know what the future held, but I knew I wasn’t alone. And for now, that was enough.