Love by moonlight

Episode 4: Shadows of the Past

As the days passed, Aria found herself consumed by a sense of restlessness that seemed to grow with each passing moment. The memory of her encounter with Kaden lingered like a ghost in the recesses of her mind, haunting her every waking thought and filling her dreams with visions of what could have been.

She tried to bury herself in her duties, to lose herself in the demands of pack life, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing—that a part of her soul remained tethered to the man she dared not love.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and cast a golden glow over the forest, Aria found herself wandering through the clearing at the edge of their territory, her thoughts consumed by the ache of longing that gnawed at her heart.

She paused beneath the ancient oak tree that stood sentinel at the edge of the clearing, its branches stretching skyward like gnarled fingers reaching for the heavens. The air was heavy with the scent of pine and earth, a familiar fragrance that brought a sense of comfort amidst the chaos of her emotions.

As Aria leaned against the rough bark of the tree, lost in thought, she was startled by the sound of footsteps approaching from behind. She turned to see Kaden emerging from the shadows, his expression guarded but his eyes soft with longing as they met hers across the distance.

"Aria," he said, his voice a whispered plea in the stillness of the night. "I've been looking for you."

Aria's heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice, her pulse quickening with a mixture of fear and anticipation. She had tried to avoid Kaden, to bury her feelings deep beneath the surface, but as she looked into his eyes, she knew she could no longer deny the truth that burned bright within her soul.

"Kaden," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "What are you doing here?"

Kaden stepped closer, his gaze never leaving hers as he closed the distance between them with measured steps. "I couldn't stay away," he admitted, his voice thick with emotion. "I've been thinking about you, about us."

Aria's breath caught in her throat at his words, her heart racing with the intensity of her longing. She wanted nothing more than to lose herself in Kaden's embrace, to forget the world and its rules in favor of the intoxicating passion that pulsed between them.

But she knew she couldn't—not when their love threatened to tear their pack apart.

"We can't do this, Kaden," she whispered, her voice tinged with regret. "Not now, not ever."

Kaden reached out and gently brushed his fingers against Aria's cheek, his touch sending a shiver down her spine. "I know," he said, his voice hoarse with emotion. "But that doesn't change how I feel about you, Aria. I can't deny what's in my heart."

Aria's eyes brimmed with tears at his words, the weight of his love a burden she wasn't sure she could bear. "I feel it too," she admitted, her voice barely a breath in the stillness of the night. "But we have to be strong, Kaden. We have to do what's right for our pack."

Kaden nodded, his expression pained but resigned. "I know," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But that doesn't mean I'll stop wanting you, Aria. It doesn't mean I'll stop loving you."

Aria's heart clenched at his words, the ache of longing threatening to consume her whole. "I know," she whispered, her voice thick with unshed tears. "But we have to try."

With a final, lingering look, Aria turned and disappeared into the darkness, leaving Kaden alone with his thoughts and the ache of longing that burned in his soul.

As Aria wandered through the forest, her thoughts consumed by the weight of her decisions and the ache of her longing, she found herself drawn to the place where she and Kaden had shared their first kiss—a secluded glade hidden deep within the heart of Silverwood.

The glade was bathed in the soft glow of the moon, its beauty a stark contrast to the turmoil that churned within Aria's heart. She sank to her knees at the edge of the clearing, her gaze fixed on the spot where she had stood with Kaden just days before, their love a forbidden flame that threatened to consume them both.

As she sat in silence, lost in the memories of their fleeting passion, Aria was startled by the sound of footsteps approaching from behind. She turned to see Jace emerging from the shadows, his expression somber but filled with an understanding that cut to the core of her soul.

"Aria," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "I've been looking for you."

Aria's throat tightened at the sight of her brother, his presence a reminder of the duty and