The moon hung high in the sky, casting silver light over the camp. It was a quiet night—too quiet. The fire flickered low, only the faint rustling of the forest wind and the occasional crackle from the embers breaking the silence.
Eira sat at the edge of the campfire, her arms resting on her knees, eyes staring into the dark woods beyond. There was something eerie about the stillness. Even the creatures of the forest had gone silent, as if the world was holding its breath.
Lucien had long since retreated to his bedroll, already deep in sleep with his usual cocky grin plastered on his face, no matter how deep the slumber. Ayden was nearby, seated with his sword across his lap, his eyes narrowed as he kept watch. Cain, as usual, sat close to his mother, ever watchful, but tonight, even he seemed distracted.
Eira had learned something new over the past few days: the brothers didn't trust easily, and neither did she. But now, they weren't just allies. They were... family, in a strange, unexpected way. They had their own complex dynamics, their own wounds to heal, and yet they still managed to hold each other up. It was something Eira couldn't quite grasp, but she was starting to understand it—starting to feel a part of it.
Cain looked up at the stars, his gaze distant, lost in thought. His hand rested on his mother's as she slept peacefully, the faint glow of her skin still carrying traces of magic. There was a heaviness in his chest, a knot he couldn't quite unravel. Ever since their mother had awoken, things had felt... different.
He loved her. He always would. But something was shifting. He had never felt as connected to anyone as he had to Selene. Every day with her felt like a gift, and Cain had to admit to himself that the thought of losing her was more unbearable than anything else.
But then there was Eira.
Despite everything, Cain had noticed the subtle changes in her. The way she no longer spoke with the same guarded bitterness. The way she had begun to open up, to let others see her—not the hardened assassin, not the rebellious woman running from her past, but the woman she could be. She had started to let down her walls... even if only just a little.
Eira wasn't used to sitting still, but the quiet made her restless. The sounds of the camp seemed to blur into the background as she stood up, brushing off her cloak. Her eyes found Lucien, who was sprawled on the ground, looking at the stars, his chest rising and falling in an almost lazy rhythm.
There was something about him. It wasn't just his charm—he had a certain ease about him. An energy that radiated. And while she hadn't quite figured him out, Eira was starting to wonder if maybe... just maybe, he wasn't as insufferable as she had thought.
As if he could sense her gaze, Lucien tilted his head back and caught her eye. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Still brooding?" he asked, his voice light but not teasing.
Eira rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the small smile from tugging at her lips. "You should try brooding sometime. It's very therapeutic."
Lucien laughed softly. "I'd rather not. It seems like a lot of emotional baggage."
She sat down next to him, her gaze now drawn to the sky. The moonlight cast everything in a soft glow, and for the first time in a long while, Eira felt... calm. Not at peace, not exactly, but not fighting.
"You know," she said after a while, breaking the silence, "I didn't expect any of this."
Lucien glanced over at her, curious. "What do you mean?"
"This. All of it." She gestured vaguely to the camp. "The... brotherhood. The way you all... care for each other. I thought I was beyond this. Beyond needing people."
Lucien didn't respond at first, but his eyes softened as he looked at her. "You've been running for so long, haven't you? Maybe it's time to stop."
Eira swallowed hard, something in her chest tightening. "I don't know how."
Lucien turned on his side, propping himself up with his elbow. "I think you're doing just fine. You're here, aren't you?"
Not far away, Selene sat with Cain's mother, keeping watch over her as the brothers rested. Though her face was calm, there was an intensity in her gaze—something that never seemed to soften, even when she was with Cain. There was always a kind of quiet strength about her.
And tonight, that strength was needed.
Selene had noticed the shifts, too. The way Cain's attention had moved between her and Eira—subtle, yet noticeable. The way his gaze lingered just a bit too long when he spoke to Eira, the unspoken questions hanging in the air between them.
Selene couldn't help but wonder if this was the beginning of something that would change everything.
But she would not fight for his love. She couldn't.
She was his choice. She knew that. But sometimes, it still hurt.
As the night wore on, a distant howl echoed from the forest, its eerie sound slicing through the quiet. Everyone tensed. Eira stood, the familiar sharpness returning to her gaze as she scanned the darkness.
"It's them," she murmured, her voice low, almost growling. "They've found us."
Cain stood immediately, his posture rigid, his eyes flashing with a dangerous, cold fire. "Prepare yourselves."
Lucien rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck. "What do we do?"
Eira reached for her blade, her lips curling into a smirk. "We fight."
But as they began to arm themselves, the ground beneath them seemed to tremble, the air thick with the weight of something ancient and dark approaching.
Cain's eyes flicked to Selene, a brief flash of concern in his expression before he quickly masked it.
"This isn't over," he muttered to himself, clenching his fist.
Eira turned to face him. "Cain?"
He didn't respond, his eyes narrowed as the forest grew still again.
The attack came quickly, as it always did. Shadows flitted in the trees, dark figures moving like wraiths, eyes glowing faintly in the dark. The wolves. The very creatures who had plagued the brothers for so long.
Eira was the first to strike, her blade singing through the air as she took down one of the creatures, her body moving with the grace of a predator. She was in her element—no longer the confused, emotional wreck she had once been, but a force of nature.
Cain was right behind her, his strength unmatched as he dispatched the wolves with deadly precision. But his gaze was still on her, and she knew, without a doubt, that he had noticed her. He had noticed her changing.
The pack was relentless, but the brothers and Eira fought with a desperation that only came from knowing the fight was about survival. As the last of the wolves fell, the tension slowly drained from the air.
But Eira couldn't shake the feeling that something worse was coming.