Chapter 3

The next morning, just before dawn when the sky was still a hazy, pale gray, I heard the heavy oak door of our house creak open.

I slipped out of bed to check and found Kaelen standing in the dim light of the entryway. He was staring intently at the leather satchel I had packed and left by the table.

"Where are you going?" he asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.

I didn't answer, picking up a cloak to toss into the bag as if it were just a routine patrol.

Then a bright, impatient voice echoed from the edge of the woods outside.

"Kaelen! Hurry up, or we'll miss the sunrise at the falls!" It was Elara.

Kaelen’s jaw tightened. He looked back at me and hurriedly offered an explanation.

"Elara's wolf wasn't stable yet last night, and she was so fragile that I couldn't leave her, so I had to stay," he said quickly. "That's why I didn't come home."

I simply nodded, saying nothing.

He turned on his heel to leave.

I watched his broad back, a quiet numbness settling over me.

They are already packed and ready to leave for their celebration trip. He couldn't even spare five minutes.

But just as his hand grasped the heavy iron door handle, he stopped.

Slowly, he turned back around to face me. The rush and impatience had faded from his amber eyes, replaced by a rare, striking softness.

"Three days from now is the anniversary of the day we first met," he said, his voice dropping to a low, earnest rumble. "I'm going to prepare everything for a proper celebration. Just wait for me."

I froze in place, completely stunned.

After all the canceled ceremonies, and the shattered trust, I never expected him to actually remember that day.

For a fleeting second, the ghost of the male I fell in love with flickered in front of me.

But as the door clicked shut behind him and the sound of his footsteps faded into the woods with Elara's laughter, the reality set back in.

He remembered our anniversary, but the damage was already done.

I wiped the tears from my face, a cold, hard resolve settling over my shattered heart.

Since our anniversary was exactly three days from now, I would wait three days.

On the very day our story began seven years ago, I would bring it to a complete and final end.