FATED BY BLOOD AND FIRE

Camilla POV

Under moonlit skies, I enter the forest while my steps make gentle sounds on the ground of fallen leaves. My heart beats in rapid succession like a drum while memories I can't discard reverberate through each pulse. I wind my cloak around my body to conceal the inner fire that I wish nobody would detect. With every inhale I take, the weight of ancient suffering presses upon me while my forgotten oath whispers through the air.

The packhouse appears before me as its dark wood shines weakly against the night sky. The wolves drift around my vision's borders while their eyes glow under torchlight. I drop my eyes so the hood obscures my face from their watchful looks. I act as though I'm simply a traveller in search of shelter.

I observe Lucien before he notices me as he stands with a proud posture, while his shoulders remain tense. The moonlight reveals his scars as it dances across his fur, which I find impossible to touch. His powerful hands and comforting warmth always gave me a sense of safety. Betrayal leaves me with nothing but a piercing cold sensation.

I move nearer as my cloak sweeps over the grass, while my breath catches when he turns his back. Every step I take stirs memories of his voice calling my name. The bitterness of past rage fills my taste buds. I make my face remain tranquil while I conceal the internal tempest.

I respond to the young wolf's gentle greeting with a slight nod as he passes by. My lips curve into a mild smile, which fails to touch my eyes. A knot forms in my stomach as I wonder if he will recognise me. Will he remember what he did? I push the thoughts to the back of my mind while concentrating on my shallow breathing.

As I walk down the tight path toward the packhouse door, my boots sink into the wet soil. The heat from the building penetrates the wooden door as it offers safety, I know I don't deserve. My fingers move across the door's rough texture while they follow hidden lines beneath the moss. I remind myself: I am here for only one thing.

Lucien speaks through a window with his low and sad voice to someone I can't see. I can hear the soft regret in his tone, which I never expected to hear. The sound of his sorrow causes my chest to constrict. My ear rests against the door surface to absorb his voice.

The door makes a creaking noise when it opens, so I bow my head to him while keeping my face hidden. Lucien shows surprise while taking a step backwards when he notices my simple traveller's attire. A quick spark of curiosity crosses his eyes, which suggests to me that he might recognise me. I maintain a soft and courteous tone as I request to sit near the fire.

He assigns me a spot by the fire before his eyes dart away in a sharp motion that feels like a sting. The firelight dances across his face, revealing the marks of anguish I authored. I drop onto a wooden stool while pulling my cloak around me. My heartbeat thumps against my ribcage as if a bird is pounding its way to freedom.

Lucien talks to the pack members using a steady, low voice, even though he carries heavy burdens. He gives me a single glance filled with emotions that remain unnamed to me. A warm wave moves through my chest, which melts the frost surrounding my heart. I take a deep breath and focus on the reason which brought me here.

The pack greets me with warm words and nods that form familiar melodies to my ears. The small hand of a child who extends to touch my sleeve feels warm and gentle as I respond with a smile. Lucien's stare reaches me yet again,n and I shift my attention to the fire as if it holds my full concentration. Fear and hope mingle on my tongue as my throat constricts.

The flames beneath me provide warmth as I watch shadows move across the room. Every flicker exposes fragmented memories I believed I had concealed. The urge grips my fingers to caress the glowing embers which once took my life away. I suppress the impulse and shut my eyes while I breathe through the pain.

Lucien approaches me quietly and takes his place on the stool across from me. Warmth radiates from his body and travels across the space between us. His gaze carries a softness while shadows of familiar ghosts linger in his eyes. My body remains motionless, yet my heartbeat is calmer than my spoken words.

Under the name I created for this place, he calls me by it and asks about my journey to these lands, to which I respond with my story of wandering roads and violent weather. The words I speak feel burdened as they pass my lips because they are wrapped in truths I refuse to tell. My eyes follow his expressions while I talk because I am looking for the past version of him that I loved. The fire between us remains lit as I wage my quiet war.

The powerful, calloused hands that Lucien uses to rest on his knees are the same hands which once held me close. I recall vividly bright yet painful memories of past nights spent beside this fire. My fingers shake as they reach out to touch him. My hands grip my lap tightly while I turn my eyes away.

Quiet chatter emerges from the pack, which grants us the space to remain enveloped in silence. A heavy weight from our past lingers on my chest as if it were a large stone. Every deliberate inhalation brings me nearer to the brink of a precipice. I remind myself: keep calm. Stay here. Watch him.

Lucien rises to move and carefully retrieves a tiny bowl of stew from the kitchen area. He approaches me and presents the bowl with a bow while his eyes reveal both tenderness and detachment. Taking the food, I whisper my gratitude while its comforting warmth battles the chill of my soul. I grip the wooden bowl with my fingers, which simultaneously provide security and confinement.

At the first spoonful, I taste the stew, and its warmth becomes a soothing balm which allows me to close my eyes. His laugh and touch come flooding back to me so powerfully that I almost topple from my stool. I struggle to control my facial expressions while suppressing the burning sensation from rising to my cheeks. With great effort, I swallow and direct my attention to the meal's basic solace.

Lucien settles back into his position by the fire while his shoulders slump under a heavy, unseen burden. The firelight dances through his hair while the lines around his eyes deepen from the glow. Pity and rage battle fiercely within my heart like two opposing fires. I remind myself again: I came to see him fall.

The pack's quiet surrounds us as if we're covered by a blanket while I wrap myself further into my cloak. The crackling fire sends me into slumber as my eyes close gently. The ancient pledge resonates within my soul as if it were a sacred vow hidden deep in my thoughts. I will not forget. I will not forgive. I will have my payback.

Lucien is watching me with a soft and sorrowful look when I open my eyes. The moment between us becomes as weighty as the night sky outside. I raise my head and directly look at him with no signs of fear while my heart races against my chest. I reveal the composed facade I use to conceal my inner turmoil.

The last fire crackle emerges as night deepens and silence follows before I settle back into my stool. Long-established plans fueled by my desire for justice and past pain fill my mind with thoughts about what lies ahead. I store those thoughts in my pocket like hot coals waiting to ignite when the moment demands it. I remain seated as I observe Lucien, who shattered my heart yet remains my object of love.