Dawn struggled to cross the mountains.The Moonfang village was silent, too silent.Everyone had felt the draconic presence during the night, and everyone watched Lunaya as if she carried a storm under her skin.
Kael gave her no time to breathe.
"Come."
"Where?"
"Somewhere no one can interrupt us."
He led her to the back of a rocky gorge, far from the village.A secluded place where the wind howled between the cliffs.
Lunaya shivered.
"You want us to… train here?"
"Yes."He turned toward her.
"Because if anything goes wrong, I might lose control."
She stepped back.
"Lovely."
Kael ignored the jab.He moved to the center of the stone hollow.
"Your Resonance is an emotional power," he said.
"Each beastman feels it differently.For some… it attracts.For others… it dominates.And for the most dangerous… it creates desire."
His jaw tightened at the mention of Dravik.
"I need to learn to resist it."
Lunaya stared, unsure.
"And me… what do I do?"
"You breathe."
"That's it?"
"That's already very dangerous."
He stepped closer, slowly.
"Lunaya… your power acts without your permission.It rises when you're afraid, when you doubt…It explodes when you're overwhelmed."
"Like last night."
She nodded, ashamed.
"I didn't try to control you, Kael."
"I know."
He looked at her with an intensity she had never seen from him.
"And that's precisely the problem."
He placed a hand on his chest, close enough for her to feel the heat of his body, but not touching.
"Your Resonance answers my instinct.And mine… is brutal."
She swallowed.
"So you want to teach me not to trigger your instinct?"
"No."He drew a slow breath.
"I want to teach you to tame it."
She froze.
"Kael, I… I've never tamed anyone."
"Then now's the time to learn."
He stepped back and positioned himself.His gaze hardened.
"I'm going to approach you.If you panic, your Resonance will explode…And I might lose my mind."
"So I have to stay calm."
"Exactly."
He gave a fierce, wolfish smile.
"Show me you can keep me on a leash."
She raised her hands.
"Kael, I don't want to hurt you."
"And I want to see whether I can handle you."
He moved forward.
One step.Two.Three.
His breathing grew rough.His pupils widened.His fangs peeked from his lips.
"Kael?"
"Keep breathing, Lunaya."
She inhaled.Her heart beat faster.A shiver crawled up her spine, a vibration,an echo in her chest.
Kael growled, but didn't stop.
One last step…
And he was a breath away from her.His chest almost touching hers.His hands trembling.
"I… I can't…"
"Kael! Stop!"
Too late.
A spike of fear pierced Lunaya.Her Resonance burst out like an invisible wave.
The air rippled.The ground trembled.
Kael collapsed to his knees.
"Kael!"She rushed to him, panicked.
He gasped as if all his strength had been drained.His hand dug into the earth.His eyes turned human again, wide, shaken.
"Lunaya…"He lifted his head.
"You… broke me."
She froze.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to,"
"No, listen…"
He pushed himself up slowly, his body still trembling.
"You didn't hurt me."
He put a hand over his heart.
"You bent me."
Silence fell.He stood, step by step, and approached again, this time without aggression, only respect.
"You don't understand, Lunaya."
He tapped his chest.
"A Moonfang warrior bows to no one."
His gaze burned, almost reverent.
"But you… you put me on my knees."
Her breath caught.
"Kael…"
His fingers brushed her cheek, as if against his will.
"If you can do that to a wolf…"
He stepped back, voice rough.
"Then I can't imagine what the draconics feel."
A cold shiver ran through her.
"Kael… you really think Dravik"
"Dravik wants to possess you."
His stare held despair and fire.
"I want to protect you.But I don't know if I'm strong enough."
A silence.A chilling wind.An admission.
Then,
A roar echoed in the distance.Not lupine.Not draconic.Something else.
Kael paled.
"No… not now."
"What is it?!"
He turned to her.
"The third clan.The Felines."
He seized her hand abruptly.
"Lunaya, we have to go.Now."