The howl echoed again.
Distant. Hollow. Cold.
Valentine stiffened.
"…Artavius."
Another one.
Closer.
Her fingers curled slightly into the bedsheet.
"I don't like that…"
He didn't look up at first.
"It's just wolves."
"That's not helping!"
She glanced nervously toward the window.
"They sound so scary…"
A pause.
"…tch."
Artavius stood up.
"Wait here."
"Where are you—"
He was already gone.
A few seconds later, he returned and tossed something toward her.
"Wear it."
She caught it.
"…headphones?"
"Just wear them."
She hesitated, then slowly put them on.
Soft music filled her ears.
Gentle. Calm.
The howling faded away.
Her shoulders relaxed.
"…yeah."
A small smile.
"Better."
"…good."
Silence settled between them.
But this time—
It wasn't uncomfortable.
Valentine leaned back against the wall, still listening.
"…Artavius?"
"…what now?"
"Do you sleep this easily?"
"Yes."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Liar."
He didn't respond.
She smiled a little to herself.
"Do wolves have families?"
"…yes."
"Do they fight?"
"Yes."
"Do they miss each other?"
A pause.
"…sleep, Valentine."
She ignored that completely.
"Do you think the moon looks different from different places?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"It's the same moon."
She tilted her head.
"…boring answer."
Silence.
Then again—
"…Artavius?"
A sigh this time.
"What."
"If I run away, will you chase me?"
"…yes."
"How fast?"
"Faster than you."
She laughed softly.
"Confident."
"…realistic."
Another pause.
"Do you like music?"
"No."
"Then why did you give me these?"
"…because you don't stay quiet."
She gasped dramatically.
"That's rude!"
"…accurate."
She smiled.
Then softer—
"…you're not that bad."
A pause.
He didn't reply.
Just looked away.
"…sleep."
But he didn't take the headphones back.
Minutes passed.
Her voice got quieter.
Slower.
"…Artavius?"
No response this time.
"…okay…"
Her head tilted slightly.
Breathing even.
She had fallen asleep.
The music still played softly.
The room was quiet.
Artavius looked at her.
For a moment longer than necessary.
"…she trusts too easily."
A pause.
"…idiot."
A strand of her hair had fallen across her face.
He noticed.
Hesitated.
Then slowly—
Reached out.
Gently moved it away.
His fingers brushed her skin—
Light.
Barely there.
He froze.
Just for a second.
Then pulled his hand back immediately.
"…careless."
But he didn't move away.
Outside—
The wolves howled again.
The wind brushed against the walls.
Cold. Wild. Distant.
Inside—
It was quiet.
For the first time—
The night didn't feel empty.
it felt like a promise unspoken but still beautiful.