CHAPTER 47
(Lyria POV)
The forest no longer felt endless.
It felt like a cage that had no exit.
Lyria stayed close to Kael, her arm now firmly around his waist because his steps were no longer stable enough to rely on strength alone. Every movement forward felt like dragging time itself.
"Kael," she said softly, trying to keep her voice steady, "you need to stop pretending you are fine."
Kael did not answer immediately.
He only exhaled slowly.
"I am not pretending," he said.
Lyria let out a shaky breath. "Yes, you are. And you are doing a terrible job at it."
That made him pause slightly, but he kept walking.
Or tried to.
His foot dragged a little more than before.
Lyria tightened her hold instantly. "You are losing balance."
"I am not," he replied.
"You are literally leaning on me right now!"
Silence.
That silence was worse than denial.
A gust of wind passed through the trees, but even that felt weak now, like the forest itself was tired of what it had witnessed.
Lyria looked back once.
Nothing followed them.
Not because they were safe.
But because nothing needed to chase them anymore.
"Kael…" she whispered, her voice breaking slightly, "I don't hear anything behind us."
"That is intentional," he said quietly.
"What does that mean?"
"It means they stopped pursuing."
Her chest tightened. "Why would they stop?"
Kael did not answer immediately.
And that hesitation told her everything she didn't want to hear.
"…Because there is no need to rush anymore," he said finally.
Lyria's grip tightened on him. "Don't talk like that."
"I am speaking logically."
"No," she said sharply. "You are speaking like someone who is trying not to scare me."
That made him stop walking.
Completely.
Lyria turned to him immediately. "Kael?"
His head tilted slightly down.
And this time, she saw it clearly.
His breathing was heavier.
Not fast.
Just heavier.
Controlled—but slipping.
"…We should rest," he said.
Lyria shook her head instantly. "No."
"That is not optional," he replied.
"I said no!"
His gaze lifted slightly toward her.
And for the first time since the attack began, his voice softened.
"You are shaking," he said.
"So are you," she shot back immediately.
"I am not shaking," he said again.
Lyria laughed weakly, but it broke halfway. "You keep saying that like it will make it true."
He tried to take another step.
But this time—
His knee gave slightly.
Not fully collapsing.
Just enough.
Lyria caught him instantly. "Kael!"
"I am fine," he said again, but this time his voice was lower.
Too low.
"Stop saying that," she whispered urgently. "Stop lying to me."
"I am not lying."
"Yes, you are!"
A silence followed.
Then Kael finally leaned slightly against a tree nearby.
Not fully collapsing.
But no longer fully standing either.
That was the moment Lyria felt her heart drop completely.
"…You are not okay," she said quietly now.
Kael didn't respond.
He only closed his eyes for a second.
Just one.
Then opened them again.
"I will recover," he said.
Lyria stared at him. "You are barely standing."
"I said I will recover."
"And I said I don't believe you."
That made something flicker in his expression.
Not anger.
Not frustration.
Something quieter.
Something human.
A distant sound echoed again.
Not a howl this time.
Just wind through broken branches.
Lyria turned sharply. "Do you hear that?"
Kael nodded once.
But he didn't move.
"Why aren't we moving?" she asked quickly.
"We are not being followed anymore," he repeated.
"That doesn't mean we are safe!"
"I did not say we were."
That answer made her chest tighten again.
She stepped closer to him. "Kael… what happens if you collapse here?"
He looked at her.
And for a moment, he didn't answer.
That silence terrified her more than anything else.
"…Then you continue without me," he said finally.
Lyria shook her head immediately. "No. No, I won't."
"You will," he repeated.
"I won't!"
His gaze softened slightly.
Not weaker.
Just… quieter.
"You will survive," he said.
"That is not what I want!"
"That is what matters."
He tried to straighten again.
But his body betrayed him slightly this time.
Lyria caught him before he could fall.
"Stop fighting me!" she snapped suddenly, panic rising again. "You are going to collapse and you are acting like it is nothing!"
"I am still here," he said.
"But you are fading!" she shouted.
That made silence fall again.
Even Kael didn't respond immediately this time.
Lyria swallowed hard, her voice lowering into something broken.
"…You are fading," she repeated.
Kael looked at her.
And this time, he didn't deny it immediately.
That was worse.
He finally spoke again.
Quiet.
Controlled.
"I am still with you," he said.
Lyria shook her head, tears forming in her eyes now. "That is not enough anymore, Kael."
His hand moved slightly toward her arm.
Slow.
Weak.
Still trying to reassure her.
"I am here," he repeated.
But this time—
Even Lyria could hear it.
He was not fully sure anymore.
And for the first time since they entered the forest—
Lyria felt something she had been fighting since the beginning.
Fear.
Not of the forest.
Not of the werewolves.
But of losing him.
Right here.
Right now