Chapter 9

Suddenly, Kaelen leaned in, pressing his forehead against Sylvia's.

They were so close that she could count every one of his lashes, feel the warmth of his breath, and catch his icy cedar scent.

"Sylvia," Kaelen whispered, his voice tinged with a rare vulnerability. "Back then, I thought I was dying. The vampire venom had reached my heart. I couldn't shift back to my human form.

"I was lying in a pile of trash, waiting for the end. But you bandaged me up and stayed by my side till sunrise.

"At that time, I made up my mind." His fingers threaded through her hair. "You were the one for me. No matter who you were, no matter if you were a wolf or a human, I didn't care.

"I spent half a year searching and waiting for you. And now you're telling me you're not good enough for me?"

Sylvia's tears spilled over. "But—" she choked, "I-I don't have a wolf form. There's no wolf inside me. The pack would never accept a Luna who can't shift."

"The pack?" Kaelen scoffed. "I'm the Alpha. My word is law. My mate doesn't need their approval.

"But you need to awaken your wolf form." His voice softened. "Not for them, but for yourself. Without a wolf, your body can't handle the bond. If we force it, you'll die. I won't let that happen."

His fingers gently wiped away her tears, as if she were made of glass.

"So I'll wait for you to awaken your wolf form," he promised. "I know you'll make it within a year. I'll search every possible way to help you."

"But if I never awaken my wolf?" Sylvia asked.

Kaelen's eyes darkened.

"Then I'll wait two years," he said. "If two years isn't enough, I'll wait three. If three isn't enough, I'll wait five. However long it takes, I'll wait for you.

"But until then, you stay here. You're not allowed to leave. This is my domain. No one comes in or goes out without my say-so." Kaelen's fingers gripped Sylvia's chin firmly.

Sylvia's eyes widened. "A-Are you planning to keep me as a prisoner here?"

"Not keep you as a prisoner," Kaelen replied, a mischievous smirk curling his lips. "I'm protecting you. And also—"

He leaned in, his nose brushing against hers, their breaths mingling. "I'm here to court you."

*****

Life in the Forbidden Sanctuary was more comfortable than Sylvia had imagined.

The stone bed was firm, but it was layered with a thick velvet pad.

The daily meals were delivered by attendants, featuring all her favorite dishes: lamb chops, stuffed tomatoes, pumpkin oatmeal, and that trendy cake from the city she'd casually mentioned wanting to try in a chat.

"How did you know I liked these?" Sylvia couldn't help but ask one day.

Kaelen looked up from his ancient book, his tone casual. "You mentioned it online."

Sylvia couldn't remember posting about it. She'd share little bits of her daily life in chats, but those were casual updates. She never expected him to remember.

Kaelen added, "And the day you saved me, half a strawberry-flavored biscuit fell out of your pocket. You said that the brand was the best."

Sylvia was stunned. That was half a year ago. She couldn't remember saying it, but he did.

"Wh-Why do you still remember all these little things?" Sylvia whispered.

Kaelen set the ancient book aside and walked over to sit on the edge of the bed.

Today, he wasn't wearing his usual robe, but a black turtleneck sweater that made his broad shoulders and long legs stand out more.

"Because it's you," he replied. "I remember every word you said."

His fingers gently traced her cheek. "You said you like rainy days because the sound of the rain drowns out everything else. You said you hate perfume, but you love the smell of herbs and sunshine.

"You said you want to go to the beach, but you're scared of the water. You said you hate being called trash, but you never fight back because it makes things worse."

Sylvia's eyes grew misty with tears.

Kaelen said in a low voice, "You said your greatest wish is that someone can remember you."

Her tears slipped down as she ducked her head, hiding her face from him.

"I remember." Kaelen lifted her chin, making her look straight at him. "You're Sylvia Ashby, an eighteen-year-old low-born with no wolf form.

"You minored in human psychology.

"You love strawberry treats, fear water, and secretly feel happy on rainy days.

"You never cry when picked on, but hide away to eat candies instead.

"You saved a black wolf you didn't know, stayed with it till dawn, and then stood there holding an empty first-aid box for a long time.

"I remember every bit of it."

Sylvia was too choked up to speak.