Tiza, now the Shadow Wolf, remained completely unaware of the secret Lara had been carrying all this time.
His thoughts were consumed by only one thing.
Protecting his wife.
Protecting his child.
Keeping them far away from the danger that had descended upon their lives.
Even on that dreadful night, after escaping with Lara and their newborn child, his only concern had been their survival. The beast within him understood one truth clearly—wherever he went, danger followed.
He could not stay.
He could not stop.
So he ran.
With Lara secured upon his back and the infant protected carefully against him, the Shadow Wolf charged through the darkness.
Far away from the tents.
Far away from the camp.
Far away from the prisoners and soldiers.
Far away from the bloodshed.
He ran through forests, across hills, and over rocky paths beneath the pale moonlight. His powerful legs carried them through the night while his senses searched endlessly for a place of safety.
Behind him, Lara remained silent.
Not because she wished to be.
Because every attempt to speak brought unbearable pain.
The secret desperately clawed at her heart, begging to be released. She wanted to tell him. Needed to tell him.
Yet every time she tried, the pain returned.
Tiza did not understand.
He could not know the suffering her silence was causing.
And so he continued running.
Hour after hour.
Mile after mile.
Until finally, Lara found the strength.
Her trembling hand rested against the thick dark fur covering his back. Slowly, she gripped it.
Then gripped harder.
The sudden pressure immediately caught his attention.
The Shadow Wolf slowed.
His ears twitched.
Listening.
Waiting.
But Lara could only draw shallow breaths as they continued onward.
They traveled throughout the night and into the early hours of morning. Even as dawn approached and the first rays of sunlight began to spread across the horizon, Tiza refused to stop.
Not until he found somewhere secure.
Somewhere hidden.
Somewhere safe.
Eventually, he reached a cave near the riverside.
It was a place he recognized.
A place connected to distant memories from his days in the army. He remembered marching through this region, remembered ships and boats passing along the river, remembered using these routes during military campaigns long ago.
Even as a beast, fragments of those memories remained.
The cave was concealed well enough.
For now, it would have to do.
Slowly, Tiza lowered Lara from his back before gently placing their child beside her.
The moment they settled, he turned toward Lara.
His glowing eyes studied her carefully.
He could feel it.
The sorrow.
The despair.
The sadness radiating from her heart.
It was a pain he could sense but could not understand.
Lara, however, understood perfectly.
She could not carry the burden any longer.
The secret had to be revealed.
This was no longer just her life.
It was theirs.
He deserved the truth.
He deserved to know what had been taken from him.
He deserved the chance to protect the family he had fought so hard to build.
Keeping him trapped in darkness would only destroy him further.
With trembling hands, she moved closer.
Wrapping her arms around the great beast, she pressed herself against him.
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Lara leaned toward his ear.
And whispered.
She told him everything.
The truth.
The secret.
The memories that had been stolen.
The life that had been hidden from him.
The words left her lips softly.
Yet to Tiza, they struck harder than any blade ever could.
The Shadow Wolf froze.
Completely still.
His body trembled.
His legs shook beneath him.
A strange sensation gripped his chest.
Fear.Anxiety.Uncertainty.
Emotions he rarely allowed himself to feel.
Emotions he did not know how to face.
Tears gathered within his eyes.
For the first time in a long while, the mighty Shadow Wolf looked vulnerable.
Because now he understood.Now he knew.Everything.
The villagers.
The prisoners.
The children.
The people who still depended on him.
The people he had abandoned in his desperate attempt to protect his family.
He could not stay here.He could not hide.He had to go back.
Exhaustion weighed heavily upon his body. Every muscle screamed from the endless journey. His wounds ached. His strength was fading.
Yet both he and Lara knew the truth.
Others needed him now.
Perhaps even more than she did.
Lara gently cupped his face.
Her tears fell freely as she looked into his eyes.
The eyes of the man she loved.
The man hidden beneath the beast.
Leaning forward, she rested her forehead against his.
"My love," she whispered.
"You need to go back."
Her voice trembled.
"You need to protect the ones we love."
She glanced down at their sleeping child before looking back at him.
"They need you."
A tear slid down her cheek.
Then she smiled despite her pain.A small, fragile smile filled with love.
"I love you."
The words hung softly inside the cave.
And for a moment, neither of them moved.
As if both understood that what came next could change everything.