Chapter 7 The Tempest Inside

The Stillness of the Forests Talon sprinted. The cool night air sliced against his skin, his wolf compelling him onward, further into the darkness. He was indifferent about his destination—he simply wanted to escape. Far from Aeryn. Distant from Kael and Riven. Distanced from the reality that scratched at his heart like an imprisoned animal. The mate bond flared within him, drawing him back, urging him to go back to her—to them. Yet he fought back, his breathing uneven, his heartbeat thundering like war drums within his ears. He was different from Kael. He didn’t accept this bond. He was different from Riven. He did not embrace it with calm comprehension. He battled it. If he gave in, if he allowed this connection to engulf him, he would never be able to release her. And that frightened him more than anything else. His legs ultimatelyHe decelerated when he arrived at the brink of a ravine, the river beneath surging with a fierce roar. He leaned against a tree, trying to calm his breathing. However, the instant he shut his eyes, he envisioned her. Aeryn—standing firmly, formidable and intense, her stare unwavering. He had seen her struggle for them. Stand up for him. Rather than remaining by her side, he had fled. A growl resonated in his chest. He lacked strength. Timid. However— “Claw.” The voice pierced the night, gentle, unwavering. Talon's muscles tightened. He didn’t need to look back to recognize who it was. Aeryn. Showdown She moved forward gradually, the moonlight creating silver lines in her dark hair. She had no fear. She was never. Talon breathed out forcefully. “You’re not supposed to be here.” "I didn't arrive here to seek approval," she stated plainly. Talon tightened his hands. "You possess Kael and Riven." "What else do you desire?" Aeryn made a displeased expression. "You." The term was still yet weighty. Talon felt a pressure in his chest. He pivoted, locking eyes with her. "You don't grasp what you're requesting." Aeryn moved a bit nearer. "Please assist me in comprehending." His jaw clenched. "I pose a threat." "I'm not scared of you." "You ought to be." Aeryn maintained his look. "Still, I remain here." A heavy, unbreakable silence lingered between them. Talon's breath was deep and labored. Then—at last—he said something. The Reality He Conceals "I took my father's life." Aeryn's heartbeat ceased. Talon's voice was hollow, lacking any feeling. "I ripped his throat open using my own teeth." Not due to his wickedness. Not due to a lack of options. “Yet, it was simply my desire to do so.” Aeryn gulped. “Talon…” “I didn't merely take his life,” he went on, gaze shadowy. "I found it enjoyable." As I stood above his body, drenched in his blood, I came to a realization. Aeryn suspended her breathing. Talon's tone became quieter.to a murmur. "I’m different from Kael and Riven." My wolf isn’t something I manage. “It's something I hardly confine.” The heaviness of his admission weighed on her heart, yet she remained steadfast. She would not. Aeryn moved another step closer, extending her hand toward him. “Talon, you aren't—” "Refrain." Talon recoiled, as if her touch were fiery. His eyes looked frantic now, filled with desperation. "You just don't understand," he murmured. “If I succumb to this connection… if I embrace you completely… I won't allow anyone else to have you.” Not Kael. Not Riven. Not the group. "Nobody." Aeryn gasped for air. "I will destroy you." The Silent Option Aeryn gazed at him, her heart racing. For an extended period, she struggled to demonstrate her worth. To assert her companions, to harmonize the unachievable. However, this wasn't about demonstrating anything. This pertained to Talon. He felt fear—not of her, but of his own self. Of what he might turn into. Of what they might turn into. Aeryn breathed out. "You believe I’m unaware of what it feels like to lose control?" Talon's eyes darted. Aeryn moved nearer, cautious and purposeful. "Do you believe I haven’t experienced the attraction of something beyond my own being?" "That I don’t rise each morning struggling against the expectations, the pressure, the desire?" Talon gulped intently. “It differs.” "That is." Aeryn’s tone remained steady. “And I remain upright.” Talon's breath quivered. She reached out and shook his hand. This time, he did not withdraw. Their hands made contact. And the bond sprang to action. It wasn’t merely warmth. It was a tempest. Unprocessed. Wild. Unrelenting. Talon took a quick breath, his body tensing up like a hunter ready to pounce. However, Aeryn held on tightly. "Remain," she murmured. Talon's hands shook. “I’m not sure if I can.” Aeryn tightened her grip on his fingers. Sure! However, it seems like the text you provided is incomplete."I struggle for you, as I have battled for everything else." His breathing faltered. For a brief period, Talon remained still. Did not say a word. Then—gradually, tentatively—he leaned his forehead against hers. The earth vanished. There wasn't any pack. No assumptions. No worries. Just them. Just this. The Comeback As they returned to the pack, the festivities had started to wane. The flames continued to blaze, yet the atmosphere had changed—quieter, more restrained. Kael and Riven remained at the clearing's edge, anticipating. Kael lifted an eyebrow. "Well, did you experience your moment of introspection, or should I hit you once more?" Talon sighed dramatically. "Give it a shot, and I'll snap your ribs." Kael grinned. "That’s the Talon I’m familiar with." As always, Riven was more silent. He observed Talon closely, then looked at Aeryn. An unarticulated connection existed between them, a mutual comprehension. Then—at last—he agreed. Aeryn released a breath she hadn’t known she was keeping in. They were not flawless. They were not complete. However, they were united. And for the moment, that sufficed. As the night wore on and the flames dwindled, Aeryn stood with her friends, observing the embers flicker in the dark sky. There were more conflicts to face. More challenges ahead. However, for the first time in quite a while, she wasn’t confronting them by herself. She had Kael, Riven, and Talon. And united, they would transform everything.