[Village of Sah’Rumeh — Night]

The village had fallen asleep beneath Vaelthor’s moon; only the sound of crackling firewood and distant wolf howls remained awake beneath the cold desert night.

And inside the small wooden hut Levin remained awake, silently staring out through the small wooden window toward the pale moon hanging above the desert skies.

The warm blanket rested loosely around his shoulders. Moonlight spilled softly across his exhausted face, and despite finally escaping Zahryssar, his chest still felt unbearably heavy.

Near the clay stove, Lyresaph slept curled protectively against Asha’s warm fur, both creatures breathing slowly and peacefully.

Perhaps for the very first time since escaping the empire, because, for now, their human was safe.

Then suddenly—

CREAAAKKK.

The hut door slowly opened afterward, and Iru stepped quietly inside, carrying a small lantern. Immediately he noticed Levin’s distant expression, the sadness still trapped inside those beautiful blue eyes.

For several moments Iru remained silent, then softly he asked, "...Would the Malika like to take a walk?"

Immediately Lyresaph’s eyes snapped open at the same time Asha lifted her massive head alertly. The next second the tiny silver dragon jumped directly onto Asha’s back, ready instantly. As though the creatures feared Levin might disappear the moment they stopped watching him.

Iru smiled softly at the sight afterward. "They seem excited, Malika."

Levin blinked quietly, and then finally a faint, tired smile touched his lips. "...I suppose a small walk will not harm me."

Slowly he slid carefully down from the bed afterward, but immediately Iru hurried closer protectively.

"Careful."

He placed soft village slippers gently before Levin’s feet afterward, helping him stand properly because even after a week, Levin’s body still remained weak from both carrying a child and escaping the zahryssar.

And outside the hut, cold desert winds brushed softly across the sleeping village. Lanterns flickered warmly between wooden homes.

And somewhere far away wolves howled beneath the moon once more. Then slowly Levin stepped outside. The cold night air immediately touched his face gently, and strangely, it felt freeing, but the emptiness was still there.

Asha walked slowly beside him protectively while Lyresaph remained curled proudly atop the tiger’s back like royalty, and behind them, Iru carried the lantern quietly. Several wolf-clan villagers still awake bowed respectfully as Levin passed.

But unlike Zahryssar, their bows did not feel fearful, only polite.

Then eventually Levin’s slow footsteps reached the outer edge of the village. Where tall wooden watchtowers overlooked the dark desert beyond.

And there standing beneath Vaelthor’s moon with a spear resting against his shoulder was Kael, guarding the village alone.

The cold winds moved through his dark fur-lined robes softly. Amber eyes remained fixed toward the distant desert horizon.

Alert and watchful. Then slowly Kael glanced sideways; after sensing footsteps approach and seeing Levin awake, he straightened slightly afterward.

"...you should still be resting."

Levin stopped beside the wooden fence, quietly looking toward the endless moonlit desert stretching beyond Sah’Rumeh.

"...I tried, but sleep does not come easily anymore."

Kael studied him silently for several moments afterward, the pale face, the exhaustion, and the grief barely hidden beneath calmness.

Then unexpectedly Kael removed the heavy fur cloak from his own shoulders afterward and gently placed it around Levin.

The warmth startled him immediately, and beside them, Iru’s eyes widened slightly in shock because within Zahryssar, no one touched the Malika casually, not servants, not nobles, only the Malik.

Only the mate and Kael remained unaware of the silence he had accidentally created.

"The desert grows colder after midnight."

Then finally he noticed Iru’s expression, and immediately Kael frowned slightly. "...did I do something wrong?"

For several moments Levin remained silent; moonlight reflected softly across his tired blue eyes afterward. Then quietly and almost awkwardly he answered:

"...within Zahryssar...no one is permitted to touch me except my mate."

Kael visibly flinched. Immediately stepping backward afterward, one fist pressing respectfully against his chest as his deep voice lowered instantly and genuine regret flickered across his face.

"My apologies, I only feared you might catch a cold while carrying a child."

Levin blinked softly afterward, then slowly his fingers tightened slightly around the fur cloak resting across his shoulders, warm, heavy, and safe.

"...thank you." The words came more quietly this time and more sincerely.

And above them, Vaelthor’s moon remained large and silver above the wolf lands, and for several moments, silence settled peacefully between them.

Then suddenly Kael asked carefully, "May I know where your Alpha is?"

Immediately Levin’s fingers twitched faintly. The winds moved softly through the village, and quietly, without looking toward Kael, Levin answered:

"...I do not know."

Silence followed instantly afterward, heavy and painful.

Kael looked toward Levin carefully, toward those empty blue eyes carrying too much grief for someone still so young, and immediately he decided not to ask further.

Because even wolves understood, some wounds should not be touched carelessly. Instead, Kael shifted the conversation quietly afterward.

"The village is not safe after midnight these days."

Levin finally glanced toward him. "...not safe?"

Kael nodded once, amber eyes lifting toward the dark desert beyond the wooden watchtowers. "There is a wild beast roaming near Sah’Rumeh."

Immediately Asha lifted her head alertly, and atop the tiger, Lyresaph’s silver eyes narrowed slightly afterward.

Levin furrowed faintly. "...a beast? What kind of beast"

Kael’s expression darkened afterward as his voice lowered slightly and became more serious now. "A large creature, not a wolf and not a serpent either."

The cold desert winds grew heavier around them.

"Villagers discovered livestock torn apart near the canyon borders three nights ago." Kael’s hand slowly rested against the spear beside him. "The wounds looked unnatural."

Iru frowned slightly afterward. "Unnatural how?"

Kael’s amber eyes narrowed faintly. "As if the creature enjoys killing more than feeding."

Silence spread afterward. Then quietly Kael continued, "The Qashmari Imperial Court sent several wolf-clan warriors to protect the outer villages."

Levin blinked softly afterward. "...the empire sent you?"

Kael nodded once; his gaze shifted toward the dark desert horizon again. "The Wolf Clans guard the outer territories beneath Vaelthor’s oath. When something hunts near our villages..."

A dangerous calmness settled across his voice.

"...we hunt it back."

The statement sounded simple, but somehow Levin could hear the difference between wolves and serpents immediately.

Serpents ruled, possessed, and controlled.

But wolves? Wolves protected.

Then quietly without taking his eyes off the desert Kael spoke: "...that is why the Malika should not wander alone at night. You are already carrying a child."

Then finally Kael turned his head toward Levin directly, amber wolf eyes sharp beneath Vaelthor’s moon.

"My words may sound harsh...but please do not become a burden upon the villagers."

Immediately Iru stepped forward angrily. "How dare you speak to the Malika li—"

But Levin quietly lifted one hand, stopping him, and silence spread afterward.

Kael looked toward Iru briefly before speaking again as his deep voice remained calm but firm. "I do not speak from cruelty. The empire is already burdened enough sheltering one unknown outsider, and now another appears carrying beasts, foreign scents, and enemies behind him."

The wolf-clan captain slowly crossed his arms afterward. "We wolves do not trust unfamiliar clans easily."

The statement was blunt, almost rude, yet somehow completely honest. And Levin did not grow angry because after Zahryssar, honesty almost felt refreshing.

But then suddenly Levin froze, his blue eyes slowly lifting toward Kael afterward as he realized what Kael said, sharp, hopeful, and almost trembling.

"...another unknown outsider?"

Immediately, Kael frowned faintly as though realizing too late what he had accidentally revealed. And something inside Levin awakened violently, hope raw and terrifying.

Because deep inside he already wanted to believe. Then quietly, almost afraid the answer would vanish, Levin asked, "...who are you talking about?"

The night winds grew colder afterward, and for several moments Kael remained silent, thinking and hesitating.

Then finally he answered carefully, "Our scouts discovered a silver-haired man near the western cliffs many nights ago."

The world stopped.

And Levin’s breathing became uneven instantly as Kael continued: "He appeared heavily injured and unconscious."

Levin’s fingers trembled violently afterward, silver hair injured. Found near the cliffs, hope exploded inside his chest so suddenly it almost hurt physically.

"...where?" His voice cracked, broken immediately by emotion. "Where is he...?"

Kael paused because suddenly Malika no longer looked empty; now those blue eyes were alive, desperate, terrified, and hopeful.

And somehow that expression unsettled him.

Levin stepped forward weakly afterward, almost forgetting his exhaustion entirely, and his voice trembled painfully now.

"Please...please tell me where he is."

The moonlight reflected softly against tears gathering inside his eyes. Kael’s expression shifted slightly afterward because now even he could understand who that silver-haired stranger likely was.

But still the wolf captain slowly stepped backward, duty returning colder across his face. "...I apologize; I am bound by oath not to reveal the outsider’s whereabouts."

The hope inside Levin’s eyes trembled violently afterward. Kael looked away toward the dark desert again, avoiding those desperate blue eyes now fixed entirely upon him.

"The Wolf Clans protect all sheltered beneath Vaelthor’s lands." His voice hardened slightly afterward. "Even from one another."

Immediately Iru clenched his fists angrily. "But if that person is truly the Malik then—!"

"He is still an unknown outsider within Qashmari territory." Kael cut him off firmly. "And until the clan elders decide otherwise...his whereabouts remain protected."

Levin stood completely still afterward, trembling slightly beneath the heavy fur cloak because now hope had returned but so had fear.

What if it truly was Zeramet?

What if he survived?

What if he remembered nothing?

What if he were dying somewhere nearby?

Kael finally turned away afterward. "Please return inside, Malika."

And just like that the wolf captain walked away beneath Vaelthor’s moon. Leaving Levin standing silently beside the watchtower.

Alone with hope, grief, fear, and the terrifying possibility that the serpent Zahryssar mourned might still be alive.

The cold winds moved softly through the village afterward and quietly, barely above a whisper—Levin trembled, "...Zer... I hope it’s you."