Aire sat by the window.

The night had settled fully now, wrapping the castle in a quiet that felt almost sacred. The sky stretched wide above, deep and endless, with the full moon hanging low and luminous.

She had been staring at it for a while.

She didn’t know how long but time felt slower here and different as she stared up at the Moon.

Her fingers rested lightly against the edge of the window frame. The soft curtain behind her shifted faintly with the breeze, brushing gently against her shoulder.

She didn’t move. She simply watched the whole sky, focused on it.

The moon looked closer tonight. She couldn’t tell why, but the moon felt as though it had something to say.

She heard a sudden sound. The sound was soft at first, then it became distant. Aire’s brows drew together slightly. She tilted her head and listened.

The sound became clear. It was a howl, low and long. It carried through the distance as if calling at her. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Another sound followed, then another.

The sound layered over each other, each sound different in tones, and depths. It felt like a communication.

Aire stilled.

Her fingers tightened slightly against the wood.

The sound reached her again. It felt closer this time, pulling at her.

Her chest rose slowly, then paused.

Her wolf stirred weakly. It wasn’t fully awake, but it moved weakly. She have had this feeling once.

Once when she still lived with her uncle. She recognized the feeling. It had always felt like something in her chest was trying to rise through water.

Aire inhaled sharply.

Her hand pressed lightly against her chest.

"What..." she whispered under her breath. The feeling grew painful, and uncomfortable. It felt as if she was arguing with herself not to tear out of her own skin.

The howling continued.

It wrapped around her and through her as it pierced into her chest. Her legs trembled, as she refused to answer.

Her wolf pushed again, harder this time. Her wolf struggled, trying to reach out.

Aire’s breath became uneven. Her fingers curled tighter against the window frame. She felt her wolf trying to rise and connect, but it couldn’t.

The push stopped for a second, then cane again. Harder this time. Her knuckles turned pale as she gripped the window frame more tightly, trying to breathe.

When she was younger, she saw her Daddy cry and cursed at the wind as she struggled this way before him.

Aire’s eyes squeezed shut.

A quiet sound left her throat in pain.

"I don’t understand..." she murmured. "I’m cursed. I have no wolf.... Please stop."

The feeling built, and built. Her breathing roused. Her body temperature grew hotter as she jerked, trying to control whatever it is that was happening to her.

Just when she thought she might pass out in pain, she heard a sudden knock on her door.

The sound broke through everything.

Aire’s eyes opened immediately. Her breath steadied, just slightly, and the pull weakened. The pain slowly disappeared.

Another knock followed, softer this time.

Aire straightened slowly.

Her hand dropped from her chest.

"Come in," she said.

The door opened carefully and slowly. Whoever stood behind it wasn’t certain if they should come in.

A small figure stepped in first. Her footsteps were so timid and careful.

Marsali. The human girl.

Aire’s expression softened immediately.

She stood up without thinking. Her body moved before her mind caught up. Her legs wobbled, and steadied immediately.

Behind the girl, Beta Rhys followed. He watched everything under his intense composed gaze.

He bowed his head lightly.

"Luna."

Aire barely acknowledged him. Her gaze remained on the girl.

Marsali hesitated just inside the room.

Her small hands clasped together. Her eyes lifted briefly, just enough to meet Aire’s. Then they dropped again.

Aire took a step closer.

"Why are you here?" she asked gently.

Beta Rhys answered. "She wished to see you."

Aire’s brows pulled together slightly. Her gaze flickered briefly to him then back to the girl.

Marsali shifted slightly.

She bowed in a proper careful way. "Your Grace," she said.

Aire’s expression softened further. There was something about the way she said it that made it too formal and careful. Especially for a child.

Aire moved toward the bed.

She sat down slowly, her movements were calm and open, inviting the girl in. She looked back at her.

"Come," she said softly. "Sit with me."

Marsali didn’t move immediately.

Her eyes flickered toward Beta Rhys, silently asking her if she should.

He gave her a small nod. Only then did she step forward. She climbed onto the bed slowly, and sat at the edge.

Her hands immediately returned to her lap. Her fingers fidgeted slightly.

Aire watched her for a moment.

"What is your name?" she asked softly, taking the first step forward for a conversation.

The girl’s fingers stilled.

"Marsali," she said softly.

Her gaze remained on her hands.

Aire smiled softly.

"Marsali," she repeated.

Her hand moved carefully. She placed it lightly over the girl’s fidgeting smaller hands.

Marsali flinched slightly.

Aire noticed but didn’t pull away.

"Marsali," she said gently, "I’m sorry if I put you in distress the last time we met."

Marsali shook her head quickly.

"No—" she said. "I am sorry. I came to apologise to you, Your Grace."

Aire’s brows lifted slightly.

"I thought..." Marsali hesitated.

Her fingers tightened beneath Aire’s hand.

"I thought you were going to kill me for the poisoned drink," she admitted quietly. "So I was scared."

Aire stilled. That incident has long been forgotten.

Her gaze flickered briefly to Beta Rhys sharply as she questioned him with her eyes, wondering why he filled the little girl head with such cruel thoughts of her wanting to kill her.

Her eyes softened again, returning to the girl.

Her thumb brushed lightly over Marsali’s knuckles, slow and soothing. "I would never do that," Aire said softly.

Marsali didn’t respond immediately.

Aire leaned in slightly closer. Her voice lowered, becoming gentler.

"Not to you," she added. "Not to anyone who has done me no harm. I promise you that I would do nothing to you, and I’ll keep that promise."

Marsali’s shoulders relaxed a little.

Aire continued. "And no one in this castle will harm you either," she said. "You are safe here."

The girl’s fingers loosened.

Her breathing steadied. "You promise?" she asked.

Aire held her gaze. "I promise."

The girl held Aire’ssea blue eyes with her brown ones. Then, she lifted her hand to Aire, and stretched out her pinky.

"Pinky swear?" she asked firmly.

Aire chucked softly. "Pinky swear." She agreed, stretching her pinky out also. Then, she locked her pinky with Marsali’s own.

Marsali nodded slowly. The tension in her small frame eased. Her shoulders dropped, and her other hand relaxed beneath Aire’s.

She looked up at Aire again. This time, she didn’t look away immediately.

Aire smiled at her.

The room grew quieter yet warmer.

Marsali spoke again. "I heard something," she said, her voice light, and ready to speak.

Aire tilted her head slightly. "What did you hear?"

Marsali hesitated. "I heard whispers," she whispered. "Around the castle."

Aire didn’t interrupt her. She nodded, for her to go on.

"They said..." Marsali swallowed softly. "That you’re a curse, and you brought darkness to the castle."

Silence followed her words.

Aire’s expression didn’t change, at least not outwardly. A glint of sadness flickered across her eyes for a brief second, and disappeared immediately.

She smiled. "I’ll explain that to you someday," she said gently. "But not now."

Marsali studied her carefully. Her little brows furrowed in observation. She shook her head after a few seconds.

"I don’t think you’re a curse," she said.

Aire swallowed.

Marsali’s gaze held hers now, fully and openly. "You’re a gift." She declared.

Her words settled deep into Aire’s chest. Her breath caught slightly. Her eyes watered. However, it was barely there. So faint it could have been missed.

She blinked once, and the tears were gone. Her hand tightened gently around Marsali’s.

"Thank you," she said quietly, and genuinely.

Marsali smiled at her.

She shifted closer without thinking. Her shoulder brushing lightly against Aire’s arm.

Aire didn’t move away. She let her come closer to her. Her hand moved slightly, resting more fully over the girl’s.