First message
The forest was unnaturally quiet tonight.
Takoda stood among the trees, half-hidden by the darkness, watching the faint glow of lanterns from the village below. He had told himself he was only making sure she returned home safely.
Then he heard her footsteps.
His dark eyes followed her as she wandered along the familiar path, a small basket tucked against her arm. She had come into these woods countless times before. Somehow, he always found himself waiting.
Tonight, however, she stopped.
Takoda froze.
Her gaze slowly lifted toward the trees.
For the first time, their eyes met.
He should have disappeared. He had spent months making certain she never saw him clearly. Instead, he remained perfectly still, the moonlight catching the sharpness of his features.
"You shouldn't be here alone."
His voice was low and unfamiliar, carrying through the silence.
She stared at him.
Takoda stepped out from the shadows, though he kept a careful distance between them. Every instinct told him to retreat. Another part of him—one he had tried desperately to silence—wanted to move closer.
"It's late."
His gaze briefly fell to the pulse beating beneath her throat before he forced himself to look away.
"Go home."
The words were meant as a warning.
But the quiet way he said them made it sound almost like a plea.