Tristan?" Valeria gasped, frozen in place.
The towering gray wolf stood still for a moment, blood dripping from his fur before shifting back into his human form. It was him. It was Tristan, worn, battered, but very much alive. Her heart stopped as he took a step closer, eyes filled with something between relief and desperation.
"I’m sorry I took so long," Tristan said softly. "But I’m here now. I came for you."
His voice. That voice. Valeria didn’t realize how much she had missed it until now. Her lips trembled as she stood speechless, trying to comprehend what was happening. He reached for her gently, brushing a strand of hair from her face, and before she could find the words, his lips captured hers.
The kiss was wild, desperate, like two souls finding their way back to each other in the middle of chaos. Tears mixed with blood on her cheeks as her arms finally wrapped around him. She buried her face in his neck.
"I thought I lost you," she whispered. "I thought you’d hate me forever."
"Never," Tristan replied, pressing his forehead against hers. "Not even for a second."
Suddenly, someone tapped her shoulder. Valeria turned and found Esther standing behind her, breathless, bruised, and slightly shaken but alive.
"Go," Esther said, eyes darting down the corridor. "I’ll handle the rest. Just get out of here before someone sees."
Valeria’s smile faded. Her fingers tightened around Tristan’s shirt. "No," she said firmly. "I can’t leave you behind. Lucien will punish you for this."
"That’s not important—"
"Yes, it is!" Valeria snapped, her eyes stinging. Without warning, she grabbed Esther’s shoulders and leaned in.
"Valeria, what are you—?"
But before Esther could finish her sentence, Valeria’s fangs sank into the side of her neck.
"Ahh!" Esther cried, trying not to scream. Her knees buckled as Valeria bit down harder, drawing blood.
When Valeria finally pulled away, she panted, shaking with emotion. "Now fall. Pretend to be unconscious. They’ll think I attacked you and you had no choice. You’ll be spared."
Esther’s eyes widened in shock, but then understanding dawned. She gave Valeria one last nod before collapsing to the floor with a convincing thud.
Tristan blinked, surprised. "Did you just—"
"Yes," Valeria muttered. "I couldn’t let her take the fall."
Without wasting another moment, she turned to him and said, "Zip me down."
Tristan blinked again, confused. "What?"
"My dress. Zip it down. Hurry."
He stepped behind her, fingers fumbling slightly as he tugged at the zipper. As the gown loosened, it revealed a sleek, black combat suit underneath.
Tristan let out a short laugh. "You were planning this?"
Valeria glanced over her shoulder, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips. "A girl has to be ready."
He grinned. "Well, that makes two of us. Shall we?"
She nodded, adrenaline now replacing hesitation. They were halfway out the door when he pulled her back.
"Wait," Tristan said.
"What now? We don’t have time—"
"I have one power no one knows about."
Valeria frowned. "Tristan, this isn’t the time to be cryptic!"
He wrapped an arm around her waist and leaned in. "Kissing you gives me strength. And today, I intend to use all of it."
She blushed despite the danger around them. "You’re ridiculous."
"But effective," he added, kissing her again, slower this time.
Just then, a shadow darted across the hallway. Valeria’s breath caught in her throat. "Tristan, someone’s coming!"
She reached for his arm in panic, but before she could say another word, he swept her off her feet.
"Hold on to me," he said.
"What are you—"
And in a blink, everything blurred. The hallway disappeared. The walls, the screams, the blood, it all vanished into a swirl of speed and silence.
Wind rushed past her ears. Her vision went black for a moment before clearing up. She blinked as the cold night air hit her skin, and when she opened her eyes again, they were in the forest. Deep. Hidden. Far from the Valemont estate.
And with one final howl, the wolf carrying Valeria bolted into the forest, leaving behind the ruins of a cursed wedding and the beginning of something that felt like salvation.