Aria’s POV
"You’re WHAT?"
Sophie’s shriek was so loud I had to pull the phone away from my ear. Again.
"I said you can co visit." I couldn’t help but smile. "If you still want to."
"IF I STILL WANT TO?!" Her voice hit a pitch that probably shattered glass sowhere. "ARIA MOON, ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW? ARE YOU ACTUALLY SERIOUS?"
"I’m serious."
"OH MY GOD. OH MY GOD. OH MY GOD!"
I waited. Let her scream. Let her process.
This was Sophie. This was how she handled good news.
"When?" She was breathing hard now. Like she’d just run a marathon. "When can I co? Tomorrow? Tonight? Can I leave RIGHT NOW?"
I laughed. Actually laughed. A real, genuine laugh that ca from sowhere deep in my chest.
"How about this weekend? That gives you ti to pack. And ti to find us a place to stay."
"A place to—wait." Her voice shifted. Suspicious. "What do you an find a place? Aren’t you staying with that healer guy? Cassius?"
"I am. But I can’t keep imposing on him forever."
"Imposing?" Sophie snorted. "From what you’ve told , the man would let you live in his house until the end of ti. He’s obviously head over heels for you."
"Sophie—"
"Don’t ’Sophie’ ! I have eyes! Well, ears. But you know what I an!" She took a breath. "Are you sure you want to move out? He sounds nice. Stable. Safe."
"He is all of those things." I looked around the cottage. At the warm fireplace. The comfortable furniture. The plants on every windowsill. "That’s exactly why I need to leave."
"That makes zero sense."
"It makes perfect sense." I sighed. "I can’t keep relying on him. I have a job now. I need to stand on my own feet. Build sothing that’s actually mine."
Silence on the other end.
"You’re annoyingly independent, you know that?"
"I learned from the best."
"Damn right you did." I could hear her smile through the phone. "Okay. Fine. This weekend. I’ll book a flight. Or... do wolves have flights? How does transportation work there?"
"There’s a train station at the border. I’ll send you the details."
"Perfect. PERFECT!" Her voice rose again. Giddy. Excited. "I’m going to see you. I’m actually going to SEE you. In PERSON. After MONTHS!"
"I know."
"I’m going to hug you so hard your ribs crack."
"Please don’t. I need my ribs."
"Too late! Rib-cracking hug is already scheduled! It’s happening!"
I shook my head. Still smiling. This woman was absolutely insane.
And I loved her for it.
"Sophie?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you." My voice ca out softer than I intended. "For everything. For being there. For caring. For wanting to co all this way just to see ."
"Stop." Her voice wobbled. "You’re going to make cry. And I have mascara on. Expensive mascara. Don’t you dare ruin it."
"Sorry."
"You’re not sorry at all."
"You’re right. I’m not."
We both laughed. That easy, comfortable laughter that only ca with true friendship.
"I’ll see you this weekend," Sophie said. "And Aria?"
"Yeah?"
"Get ready. Because I’m going to make this the best trip of my entire life. And by extension, yours too."
"I don’t doubt it."
"Good. You shouldn’t." A pause. "Love you, dummy."
"Love you too."
The line went dead.
I sat there for a mont. Just holding the phone. Letting the warmth of the conversation settle into my bones.
Sophie was coming.
My best friend. My rock. My reminder that not everyone in this world was cruel.
She was actually coming.
---
I found Cassius in the kitchen.
He was making dinner. Sothing with vegetables and herbs. The sll was incredible. Warm and hoy and everything I’d co to associate with this place.
With him.
"Hey." I leaned against the doorfra. "Can I talk to you about sothing?"
He looked up. Those calm gray eyes found mine.
"Of course." He set down the wooden spoon. Gave his full attention. "What’s wrong?"
"Nothing’s wrong." I stepped into the kitchen. Tried to find the right words. "Actually, sothing’s very right. My friend Sophie—the one from the human world—she’s coming to visit."
His eyebrows rose. "That’s wonderful. When?"
"This weekend."
"So soon?" He smiled. Warm and genuine. "You must be excited to see her."
"I am." I took a breath. "Which is why I wanted to talk to you."
Sothing shifted in his expression. Just slightly. A flicker of sothing I couldn’t quite read.
"About what?"
"I think it’s ti for and Lina to move out."
Silence.
The only sound was the gentle bubbling of whatever was on the stove.
"Move out?" Cassius’s voice was carefully neutral. "Why?"
"Because I can’t keep imposing on you." I gestured around the kitchen. At the cottage. At everything he’d given us. "You’ve done so much for us already. Let us stay here. Helped find a job. Watched Lina when I couldn’t. You’ve been incredible, Cassius. But I need to stand on my own."
"You’re not imposing." His voice was firm. Certain. "I told you that when you arrived. I ant it."
"I know you did."
"Then why—"
"Because it’s not fair to you." I cut him off gently. "You have your own life. Your work. Your space. You shouldn’t have to share all of it with a woman and her child indefinitely."
He stepped closer. Those gray eyes intense now.
"Aria. Listen to ." He reached out. Took my hands in his. "Having you here has been the happiest I’ve been in years. You and Lina aren’t a burden. You’re not an imposition. You’re—"
He stopped. Swallowed hard.
"You’re important to ." His voice was softer now. Almost vulnerable. "Both of you."
My chest tightened.
I knew what he wasn’t saying. Could see it in his eyes. In the way he looked at . In every gentle touch and patient word.
Cassius had feelings for .
Real feelings.
And I couldn’t return them.
"Cassius..." I squeezed his hands. "You’ve been so good to us. So kind. And I appreciate it more than I can ever express."
"But?"
The word hung between us. Heavy with aning.
"But I need to do this." I t his eyes directly. "Not because I don’t care about you. But because I need to prove—to myself—that I can build sothing on my own. That I’m not just surviving anymore. That I’m actually living."
He was quiet for a long mont. His thumbs traced gentle circles on the backs of my hands.
"I understand." The words ca out slowly. Reluctantly. "I don’t like it. But I understand."
"Thank you."
"On one condition." His grip tightened slightly. "If you ever need anything—anything at all—you co to . No hesitation. No guilt. Just ask."
"Cassius—"
"Promise , Aria."
The intensity in his voice surprised . This wasn’t just concern. This was sothing deeper. Sothing protective.
"I promise."
He nodded. Released my hands. Stepped back.
"When are you thinking of leaving?"
"A few days. Before Sophie arrives. I want to have everything set up by then."
"That’s very soon."
"I know." I tried to smile. "But I’ve been looking at apartnts near the office. There’s a nice one available. Small but affordable. Good neighborhood."
He turned back to the stove. Stirred the pot. His shoulders were tense.
"You’ve thought this through."
"I have."
"Of course you have." A small laugh escaped him. Almost bitter. "You always think things through. Even when it would be easier not to."
I didn’t know what to say to that.
So I said nothing.
"Well." He turned off the burner. Faced again. That warm, gentle smile back in place. "If you need help moving, I’m available. And if you ever need soone to watch Lina—"
"I might take you up on that." I smiled back. "Sophie’s going to want to explore everything. And so of it isn’t exactly toddler-friendly."
"Just let know."
"I will."
We stood there. Looking at each other. So much unsaid between us.
"You know," Cassius said softly, "when you first called that night—when you were scared and alone and had nowhere to go—I promised myself I would protect you. No matter what."
"Cassius—"
"That hasn’t changed." He stepped closer. Reached out. Tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "Just because you’re moving out doesn’t an I’m going anywhere. You need , Aria? I’m there. Always."
My eyes burned. I blinked rapidly.
"You’re too good to ."
"No." His smile was sad. Beautiful. "I’m exactly as good as you deserve. You just don’t see it yet."
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