*Evar's POV*

The heat from the fire mirrored the heat building between us, as Nemesia's fingers brushed against my cheek, stirring a wild storm within me. Her question still hung in the air, palpable and heavy.

"What do you want, Nemesia?" I had whispered, hoping for an answer that might seal our fates together, even for a moment.

But suddenly, she stepped back, her touch vanishing like a wisp of smoke, her presence retreating as though pulling away could shield her from the vulnerability she'd almost embraced. Her voice, when she spoke, was cold, a stark contrast to the warmth we had shared seconds before.

"I want every person who has hurt me to feel that pain tenfold," she declared, her back to me, her posture rigid.

"But I will not lower myself by trading my body or trust for any man or woman's allegiance. I can only trust myself." She paused, her head slightly tilted as if listening to a distant call only she could hear.

"And Evar, be mindful. You are useful and your company is agreeable for now, but that can change at any moment."

I sat there, stunned not by her retreat but invigorated by it. Her nearness a moment ago, the softness of her lips almost against mine, was now a memory that played on an endless loop in my mind. I turned to Ragnar in my head, who seemed just as affected, his wolfish eyes wide with a mix of confusion and admiration.

"Did you see that, Ragnar?" I mused inwardly, the conversation with my wolf beginning as we often did in moments of uncertainty. "Her fire, it's... it's captivating."

Ragnar's thoughts came to me tinged with optimism.

"Maybe she needs time, Evar. Maybe what she needs is someone who won't push but will be there, proving that not all men are like those she's known."

I sighed, the weight of reality settling in.

"And what can a rogue wolf like me offer? I'm not strong like an Alpha, nor do I have the charm of a royal. Look at me, even my appearance is nothing to boast about these days."

"But you have heart," Ragnar countered in his straightforward, wolfish way. "And sometimes, heart is what a wounded soul needs."

As we talked, Nemesia stepped outside into the cool night air, the door closing softly behind her. I couldn't help but wonder about the barriers she had built around herself, barriers that might never let anyone, including me, truly in.

*Nemesia's POV*

The chill of the night air was supposed to cool the heat that had flared inside me, but it barely touched the surface. I walked away from the cave, from Evar, from the dangerous warmth that had almost pulled me in. My fists clenched at my sides as I fought against the surge of emotions that threatened to overwhelm me—attraction, excitement, loneliness, the desperate craving to be loved.

My breaths came out in visible puffs as I walked away from the warmth of the cave and Evar's unsettling influence. The darkness of the night seemed less oppressive than the chaos of my emotions, which I attempted to suppress with every step.

"You don't have to push everyone away," Athena whispered from the recesses of my mind, her voice gentle, a stark contrast to the harshness of my thoughts.

But I was quick to silence her, my tone icy as the air around me.

"Quiet, Athena. We can't afford weakness. Trust leads to betrayal. We've learned that all too painfully. We won't be used again. Now, we use them. We control the game."

I stopped, my gaze fixed on the dark silhouette of trees against the night sky. The memory of the past—a past brimming with deception and cruelty—began to resurface vividly. Words flowed from me, meant only for the ears of the indifferent night.

"Remember how they looked at us, judged us as if we were nothing more than a tool for their amusement. Remember how they used us, how each smile hid a dagger. Remember the searing pain of betrayal, the deep humiliation from those we trusted. Never again."

Athena's voice tried to soothe the rising storm within me, her tone a soft contrast to my hardened resolve.

"Nemesia, is there truly no one left to trust?"

But I silenced her, my voice cold as the air that surrounded us.

"No, Athena. Recall the days when the royal court scoffed at our mere presence, only to later fawn over us when they saw my utility in their political games. Think of Marco, how quickly his love turned to indifference when a newer, naïve soul caught his eye. We were nothing more than a stepping stone."

"The pain they inflicted wasn't just physical—it was a clear message of our expendable nature. We are alone because it is the only way to shield ourselves from further wounds," I continued, my words a mix of venom and ice.

Athena persisted, her warmth trying to pierce through my growing ice.

"But perhaps—"

"Enough!" I cut her off, my determination solidifying with each word.

"We will manipulate before they have the chance to use us again. We cannot afford the luxury of trust; it is a weakness that leads to downfall. We are alone in this, by choice, by necessity."

The night listened silently, a perfect confidant to my solitude and resolve. Wrapped in darkness, each harsh truth I acknowledged fortified my resolve like armour against any future betrayals. I would no longer falter; my heart was now a fortress, impervious to false promises and deceitful charms.

Standing alone under the cold gaze of the stars, I embraced the path I had chosen—one forged from resilience and the stark reality of independence. Athena's gentle protests faded into the background, overwhelmed by the anthem of my newfound determination. No one would ever control me again; I was the master of my fate, the commander of my destiny.

The night was silent around me, listening to my vows of solitude and vengeance. I wrapped the darkness around me like a cloak, each harsh truth I told myself armouring against the vulnerability that Evar had almost teased out. I would not falter again; my heart was a fortress that no sweet words or gentle touches could breach.

As I stood alone under the stars, the cold no longer bothered me. It was a reminder of the path I had chosen—one of strength, resilience, and independence. No one would ever use me again; I was the master of my fate, the queen of my soul.