My Rare

ULRIC KNIGHT

The forest behind my estate had always been my sanctuary. The rest of the world faded the deeper I walked into it, no politics, no rogue threats, no duties. Just the trees, the sky, and the steady rhythm of earth underfoot.

But now, she was here. Walking beside me.

Aelia.

She had barely spoken since we left the library. Her hands were tucked into her sleeves, and her gaze kept flicking from the path to the treetops like something might leap out and pull her into the dark. I hated that.

The sun was lower now, casting soft gold across the woods as we walked down the worn trail that led to my private clearing.

I slowed my steps slightly, just enough that she wouldn't feel rushed. She noticed. She always noticed more than she said.

"I come here when I need quiet," I said, keeping my tone light. "It helps."

She gave a soft nod but didn't answer right away.

Silence stretched between us. Not cold, just… waiting.

After a few more steps, I looked toward her. "I felt something today. In the middle of my meeting. Something… off."

Her fingers twitched at her sides.

"Was it you?" I ask, even though I know it was her.

She paused. Her lips parted, but no sound came out.

I stopped walking and turned fully to her. "You don't have to tell me if you're not ready. But I can't protect you if I don't know what's hurting you, Aelia."

Her breath caught. She looked down at the ground for a long moment, then finally whispered, "I had a dream."

I stayed still.

She glanced up briefly. "It felt like more than a dream. It was too real. It was about the first time I saw him."

I frowned slightly. "Who?"

"That boy," she said, her voice trembling now. "Or I don't know what that was, honestly."

"The one in the dream. The kid with the strange smile. He was on the train. When I first came to Orhill."

She hugged her arms around herself as if the memory still clung to her skin.

"He sat beside me. Acted like a normal kid. But then he said my name. Told me he knew what I was. His eyes... changed. His voice...it wasn't human. And then… he said he was coming for me."

I exhaled slowly, trying to keep my expression calm. Inside, my wolf growled.

"You saw him," I said.

"In real life," she nodded. "I didn't tell anyone. I thought maybe it was… some kind of hallucination. But now he's in my dreams, saying the same thing."

Her voice dropped to a whisper again.

"And this time, he…"

She swallowed hard.

"He tore into me. Said he was coming for me and it....it felt so real...like I was truly dying." Her voice breaking at the end.

I can't speak. Rage rises in my chest like smoke through my ribs."You never told anyone?"

She shakes her head slowly.

"And now he's showing up in your dreams," I say quietly, "and telling you the same thing."

She nods, wrapping her arms around herself. Her breath stutters. I took a step closer, not touching her yet. Letting her breathe.

"You didn't deserve to go through that alone."

"I didn't want anyone to think I was crazy."

"Aelia," I say, moving in closer, brushing a thumb under her jaw, forcing her to meet my gaze. "You are not alone in this. Not anymore. He will not get to you. I'll make sure of it."

"Not in this forest. Not in this town. Not even in death."

And then, slowly, she nodded.

We walked a bit further, until we reached the clearing.

The trees opened up here, the canopy letting through soft rays of dying sunlight. I turned to face her fully.

"I meant what I said," I added, softer now.

"I know," she whispered.

I reached forward and gently tilted her face upward with two fingers, brushing a kiss to her forehead.

She froze for a second, then let out the softest breath, like the wind had left her lungs.

I let my hand linger for just a moment longer, grounding her. Grounding me.

When I pulled back, I took a seat on the log near the edge of the clearing, motioning for her to join me.

She did, sitting a few inches away.

"Aelia," I said, looking over at her, "Your magic… How long have you had it?"

She blinked, surprised by the change in subject. "Um… ever since I was born....It started small. Just sparks, warmth. But it grew. Especially when I got overwhelmed."

"Have you ever been trained?"

She gave a small laugh. "No. I don't even understand what I am. Sometimes I can control it, just barely. Small things. But when I get scared or feel danger… it takes over."

I nodded slowly. "That can be dangerous." My words coming out softly, not wanting to offend her.

"I want to see it," I say as I take her hand in mine and look her in the eyes. "Show me. Just a little. Whatever you can do safely."

She looked hesitant. "Here?"

"This clearing is warded. Nothing here will hurt you. And I'll stop it if it gets out of hand."

She stared at me for a second longer, then slowly held out her hand, palm up.

She closed her eyes.

The air around her shifted.

A faint flicker sparked above her palm—soft, orange and gold, like a flame the size of a firefly. It danced in the air for a moment, then fizzled.

She opened her eyes.

"That's it," she whispered. "I can only control that much when I'm calm."

I watched her carefully. "You did well. We'll work on it. Together."

Her eyes flicked toward mine, something unreadable swimming in them.

And for the first time in a long time, I felt like we were stepping into something real.

"All right," I say, stepping away from the log as the last flicker of magic fades from her hand. "Let's get some dinner now."

She lets out a soft, tired sigh beside me, like the forest itself had drained her nerves clean. The stars are peeking through the treetops. I glance sideways at her.

"From what my creep-level window staring has gathered," I say dryly, "you didn't eat a single thing while you were working."

Aelia lets out a quiet laugh, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "And how long were you standing there, exactly… just stalking?"

"Observing," I correct, placing a hand over my chest. "I was observing my mate. Big difference."

She gives me a look, the kind that sits somewhere between amused and exasperated and follows as I lead her back toward the house. The forest path softens under our steps, and the lights of the back terrace glow faintly ahead.

"So…" she starts as we reach the stone path, "I thought you lived with your mom?"

I shoot her a smirk. "Sometimes. I visit, mostly. But I need space, quiet, and fewer witches throwing books at me. Hence this place."

She chuckles. "Understandable."

The door clicks open as we step inside. The kitchen is warm, modern, clean, filled with the kind of silence I like. She walks in first, glancing around.

"Nice place."

"Thanks," I say, already heading for the fridge. "What do you feel like eating?"

"Anything you can make easily," she replies, walking to the kitchen island and trailing her fingers along the edge.

She pauses. "I can help, if you want."

I glance over my shoulder.

A bad idea.

Because now my mind has stopped on the sight of her, flushed cheeks, messy hair, and those soft eyes still glowing faintly with the energy she summoned earlier.

Great heavens, her beauty might end up killing me one day.

I set the ingredients down, walk to her and in one swift, easy movement, I slide an arm around her waist and lift her up. She lets out a breathless yelp as I settle her onto the countertop.

"Ulric!"

I step between her legs, my palms braced gently on the outside of her thighs.

"You want to help?" I murmur, watching her eyes widen. "Then just sit right there and look at me like you own me. Let me try to impress you with my cooking."

Her jaw falls slightly, but she doesn't move.

Good.

I turn to prep, chicken, garlic, and cream, the pasta dish I know by muscle memory. She watches me as I move, and I feel her gaze on my back the way I used to feel blade pressure in sparring.

Halfway through slicing, her phone buzzes.

I glance over. She checks the screen and hesitates before answering.

"Hey, Tyler."

I pause.

Her voice softens, but I keep my hands moving , stirring, flipping. Listening.

"What?" she laughs faintly. "You're all going for pizza?"

Pause.

She listens.

I can't help it.

I move towards her and gently part her legs with my hands on each thigh and step between her legs, my hands slide from her thighs all the way upto her waist.

She stiffens just slightly, looking right into my eyes. I move my right hand and trace light touches from her lower back to her neck before gripping it lightly.

"I… can't," she says into the phone. "I'm with Ulric." That's right.

I lean down and press light kisses near her left ear. My lips brush against her ear, 'good girl." I make sure my voice comes out clear knowing he can hear it.

There's a long pause on his end, I can tell.

Then he replies, "Right, your mate. Almost forgot,"

Oh you forgot, don't worry soon everyone will know it and I'll make sure no one forgets it who their Luna is.

In the background, I can hear faint voices shouting something.

She laughs faintly and says, "You guys enjoy your night, okay? I'll see you later."

She ends the call and sets the phone down.

My hands don't move. One still at her waist. The other... rises to the back of her neck, fingers lightly brushing her nape.

I move back from her tempting neck and lean my forehead against her, trying to calm my jealous wolf down.

"Why was Tyler calling?" I try to ask softly, looking dead into her eyes.

She exhales, steadying herself. "He and the others were grabbing pizza. He wanted to pick me up from the library."

My grip firms slightly, thumb brushing the pulse at her throat.

"How close are you two?" I ask quietly.

She blinks. "We live together."

I still for half a second.

She notices.

"I didn't mean— we're not—he's just... a friend. I live with other housemates as well, there's Victoria, she's great, and then Vincent and Vernon are twins, always fighting and then Caleb and Hector. They are all good people, harmless."

I nod slowly, then hum.

My hand at her waist slides forward, drawing her closer, making every inch of her body press firmly into mine.

"I'm not jealous, Aelia," I say softly. "I just don't share what's mine."

She swallows.

"Ulric—"

"The stove," she blurts. "Your dish—"

Nothing but her matters right now.

Goddess, I don't think I can hold back anymore.

I lower my head toward her.

Being this close to her, this open-mouthed, flushed-cheeked version of her, perched on my kitchen counter, legs warm against my sides, is torture in its most beautiful form. Every cell in my body is tuned to her.

Every part of her draws me in. The faint spark of her magic still lingers on her skin like heat trapped under the surface. Her scent, warm, earthy, something I'll never stop craving, curls around my throat like a noose.

She doesn't move. Doesn't push me away.

Her chest rises and falls too quickly. Her eyes flick to my lips and, that's it.

The last string of restraint in me snaps.

"Let it burn." I murmur, voice gravel thick.

Her breath catches, and I feel it, the way her body leans into mine without meaning to.

The need to kiss her isn't a thought anymore. It's a hunger. An ache buried in bone.

So I close the distance and I kiss her.

Not hard. Not rough but slow..deep, like I've waited a lifetime and a half just to learn the taste of her mouth.

And now that I have…

I don't think I'll ever stop craving it.

❦︎ To Be Continued ❦︎