My Rare

AELIA REVA ︎

I sat across from him, the warmth of the kitchen making the soft light glow against his features. The food smelled… honestly amazing, and my stomach rumbled quietly, reminding me how long it had been since I last ate something that wasn't a granola bar or coffee.

Ulric caught the sound, of course. His lips quirked into something barely a smile.

"How's the food?" he asked, voice low, casual.

I nodded, swallowing a bite before answering. "It's really good. I didn't expect you to actually know how to cook."

His brow lifted, a teasing glint in his eyes. "You wound me."

I offered him the smallest shrug, mouth curving slightly. "You just give off more...having a private chef than cooking-from-scratch vibes."

He chuckled, leaning back a little in his chair. The silence that followed wasn't awkward, just soft and steady like both of us needed a moment to breathe.

But something inside me wanted to fill the quiet. Maybe to make it feel more normal. Maybe because I just didn't want to think too long about what it meant to be sitting here, in his house, sharing a meal.

I glanced up at him. "I haven't really seen much of Orhill yet."

He looked up from his plate. "No?"

I shook my head. "Just the library , Maria's house and umm...here."

There was a flicker of something in his gaze. Curiosity or maybe thoughtfulness.

"Why's that?" he asked gently.

I shifted in my seat, the food on my plate suddenly less important. "I only moved here a few days ago."

His expression didn't change, but something in the air did. Like he'd been waiting for me to open up, even just a little.

"And before that?" he asked, his tone still quiet, careful.

I looked down at my fork.

"Before that…" I hesitated, then forced the words out. "I lived with my brother. In another pack. Well, if you could call it that. I was more like an outsider they tolerated."

Ulric didn't say anything but I could feel his gaze sharpening.

"I'm… not a real werewolf, at least that's how they saw it. Half-fairy. As you already know,

" I tried to laugh, but it came out as more of a breath. "They never let me forget it."

His jaw tensed, just slightly.

"My parents died when I was seven. My brother, Elias, raised me. Protected me. He was the only reason I stayed as long as I did. But after a while, it just got harder to exist there. So he helped me leave, got me past the patrol lines himself."

When I looked up, Ulric's eyes were steady on mine. No pity. Just that quiet sort of intensity that made my chest feel tight.

"Sounds like he's a good brother," he said.

"The best."

I miss that mama bear. Should call him later.

He reached across the table, resting his hand gently over mine. "Whatever your past was, Aelia, it doesn't define you. And I don't care what they called you or how they treated you, none of them are here. And I'll make sure they never come close. If they try to, they'll pay with their lives. "

I stared at our joined hands. His hands felt so warm and comforting. I hadn't realized how much I needed someone to say those words until he did.

I gave a small nod, barely trusting my voice.

He must've noticed, because his grip softened, thumb brushing once against my knuckles.

"You haven't seen the town yet," he said, a spark returning to his voice. "That's unacceptable."

I blinked, caught off guard with the sudden change of conversation.

"I'll take you out tomorrow."

"What?" I looked at him. "Where?"

He smirked. "That's a surprise."

I tilted my head, narrowing my eyes slightly. "I don't really like surprises."

"Too bad," he said lightly, rising from his chair to clear the plates. "You'll like this one."

I watched him for a moment longer, something unfamiliar blooming in my chest.

.

.

.

The clink of dishes being stacked faded into the soft hum of the refrigerator, the only real sound left in the house. Dinner was over. The atmosphere had settled into something warmer, quieter. I should've felt at ease.

Instead, there was a tension building under my skin. The kind that made you feel like you needed to stand up just to let some of it bleed out.

I brushed my palms along the fabric of my jeans and stood. "I should head home."

Ulric turned his head toward me from the sink, eyebrows lifting just slightly. "Already?"

I gave a small nod. "It's getting late."

He dried his hands, his eyes not leaving mine as he leaned back against the counter. "Your friends are out, aren't they?"

"Yeah, probably still eating pizza somewhere." I paused. "I have my keys. I'll be fine."

He didn't say anything at first, just looked at me. Then, finally, his voice dropped a little.

"I don't like the idea of you being there alone tonight."

I blinked. "I'll lock the doors."

"That's not what I mean." He pushed away from the counter and crossed the space between us, slow but certain. "I know it's not dangerous, not really. But after what you told me earlier… after the dream, after him" his jaw tightened slightly, "I'd just feel better if you stayed here."

I didn't say anything. Because the truth was, a small part of me agreed. But another part… didn't know what it meant.

"I'm not trying to push you into anything," he added, voice softer now. "If you want to go, I'll drive you. But…" his eyes flicked to mine, "I don't know what to do with you either, Aelia. You're in my head all the time. And I just...want more time with you. That's all."

I looked down, heart thudding too loud. His words were a quiet confession, not something meant to sweep me off my feet but something that left me unsteady anyway.

"You can take the guest room," he added quickly, clearly sensing my silence. "Door locks. Windows too. You'd be safe."

My lips twitched despite myself. "You really know how to sell it."

He let out a small breath of laughter. "I'm not even trying to."

I looked up at him then. At the man who had quietly been chipping away at every wall I'd built since I left my old life behind.

And I nodded. "Alright. I'll stay."

The way his eyes warmed made something flutter in my chest.

"Guest room's upstairs. Come on, I'll show you."

Ulric walked me upstairs, and everything was… quiet again. But not in a heavy way. Not like the quiet that used to sit between me and the walls back in my old house. This one was gentle like it didn't need to be filled.

He opened the guest room door for me. It was simple, clean, nothing extravagant, but it felt like someone had prepared it.

"There are extra blankets in the drawer," he said. "And the bathroom's just down the hall."

"Okay."

He hovered in the doorway for a second, then scratched the back of his neck. "I'll be downstairs if you need anything."

"Thanks, Ulric."

He started to turn, then stopped again.

"And Aelia?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad you're staying." His words making my lips turn into a smile before I could stop them.

His gaze moved from my eyes to my lips, staying there for a moment before meeting my eyes again.

"Sleep well, Luna." his voice, a sweet hymn.

And then he left, the door clicking gently behind him.

I stood there for a moment, looking around the space then slowly walked over to the bed and sat down. The silence settled around me again.

❦︎ to be continued ❦︎