119

I opened my eyes, confused and tired.

The tall treetops blocked the sun's rays from infiltrating and reaching the ground, illuminating us. The landscape was white, and small snowflakes fell on us, wetting my eyelashes and hair, freezing them.

The scent of oak dominated the air, mixed with the freshness of the snow. It felt so good to experience something so exotic after being trapped in a stinky, filthy room for so long.

I was being protected by broad, warm arms that surrounded me as if I were the most precious thing in the world. I snuggled closer to the body of the man carrying me.

Fenrir looked down without slowing his pace, his breath was heavy, but the golden gleam in his eyes was determined.

“Not much longer, little wolf. Hang in there, we’re almost there,” he panted.

I tried to speak, but my mouth was dry and my tongue stuck. I took a deep breath, absorbing the fresh air.

Fenrir didn’t slow down, his arms around me were like steel.

Exhaustion took over me once again, and I fell into a deep sleep.

***

There were countless stars scattered across the dark sky. The cold wind swayed the branches of the trees, dropping some of the snow accumulated on them onto us.

Fenrir's jaw was tense, the hairs of his beard grown. We were still in motion. His arms around me kept me warm and protected.

I watched him with a tired gaze.

I loved him so much.

It was hard to pinpoint when I had fallen in love, I only knew for certain that it had happened, even though I had tried to avoid it.

He lowered his head and fixed his blue eyes on me. Silver danced within his irises, and there were also some golden specks.

He smiled, showing his sharp, elongated fangs.

“It's all right, Sava. You’re being incredible, strong, and fearless,” he whispered, rubbing the tip of his nose against mine. He kissed my forehead and inhaled deeply, absorbing my scent. “You have my heart. If yours stops beating, mine will fall silent too.”

Something inside me surrendered to his words. A pure, deep, and complex feeling took over me.

It was love. The most genuine and pure I had ever known.

His pace didn’t lessen in intensity. Never, not for a single second. Fenrir seemed exhausted, his expression showed it, but he didn’t stop running.

I tried to speak again, but I couldn’t. It was as if the words were stuck, as if my lips were glued together.

He looked forward again, avoiding a fallen trunk in the middle of the path, jumping with me in his arms with enviable ease.

I felt the exhaustion again, as if it would never end.

I was fighting, as he had asked, trying to stay strong, trying to recover. Besides him, I had my pup to hold on for. Both depended on me, two lives that were too important to me.

I closed my eyes and settled against his sturdy chest, catching the rapid rhythm of his heartbeat and his deep breaths.

I fell asleep, lulled by the pulse of life within him.

***

It was snowing heavily.

The snow was falling in thick flakes around us, turning the world white and spreading a cold breeze. With every breath, a cloud condensed in front of my face.

A cloak covered my body, draped over me. Fenrir's muscles were tense from exhaustion, but the determined expression on his face hadn't changed.

He ran tirelessly through the forest.

I felt weak, as if all the hours of sleep hadn’t been enough to help me recover.

Even with my heavy body, with the fatigue, he persisted, fighting for us.

I tried to say something, to express my gratitude, my love, but my words were swallowed by the silence of the forest.

My body ached as if a thousand sharp knives had been stabbed into me. Every muscle, every inch of skin. Even turning my neck was a difficult task.

I just needed... to sleep a little longer, to rest more.

Fenrir cast a glance through the cloak that covered me.

“We’re close, Sava. So close I can hardly believe it. Survive!” he begged, his voice tired, breathing heavily. “Hold on, little wolf. Hold on!”

I wanted so badly to tell him that I could make it, that everything would be fine, but I had no strength left, my lips were numb.

My body was still so battered, and my mind so exhausted. It felt like the past few days, everything I had been through and faced, was taking its toll.

I just wanted a little peace.

I tried to keep my eyes open, to stay conscious beside him, helping in any way I could, even if it was just with hope.

But I couldn’t.

With every blink, my eyelids felt heavier.

I resigned myself to the fatigue, letting sleep take me once again, confident that Fenrir would keep running for us, tireless, until we were finally safe and well.