---- the village," she whispered. "Tall, wearing a hood, standing under the tree across the way, staring in this direction." My heart pounded. Had Lyra's people found us? Or the Northern Pack? "Let me see." I went to the window, carefully peeking through the gap. A tall figure did indeed stand under the tree, completely cloaked in dark fabric, their face hidden. But even so, the familiar silhouette and stance sent a jolt through me. Impossible... Just then, Orion began to struggle violently, his little hands waving excitedly towards the figure, letting out excited gurgles. "He's never done that before," Rhea said, surprised. "It's like he recognizes someone." The call of blood. There was only one possibility... ---- "Watch Orion." I handed the child to Rhea, quickly grabbed a shawl. "I'm going to check." "It's too dangerous!" Lina grabbed my arm." What if it's a trap?" "Trust my intuition," I said firmly. "Besides, if it's really him, Orion sensed it before I did." Stepping out of the house, a cold wind hit me. I scanned my surroundings warily, then walked towards the figure. He seemed to sense my approach and retreated deeper into the shadows of the trees. This wasn't the behavior of an enemy. It was more like... someone not wanting to be recognized. I followed him onto a forest path, my heart pounding. If I was wrong, this could be a fatal trap. But some instinct drove me forward. Ina hidden forest clearing, he finally stopped, his back to me. ---- "Turn around," I commanded, my voice trembling more than I expected. He slowly turned and removed his hood. In the moonlight, the familiar yet strange face made me gasp. It was Kaelen, but not entirely the Kaelen I remembered. His hair was shorter, a beard covered half his face, and his eyes were filled with exhaustion and alertness. The most noticeable change was a new scar, running from the corner of his left eye to his jaw. "Sera," he said softly, his voice low and hoarse. "How did you find us?" I asked, deliberately keeping my distance. "Tracked Lyra's followers," he said curtly. "They seem to have some way of tracking Orion. I followed them, hoping to intercept them first." "You've been tracking them? For these three ---- months..." "Yes," he nodded. "They've been searching for you. Lyra... she's not the person we knew anymore. She's allied with some dark power, obsessed with finding Orion." I watched him warily. ''Why didn't you come to me directly? Why hide in the shadows?" "Because I promised," he gave a bitter smile. 'To respect your choice, not to disturb your new life. I just... wanted to make sure you were safe." He looked so tired, yet the determination and protectiveness in his eyes were still strong. It reminded me of why I had fallen in love with him. "How close are they?" I got straight to the point. "Too close," he said gravely. "The merchants were a disguise. They're Lyra's spies and have confirmed you're in this village. More are on their way. You have to leave immediately."