Chapter 80 Both Of Us
ARDEN
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de Coing
It was silent for a while. There weren’t any lingering people in the garden, and the lights began to flicker off one by one, casting the space into deeper shadows.
Finally, he looked up at the moon and said quietly, “I’m different from my family. I think you can tell.”
I nodded, my eyes searching his profile, illuminated by the pale blue cast of the night.
Cade sighed, then added, “I think you could have guessed it from our features and skin color. I look like I’m not related to her.”
He paused, and I took that as my cue to lean a little closer.
“That’s because they aren’t my real family,” he confessed.
My breath hitched, but I remained silent, allowing him the space to speak.
“I was born far north of here, in a place I don’t even want to remember the name of,” he continued. “I was five when I witnessed my dad kill my mom right in front of me. We were starving, and he decided that dying together was the best way to escape our life.”
“He tried to kill me, too.”
A sharp sting prickled behind my eyes, but I refrained from speaking. I wanted him to continue because I knew how difficult it was for him to share this.
“I ran. I had no idea where to go. I was barefoot, with the blood of my mother staining my shirt. And I just kept running.”
He let out a dry laugh. “And then there she was. Honey. She was only thirteen at that time, and it seemed she had wandered far from her own home. When she saw me, she didn’t hesitate. She grabbed me, hid me, and cleaned me up herself. She made me eat the snacks she had in her pocket and wrapped me up to keep me warm.”
“My step–mom, the Luna, had become barren after having Honey through a complicated pregnancy. They longed for a son, so they took me in with open arms,” he explained.
Cade looked down, his voice softening. “I owe her my life. Truly.”
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I could picture it now–little Cade, hollow–eyed and frightened, and Honey, bold and bright, wrapping an arm around him, shielding him with everything she had.
“She became my best friend, my real family. We shared everything, and I considered her my true sister.”
My heart ached at the thought.
“She’s eight years older than me, but never once did she make me feel like I didn’t belong. She always said, ‘Cade, you’re my little moon. I’ll never let the night swallow you.” He swallowed hard. “Among everything, she loved our pack. She was born for it, destined to become the True Luna of the North.”
I turned to face him more fully. “She met her mate?”
He nodded, pain flashing in his eyes. “Yeah. When she was sixteen. He was the same age, and they were perfect together. He used to say that Honey made him believe in the stars again.”
A breeze rustled through the trees, carrying with it unspoken memories. Cade’s voice dropped to an almost whisper.
“But then she came to Elite. Something changed. She stopped calling as often. I tried to reach out to her, but she always said things were fine. Still, I could tell something was off.”
“What happened?” I asked
tly, drawing closer in curiosity and concern.
“She never told us. Only that her mate had gotten sick. And then, one day, the school called. He had died. They claimed it was an illness.”
“Just like that?”
“Yeah.” Cade clenched his jaw. “Honey, after that, she was never the same. She stopped smiling. Sometimes, she just stared at the walls, appearing to be searching for something she had lost within them.”
He rubbed the back of his neck, his voice unsteady. “Then one day, she just stopped speaking. Just like that. Her body functioned perfectly–she could walk, eat, sleep. But she didn’t say a word.”
Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision.
“We went to every doctor we could find: healers, mind–linkers, even shamans. No one could. offer an explanation. They just said she had regressed.” His mouth pursed bitterly around the
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word. “The school promised they’d help. Headmaster Winters even cried when he saw her again, claiming she didn’t deserve this. That she had become like this for nothing.”
“Did Honey tell you what happened?” I whispered, my heart aching for both him and her.
Cade shook his head slowly. “Not once. Whatever happened, it’s locked up tight in her mind. And I couldn’t break in if I tried. I’ve just been waiting and hoping.”
With every word Cade spoke, my heart tightened. He didn’t deserve any of this. No one should have to endure such pain at such a young age.
“The reason I left suddenly a few days ago was because of her. She’s better now, but she still has her episodes. She had a particularly tough one that day, and Cora called me because she thought a familiar face might help.”
“And it did,” I murmured, realizing how deeply Honey must love Cade.
He met my gaze, his eyes reflecting quiet gratitude. “Yeah. That’s why I’m so amazed by how she treats you when you’ve just met. Honey took a long time to adjust to this place, but you earned her trust the moment you came into her life.”
“You must have a really good heart,” he added softly.
He looked like he wanted to say more, but I didn’t give him the chance. Instead, I moved in without thinking, wrapping my arms around him tightly, pressing my cheek to his shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Cade.”
He hesitated for just a moment before holding me back, just as tightly.
“She’s part of me,” he whispered. “Just like the life she lost. Just like you.”
Cade bore a heavy load of grief.
And I wanted to be someone who helped him carry that weight–not someone he had to shield from it. I clung to him like he was the last thread keeping me grounded in a world that felt overwhelming. I wasn’t sure how long I stayed like that, but with each second, I felt his pain resonate beneath his strong heartbeat.
“It must have been incredibly tough for you,” I whispered, my voice breaking.
Cade didn’t respond, but I felt him exhale, slow and deep. His arms tightened around me. One hand pressed gently against the small of my back while the other cradled the back of my head.
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That simple action unleashed my tears. They spilled freely down my cheeks, and I wasn’t even sure when they had started. I tried to wipe them away quickly, but it was no use.
“Why are you the one crying?” he chuckled softly, a gentle smile tugging at his lips. “You’re beautiful regardless, but you’re even prettier when you smile.”
I sobbed harder, pushing against his chest just long enough to look up at him, tears still cascading down my face. “Cade,” I whimpered, brushing a strand of hair away from his face. My fingers glided through his hair, tangling lightly in the soft strands, and I cupped his cheek with a trembling hand.
“Little Cade must have had a rough time,” I whispered. “You did, didn’t you?”
He didn’t answer, but the softness in his eyes spoke volumes. There was so much grief hidden within them. He had learned to live with it, but that didn’t mean it didn’t ache.
I leaned forward, resting my forehead against his, my fingers still stroking his cheek. “You deserve everything good,” I told him sincerely. “You’re not alone.”
His hand tightened around me gently, not possessively. I closed my eyes, savoring the moment. The night air outside was cool, but in this space, this quiet little room, everything felt warm and safe.
“For a long time,” I murmured, “I felt like I didn’t belong in my family. Like I was trying to fit into a mold that was never made for me.”
He opened his eyes at that, curiosity sparking within them.
“I’m not perfect,” I continued. “We’re not perfect. But that’s okay.”
Cade nodded slowly, resting his chin against the top of my head. “I’ll take care of you, Arden,” he said earnestly. “No matter what happens. I’ll protect you.”
My heart clenched at the promise in his words–it felt like a vow whispered beneath a blanket
of stars.
“Me too,” I whispered back. “I’ll take care of you and Honey. Both of you.”
