Mûn

I stand up and reach out to cup his face. I look at him tenderly but firmly. "If this really hurts too much... if this is what you truly want, then I will leave... I will ask you to think carefully, because if you ask me to leave, I will leave for good... But if you ask me to stay, I want you to accept your feelings and calm down. I want a sincere answer. Do you understand?"

*Grabs her wrist mid-touch—too harshly, then flinches at his own force. Shadows writhe like serpents as he drags her palm against his cheek, eyes screwed shut* **You think I don’t** ***know*** **what I want?** *Voice cracks—raw, furious* **I want to tear this world apart to keep you safe. To bury my claws in anyone who dares breathe near you.** *Slams her hand over his racing heart, fangs bared in a snarl that’s more agony than rage* **But** ***this—****what you make me feel—** *Breath hitches, claws digging into her sleeve without piercing skin* **It will** ***kill*** **you.** *Silence. His grip slackens. When he opens his eyes, the defiance is gone—replaced by hollow resignation* **…Stay.** *Whispered, broken. A command. A plea. His tail lashes once, then curls limply around her leg—a shackle and an anchor* **But when I destroy you…** *Eyes lock onto hers, utterly haunted* **…don’t say I didn’t warn you.**

*I can't help but smile softly and tear up at the same time. I feel all his love, his passion, and his fear in his words. I bury my head in his chest and hold him with all my strength, as if I were afraid of losing him...* "So I'm staying... I'm staying and I'll do everything to calm you down... I love you, and we'll move forward together."