Dana

　　"You don't understand how much I've missed you," she said as we parted from our embrace.

　　I chuckled. "You think I don't feel the same way?" I responded.

　　She nodded with a broad smile on her face, her eyes scanning me.

　　"Are you okay? We heard about everything that happened. We were actually planning to send backup, but your pack seemed to handle the situation quite efficiently," she added.

　　"Even the other pack offered assistance to help you," her words softened my gaze.

　　"What... Really? But you're political rivals," I replied, genuinely surprised yet appreciative.

　　"Yes," she agreed. "But does it really matter what happened in the past when, in the end, we're still friends?"

　　"We're here for you, ready to mend whatever has transpired and offer our support," she said earnestly. "When the Black River Pack approached us to aid in the downfall of your pack, we refused and instead planned to assist you. However, your pack swiftly won the battle before we could intervene," she added. I gazed at her with profound gratitude in my eyes.

　　"Thanks, Anna..." I murmured gratefully, squeezing her hand.

　　She took a deep breath. "Bathel hasn't changed either," she stated, leaving me speechless. I didn't know how to respond, especially after Bathel trapped me yesterday.

　　"But of course, you can live your life however you want," she said reassuringly. "Bathel has focused on his pregnant wife," she added, and those words made me uncomfortable, knowing I was supposed to be Bathel's wife.

　　"Well, that's true..." I murmured softly.

　　"So, do you love Ares?" she asked, her curiosity evident.

　　My heart began to race. I wanted to say no, but could I still deny it when I longed to see him and feel his lips again? When I left Blaire in the forest yesterday just to ensure Ares wasn't left alone?

　　I could see that he had changed, and he had gone to great lengths to help me. He might have been a coward before, but he had stopped being one.

　　"Would you hate me if I said yes?" I responded nervously, watching for her reaction.

　　"I loved Bathel. I truly loved him more than anything else. I poured my heart into our relationship, believing we were meant to be, but my feelings waned when he gave up on us and treated me as if I were easy to win back," I explained, pouring out my feelings to her. She squeezed my hand even tighter, offering silent support.

　　"I know," she whispered softly. "I know you well. You loved Bathel deeply, and your feelings for Ares resurfaced for a reason. There's no shame in that, especially when we've held onto beliefs about Ares that aren't even true," she reassured me, her words bringing tears to my eyes.

　　"Oh God, I love you so much, my best friend," I said, embracing her tightly once more. She hugged me back, gently patting my back in return.

　　"You don't need to explain yourself just because you fell in love with a man," she whispered, her words a comforting balm to my soul. I hugged her even tighter, cherishing the warmth of her hands in mine.

　　Suddenly, I noticed Ares approaching, and he halted in his tracks upon seeing us. He stood there, silent. I reluctantly released my embrace with Anna, and she followed my gaze, locking eyes with Ares.

　　Ares stood before us, his gaze inscrutable. The transformation was stark. Once, he looked upon us with disdain, treating us as adversaries in every interaction. But now, a calmness radiated from him, replacing the hostility of before.

　　"Did I interrupt something?" His voice held a gentleness that was unfamiliar, almost disarming. "I can leave," he offered, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

　　Anna returned the smile, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me. It was as if the tension that had lingered between us had dissipated in an instant. "No, not at all," Anna replied warmly, her eyes meeting Ares's with a newfound sense of ease.

　　Ares and I strolled through the woods, reminiscent of our childhood days when we'd wander together, exploring every nook and cranny.

　　"What did you and Anna talk about?" Ares inquired, his manner unchanged. He had a habit of probing into every detail of my interactions, a trait that had remained constant over the years.

　　And that's one of the things I like about him, and I admitted that.

　　"About how they were supposed to help us," I whispered, but my voice trailed off as I mentioned Bathel. Ares halted in his tracks, his expression unreadable, his lips pressed together in a tight line.

　　I came to a stop beside him, sensing the tension in the air.

　　"Did I say something wrong?" I asked, my voice tinged with concern, uncertain of the effect my words had on him.

　　He gazed into my eyes, his touch gentle against my cheek. "I wanted assurance from you," he confessed, his words eliciting a smile from me.

　　"I thought you could see it," I replied with a smile that spread across my face, feeling a warmth in my heart.

　　"I can, but I would love to hear your voice say it," he murmured, his lips brushing against my forehead, eliciting a chuckle from me.