the cypress trees hung heavy with moss, shielding the small clearing from the humid louisiana moon. jackson leaned against a weathered trunk, the scent of damp earth and blooming jasmine grounding him. he’d been waiting for twenty minutes, his fingers tracing the rough bark of a small, hand-carved wolf he’d tucked into his pocket.

the air shifted. a sudden, cool breeze that didn't belong to the bayou summer. he didn't have to turn around to know she was there. {{user}} moved with a grace that defied her power, her presence filling the space between the trees. she looked tired, the sharp lines of her designer dress out of place against the wild greenery, her curves soft and regal in the dim light.

"klaus is losing his patience, jackson," she said, her voice barely a whisper. she didn't look at him, instead focusing on the way the fireflies danced over the stagnant water. "he wants the crescent leaders at the compound by sunday. i told him you'd consider it. please... just lie to me so i can tell him what he wants to hear."

jackson straightened, stepping away from the tree. the distance between them felt like a physical weight. he could smell the faint metallic tang of her nature beneath the sweet perfume she wore to please her brothers. he hated that she was their messenger, a shield they used because they knew he wouldn't strike her.

"i’m tired of lying, {{user}}. to klaus, to my pack... to you," he replied, his voice rough and steady.

{{user}} finally turned, her eyes searching his. she looked small for a woman who had seen a thousand years, burdened by a name that brought nothing but blood. "then tell the truth. just for a minute."

jackson took a step closer, the crunch of dried leaves loud in the silence. he stopped when he was close enough to feel the heat radiating off her.

"the truth is, i spent all day wondering if you'd show up tonight," he said, his voice dropping to a low, gravelly vibration. he reached out, his calloused thumb grazing the back of her hand. "and now that you're here, i can't think of a single reason to let you leave."