The woman awoke slowly, her mind still heavy with the remnants of sleep. The events of the past day weighed on her, the exhaustion of both body and spirit pulling her down like a heavy blanket. She rubbed her eyes, expecting to find the familiar, comforting presence of the beast beside her. But when she reached out, her hand met only the cool, damp earth.

Her heart skipped a beat, a sudden anxiety rising within her. She sat up quickly, her eyes scanning the darkened landscape. The storm had finally calmed, leaving the island in an eerie silence, broken only by the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore. But there was no sign of him.

Her gaze drifted upwards, and then she froze.

Atop the obsidian spire, silhouetted against the pale light of the moon, stood a figure of ethereal beauty. It was a man, but no ordinary man—his form was both delicate and powerful, every movement as fluid as water, as if the very air around him had to part to allow him space to breathe. His skin shimmered with a soft, radiant glow, like the surface of a distant star brought to life. His hair, dark as the night itself, cascaded down his back, catching the light in ways that made it seem almost silver.

He was naked, unashamed, and completely at peace, his body poised with a grace that transcended anything she had ever known. The moonlight bathed him in a celestial glow, highlighting the contours of his form—the strong lines of his muscles, the delicate curve of his shoulders, the soft, almost serene expression on his face.

But it was his smile that captured her completely—a radiant, blissful smile that seemed to touch something deep within her. It was the smile of someone who had finally found something he had lost long ago, someone who had remembered what it was to feel joy, to be alive.

The woman felt no shame as she stared at him, mesmerized by the sight before her. Despite the distance between them, it was as if he were standing right before her, every detail of his being etched into her mind with perfect clarity. Her heart beat faster, not with fear or desire, but with a deep, profound awe. She had never seen anything so beautiful, so pure, and it took her breath away.

As she gazed upon him, the island itself seemed to respond to his presence. The clouds, which had once cast a shadow over the land, slowly began to part, revealing a sky filled with stars. Each one sparkled like a tiny diamond against the velvet blackness, and even the stars seemed to lean in closer, as if drawn by his beauty, by the light that radiated from within him.

The wind, which had once howled in anguish, now carried a gentle, melodic tune, a song that touched her very soul. It was as if the island was singing to him, celebrating this moment. The trees, too, responded, their branches blooming with a profusion of multicolored flowers that glowed softly under the moonlight. Their perfume filled the air, a sweet, intoxicating scent that made her remember the happiest moments of her life—moments of laughter, of love, of peace.

Tears welled up in her eyes, her heart swelling with an emotion so profound it was almost unbearable. The overwhelming beauty of the moment, the sight of him moving with such ethereal grace under the moonlight, left her breathless. It was as if the universe itself had paused to witness this singular, sacred moment.

As she watched him, every movement fluid and deliberate, she felt something shift deep within her—a pull, a connection that went beyond words or reason. The realization struck her like a bolt of lightning: she was in love with him. It wasn’t a gradual realization, but a sudden, overwhelming truth that filled every corner of her being.

Their eyes met across the distance, his golden eyes ...

. But then, as if ashamed of his own radiance, the man recoiled, wrapping his milky white wings around himself like a shield. It was a gesture of vulnerability, of fear that she might see something in him that she couldn’t accept.

“Don’t,” the woman whispered, her voice trembling with the intensity of her emotions. She reached out toward him, her hand cutting through the air as if to close the distance between them.

The man hesitated, then slowly unfurled his wings, revealing his otherworldly figure once more. His movements were tentative, almost as if he feared her reaction. But then, with a grace that seemed to defy the laws of nature, he took flight, landing just a few steps before her. This time, he was no longer naked. A golden robe now adorned his body, its fabric flowing gently across his figure as though it were woven from the very light of the stars.

Her breath caught in her throat as she reached out with trembling hands, her fingers brushing against his face. His skin was cool, like the surface of a winter’s lake, so cold that she nearly recoiled. But she forced herself to stay, to hold on.

The man, too, reached out, his hand trembling as he touched her face. His touch sent a shiver down her spine, and for a moment, their eyes locked. In his gaze, she saw a reflection of her own feelings—a longing, a desperation to hold on to something pure and beautiful amidst the sorrow that had defined their lives for so long.

His lips trembled, as if he wanted to speak, to say something that might break the silence hanging between them. But no words escaped him. The silence was heavy, pregnant with all the emotions neither of them could fully express.

Unable to bear it any longer, the woman grabbed his face, pulling him closer as she pressed her lips to his. The kiss was a shock—a clash of warmth and cold that made her gasp. His lips were like ice, turning hers blue as the chill spread through her. But even as the cold threatened to overwhelm her, she held on, pouring every ounce of her love, her desperation, into that kiss.

For a moment, he froze, caught off guard by the intensity of her actions. But then, gently, as if afraid he might hurt her, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. The cold was too much, though, and she began to tremble, her body instinctively pushing him away, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

The man stepped back, his eyes filled with a sadness so deep it was like staring into an abyss. She knew those eyes—they were the same eyes she had seen in the beast. The same wrenching sadness, the same pain that had haunted him for eons.

“You… you are the beast,” the woman murmured, her voice barely audible as the realization washed over her.

The man’s face crumpled in anguish, and he covered it with his hands as if trying to hide from the truth. Shadows began to gather around him, swirling and growing, consuming the light that had once shone so brightly. It was as if the darkness within him was reclaiming its territory, erasing the man she had seen just moments before.

“I was,” the man whispered, his voice filled with sorrow. “That was me. The true me.”

The transformation was complete. The radiant figure she had fallen in love with was gone, replaced by the hulking form of the beast who now kneeled before her, his beady eyes cast downward in shame.

But the woman didn’t hesitate. She approached him once more, her heart aching for the pain he was trying so desperately to hide. She reached out, her hand trembling as she touched his face. As soon as her fingers made contact, a warmth spread through her, pushing away the cold that had gripped her heart.

She released a breath she didn’t know she had been holding, the color returning to her face as the warmth enveloped her completely. The beast remained kneeling, his massive form trembling slightly as if afraid to believe in the kindness she was offering him .

Tears began to well up in the corners of the beast’s eyes, glistening like tiny, fragile crystals that trembled on the edge of breaking. The woman could see the dam was about to burst, the weight of his sorrow and self-loathing threatening to overwhelm him. In a desperate attempt to reach him, she gripped his face with both hands, pulling him toward her, and pressed her lips against his in a kiss that was filled with every ounce of love and compassion she had.

But the moment her lips met his, the beast recoiled violently, as if her touch had burned him. With a powerful shove, he pushed her away, sending her sprawling to her knees on the cold, hard ground. The force of the rejection left her breathless, but the pain in her heart was far worse than the physical impact. She looked up at him, her eyes wide with hurt and confusion.

“Why…?” the creature whispered, his voice trembling with anguish as he stared down at his dark, monstrous form. His massive hands trembled as they traced the contours of his face, a face that was twisted and grotesque, a face he despised. “Why would you…?”

The woman, her heart aching for him, slowly rose to her feet. She approached him with a gentle determination, her steps slow and deliberate, as if she were approaching a wounded animal that might bolt at any moment. She could see the torment in his eyes, the disbelief that someone could see past the darkness that had consumed him for so long.

When she reached him, she didn’t hesitate. She wrapped her arms around his massive head, pulling him close and holding him against her chest. “So warm,” she whispered, her voice soft and soothing, the words a tender balm against the rawness of his pain.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The beast’s entire body tensed at first, rigid with the fear of allowing himself to be vulnerable, of letting anyone get this close. But as she held him, whispering her warmth into the dark recesses of his soul, something inside him began to give way. The tension slowly ebbed from his body, replaced by a profound exhaustion, as if he had been carrying the weight of the world for far too long.

They stood like that for what felt like an eternity, locked in an embrace that transcended time and space. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them, connected in a moment of raw, unfiltered emotion. The beast, once so terrifying in his power and anger, was now simply… tired. And in that embrace, he found a small measure of peace he hadn’t known in eons.

With a trembling hand, the beast placed his massive palm over his chest. Beneath the layers of darkness and despair, he felt something—something so slight it was almost imperceptible, but it was there. A faint warmth, a tiny flicker of life, of hope, beating within his heart. It was a sensation he had long forgotten, one he thought had been extinguished forever.

As he held onto that warmth, his tears finally spilled over, running down his face and soaking into the woman’s hair. He didn’t understand how she could find warmth in a creature like him, but in that moment, it didn’t matter.

The moon hung in the sky like a quiet guardian, its soft light spilling over the island, painting the landscape in a gentle glow. Below, flowers made of silver unfurled their delicate petals, shimmering in the moonlight, creating a scene of ethereal beauty.

The moon hung in the sky like a quiet guardian, its soft light spilling over the island, painting the landscape in a gentle glow. Below, flowers made of silver unfurled their delicate petals, shimmering in the moonlight, creating a scene of ethereal beauty. The island had become a sanctuary, a place where time seemed to stand still, and nature had woven itself into a tapestry of peace and renewal.

----------------------------------------

"Blah," the boy grimaced, recoiling in disgust at the sentiment.

"I think it's very sweet," the girl responded, her eyes filled with the innocence of belief.

Their grandmother smiled, a warm and knowing smile that carried the weight of years. "Shall we continue?" she asked, her voice a gentle invitation.

The boy shrugged, already losing interest. "I'm gonna play with my robots," he said, turning away and heading to the couch, leaving the tale behind.

"I still want to hear more of the story," the girl said eagerly, her curiosity pulling her deeper into the world her grandmother was weaving.

"Very well, then," the grandmother said, her eyes twinkling as she returned to the tale.

----------------------------------------

Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years. The island, had transformed, mirroring the slow healing of the beast’s heart. As his sorrow ebbed, the island bloomed in response.

The jagged spikes that had once pierced the sky crumbled away, replaced by soft hills covered in lush grass. The sea, once dark and stormy, had cleared to a pristine azure, its golden beaches gleaming under the sun’s warm embrace. The wind, no longer howling in rage, became a gentle, ever-changing rhapsody, whispering through the trees and carrying the scent of blooming flowers.

The trees themselves had grown to impossible heights, their branches heavy with fruit—alien in appearance, with their vibrant, multi-colored skins, yet their taste was nothing short of divine, a flavor that seemed to hold within it the very essence of the world.

Above, the moon and stars floated in the eternal sky, their light a constant reminder of the beauty that now graced the island. It was a paradise, a world reborn from the ashes of pain and despair.

But even in this paradise, something was missing. The woman, who had brought about this change, who had given the beast hope and warmth, was now haunted by a sorrow of her own. She missed her family, her friends, the world she had left behind. The laughter of her loved ones, the comfort of familiar faces, the simple joys of her past life—they were all memories now, growing more distant with each passing day.

The beast, sensing her sadness, sat next to her under the shade of a peach tree that had grown so tall it nearly touched the sky. He wrapped her in his warm embrace, holding her close as if he could protect her from the melancholy that had taken root in her heart. But his warmth, once so comforting, now did little to ease the ache inside her.

She leaned into him, her heart heavy with a longing she couldn’t shake. The paradise around her was beautiful, a testament to the love they had shared, but it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t home.

The beast tightened his hold on her, as if afraid that she might slip away, his own heart aching with the knowledge that his presence, his love, was no longer enough to keep her happy. He had given her his world, but he could see now that it wasn’t the world she truly wanted.

A single tear slipped down his face, as he realized that despite all he had done, there were some wounds even he could not heal, some voids he could not fill. The island had transformed, but the woman’s heart had become a place of quiet sorrow, a garden where homesickness had taken root and refused to let go.

The woman gently reached up to wipe away the tears that slipped down the beast's dark, rough face. Her touch was tender, filled with a sorrowful understanding that made her heart ache even more. "It's not your fault," she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath.

He knew this. They had spoken these words to each other many times, but the weight of them never seemed to lessen. He couldn’t—he wouldn’t—let her go. She was his light, his anchor, the one precious thing that kept his heart from descending once more into the endless abyss of despair that had once consumed him. But as much as he clung to her, he knew that keeping her here meant she would never truly be happy, that the sadness within her would only grow.

He struggled with the decision, his heart torn between his love for her and the selfish need to keep her by his side. The torment of the choice gnawed at him, each "but" that echoed in his mind a silent plea to the universe to offer him another way. But there was no other way, and he knew it. The island, beautiful as it had become, was not her home.

"I will send you home," the beast murmured, the words catching in his throat like shards of glass.

The woman's eyes shot open in shock, but as the meaning of his words sank in, she quickly cast her gaze to the ground. She understood the sacrifice he was offering, the unbearable loneliness he was choosing to face once again so that she could return to where she belonged.

"You will be alone again," she whispered, her voice thick with grief as she placed her hand over his, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath the rough skin.

The beast didn't respond. He couldn't. The truth of her words hung heavy in the air between them, a reality that neither of them wanted to acknowledge but both understood deeply. The silence stretched on, an eternity of unspoken pain and longing, each moment etching itself into their hearts like a final goodbye.

The woman's eyes grew heavy, fluttering closed.

When she woke, the comforting weight of the beast's arms was gone. Panic gripped her as she quickly got to her feet, her eyes darting around for any sign of him, any trace of the island. But everything was different. The jagged peaks, the silvery flowers, the alien beauty of the place—they were all gone. In their place was a familiar landscape, the gentle rolling hills and distant mountains of her home.

"Hey, lady? Are you okay?" A voice called out from somewhere behind her, distant yet familiar.

She didn’t respond, her heart pounding in her chest as she stared at the horizon, searching for some sign that it had all been real. But there was nothing—no trace of the beast, no whisper of the island. Just the steady wind and the warmth of the sun on her face. The world she had longed to return to was here, but the part of her heart that had been filled with love and sorrow was now achingly empty.

Tears welled up in her eyes, not from sadness, but from the overwhelming mix of emotions that flooded her—relief at being home, heartbreak at leaving him behind, and a deep, unshakable love that she knew would stay with her forever. She looked at the sky, hoping for one last glimpse of him, but all she saw were the endless, open skies, clear and blue as they had always been.

____

"The end," the grandmother said softly, her voice filled with the weight of years and memories as she looked down at the little girl beside her. Tears, gentle and pure, were streaming down the child’s face as she wrapped her small arms around her grandmother, burying her face into the warmth and comfort of the older woman’s embrace.

The little girl’s soft sobs echoed in the quiet room, each one tugging at the grandmother's heart. After a moment, the girl lifted her tear-streaked face, her eyes filled with hope. "Did they ever meet again?" she asked, her voice trembling with the desire for a happy ending.

Before the grandmother could answer, the sound of the door opening drew their attention. They both turned to see a woman step into the room, her presence instantly brightening the space.

"Mama!" the boy shouted, breaking into a run as he launched himself into his mother’s arms, his earlier disappointment forgotten.

The girl lingered for a moment, her gaze lingering on her grandmother, searching her face for an answer that never came. Then, with a last, wistful look, she slowly walked over to her mother, slipping her hand into hers.

"How was the evening with grandma?" the woman asked, smoothing the girl’s hair with a tender touch.

"She told us a boring love story," the boy grumbled, his voice full of youthful disinterest.

The girl elbowed her brother in the ribs, a soft reprimand. "It was lovely," she corrected, her voice gentle as she wiped a single tear from the corner of her eye, the emotion of the story still lingering in her heart.

The woman turned to her mother with a knowing smile. "I cried every time she told me that story too," she said softly to her little girl as she bent down to hug her. "Come on, let’s go. Daddy is waiting in the car."

"Bye, grandma!" the children called out as they dashed toward the door, their voices full of youthful energy and life.

The woman walked over to her mother, enveloping her in a warm embrace. "Goodnight, Mama," she whispered, pressing a kiss to her cheek before hurrying after her children, the sound of their laughter echoing down the hallway.

"Close the light, please. I want to sleep," the grandmother said, her voice tinged with a gentle weariness.

The woman flipped the switch, plunging the room into darkness. For a moment, all was still and silent, until the soft, silvery rays of the moon filtered through the window, casting a gentle glow over the room.

In the quiet, a sensation so familiar and comforting enveloped her. A set of arms, strong and warm, wrapped around her from behind, seeping warmth through her old bones, chasing away the chill of age and time. It was a warmth she had never forgotten, one she had longed for every day of her life.

"I missed you… so much," she whispered into the stillness, her voice breaking with the weight of her longing.

As her eyes fluttered closed. She was under the peach tree again, the one that had grown tall and strong over the years, its branches heavy with the fruits of memories and love. The scent of the alien flowers filled the air, sweet and nostalgic, as she sat beneath its shade.

And there, waiting for her, was the one she had never truly let go of. The man who had been a beast, whose sorrow had once filled the world, but whose love had transformed everything.

In that moment, the years melted away, and they were together again, in the place where their hearts had always belonged. The paradise they had created, where love had bloomed as beautifully as the flowers around them, was now her eternal home.

And in that place, where time had no meaning, they would never be apart again.