couldn't seem to reconcile. He moved with such quiet confidence, his eyes scanning the dark forest as if he could sense every hidden danger lurking in the shadows. I kept glanci

Adrian stopped abruptly, turning to face me. The moonlight illuminated his features, casting sharp shadows across

before. The tension in his stance had eased slig

e from what? Adrian, you need to tell me what's

ught he might brush me off and disappear into the forest, leaving me with nothing but questions

"There are things in these woods that you-" He stopped himself, shaking his head. "

n. Something that shouldn't exist. And you..." I trailed off, remembering the way he'd moved,

hought he might deny it, laugh it off, or call me craz

voice barely above a whisper.

that felt both deeply familiar and entirely foreign. I wanted to trust him, but the rational

I asked, my voice s

s or ears. "Not here," he said. "It's not safe to ta

alking alone through the dark streets didn't appeal to me. St

quite a smile, but it softened his expression just enough to make him seem less

ted to argue, to demand more answers, but the weig

like the moments before a storm. Adrian stayed close, his eyes constantly scanning our surroundi

turned to face him. "Are you goin

a hint of tension in his posture. "Not tonight. You need

him. "How do I know yo

his voice steady.

t same unnatural grace that made my skin crawl and my heart race. I stood there for

ing to process everything that had happened. The glowing eyes in the forest, the howl that had sent chills down my

d half-formed theories. By the time the first rays of sunlight streamed

es. Adrian hadn't told me where or when we'd meet, but somehow I knew he'd show up. Sure

ockets of a dark jacket. He looked as composed as ever, but there w

n?" he asked,

iet grace, his gaze sweeping over the room as if assessing every corne

forget about last night, are y

dy seen too much. Pretending it didn't h

tled over me like a heavy b

"From others like me. And from t

kipped a b

f vulnerability beneath his stoic exterior. "Elena, what I'm abou

uickened in anticipation of

part of a clan of... shapeshifters. Wolves, to be exact. And last

ismiss it as some elaborate joke. But the memory of his glowing ey

e forest last night? Th

val pack. They're dangerous, Elena, and they've taken

my voice trembling. "Why

ent before returning to mine. "Because you're