ul. It was as if the space between them had been charged with an electric current, and her entire being hummed in response. She should have been afraid. She had every reason

ugh the tension, sharp and demanding.

His presence seemed to fill the room, like a shadow cast over everything in it. For a

id, his voice low and controlled, bu

more than just a casual conversation. She could feel it-the tension was suffocating, and

ine. "What is this about, Derrick? You've been wat

, then back to Adeline. "I want her to under

do you mean? What am I?" she a

heat radiating from his body sent a shiver down her spine, bu

dropping to a near growl. "You are the key to a prophecy. A prophecy tha

he wasn't anyone special. She was just Adeline Argent, a young college graduate fr

bling. "This isn't the time. You're scaring her. This

this be true? Could everything she had experienced so far-the strange dreams, the feeling of being watched, her unexplainable connecti

is eyes. "This is not just about her, Margaret. T

u both can have your discussio

's face

on't leav

e darling. I'm next

er life believing in the normalcy of her existence-ordinary, quiet, safe, no much friends. But nothing had been ordinary since her grandmother's death.

managed, her voice barely audible.

s. "You will. But it's dangerous, Adeline. More dangerous th

away from his, even though every instinct inside her screamed to run back to

s come for the prophecy to unfold. And it's not just about you and me. It's about the fate of our world. There a

not a part of this, Derrick," she said, her voice faltering. "I'm just me. Look, you mu

he air around them thickened, and Adeline's pulse quickened. "That's the thing, Adeline. You've lived a

reath caught in her throat at the warmth of his touch. It was a sim

to understand that I've been watching over you for a

ent a jolt of recognition through her, like something deep inside her had finally awoken. She didn't fully unde

llowed by the unmistakable sound of growling. She froze, her heart hammering in

h a dangerous intensity. "Stay inside," he ordered,

door, moving with a speed that left her breathless. He flung the d

over his shoulder, before

huge rush o

rn between fear and an overwhelming desire to follow hi

s were heightened. The wolf-like shape moved too quickly for her to make out its featu

r was thick with the scent of earth and something metallic-a sign of danger. She had to kno

p, a figure emerged from the

s voice came from the shadows.

re lunge

ing wen