Liora
I couldn't stop breathing fast. Who could this be? I managed to open my eyes gently and I saw the most magnificent man I have ever laid my eyes on. Tall, dark, strong. Oh, what his body could do to me
"Who are you?" He asked like he wasn't the one who just pulled me into the bushes
"I should be asking you that. You just said you've been looking for me if I heard correctly" I retorted
"I just said that so they could stay off you". I'm Jaelyn, beta of Nightfall pack and you've definitely crossed your boundary" What are you doing here? He asked very concerned
For a moment I just stared at him.
The moonlight fell across his face and I could finally see him clearly. His jaw was sharp, his eyes dark and alert like he was always ready for danger. His shoulders were broad and his chest looked strong even through his shirt.
My heart beat strangely in my chest.
A beta.
Not just any beta. The beta of a rival pack.
Fear slowly replaced the strange feeling in my chest.
I swallowed.
"I… I didn't mean to cross any boundary," I said quietly.
His eyes softened a little but he still looked serious.
"Then why are you here?"
His voice was calm but there was authority in it. The kind of voice people listened to without arguing.
My throat tightened as the memories of the evening rushed back.
The accusation.
The slap.
The laughter.
The cold night.
I looked down at my hands before speaking.
"My stepmother threw me out of the pack tonight," I said slowly.
His brows pulled together.
"Why?"
I let out a small laugh but there was no happiness in it.
"My stepsister accused me of stealing her diamond necklace."
"And did you?"
His question was quick but his eyes searched my face like he wanted to know the truth.
"No," I said immediately.
My voice came out stronger than I expected.
"I would never steal. My father would never forgive me even in death."
He watched me closely but did not interrupt.
So I told him everything.
I told him about Ummu and how she hated me from the day my father married her mother. I told him about the way they treated me after my father died. I told him about the trap with the necklace.
I even told him how her friends laughed at me while I stood outside the house with my belongings.
The more I spoke, the heavier my chest felt.
I told him about my father and my previous mother who are both dead.
When I finished speaking, the forest was quiet again.
Jaelyn was still looking at me but his expression had changed.
There was something like pity in his eyes.
"Life has sure dealt you many hands" he said.
I let out a tired breath.
He leaned against the tree behind us and crossed his arms.
"For us, things are different," he said after a moment.
He briefly tells me about his family and his pack rules.
"The Nightfall pack is strict," he explained. "We respect strength but we also protect our own. No one gets thrown out without proof."
His voice held pride when he spoke about his pack.
For a moment I wondered what it would feel like to belong somewhere like that.
Somewhere people actually cared.
"You'll have to stay with me tonight" he says
My eyes widened.
"With you?"
"Yes," he replied simply. "It's not safe out here for you. Especially not alone."
I knew he was right.
Those wolves from earlier were still somewhere in the forest.
And if Jaelyn had not pulled me away when he did, I might already be dead.
Still, trusting a stranger was not easy.
Even if he was the most beautiful stranger I had ever seen.
"I won't hurt you," he added when he noticed my hesitation.
Something in his voice made me believe him.
So I nodded slowly.
We walked through the forest together in silence.
Jaelyn moved easily between the trees like he knew every part of the land. I struggled to keep up with his long steps but he slowed down when he noticed.
After some time the forest began to thin.
Lights appeared ahead of us.
Then I saw it.
A large house stood at the center of a clearing.
It was far bigger than the house I used to live in. The tall windows glowed warmly and guards stood near the entrance.
We get to a big house, more like a mansion.
"This is where you live?" I asked quietly.
"For now," he said.
He pushed the door open and gestured for me to enter.
The inside was even more beautiful.
The floors were polished wood and soft lights lit the hallway. Everything looked warm and welcoming.
A strange feeling filled my chest.
I had never been inside a place like this before.
"I'll show you your room he says"
I followed him down a long hallway.
My legs were tired and my head still felt heavy from everything that had happened earlier.
Just by the door, my foot hit the edge of the carpet.
My body lurched forward and a small cry left my lips. I thought I was about to hit the floor, but a strong arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me back.
Jaelyn.
His grip was quick and firm. My hands landed on his chest as he steadied me. I could feel the strength in him even through his shirt.
For a moment neither of us moved.
His arm was still around my waist. My body pressed lightly against his. When I looked up, his face was right there.
Too close.
I could feel his breathing against my skin
My heart started beating so loudly I was sure he could hear it.
His eyes searched my face for a second, then slowly dropped to my lips.
The look in his eyes made my chest tighten.
I swallowed.
The air between us felt thick, like something had suddenly changed.
My fingers tightened slightly against his shirt.
I had noticed him from the moment I saw him in the forest. The way he stood. The way his voice sounded. The way his eyes looked at me was like he was trying to understand me.
And now he was holding me.
I've been meaning to do this. I mean look at him.
Before I could stop myself, I leaned forward.
His lips met mine, and I moaned softly.
The kiss started slowly, almost like he was testing if it was real. Then his hand tightened slightly around my waist and pulled me closer.
Warmth rushed through my body.
His lips were firm but gentle, moving slowly against mine. My hands stayed on his chest but my fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt.
A soft sound slipped from my throat before I could stop it.
For a moment the world around us disappeared.
"Are you sure?" He asks.
His voice was low now, rougher than before.
Even with the way he was looking at me, he still needed approval?
Such a gentle man.
I nodded slowly.
The moment I did, something dark flashed in his eyes.
His hand slid up my arm until it reached my shoulder. His fingers brushed my skin and the thin strap of my dress slipped down.
Cool air touched my shoulder but my body felt hot.
My breathing became uneven as he leaned closer.
His face moved toward my neck slowly, like he was giving me time to stop him.
But I didn't.
I tilted my head slightly without even realizing it.
His lips brushed the side of my neck first.
A shiver ran down my spine.
Then I felt the sharp edge of his fangs.
Right before they touched my skin, the room spun.
The warmth in my body suddenly drained away.
My head felt light and heavy at the same time.
My vision blurred.
I tried to steady myself but my legs gave up.
The last thing I saw before darkness swallowed everything was the panic in Jaelyn's eyes.
"Liora… Liora…"
His voice sounded far away.
"Liora, wake up."
Something tapped lightly against my cheek.
"Liora, Liora," he taps me.
My eyes slowly opened.
The ceiling above me looked blurry at first. My chest rose sharply as I dragged in a breath.
My body felt weak, like all the strength had been pulled out of me.
Jaelyn was leaning over me.
His face looked tense, his eyes searching mine like he was trying to make sense of something.
"You're alive?" he asked quietly, staring at me like he wasn't sure how that was possible