Alina's POV.
The dense air returned as my vision blurred, my heavy eyelids surrendering to sleep. My mind slipped away, gently enveloped and drawn once more into the uncanny forest that has haunted my dreams for the past four years.
"Alina…!" The soft masculine voice echoed again like a gentle breeze through the foggy, surreal forest as I leaped through the trees. Halting on my track, I frantically turned towards the direction of the voice, searching for the owner.
"Where are you? I can't see you!" My voice resonated in response to the strange voice that had called out to me earlier.
I didn't understand why or what made me respond to a call from someone I don't even know or see. Surprisingly, instead of getting scared, I found myself drowning and looking forward to seeing the owner of this voice each time he called out. I couldn't tell the mystery behind my delight in this shabby, scary forest, surrounded by mist and echoes of an unknown voice, yet I still found myself helplessly drawn to this place and the voice.
"You can always find me if you take a closer look, little mate." His soft baritone voice telepathes into my ears from behind, instantly electrifying my being and steering me in its direction.
I was surprised and, at the same time, scared. This is different. Something is not right; he was not supposed to respond to my question. I subconsciously debated.
It seemed different today. I wasn't expecting a response because he would always ignore my questions and threats and continue whispering my name. Or did he suddenly decide to respond after all these years?
As my mind wandered through these possibilities, more strange and unusual occurrences began to take place in the forest.
The surrounding trees began to release the most gentle and relaxing breeze that drew my unsettled mind to a settlement. Following it was a gleaming light that faintly revealed the mystical beauty of this forest, alluring and enchanting. I suddenly desired to remain in this wonderland I just found myself in.
In an instant, the fog evanesces like an apparition, revealing a tall, majestically built young man, roughly in his early 30s, with a princely charm and ethereal grace. His face was not entirely vivid, as the fog was still a little hindrance to my vision, making it quite difficult for me to get a clear picture of him.
However, even with the unsettled mist, I could tell that his beauty is beyond handsomeness. His presence was mystical and commanding, and I wonder if he is a god because I've never seen someone with such a godly aura before.
I stood frozen at my spot, watching his gentle steps approach as he stretched forth his right hand to me. For a second, my brain seemed to have stopped working, then regained its consciousness the next, earning me a tenuous fear.
"Who are you?" My brittle voice manages to find itself and ask what had been screaming out in my head.
"I'm your mate, Alina," he replied, his lips twitching into a smile that lightened and lingered on his cold features, making him dangerously handsome. I'm scared of this man, yet I found myself ogling his features, and I don't even know why.
Don't get distracted, silly; he is a stranger, remember. Besides, he called you by your name, Alina. The little voice in my head reminded me.
"Y–you know my name?" I stuttered, quietly stepping back while contemplating whether to trust him or not, and at the same time wondering how I managed to hold a conversation with this man.
"Yes, I do, mate." He repeated the word—his ethereal baritone smothered my confused mind, making some part of me thrilled in sudden excitement I didn't understand.
"Mate?" I wondered, trying to figure out what he meant by that as he closed the distance between us and gently held my hand. His gaze pierced into mine, sending a sudden shiver down my spine, and my weak heart was ablaze with the fire of thrilling desire. That was also when I noticed something.
Holy hell! He is not a human. The little voice in my head cried out as I finally noticed his blazing golden eyes, and monstrous features that blended into his beauty which I had never noticed from a distance. I was gripped by fear of what this man was and what he could do to me.
Stepping back impatiently, I snatched my hand from his "Stay away from me," I managed to voice out.
My breath quickened as my being left me in a flight. I could hear my heart violently throbbing against my ribcage. A thrilling feeling of fear, excitement, and confusion washed over me in a way I couldn't understand.
"No, Alina. Don't go." A hint of anxiety flashed in his eyes. "I'm not dangerous, and I need you here. I've searched and longed to see you for as long as you could ever imagine. I can't let you go now, please… Alina." He pleaded, advancing towards me, but hesitantly held back as he noticed how scared I was.
"What do you mean? W–we don't belong to the same world; we have nothing in common." I stuttered between a shivering breath, trying to navigate through the sudden situation.
"We do, and you will get to know me better, mate." His voice resonated in my head, while his mouth remained still, as if he never said anything.
"Stop it! Stop toying with my mind!" I screamed, literally shivering under my skin.
"There is more to this, Alina; you will know sooner." His baritone deepened in a monstrous, alluring intensity filled with pain and sympathy, sending shivers down my spine, and at the same time, overwhelming this part of me that leaped into ecstasy in a manner I couldn't understand.
I suddenly felt guilty for thinking he was dangerous—which he was in actuality. It is clear what such a creature could do to me, yet I couldn't explain where all these emotions were coming from.
"This is crazy," my distorted voice muttered feverishly. I felt like I was probably losing my mind or something and couldn't possibly handle it any further. My brain instantly got enveloped by anxiety, trying to process what was going on and how I found myself in this scary situation.
Just then, thunderous echoes of noises pierced my ears and jolted me awake, jerking my exasperated mind back to life. It was noise from the neighborhoods.