Chapter Three

I paced back and forth in the room, my mind racing with thoughts of escape. I had to get out of here, no matter what. I couldn't shake the feeling that Tristan was going to hurt me, or worse.

He'll never hurt us... a voice inside my head whimpers.

My eyes landed on the window, and a desperate plan formed in my mind. I rushed over to it and tried to open it, but it was locked. I frantically searched for a way to unlock it, my heart racing with anticipation.

Finally, I found a small latch hidden in the frame. I flipped it open and pushed the window wide. A cool breeze rushed in, carrying the scent of damp earth and leaves.

Without hesitation, I climbed onto the windowsill and peered out into the darkness. The ground was a long way down, but I didn't care. I had to get out of here.

Taking a deep breath, I launched myself out of the window, plummeting towards the ground. Time seemed to slow down as I fell, my stomach lurching with fear.

But instead of hitting the ground, I landed with a soft thud on a bed of leaves. I sat up, dazed and disoriented, looking around at my surroundings.

I was in a dense forest, surrounded by towering trees that blocked out most of the moonlight. I stumbled to my feet, brushing off my clothes.

How was this possible? I had jumped out of a window, but instead of landing on the ground, I had ended up in a forest. It didn't make any sense.

But I didn't have time to think about it. I had to keep moving. I had to find a way out of these woods and back to civilization.

I took a deep breath and started walking, my senses on high alert as I navigated the dark and eerie forest.As I walked, the silence of the forest was oppressive, punctuated only by the occasional snapping of twigs or hooting of owls. I stumbled over roots and pushed aside branches, my heart racing with every step.

Suddenly, I heard a rustling in the underbrush. I froze, my senses on high alert. A pair of eyes gleamed in the darkness, and I felt a jolt of fear.

But as the eyes drew closer, I saw that they belonged to a wolf. A magnificent creature with gray fur and piercing yellow eyes.

The wolf padded closer, its tail wagging slightly. I held my breath, unsure of what to expect.

But to my surprise, the wolf nuzzled my hand gently. I felt a strange sense of calm wash over me, as if the wolf was trying to reassure me.

I stroked the wolf's fur, feeling a sense of wonder. What was this creature doing here? And why was it being so friendly?

As I stood there, a faint rustling sound came from deeper in the forest. The wolf's ears perked up, and it growled softly.

I felt a shiver run down my spine. What was coming? And why was the wolf reacting like this?

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the darkness. Tall, imposing, and unmistakable.

Tristan.

Tristan's eyes locked onto mine, his gaze burning with an intensity that made my skin prickle. The wolf growled softly, as if sensing my fear.

"Come here," Tristan said, his voice low and commanding.

I took a step back, my heart racing. "No," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

Tristan's eyes narrowed. "Don't make me come after you," he warned.

The wolf growled louder, as if echoing Tristan's threat. I felt a surge of fear, but I stood my ground.

"I won't go anywhere with you," I said, trying to sound braver than I felt.

Tristan's face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. He took a step closer, his movements fluid and menacing.

The wolf snarled, baring its teeth. I felt a jolt of fear, thinking it was going to attack me.

But to my surprise, the wolf positioned itself between me and Tristan, its eyes fixed on him with a fierce warning.

Tristan's gaze locked onto the wolf, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. For a moment, the two of them stared each other down, the air thick with tension.

Then, Tristan's expression smoothed out, and he spoke in a low, soothing tone. "It's okay, Gamma," he said. "I'm not going to hurt her."

The wolf's growling subsided, and it took a step back, its eyes never leaving Tristan's face.

I took advantage of the distraction to make a run for it, dashing past Tristan and the wolf into the darkness of the forest.

I ran as fast as I could, my heart pounding in my chest. I could hear Tristan's footsteps behind me, his breathing steady and deliberate.

I darted between the trees, my senses on high alert. I could feel Tristan's eyes on me, boring into my skin.

Suddenly, I heard the wolf's growling again, this time closer. I risked a glance over my shoulder, and saw the wolf closing in on Tristan.

Tristan's eyes flicked to the wolf, and for a moment, he hesitated. I took advantage of the distraction to put on a burst of speed, my legs pumping as I sprinted through the forest.

I could hear Tristan's roar of frustration behind me, but I didn't look back. I kept running, my heart pounding in my chest.

Finally, I saw a glimmer of light up ahead. I burst through the trees, and found myself at the edge of a clearing.

In the center of the clearing stood an old, dilapidated cabin. Smoke drifted lazily from the chimney, and I could see a faint light flickering in the window.

I didn't hesitate. I sprinted towards the cabin, praying that I could find safety inside.

I burst through the cabin door, slamming it shut behind me. I leaned against the door, panting, and tried to listen for any sounds of pursuit.

The cabin was small and dimly lit, with a fire crackling in the hearth. An old woman sat in a rocking chair beside the fire, her eyes fixed on me with a piercing gaze.

"Welcome, child," she said, her voice low and soothing. "I've been expecting you."

I stared at her, unsure of what to say. Who was this woman, and how did she know I was coming?

The old woman beckoned me closer, her eyes glinting with a knowing light. "Come, child," she said. "Don't be afraid, Tristan will never hurt you."

I hesitated, unsure of whether to trust her. But something about her calm, gentle demeanor put me at ease. I took a step closer, and then another, until I was standing beside her chair.

The old woman reached out and took my hand, her touch warm and comforting. "My name is Elara," she said. "And you, child, are very special."I felt confused. "What do you mean special?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Elara's eyes seemed to bore into my soul. "Tristan is not what he seems," she said. "He may be cold and aloof, a bit crazy but he'll never hurt you. You are his soulmate, his destined, he have been searching for you for forever and now that he's found you, he'll never want to let you go."

I felt a surge of shiver run through my spine" Soulmate?" I asked, my heart racing.

Elara's expression smiled sofly"He yearns for you just like you yearn for him," she said making me blush . How does she knows about the stupid attraction I have for him. " If only you could look past your former life and embrace who we are..., what we are".

I looked at her, confused " what we are?"

Elara's eyes seemed to cloud over, as if she was looking into the past. "You don't remember, do you?" she said. "You don't remember what you are."

I felt a sense of unease creeping over me. "What am I?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Elara's eyes snapped back into focus, and she looked at me with a piercing gaze. "You're one of us," she said. "A descendant of the ancient ones."

I stared at her, my mind reeling with questions. What did she mean? What ancient ones?I felt like I was drowning in a sea of confusion. "What ancient ones?" I repeated, trying to keep my voice steady.

Elara's eyes seemed to gleam with a knowing light. "The ones who possessed the power of the moon," she said. "The ones who could control the very fabric of nature."

I shook my head, trying to process what she was saying. "That's impossible," I said. "You're talking about magic and fantasy creatures."

Elara's expression was serious. "I'm talking about reality," she said. "A reality that you're a part of, whether you like it or not."

I felt a shiver run down my spine as Elara's words hung in the air. What was she trying to tell me? That I was somehow connected to this magical world?

Suddenly, I heard a loud howling outside, making me jump. Elara's eyes flicked to the window, and she stood up, her movements swift and decisive.

"It's Tristan," she said, a warm smile embracing her face. "He's found us."

The door was yanked open, revealing a really really mad Tristan. He calmed down almost immediately seeing Elara. " Grandma, what are you doing here?".

Grandma?

Elara smiled, mischief dancing in her eyes " Nothing boy, nothing". she chuckled, before walking out of the cabin.

As I stood there, trying to process everything that was happening, I couldn't help but feel a wave of exhaustion wash over me. The events of the past few hours had taken their toll, and I felt like I was running on empty.

Just as I was starting to feel like I might collapse, Tristan stepped forward, his eyes locked on mine. I tried to stand my ground, but as he approached me, I felt a strange sense of calm wash over me.

It was warm, like a gentle hug, and it seemed to seep into my very bones. I felt my tension melt away, and before I knew it, I was leaning into Tristan, my head resting against his chest.

I tried to pull back, to remind myself that I was supposed to be afraid of him, but it was too late. Tristan's arms wrapped around me, holding me close, and I felt a deep sense of comfort wash over me.

For a moment, I forgot about everything else. I forgot about the strange occurrences, the creepy cabin, and the fact that this is probably a lot bigger than I think. All I could think about was the warmth of his body, the comfort of his arms, and the sense of safety that seemed to radiate from him.

As I stood there, wrapped in Tristan's arms, I felt like I was home. And that scared me more than anything else.