Chapter 5

STAR'S POV

"Tomorrow is your birthday... What do you want to to do? "

Franklin asked as we walked deeper in the woods to collect mushrooms.. This is the same forest behind the estate, the one that divides two towns..

I sighed..

"There is a noodle shop.. Every year Gloria used to take me there to celebrate.. Other than that, I didn't do any celebration.. "

I said as we walked deeper..

"How far is it? "

I asked as he pointed forward..

"Few more minutes to the right side.. "

I shook my head..

"You know you could just keep the mushrooms closer to the estate.. "

Franklin laughed..

"I said the same but your brother Aries is on other level.. According to him, harvesting mushrooms should feel authentic, not something artificial.. "

I let out a small laugh..

"Do you think they'll remember my birthday?"

I asked and Franklin sighed..

"I don't think they will.. They still hate me.. Only if I could tell them the truth.. "

"What truth are you talking about? When sir Leo passed away, I was away for work, I only heard it after coming back.. You were already sent away.. Madam Vanderbilt was no more and Sir was in-"

He stopped as his phone rang.. He answered the call and immediately looked panicked..

"Okay.. Yes I'm coming back right away! "

He cut the call and looked at me..

"I have to go back immediately! Come back to the estate fast! Don't go towards the left! Okay? "

He said and ran back while I stood there confused.. What happened that made him rush back like that?

Soon I was alone in the forest.. I looked around the area.. It was green and quiet..

I started walking forward.. But then stopped..

"What... Which side were the mushrooms? "

I stood there, looking at both sides..

"I guess left side.. "

I shrugged and started walking towards the left side...

But I kept walking and there was no sign of the mushroom logs Franklin spoke about..

"Did I come in the wrong place? "

I was about to walk away when I heard a whimpering sound.. I walked closer and saw a wolf.. His leg got stuck on the barbed wires placed on the boundary..

It looked like his pack already abandoned him..

"Hey.. You need help buddy? "

I tried to step closer but it barked at me, making a take a step back..

"I'm here to help you.. Please.. "

I moved slowly.. I knew it can't bite me as it was on the other side of the fence.. I slowly reached to release it's paw but it was impossible from this side..

"You gotta be kidding me.. "

I looked for any opening to go to that side and saw a small hole.. I crawled through that space and got on that side..

Seeing that I was there to help, the wolf became calm and let me help it.. Once the leg was released, it tried to sprint but couldn't due to it's leg being hurt..

"Poor thing.. Only of I could help you more.. "

The wolf limped forward a few steps before stopping.

It turned its head-golden eyes locking onto mine-as if asking me to follow.

I hesitated.

I should go back.

I needed to go back.

But when the wolf tried to put weight on its injured leg and nearly collapsed, my chest tightened.

"Hey... slow down," I whispered, stepping toward it.

"You're still hurt."

The wolf looked at me once more, then continued limping deeper into the forest.

And somehow-

without even thinking-

I followed.

Branches brushed against my arms as I walked farther in.

The forest on this side felt... different.

Darker.

Older.

The trees were thicker, their roots twisting above the ground like veins. The air carried a strange scent-pine, smoke... and something sharp, wild... dangerous.

Soon, I realized something terrifying.

I couldn't hear birds.

Couldn't hear insects.

Couldn't hear anything.

The entire forest had gone silent.

My steps slowed.

A cold chill crawled down my spine.

"Maybe I should go back..."

The wolf had disappeared somewhere ahead.

Panic started creeping into my chest as I turned around-only to realize every direction looked the same.

My breathing hitched.

"No... no, no..."

I spun around, trying to figure out where I'd come from-

Then suddenly-

A rough hand grabbed my wrist.

Before I could scream, my body was slammed against the trunk of a tree.

A muscular arm pinned me there.

The breath left my lungs.

A sharp blade pressed lightly beneath my chin.

And then-

A deep voice.

Cold.

Dangerous.

The kind of voice that made fear freeze your blood.

"Who the hell are you?"

My eyes widened.

Standing before me was a man unlike anyone I'd ever seen.

Tall-towering over me.

Broad shoulders.

Dark hair falling slightly over hard, merciless eyes.

There was blood smeared across his knuckles.

A scar cut across one eyebrow.

And his entire presence felt lethal.

Like death had taken human form.

My lips trembled.

"I-I-"

His grip tightened.

"I asked a question."

Tears instantly burned my eyes.

"M-my name is Hannah Star..."

My voice came out shaky.

"I... I was just helping a wolf... he got hurt on the barbed wire... I followed him because he couldn't walk properly..."

His eyes narrowed.

For a moment, he simply stared at me.

Then-

A low growl came from behind him.

The injured wolf limped out from the shadows-

and walked straight to me.

My breath caught when it pressed itself against my leg like it knew me.

The man's expression changed instantly.

Shock flashed across his face.

Then disbelief.

Then something darker.

Something intense.

His eyes slowly lifted back to mine.

This time, his voice dropped into a dangerous whisper.

"...You crossed into Blackwood territory... and my wolf let you touch him?"

His gaze sharpened.

"Who exactly are you, Hannah Star?"

The deep growl in his voice made me flinch.

But what shocked me more-

was the wolf.

Sadie.

She stepped fully in front of me, her injured body planted firmly between us despite the limp in her leg.

Her ears flattened.

Not at me-

at him.

A warning.

The man's sharp jaw tightened.

His dark eyes narrowed at the wolf like he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"And why the fuck are you shielding her, Sadie?" he snapped. "She's an intruder. What did I train you to do to intruders?"

Sadie let out a low rumble in her throat-

then deliberately pressed herself against my legs.

Protecting me.

My mouth fell open.

"I-I didn't do anything," I whispered quickly, terrified he'd think I somehow caused this.

"I swear... she was hurt... I only helped remove the wire from her leg..."

His cold gaze shot back to me.

For a second, I thought he was going to press that knife against my throat again.

Instead-

he stepped closer.

Too close.

My back pressed harder into the tree trunk.

He smelled like smoke, cedarwood... and rain.

Danger wrapped in skin.

His eyes moved over my face slowly-

like he was searching for something impossible.

Then he suddenly grabbed my chin.

Not gently.

Forcing me to look straight at him.

"You broke my wolf, young lady. "

He said and let go of me..

"You're in a wrong territory.. Be greatful to this wolf or else you would have been dead by now.. Go back to your own town.. "

He said and moved away from me..

"And you follow me little back stabber! Your training is not done yet! "

He called out to the wolf, leaving me alone..

"Hey! you can't just leave me here alone! "

He stopped and looked back..

"Just go back the way you came.. "

I shook my head..

"I don't remember! "

He rolled his eyes..

"I'm helping you this once because you saved Sadie! "

He started walking other way and I followed him..

"You have a wolf as your pet? That's weird, you know.. "

He chuckled..

"I have a panther too.. "

I scoffed, not believing him..

"Must be a black Labrador.. "

I whispered to myself and bumped on something hard.. I looked up to realize that he had stopped suddenly..

I moved away immediately..

"Really? You think that? "

He chuckled..

"Don't worry then.. I'll let Kael out next time for you.. "

He started walking again and I followed him, being confused..

"Who is Kael? "

"The alleged black Labrador.. "

I rolled my eyes but then noticed the fence..

"I came through that hole.. "

I pointed at the small opening and quickly got to the other side..

"Thanks for showing me the way.. "

I thanked him and he just nodded and turned to leave..

"WAIT! "

I yelled making him stop and turn around..

"What is your name? "

I asked and he smirked as he stepped closer.. The barb wire fence being the only thing separating us..

"Nolan... Nolan Goldmann, Ms Hannah Star.. "