CHAPTER FIVE

By sunset, I couldn't stay in my room any longer. The silence was making me nervous, so when the maid said I could step out for some air, I went right away.

At first, I thought I was seeing people. But then, one man turned, and his eyes glowed with a bright, golden light that didn't seem human.

A woman laughed, and when she smiled, I saw her sharp, pointy teeth. It really was so frightening.

They weren’t just people.

They were wolves.

A cold shiver ran down my spine. My legs felt heavy as I tried to run. The low growls, the soft whispers seemed too loud in my ears. I pressed my back against the wall, my heart beating so hard it almost hurt.  

Someone whispered nearby, “That’s her… the girl he brought in.”

Another voice replied, “They say she’s his mate.”

Mate? Alpha? Wolves? None of it made sense. I tried to take a step back, my fingers trembled and my body was shaking terribly. I’d never been so afraid, not even when I faced that rogue wolf in the forest.

Before I could take a step back, a deep voice came through

“You’re safe here.”

I turned and saw him — Aiden. Standing a few steps away, dressed in black that matched the night sky, his silver eyes locked on me. For a second, I forgot how to breathe.

“I didn’t mean to frighten you,” he said, walking closer. His tone was calm but firm.

“They’re my pack. They mean no harm.”

I nodded slowly, still tense. “They’re… wolves, aren’t they?”

His gaze softened. “Yes. And so am I.”

My lips parted slightly, but I couldn’t speak. He tilted his head, studying me like he could read thought of mine.

Then two men appeared behind him. Marcus came in and smiled gently, and another man I hadn’t seen before. His hair was dark, his eyes kind.

“This is Darius,” Aiden said, glancing between us. “And that’s Marcus, my Beta.”

Darius gave a small, easy smile. “Welcome, Elara. I hope we’re not too frightening.”

I tried to smile back. “Just… new to me.”

Marcus chuckled softly. “of course. It’s not every day a human ends up in our world.”

Aiden’s turned toward him , his eyes were sharp, protective and the conversation quickly ended.

Then Aiden looked at me again.

“You’ve been inside all day,” he said, softer this time. “Come. Let’s walk a little.”

I followed him down the path leading to the garden. The garden was dim, lit by small lanterns that made the flowers glow under the moonlight. The scent of pine and roses filled the air.

For a while, we didn’t speak. Then I gathered the courage to ask, “I heard them call you an Alpha. What does that mean?”

He glanced at me, with a straight face. “It means I lead them. I keep them safe.”

“Like a king?” I asked.

His lips curved slightly. “Something like that. But it’s not about power. It’s about responsibility.”

And, despite his calm voice, something about the way he said it made my heart skip a beat.

AIDEN’S POV:

I felt her before I saw her. The scent that had haunted me all day, drifted through the courtyard again. When I turned, she stood frozen by the doorway, staring at my pack in fear and shock like she was having a nightmare.

The pack on seeing her started murmuring

“That’s her.”

“They say she’s his mate.”

I glanced at Marcus from across the yard and shook my head. He knew better start rumors, but the pack’s curiosity was hard to control.

Elara was really scared, and you could almost feel it around her. Her eyes moved from one wolf to another, and I could hear her heartbeat racing. She pressed against the wall, clearly scared and wanting to vanish.

Before she could run, I spoke,

“You’re safe here.” When she looked up, her eyes were wide with fear, and she didn’t respond, unsure if I was someone who could help or a threat.

“I didn’t mean to scare you,” I said, coming closer slowly. “They’re my pack, and they won't hurt you.”

She whispered, “They’re… wolves, aren’t they?”

“Yes.” I stopped a few steps away. “And so am I.”

She didn't back away this time. Though still trembling, she held my gaze, and I felt a strong bond between us, the same feeling I had when I saved her. It felt real now.

Marcus and Darius joined me.

“She’s calm now,” Marcus said quietly.

Darius smiled kindly. “Welcome, Elara. I hope we’re not too frightening.”

Her voice shook. “Just… new to me.”

Marcus laughed a little. “Of course. It’s not every day a human walks into our world.”

A few wolves chuckled. Elara didn’t. She looked even more confused.

“Marcus,” I said firmly. The laughter stopped at once.

I turned back to her. “You’ve been inside all day,” I said, gentler this time. “Come. Let’s walk a little.”

She walked with me down the path to the gardens. The cool night air smelled of pine. We were silent for a while, and I noticed she was observing everything around her, trying to understand it all.

Then, she asked softly, “I heard them call you an Alpha. What does that mean?”

“It means I lead them,” I told her. “I keep them safe.”

“Like a king?” she said.

I smiled. “Something like that. But it’s not about power. It’s about responsibility."

ELARA’S POV

There was something in the way he said it, the tone was calm yet it felt heavy, as if he had a lot on his mind.

“Do you ever get tired of it?” I asked.

He chuckled. “I can’t stop. They depend on me.”

The cool air in the garden smelled of flowers and pine, and I rubbed my arms to keep myself warm.

“It’s cool out here,” I said, rubbing my arms.

“You’re cold,” he noticed.

“I’m fine,” I replied.

“You’re cold Elara,” he said again.

“I’m fine,” I replied quickly.

He shook his head, took off his jacket, and placed it gently around my shoulders.

I stood there, speechless, engulfed by the warmth of his jacket, which carried a strong scent of smoke, wood, and pine. My heart raced uncontrollably.​

“Why are you helping me?” I finally asked.

He looked at me for a moment, then said, “Because I was there. You didn’t deserve what happened.”

His voice changed. It was lower and angrier like he was remembering the rogue wolf.

Before I could say anything, a sound broke through.

A low growl.

Aiden turned fast observing the trees. His eyes glowed.

“What was that?” I whispered.

He didn’t look at me. “Get inside.”

“But….”

“Now, Elara.” His tone made me stop.

I stepped back, heart racing, as the growl came through the forest again. Something was moving closer, breaking branches. Aiden’s eyes glowed in the moonlight, and I realized that whatever was out there was still coming for us.