CHAPTER THREE

ELARA’S POV:

I woke up to find myself in a strange but familiar environment. The air was warm, with a subtle aroma of pine and smoke. I blinked, trying to regain consciousness, but everything around me shimmered like a dream.

The room was enormous, far too large to be called a room. It looked like something out of a storybook: a huge hall made from stone and wood. The ceilings were so high that I couldn't see the end, painted with silver patterns and images of wolves running under a full moon. The sun rays came in through large windows. I sat up slowly, my heart pounding. The bed was incredibly soft, covered in nice linens and velvet. The room felt very luxurious, with big wooden pillars and bigbright lanterns on the walls.

"Where… am I?" I whispered.

There was no response. Only an echo of my voice that back to me.

A huge fireplace with flickering flames lit one end of the room. Wolf heads decorated the walls like they were carvings, but their eyes seemed to glow in the dark. The room was full of weapons, books, maps, and strange decorations I'd never seen before. It felt both wild and regal, like a place for a very powerful person.

My fingertips stroked the pendant around my neck, which was the only thing familiar to me. "Aunt Caroline…?" I called softly, knowing she was not there.

My last memory was of the trees, the fog, and those eyes.

Gold, strong, and tender all at same time.

I shivered and pulled the cover closer.

Then I heard steps. Slow, heavy, and confident which felt very powerful..

The noises stopped just outside the door.

Before I could think any further, the door creaked and the heavy doors swung open.

In fear, I got up, holding the blanket more tightly. My heart raced, but I refused to look away.

A man came in, tall, broad shoulder, and calm enough to make the air still. His dark hair and a face as sharp as stone. His eyes were silver like the moonlight. He locked with mine and didn't look away.

For a minute, neither of us spoke. Then, due to the awkwardness, I spoke.

"Who are you?" I asked, my voice shaky yet clear. "Where am I?" "What happened?"

He did not flinch. He just stood there, studying me as if I were something fragile he didn't know how to handle.

"You're safe," he finally replied, his voice deep, harsh, and perhaps too calm. "You were attacked by a rogue wolf."

I swallowed hard. "A rogue wolf?" I echoed. My pulse raced as memories of the forest returned, including the growl, glowing eyes, and pain. I trembled. "So you… you saved me?"

He offered a slight nod. "I did."

I hesitated to speak but looked at him closely. His skin was tan in the dim light, and he had a strong jaw. His hands looked like they were made for fighting but were gentle when he looked at me. He felt powerful and in control, maybe even dangerous. Still, there was something calm about him, that I couldn't explain.

I noticed the old scars on his arms and started to think about what kind of person he really was.

He stepped closer, and I caught this strong smell of pine and smoke mixed with something intense. It really stood out, not in a bad way, but it felt powerful and alive.

"Stay calm," he continued, his voice lower now. "You are in my home. "You are safe here."

I took a deep breath. "Safe?" I repeated, catching his gaze again. "I woke up in a strange place with a stranger in front ofme — forgive me if I don't feel safe just yet."

He moved closer, filling the space between us. I could feel the weight of his stare on my face: my hair was still tangled from the jungle, my palms shaking, and my lips dry. But then his eyes softened, as if he found something familiar in me.

"What's your name?" he inquired.

"Elara," I answered. My voice remained steady. "And I'd like to know yours."

He stopped briefly, his jaw stiffening before speaking. "Aiden."

He spoke clearly and quietly, making it seem like he was making a  promise but also warning at the same time.

Then something happened. In a brief moment, our eyes met, and something inside me sparked. My skin tingled, my heart raced, and the air around us felt warm and soft. I didn’t really understand it, but I could intensely feel it.

He came closer and sat beside me on the bed, he was so close I could feel the warmth from his skin. I flinched as he reached out and gently moved the hair from my face, tucking it behind my ear.

"Stop, you shouldn't be touching me," I said quietly, but my voice was weak and hesitant.

He gave a slight smile. "Then why aren't you stopping me?"

He glanced at me with dark, calm eyes. "You don't have to be afraid," he said quietly.

"I'm not afraid," I said, despite my heart thumping so loudly that I could hear it.

He gave a small, knowing smile. "Then why are your hands shaking?"

I looked down quickly, realizing he was right. His hand dropped from my face, but his gaze did not leave mine. There was something there that I really could not explain.

"Elara," he said, his voice deep and a little rough, like my name was something special. "You don't know what you are yet." My heart beat fast. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice shaking a little.

He moved a little closer, being very careful.

"The night you went into the forest, something changed. You weren't supposed to be there... but I think you were supposed to find me."

"No," I said, shaking my head. "That's not true. I don't even know you."

"I know," he said quietly. "But when I touched you, I felt a connection between us. It's real."

His words made my chest feel tight.

"Stop, please, I just want to go home," I said trying to get up.

"You're safe here, Elara. I promise.", he replied.

"I don't feel safe," I said, my voice shaking.

"Everything here feels... wrong. You feel..." I stopped for a bit, not knowing what to say. "….different.”

He didn't argue. "That's because I am different," he said softly. "And maybe you are too."

Suddenly, I couldn't breathe right, and my legs felt weak. I tried to move back, but everything went blurry.

"Elara!" His voice was gentle now, drawing me in.

But before I could answer, the world started to spin.Everything went black. My legs gave out, but strong arms caught me and held me close as I fainted.