3. The First Secrett

The forest is silent. Not the kind of silence that brings peace, but a silence heavy with something waiting—like the air itself knows that everything is about to change.

Shadow doesn’t let go of my hand. It’s a brief touch, barely a brush of skin, but enough to feel the electricity crackling between us. His gaze locks onto mine, intense and wary, as if he’s debating whether to tell me the truth or walk away for good.

“Amelia, this won’t end well for either of us.”

His voice is low, barely a whisper, but heavy with a gravity that makes me shiver.

“That should worry me, but it doesn’t.”

My reply comes out steadier than I expect, and for a second, I see something like admiration in his eyes.

Shadow releases my hand, but he doesn’t move away. Instead, he takes a step closer, closing the distance he’d kept until now. I can feel the heat of his body, his overwhelming presence, and the air between us grows thick—almost suffocating.

“You don’t know what I am. If you did… you’d run.”

His words are both a challenge and a warning.

“Then what are you?” I ask, my voice trembling slightly—but not from fear.

Shadow exhales and closes his eyes, as if fighting something deep inside himself. When he opens them, there’s a golden glint in his gaze—something inhuman, fierce, that steals my breath.

“I’m a lycan.”

The word hangs in the air, heavy and surreal. For a moment, I wonder if I heard him right. *Lycan.* Like a wolf, but different. Stronger. Deadlier.

“A lycan?” I repeat, as if saying it aloud could make it real.

“Yes.”

His answer leaves no room for doubt.

I should be afraid. Every logical instinct screams at me to run, to get as far away from this man—this creature—as I can. But I don’t. Instead, I look into his eyes, and feel something unexpected: trust.

“That doesn’t change anything.”

My voice is steady, though inside I’m shaking.

Shadow stares at me like he can’t believe what I’ve just said. Then he lets out a short, bitter laugh that does nothing to soften the tension in his jaw.

“Of course it changes everything, Amelia. I’m a monster.”

“No.”

I step closer, closing what little space remains between us. My fingers brush his arm, and this time he doesn’t pull away.

“If you were a monster, you wouldn’t be trying so hard to protect me.”

He stays silent, and for a moment I think he’s going to retreat again. But instead, his gaze softens, though the war inside him is still written in every line of his face.

“You shouldn’t trust me. You don’t know what I’m capable of.”

“Then show me I can trust you.”

My voice is barely a whisper, but somehow it’s enough to reach him.

Shadow looks at me, his expression torn between frustration and something deeper—something I can’t quite name. At last, he nods, as if surrendering to a decision that torments him.

“Fine. But you have to promise me—whatever happens, you can’t tell anyone about me.”

“I promise.”

His eyes search mine, as if trying to see whether I mean it. Finally, he sighs and takes my hand again—his touch warm, surprisingly reassuring.

“Come with me.”

Without hesitation, I follow him. We walk in silence, deeper into the forest. The full moon lights our path, casting everything in silver. The air is cool, and the sound of our steps on the dry leaves is the only thing breaking the quiet.

At last, we reach a clearing. In the center stands a small, weathered cabin, almost hidden among the trees. Shadow lets go of my hand and looks at me, as if waiting for my reaction.

“It’s my refuge. No one else knows I’m here.”

I nod, unable to find the right words. The cabin is simple, but it fits him—a hidden place full of secrets, just like him.

“Why did you bring me here?” I ask at last.

“Because if you’re going to insist on being near me, you need to understand who I really am.”

He opens the door and steps inside, gesturing for me to follow. The inside is even more modest than it looks from outside. A small table with two chairs. A plain bed. A cold fireplace. In the corner, a stack of books with titles I don’t recognize.

Shadow sits in one of the chairs, his gaze serious.

“If you choose to stay, Amelia, there’s no going back. This isn’t a world you can dip in and out of. Once you’re part of it, you’re in it—for everything that means.”

“I’m ready.”

“No. You’re not. But I’m going to trust you.”

His words are hard, but there’s something in his eyes that tells me it costs him more than he lets on.

As I sit across from him, a strange feeling settles in my chest. I know I’m stepping into an unknown world, full of danger and darkness—but I also know I can’t turn back.

Not when my heart beats this way every time I’m near him.