LOGINSarah POV
I'm relieved that Daniel chose not to listen to me and still followed me to my apartment. Had he listened, the situation with John might have escalated into something much more dangerous. I find myself puzzled by Daniel's unexpectedly caring and kind behavior toward me, especially since we only met last night. His protective attitude is surprising, almost as if he's known me for years, or as if he's acting out of a sense of duty, a trait often seen in men guarding their loved ones. As Daniel was assisting me with packing some of my belongings, I couldn't help but find my thoughts drifting elsewhere, distracted by my own wandering mind. Why is John behaving this way? He has never exhibited such aggressive behavior before. His recent actions, especially cheating on me, only underscore that his current attitude is unjustified. I was mindlessly packing my belongings, hurriedly shoving items into the bag, when suddenly I felt a pair of large, warm hands wrap gently around my waist. His breath was warm and slightly tickling my skin as he leaned in close, whispering softly into my ear, "Don't worry about John. I’m going to make sure he never hurts you again, I promise." His words were reassuring, comforting. I slowly turned to face Daniel, looking up into his eyes, seeking the sincerity and determination that shone there. His closeness eased the ache in my chest, and I felt a wave of protection and calm wash over me, making me forget about John entirely. Daniel's presence brought a sense of ease and relaxation, as if all my worries melted away. When I gazed into his piercing green eyes, it felt as though he could see directly into my soul, understanding me without a word. His dark black hair, slightly covering his eyes, added an air of mystery that drew me in even more. His broad shoulders and well-built, toned physique hypnotized me, commanding my attention with every subtle movement. His body provided a captivating distraction, but it was his lips that truly held me captive, sending me into a trance I found impossible to break. I involuntarily licked my lips, longing to taste his once more, unable to resist the pull he had over me. To break the hold he had over me, I softly whispered the words inches from his lips. "How did you know I needed help?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly. He looked at me with sincere concern and replied, "I could sense that you were in trouble and came straight away." It seemed as though, since last night, whenever I was in distress, Daniel was always there—ready to protect and soothe me. A lingering thought crossed my mind: Is he stalking me? I smiled before asking, "Have you been stalking me? Because you always seem to be there whenever I need help." He was momentarily stunned by my question, his eyes widening in surprise. However, he quickly regained his composure. "No, Sarah, I can explain everything another time. We should get going," he began to say, but I interrupted him. "Your stalking me kept me safe. Thank you, Daniel," I expressed sincerely. We still stood just inches apart, unable to move away from each other. Gradually, I pressed my body gently against his, feeling the firm, rock-hard texture of his chest against me. I noticed my nipples hardening from the contact. Daniel’s eyes were shifting, their color deepening into a darker shade of green, as if he were struggling to maintain control over his emotions. His grip on my waist tightened, sending a shiver of anticipation rippling through my body. My knees felt unsteady, and a growing ache developed in my core. The intensity of our connection became almost overwhelming. Unable to resist any longer, I rose up on my tiptoes, closing the small distance between us. I gazed into his eyes one last time, searching for something unspoken, before our lips met in a gentle, tentative kiss. We both groaned softly at the same time, savoring each other's taste. The moment was brief and tender, as Daniel slowly pulled back just a bit. His eyes, still dark and intense, held mine as he spoke with a commanding voice, "We need to go now." It didn't take us long to return to his apartment, the entire journey being marked by an uncomfortable silence. I wondered if I had said or done something to upset him. Once we arrived, he calmly placed my bags on the living room floor, his expression unreadable. We both stood there waiting for the silence to end. He stated, "You can take my bedroom, and I will settle in the guestroom." I responded, "It's your bedroom; I don't want to impose, Daniel." He then suggested, "I would prefer you take my room since it has an ensuite and offers more privacy," while grabbing my bags to place them in his room. I followed him inside, and he set my bags on his bed. As he started to walk away, he said, "I'm feeling quite tired. I'm going to bed. You can do whatever you like." Moving quickly to catch up, I replied, "Thank you for everything, Daniel," and ran behind him to give him a hug. He immediately turned to face me, his eyes searching mine with a gentle intensity. Slowly, he leaned in and pressed his lips softly to my forehead, a tender gesture that conveyed both reassurance and safety. I hesitated, then asked with curiosity tinged in my voice, "Did I do something wrong? Why are you being quiet and cold all of a sudden?" He paused for a moment, as if contemplating how much to reveal, then replied with a hint of both vulnerability and certainty, "It's something I can't explain right now. But know it's not you." After saying this, he gently kissed my forehead once more, his touch lingering just a moment longer, before turning away and heading toward the guestroom, leaving me with questions and a mix of emotions. I still find myself puzzled by the intense attraction I feel toward Daniel. I had expected to feel hurt and saddened by what John had done, but strangely, I remain numb about the entire situation. It's almost as if I'm relieved that John revealed his true nature before we got deeply involved—before marriage or even children. Given how kind, understanding, and protective Daniel has been toward me, I feel a desire to do something special for myself. I headed straight to the kitchen to see what I could prepare for dinner. After all, it’s Christmas, and a nice, comforting meal feels like just the thing to lift our spirits after everything that happened yesterday and earlier today.John POVMy head was pounding intensely from the force of the impact, a sharp, relentless ache that seemed to reverberate through my skull. Suddenly, without warning, I was yanked out of my car with incredible force, the suddenness of the movement causing a dizzying rush that made the world spin around me.After being pulled out of the car, I looked up and saw a towering, massive man looming over me. I shouted, "Get your hand off me!" but he ignored my demand. Without warning, he clenched his fist and punched me squarely in the face, forcing me to hit my face on the pavement with a sickening thud.My head was pounding relentlessly, each throb echoing through my skull, as I suddenly felt my body being dragged across the rough pavement like I weighed nothing at all. The sensation of asphalt scraping against my skin was almost unbearable, yet I had no control over my movements. Out of nowhere, I heard the sharp sound of footsteps pounding closer, echoing ominously in the quiet night. A
Daniel POVOnce Erik informed me that John's car had been seen leaving the city and heading towards a private land approximately thirty minutes or so, to the west, I realized the area was unfamiliar territory for me. However, Rick was excellent at mapping out the layout of the land across the entire state. After leaving Sarah's apartment, Rick and I met up shortly afterward to plan our next steps.Rick had informed me that just outside the western boundary of the city, there existed a private estate whose ownership was unknown. Eager to investigate, Rick and I decided to head in that direction, each of us driving our own vehicles at a brisk pace down the road. I was deeply uncertain about whether Sarah was in any immediate danger, which heightened my sense of urgency. Consequently, I was reluctant to waste any more precious time than I already had.Approximately twenty minutes into my drive, as I left the urban area, I suddenly detected a faint yet unmistakable scent of John driftin
Sarah POVMy cheek was still burning from the sting of Mr. Lupu's slap as he continued speaking, his tone insistent and commanding. He was demanding that I obey him and divulge all of Daniel's secrets, but there was no way I was going to give in to such pressure. I felt a mixture of anger and defiance welling up inside me, determined not to betray my trust and live for Daniel. John immediately jumped in to defend me after Lupu slapped me, an act that I certainly didn't expect. I steadied myself, looked Lupu directly in his eyes, and declared firmly, "You can do whatever you want to me, but I will never betray Daniel. I'm not afraid of you, and once Daniel finds out where I am, you'll regret ever kidnapping me." I warned him with a resolute tone, making it clear that I would never betray those I cared about, no matter the threats or violence he threatened to use.Once again, John intervened at a moment when his presence was neither requested nor helpful. Nevertheless, he felt the need
Daniel POVAfter Sarah told me she had arrived home, I didn't hear from her again, even after calling multiple times. Concerned, I immediately left my apartment and headed toward her place to see what was happening. An uneasy feeling settled over me—I could sense that something was wrong through the mate bond.As I sped through the streets, I picked up my phone and dialed my mother’s number. She answered on the first ring, and I heard her warm voice say, "Hi, sweetie." However, I quickly cut her off before she could finish. "Mother, did you notice anything unusual when you and Samantha dropped Sarah off at home?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest as if it wanted to burst. "No, sweetie, is there something wrong?" she responded, her tone filled with worry. "I'm not entirely sure, Mother. I'm on my way to Sarah's place now. Through the matebond, I can feel her anxiety and worry," I explained, trying to stay calm. "Keep your father, and I post if you need anything. Please be careful
Sarah POVI wasn't expecting to run into John anytime soon, let alone ever, after such an incredible weekend spent with Daniel. Why does John always have to be the one to spoil everything?I reached into my pocket carefully, trying to silently extract my phone while John was preoccupied with the muscular man who had just forcibly broken down my apartment door. I slowly and deliberately pulled my phone out, making sure not to draw any attention to myself or cause any further disturbance.As I was in the midst of searching for Daniel's phone number, someone abruptly snatched my phone away. I looked up quickly and saw John holding it in his hand, a smug expression on his face. "What do you think you're doing?' he demanded, his tone sharp and confrontational. I clenched my jaw and responded with equal parts anger and disdain, "What do I think I'm doing? You have some nerve coming to my home and questioning me. Who is this man to you, by the way?' My voice dripped with venom, clearly radi
John POVI managed to escape the territory just moments before those enormous wolves viciously attacked me. After reaching my car, I immediately dialed Mr. Lupu, questioning in my mind: What kind of trouble had he dragged me into?Mr. Lupu, can you tell me what this place is? Why did you send me here in the first place? Were you aware that there are massive wolves roaming around this area? I could hear his deep breathing through the phone, which made me realize how dangerous this situation might be.Calm down, John. I need to make sure we've got the right location, he stated calmly. Did he just admit to using me as bait? I shouted in surprise and anger as he chuckled over the phone. "Did you use me as bait?" I demanded. "Come to my office tomorrow morning. There's a lot that I need to discuss with you," he said, his tone serious, before abruptly ending the call to avoid my reply.I arrived at Mr. Lupu's office on Saturday morning as he had requested. Despite my initial reluctance and







