5

Tanya’s POV

“I…um…” my voice trailed off…what was I supposed to tell him? I don't even know who he was.

“Let me guess, your pack kicked you out?”

My heart stalled. I can't tell him what exactly happened. The pain of betrayal still hurts like hell.

I flashed him a wry smile and shook my head quickly.

“No.Travelling.” I lied.

He nodded reluctantly as his eyes darted over me.

My heart skipped a bit. Was he doubting my response?

He chuckled, slightly taking me by surprise.

“That's quite some traveling, darling.”

Darling? My cheeks burned.

“Oh, sorry I don't know your name.” He quickly asked, noticing how uncomfortable I was.

I offered him a tight-lipped smile.

“Tanya.” I said without a thought.

Shit! I should have cooked up a fake name. What if he knew my true identity? Wouldn't that be risky?

“Tanya,” the name rolled out of his tongue, cautiously as though he was tasting it. “That's a rare name. I like it.”

I chuckled sheepishly, looking away.

“It's just a name. I'm sure there's someone out there bearing my name.”

“A name carries a deeper meaning, Tanya. I'm sure your mother named you that because of something special about you.”

My heart dropped.  Why was he mentioning my deceased mother as though he knew her?

“I'm sorry I may have struck a nerve I shouldn't have,” he quickly apologized when he noticed how disturbed I was.

Was my expression giving me away?

I quickly gathered myself and shot him a smile.

“No…not at all. You just reminded me of her, that's all.”

“Oh I see…your mother must be very special to you.”

This time my smile bloomed genuinely.

“Indeed she was.”

The man's brows softened in concern as the realization passed through his eyes.

“Please accept my sincere condolences. Losing a parent can be heart-wrenching.” His voice carried a hint of pain and I quickly looked at him with concern.

“You speak as though from experience.”

He nodded slowly, running a hand through his hair.

“Yeah…I lost people very special to me.”

People? I bit my bottom lip not sure whether to probe further or mind my business.

He suddenly cleared his throat and added, changing the subject.

“More wine?”

I nodded and extended my glass.

I wondered who the people were. He may be carrying a burden on his shoulders I know nothing about.

“I didn't catch your name. I should at least know the name of the man that saved my life today.”

He chuckled and then took a generous sip of his wine.

“Adrian. Although not as fancy as yours,” He teased.

I chuckled, waving him off.

“Look who just preached about how important and special our names were,” I quipped. “Don't underestimate yours.”

Adrian…

He shrugged. “I'm not. It's just that yours sounds more…polished and ancient. I don't know how to describe it but I know I will not forget your name in a hurry.”

I blushed, lowering my gaze, not sure how to handle the compliment.

A grin curved at the corners of his lips and I stifled a whimper resisting the urge not to size him up but I couldn't help myself.

My eyes sparkled as I let them dart over his body. His legs were toned and powerful, flawlessly proportional to his trim hips and waist. His arms made my mouth water. His biceps were precisely cut and his forearms were coursing with thick veins that were both brutal-looking and sexy as hell.

When he caught me ogling at him, my heart skipped a bit as my cheeks burned from embarrassment.

I quickly gulped down the burning alcohol, the

sharp sting distracting me from my embarrassment.

He chuckled and took a swing of his glass in a grunt.

“You mentioned earlier that you're travelling,” he started, setting the empty glass on the table and giving me his full attention.

My heart stuttered.

I nodded slowly, not sure where this conversation was headed.

“Yes, why?”

“Where to, if I may ask?”

I paused, my mind reeling.

Damn it, just say anything at this point or he will grow suspicious.

“A distant neutral territory beyond Crystal Blood’s borders.”

His brows drew together as he contemplated my response.

My heart thudded against my chest in steady beats.

Fuck.

It was the first thing that came to my mind.

“I find it rather weird that you decided to travel tonight.”

I swallowed a lump down my throat and forced a small smile.

“Even sometimes we have to take some risks to explore the world wouldn't you agree?”

“For leisure? Perhaps not.”

I arched a brow at him.

“What about you, Adrian? What brings you to these paths late at night?” I quizzed, my mind buzzing with so many unanswered questions about this mysterious man that was driving me nuts.

He bit his bottom lip which I find attractive and hot.

“Business, my lady,” he said with a smirk on his lips.

“As a business man, you sure are skilled in the battlefields,” I teased.

He laughed this time.

“I will take the compliment. After all, a business man must know how to defend his goods.” He said with a hint of sarcasm in his tone but something glinted in his eyes that I couldn't decipher.

This man was like a mystery box with so many unpeeled layers.

“So what kind of business do you do, Adrian?”

I was curious as hell.

The question seemed to have disrupted him slightly but he quickly smiled at me and closed the distance between us, taking me aback.

His scent wrapped around me instantly, dulling my senses. Damn, he smelled so good. A  mixture of wooden, musky and river scent.

His bodily presence prickled across my skin, sending goosebumps all over my skin. He was a potent force in such a small enclosure, radiating palpable energy and sexual magnetism that had me shifting restlessly on my feet.

I swallowed a lump in my throat, drawing in sharp breaths as I felt the hotness of his breath against my tender neck.

His muscular hand pressed the small of my back, pulling me against his broad chest.

“You shouldn’t tell me to stop,” he murmured, his voice low and dangerous, “because once I don’t…I won’t.”

I shut my eyes tightly as his masculine scent filled my senses.

Good lord!

I resisted the urge to moan as I instinctively bit my lower lip.

My heart pounded so hard its drumbeat echoed in my head, taunting me as he edged closer until I could feel his delicious kissable lips ghosting over my lips.

I flinched and I drew in several deep breaths.

Damn it!

What's his motive for setting my body on fire like this?

Before I could gather my thoughts, his lips claimed mine.

My stomach lurched, anticipation scorching my skin as I parted my lips, giving him access to glide his tongue over mine.

Heat rushed through my body like an avalanche and I let out a moan.

What the fuck was I doing with a man I had just met?

My breathing became as ragged as my heartbeat. I felt that inexplicable pull to him again as if he exuded a silent demand that I was instinctively attuned to answering.

“Adrian …” I whispered his name, lost in the madness of his touch.

Euphoria spread through me like the warmth of fine liquor as we were both lost in the heat of passion.

***

Morning came too soon. The early morning sunlight slipping through the curtains and landing on my face jerked me up with a start.

I looked at my side but the bed was empty.

My heart sank.

Adrian is gone.

I quickly slipped through my clothes, my eyes scanning the room for anything that may give me a lead.

My eyes caught the note on the table.

I puffed out a deep breath before I opened the note.

A bone-deep shiver trickled down my spine when I read the content of the letter:

“I don't know if this is some kind of plot from your people to take me down…but we are enemies, my love. You have two options,  you either work with me as my queen or I destroy you alongside your people”