Chapter 5: He Took My Hand Instead

Irene’s Point of View

I felt it before I saw him.

A gaze.

Heavy. Sharp. Unmoving.

It slid over my skin and made it crawl.

Slowly, I lifted my head…

and froze.

A man was staring at me.

Not just looking.

Watching.

Like he was studying me.

Like I was something he had already figured out.

My breath caught.

His eyes were dark. Deep. Cold.

They didn’t blink.

Didn’t soften.

I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry.

He wasn’t like the others.

Not like the werewolves.

No.

This man… was a lycan.

I knew it the moment I felt him.

Everything about him was different.

Stronger. Heavier. Dangerous.

I had never seen him before.

And yet…

something inside me whispered that I should be afraid.

My heart started pounding.

Fast. Too fast.

For the first time in days, my mind cleared.

Not from peace.

From fear.

Raw. Sharp. Real.

Even Alpha Dave had never made me feel like this.

Not even Eugene.

But this man…

He felt like something else entirely.

Who was he?

I looked away quickly, forcing my breathing to slow.

In. Out. Calm down.

But it didn’t work.

Because I could still feel it.

His gaze.

Still on me.

Still watching.

Still waiting.

It pressed down on me, heavy and suffocating, like I was trapped under it.

I couldn’t take it.

I had to leave.

Now.

I reached into my pocket for coins, hoping for anything, just enough to buy a drink and walk away.

My hand stilled.

Empty.

Right.

I didn’t bring anything.

Not even enough for a drink.

A small sound slipped out of me, half frustration, half embarrassment.

Of all times… why now?

I glanced at the old man behind the stall.

He was busy with another customer.

I hesitated.

Then,

movement.

My body went rigid.

The lycan stood up.

And started walking toward me.

My heart dropped.

No.

No…

I lifted my head again.

And this time…

I couldn’t look away.

I didn’t want to.

He was huge.

Not just tall.

Massive.

Like he could crush everything in his path… including me.

Each step he took felt heavy.

Controlled. Steady. Strong.

Like the ground itself noticed him.

When he stopped in front of me, my breath hitched.

I felt small.

Too small.

Like I didn’t even belong in the same space as him.

How could someone be this big? This powerful?

No wonder lycans were feared.

One of them alone… could destroy many of us.

He sat across from me.

Close.

Too close.

I leaned back without thinking, my shoulders pulling in.

Like I could make myself smaller.

Like I could disappear.

But I couldn’t.

“Who are you?” I asked.

My voice shook despite me trying to steady it.

“What do you want?”

I hated how weak I sounded.

But I couldn’t control it.

“You are Irene?”

His voice was deep. Low. Heavy.

It settled over me like pressure.

“The Irene everyone is talking about?”

My chest tightened.

Rumors?

“What rumors?” I asked, quieter this time.

Barely a voice at all.

I couldn’t look at his face.

My eyes dropped to his hand instead.

Large. Still.

Dangerous.

“The rejected mate of the future Alpha.”

The words hit me like a slap.

Cold. Sharp.

My breath caught.

“What…?”

I looked up for a second,

but his eyes were too much.

Too intense.

I looked away again.

My heart pounded in my ears.

Fast. Loud.

I couldn’t think straight.

And then it hit me.

This wasn’t a coincidence.

He didn’t just walk over.

He came for me.

“I don’t know anything about those rumors,” I said.

My voice dropped lower, almost disappearing.

I kept my gaze down, refusing to meet his eyes again.

But my thoughts kept spinning.

Was he…

an Alpha?

The Lycan Alpha?

“W-who are you?” I asked again.

Curiosity pushed through the fear.

Slowly, I lifted my head.

Just a little.

Enough to see his chin.

His neck.

Strong, with faint veins beneath the skin.

His body,

too solid.

Like nothing could break him.

Not even a weapon.

He didn’t answer.

He just watched me.

Carefully.

Like he was studying every reaction.

Every breath.

Every flicker of fear.

Seconds passed.

And somehow…

that silence felt even heavier than his voice.

Too long.

The silence stretched between us,

and it felt more dangerous than anything he could say.

Then,

“Arnold.”

Just one word.

Deep. Heavy.

It settled in my chest like a weight.

Arnold.

The name felt familiar.

Too familiar.

My mind started racing.

The war.

The lycans.

The battle Eugene fought.

The Alpha he killed.

And the one who took his place.

Arnold.

The next Lycan Alpha.

The son of the man Eugene killed.

My heart dropped.

Cold fear rushed through me.

He wasn’t just any lycan.

He was him.

What did he want?

Revenge?

Was I the easiest target… because I was once close to Eugene?

My fingers curled into my palms.

My body went stiff.

“W-what do you want from me?” I asked.

My voice trembled.

I couldn’t hide it.

Was he going to kill me?

Right here?

Then,

the door opened.

A scent hit me.

Familiar. Strong.

My body reacted before my mind could catch up.

I turned.

Fast.

My heart jumped.

Eugene.

He stood there,

closer than I expected.

It had been a week.

One long, dragging week since I last saw him.

Since everything broke.

And now…

he was here again.

“Irene.”

My name left his lips, soft and warm.

And I hated it.

Because a part of me still liked the way he said it.

Even now.

Even after everything.

The bond between us,

it was still there.

Still pulling.

Still hurting.

“I’m glad you’re here,” he said.

Like nothing had happened.

Like he hadn’t destroyed everything.

Like we were still the same.

My chest tightened.

Why was he smiling?

Why did he look relieved?

Did he really think things were fine?

Did he really think I would just forget?

I said nothing.

Not a word.

I stood up quickly.

And I didn’t even look at him.

I didn’t care about the drink anymore.

Didn’t care about anything.

I just needed to leave.

To get away,

from him.

From everything.

I took a step forward.

Then I felt it.

A shift.

Behind me.

The air changed again.

I knew.

This wasn’t going to be a simple escape.

Not with Eugene here.

And not with Arnold watching.

“Irene…”

Eugene called my name again.

Softer this time.

Almost pleading.

“Let’s talk somewhere. Please.”

The longing in his voice… it hurt.

It cut deeper than before.

Like he was reaching for me,

after already letting me go.

My chest tightened.

I didn’t answer.

I couldn’t.

Because I knew…

if I stayed,

I might break all over again.

Then,

everything shifted.

A hand closed around mine.

Firm. Warm. Unmoving.

I froze.

Arnold stood.

Like it meant nothing.

Like it was natural.

Like it was his right.

He pulled me to his side, steady, controlled.

Effortless.

And just like that, I was standing next to him.

Too close.

Too aware.

His presence wrapped around me.

Heavy. Strong. Overwhelming.

I felt small beside him.

Fragile.

Like I could disappear if he let go.

For a second…

everything else faded.

Even Eugene.

“I will speak with her first.”

Arnold’s voice cut through the air.

Deep. Calm.

But filled with quiet authority.

“You can find another day.”

Simple words.

But final.

Like the decision had already been made.

The space around us shifted.

The air stilled.

Even the noise of the crowd seemed to fade.

And in that silence, I felt it clearly,

the difference between them.

Eugene…

and Arnold.

One hesitated.

The other decided.

Just like that.

Eugene went quiet.

For the first time since I saw him tonight… something inside me shifted.

Relief.

Small.

But real.

Arnold’s hand stayed around mine.

Steady. Certain.

He didn’t let go.

And somehow, the space he placed between me and Eugene…

felt like the only thing holding me together.

Like if he moved, even a little,

I might fall apart.

I hated that thought.

I didn’t even know him.

And yet…

I didn’t pull away.

But deep inside, something stirred.

Something new.

Unfamiliar.

Dangerous.

Because the moment Arnold stepped in,

everything began to change.

And I had a feeling…

there was no going back.