2. WARMTH IN THE WOLF’S DEN

  Ariana

        

        I didn't even know where I was but I had a grave feeling that I wasn't home. 

        

        The ceiling above me beamed with dark wood, a dazzling chandelier of antlers and crystal catching the firelight. 

        

        The bed was enormous– cozy and spacious, draped in luxurious fur over smooth expensive sheets that felt so soft against my skin. 

        

        Outside the tall glass windows was the snow hammering against the glass, the world outside becoming a blank white void. 

        

        Then the memories came crashing in: Jake’s cheating, me running blindly into the night, the wolf attack. And him… the stranger who came to my rescue with the glowing eyes, claws, and wounds closing as they'd never been there. 

        

        He wasn't human. I had seen it.

        

        Or maybe I was losing my mind. 

        

        I sat up slowly, my head throbbing painfully from tears and terror. Everything was going to be fine, I told myself over and over, like a prayer. 

        

        My wrist ached terribly. I pulled back my sleeve. 

        

        A perfect crescent moon glowed faintly there. I gasped at how the silvery lines glowed against my skin. 

        

        When did this appear here? I never had it before. 

        

        The door opened, interrupting my thoughts. An older woman in navy scrubs walked in with a tray of delicious soup, bread, and tea. She looked late forties, with silver-streaked hair in a bun with kind but guarded eyes. 

        

        “ You’re awake,” she said softly. “I'm Samara, the house nurse. How are you feeling?”

        

        “ Weird. My head hurts. Where am I ?”

        “You're at Mr. Torrence's estate. He brought you here after you passed out. He said a large animal attacked you in the woods. Luckily you've got no serious injuries.”

        “No injuries?" I lifted my wrist. "What about this?”

        She frowned, leaning closer, then touched my forehead with the back of her hand. “I don't see anything, dear. Just a slight fever. Eat something. You need strength.”

        I stared back at my wrist again. The mark was still there but she barely reacted( as if she didn't see it). Was I hallucinating? 

        Samara set the tray on my lap and hurried out before I could press her. She was definitely avoiding the questions I was about to flood her with. 

        The bread was warm and soft, melting into my mouth as I gently savored its sweet taste. It was clearly freshly baked. The tea soothed my raw throat. For the soup, I was halfway done with it when the door opened again. 

        He filled the doorway– tall, broad-shouldered, black turtleneck clinging to his frame, dark hair looking slightly tousled from the storm. 

        His storm-gray eyes locked on mine, and the crescent mark flared with sudden heat, making me gasp softly.

        He closed the door and stopped a safe distance away, his hands digging deep into his pockets.

        "You're finally up," he said, his voice low and warm. "I thought you'd died of a heart attack back there."

        A nervous laugh escaped me. "Can you blame me? What I saw was... terrifying."

        "Was it the wolf?" A faint smirk tugged at his mouth. "Or me?"

        "Both. Especially you."

        He paused, his smirk softening into something almost gentle. “You don't have to be afraid. I did what I had to do.”

        “You're not human, are you?”

        "Why do you say that?

        “Come on. I'm not naïve. I saw your eyes change. Claws coming out of your fingertips. Don't gaslight me.”

        He studied me for a long moment. “You're right. I'm not.”

        “So... what are you?”

        “What if I don't tell you?”

        “I'd just have to guess.”

        I glanced around. Holy crap, I forgot my phone. 

        “Looking for something?”

        “Just tell me already.”

        He exhaled slowly. “ I'm a werewolf.”

        “Oh.”

        My heart slammed against my ribs like it wanted out. There was no room for doubt here, I'd already seen too much.

         As a child, I'd always thought wolves were supposed to be movie monsters, not real muscular men standing in my room smelling like pine and snow. 

        Fear prickled my skin, sharp and electric. But beneath it all was a confusing feeling … The tightening pull in my chest. Then the burning mark on my wrist. It was as if it recognised him. 

        “Nothing to say?” he asked.

        “ I want to go home.”

        He laughed and stepped closer. I fumbled the tray but he quickly caught it and set it on the nightstand. 

        “You can't. There's a raging blizzard out there. Roads are buried. It'll be days before they're clear.” 

        Days? 

        “I appreciate the hospitality, but my family will come looking if they don't hear from me.”

        “No one will find you in this.”He nodded toward the window. "You're safe here. I mean you no harm.”

        I heaved out a loud sigh. He was right. If he meant to harm me, he wouldn't have saved me in the first place. 

        “So... full moon, silver bullets, howling?”

        “Some myths. The moon pulls at us, but we control it. Silver burns like hell, but doesn't kill. And yes, we shift." His gaze flicked to my wrist, then away fast. “That rogue lost control. That's why it attacked.”

        “Can you…shift for me?”

        “You wouldn't like it.”

        “I literally watched you fight a monster with claws. I think I can handle a simple demo.”

        He hesitated for a bit but then gave in.

        His eyes shifted from gray to silver, canines lengthening just enough to flash. Claws painfully (or so I assumed) pricked out from his fingertips. 

        The mark on my wrist throbbed again, almost with immense pleasure. 

        Then it all snapped back. 

        “Enough?” he asked quietly.

        I nodded, completely speechless.

        He sat on the edge of the bed, staring out at the storm. “Humans aren't supposed to know about us. You seeing it... complicates things.”

        “Then why tell me?”

        "Because you asked. And because you're here." He didn't look at me. "The less you know, the safer you'll be. Some things can't be unseen."

        “ I have a question.”

        “I've said enough for now." He stood abruptly. "Rest. We'll talk later.”

        And he was gone.

        *

        The next two days vanished in a blink. The estate was breathtaking– the warmstone walls, blazing fireplaces, and the staff in uniform moving around like ghosts. They answered basic questions but clammed up about their boss. 

        I spent hours with Mariana, a quiet housemaid, learning to knit by the fire. Or curled up with books from Kai's massive study. 

        Surprisingly, half the shelves held werewolf romances, looking all crisp and new, like they'd been bought for show.

        Kai had started distancing himself but at the same time, I felt him everywhere. He'd appear in the hallways when Samara checked in on me. If he caught me wandering down the halls, he'd ask me if I needed anything. Of course, I’d use that opportunity to throw at him every single question that popped into my head. 

        Yes, there were others like him.

        No, they didn't hunt humans.

        Yes, the first shifts hurt like hell.

        No, he wouldn't explain the mark–only that it would fade ‘in time.’

        Every time he stepped close, I felt my insides melt to jelly. Or at times the hair on my skin would stand. I somewhat hated how safe I felt around him. How aware I was of his scent, his voice, and the way he moved.

        And when it was time to go, it burned my heart a lot. He gave me a couple of books and handed me his coat to wear. I could tell by the pine smell that he wore this coat very often. 

        I hugged him before I sat in his driver’s car and surprisingly he'd wrapped his arms around me in silence. He'd offered me his card and stroked my back gently as I cried like a sentimental fool. 

        As the car drove away, I couldn't help but look back at him waving at me. My heart sank. Why was I feeling so emotionally attached? It had only been two days. 

        

    

    Immediately I knocked at the door and he opened it, my stomach dropped. 

        Jake’s eyes looked red and his face long and drawn from worry and exhaustion. 

        “Ari baby,” he crushed his body against mine, his voice breaking. 

        He smelled familiar. Like home. 

        But then something felt different… Empty. 

        He quickly dropped to his knees.  I could tell by the way he pulled out a tiny diamond ring that he'd planned to do this the moment he set eyes on me. 

        “Marry me,” he begged, tears freezing on his cheeks. “I know I don't deserve you. I know I hurt you. But please…I love you. I'll spend my life making it right.”

        I stared at the ring. At him.

        I was exhausted. Kai… the estate… the mark on my wrist and everything else was driving me insane. I wanted something normal. 

        “Yes,” I whispered without much thought. 

        Jake slid the ring on my finger and kissed me desperately but I  felt nothing. 

        Just an empty void. No spark. No butterflies.

        Just emptiness. 

        Deep down, a quiet voice within hinted that I’d made a terrible mistake.

        But we’d been together three years. This had once been my dream.

        So I let him hold me and tried to ignore the crescent moon tingling beneath my sleeve.