Chapter Three

The morning arrived with a fragile calm, as if the island itself had exhaled after the storm’s fury. A gentle mist hovered over the jagged cliffs, softening their sharp edges against the restless sea below. Tiana stepped outside into the cool, salt-scented air, letting it fill her lungs. For once, the crashing waves felt less like a threat and more like a steady heartbeat beneath the quiet.

The mansion loomed behind her, a dark silhouette against the pale light. Inside, the vast corridors were still and clean, untouched by the chaos of the night before. The silence, usually so oppressive, felt almost tender today.

Tiana moved through the house with practiced ease, her fingers gliding over polished surfaces and the crisp linen of freshly made beds. Her mind was restless, though. Ross Lycan. The memory of his presence lingered like a shadow in every room. The sharp cut of his voice, the cold precision of his gaze. It all made her chest tighten in a way she hadn’t expected.

She told herself it was nothing. A man who rarely spoke more than a few words wasn’t someone to be concerned about. But beneath that cold surface, she’d glimpsed something fragile, like a crack in ice where light was just beginning to shine through.

By mid-morning, she found herself in the vast library. Floor-to-ceiling shelves stretched upward, filled with books old and new, their spines polished but worn from use. The scent of aged paper mingled with cedar from the wood-panelled walls.

There, standing by the tall window that looked out toward the cliffs and sea, was Ross. The morning sun caught the angles of his face, casting half of it in shadow. His dark hair was tousled, and he held a book loosely in one hand. When he saw her, his sharp eyes flicked up, assessing.

“You’re here early,” he said, voice low but steady, betraying nothing.

“I like to finish the morning chores before breakfast,” she replied, setting down the cloth she carried.

He stepped forward, slow and deliberate. “You work too hard.”

The unexpected softness in his tone caught her off guard. She met his gaze, searching for the man behind the walls. Instead, she found only guarded caution.

“I like to keep busy,” she said quietly.

Ross’s eyes flicked to a nearby book, and he reached out, brushing a speck of dust from its spine with an unusual gentleness. The small movement felt intimate, as if, for a moment, he’d lowered the armour that protected him from the world.

“You don’t need to prove anything here,” he said quietly.

The words hung between them, heavy with meaning. Tiana’s heart beat faster, and a warmth bloomed beneath her skin. She wanted to say more, to ask what he meant, but the moment passed too quickly.

Before she could respond, an abrupt clatter echoed from the kitchen.

Ross’s gaze snapped toward the sound, and the fragile connection shattered. “Excuse me,” he said, turning on his heel.

Tiana followed silently, curiosity and concern mingling in her chest.

In the kitchen, Alma stood frozen, a broken plate scattered across the floor. Mark appeared from the pantry, a look of mild irritation etched on his weathered face.

“Let me handle this,” Ross said curtly, stepping forward. His usual cold mask slipped, revealing tension beneath.

He knelt to gather the shards, his fingers careful yet firm. The efficiency in his movements showed a side of him few had seen.

When the mess was cleared, he stood and looked at Alma. “Accidents happen. Try not to be so hard on yourself.”

His voice was softer now, almost kind.

Tiana watched, surprised by the shift. It was a subtle kindness, nothing grand, but it carried a weight that stirred something deep inside her.

*

Later, carrying a tray of tea to the garden, Tiana found Mark pruning the rose bushes. The sun was warm on her skin, the scent of earth and blooming flowers soothing.

“Care for some?” she offered.

“Yes. Thank you,” Mark answered. He took a swig from a glass and immediately went back to his work.

She looked up at the cloudy skies – rays of sunshine permeating its condensed mass. “The weather seems better today.”

“I must say, you’re quite lucky,” he said without looking up. “Calm weather means Ross is less… unpredictable.”

Tiana smiled faintly. “I saw a different side of him this morning. Maybe he’s not as cold as people say.”

Mark shook his head slowly. “That side is buried deep. But don’t mistake it for the whole man.”

She looked out toward the horizon, where the sea met sky in an endless line. “Maybe he’s scared,” she said softly.

“Scared? Mr. Lycan is never scared. I’d say, he’s rather… cautious.”

“Cautious or not, I think there’s a reason why he acts that way.”

Mark met her eyes, the usual roughness in his face softening. “We all have ghosts, Miss Greene. The question is whether we let them haunt us, or fight to move forward.”

His words settled over her like a quiet truth.

*

That afternoon, as the sun climbed high and the island shimmered in its light, Tiana found herself back in the library. Ross was there again, seated at the long oak table, poring over papers and files. He looked up as she entered.

“I didn’t expect you here,” he said, voice low.

“I finished the rooms,” she replied. “I thought I could help with whatever you’re doing.”

He regarded her for a long moment, then nodded. “It’s not a lot of work,” he said. “But sit.”

Tiana settled into a chair, watching as Ross moved through the papers. There was an intensity to him now, a keenness she hadn’t noticed before. Yet, beneath it all, she sensed a weariness – a man burdened by invisible chains.

“Why do you work so hard?” he asked suddenly, eyes meeting hers.

She blinked, surprised. “I don’t have much choice.”

He leaned back, expression enigmatic. “Most people come here and leave because they can’t handle the weight of this place. Or of me.”

She hesitated. “Is it really you they fear?”

Ross’s eyes darkened. “Maybe.”

For a moment, silence settled between them – thick and charged.

“I don’t want to scare you,” he added quietly. “But I won’t make it easy.”

Tiana swallowed hard but found her voice. “I’m not here to run away.”

He studied her like she was a puzzle he didn’t want to solve. Then, almost imperceptibly, the edge of his lips twitched. “Good,” he said.

As evening approached, Tiana returned to her room, the day’s events swirling in her mind. She thought of Mark’s warnings, of Ross’s rare kindness, of the cold fire burning just beneath his surface.

Outside, the island was quiet once more. The sea whispered its endless song, and the wind carried the scent of rain – promises of storms yet to come.

Tiana lay awake, the fragile calm of the day replaced by a restless ache. The island had begun to pull her in, slow and silent, like the tide creeping closer with every passing hour. And somewhere deep inside, she knew that neither she nor Ross Lycan would remain untouched.