Chapter 9

Looking out the window, Ariella was surprised to find him climbing the tree.

"No, wait. I'm coming down," she whispered as she scrambled over the ledge and onto the branches. They dropped to the ground at the same time.

"My parents..." Ariella began and Mal nodded in understanding, his dark fringe falling over his brow and concealing his eyes.

Without saying a word, he held out his hand for Ariella to take, and she hesitated a moment.

Did she really want this? Did she really want to take this risk of going with her mate whom she knew nothing about? Remembering that she was giving him a chance to apologise, and wanting to know more about him, she slipped her fingers in his.

The sparks that jumped between their skin made her smile and a warmth filled her heart. As she followed him down the forest trail, not knowing where he was taking her, she couldn't seem to shake the conflict inside. It felt so wrong to be sneaking about with him. He was dark and dangerous, he'd shown her that much a