Chapter Three: Icy Blue Eyes

I woke up to the sound of people bickering around me, their words barely audible. Blinking, I forced my eyes open, wincing as sunlight shone directly in my eyes.

“She’s awake.” A man said. I surveyed my surroundings, regarding the room I was in. It was huge and adorned with mahogany furniture and velvet-painted walls. I lay on a king-sized bed, draped in white sheets.

“Where am I?” my voice croaked as I managed to sit up in bed. I noticed I wasn’t wearing the same dress I had on, meaning one of them undressed me. The thought of these strangers touching my body sent shivers down my spine.

My gaze fell on the man and woman standing in the room with me, and suddenly, everything came back to me.

They were the wolves. I was alert as I glared at them, my heart beating hard against my chest.

“You’re at the Solstice Clan’s estate, you’ll be safe here.” the man responded. He was tall and attractive, about 6’3 with long chestnut brown hair neatly tied into a ponytail. His deep brown eyes were warm as he gazed at me.

“What are you people? What do you want from me?” a sense of unease washed over me. I felt like I already knew the answer to that question, but I needed to be sure.

“I suppose you need an explanation.” the woman spoke this time. She had a smoky voice that was soothing and had a seductive aura around her. She was an exotic thing, with straight golden hair that flowed down to her waist and striking green eyes.

“We’re werewolves,” her voice held pride as she said so. “And we're keeping you here for your safety.”

I wouldn't have believed the werewolf part if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. Dad had been right all along and I felt bad for doubting him, but you couldn't blame me. It's a lot to process when you're told your mother was a literal werewolf.

“Safe from what?”

“A lot of bad people are after you,” Mr ponytail said, “We want to protect you.”

“How am I sure you're not the bad guys?” I was skeptical about the whole thing. Even though they have been nice to me so far, I couldn't just believe everything they said.

“You don't have to trust us immediately.” the woman said. “But we're not going to harm you. You're important to us.” she assured me, the gentle look on her eyes surprisingly made me feel less tense.

“Why am I important?”

“You’re the descendant of the Sacred Wolf lineage, chosen by the moon goddess to carry on that legacy.” the woman explained.

First werewolves, now a moon goddess. This was all becoming exhausting.

“I don’t understand; I’m just human.”

Amusement danced in her striking eyes. “I can assure you, you’re certainly much more than that.”

My mind drifted back to the incident with Luke.

“What does it mean to be the Sacred Wolf? What role do I play in all this?” my skepticism faded away, now replaced with curiosity.

“You have incredible abilities that would be useful to us werewolves.” the man answered.

The whole thing was absurd, but I didn't deny it anymore, though, I still needed clarity on a lot of things.

“This is a lot to take in.” I couldn't begin to imagine the responsibility that would come with it.

“We understand, you don’t have to drink it all at once.” the man said in a comforting tone, but I was far from comforted. I didn't like the idea of taking up such a demanding task, and I feared my normal difficult life I had already started getting used to was about to turn to something much worse.

“Why me? I didn’t want any of this.” the reluctance in my voice was clear.

“I know darling,” the woman sounded sympathetic, “But the moon goddess chose you, we can't change anything.”

Fuck the moon goddess.

“And what if I choose not to go along with it?”

Surely, I had to have a choice in this. It was all too complicated for me and I didn't want to be a part of it.

“Then, you die.” A chilling voice said, causing me to gasp.

Turning to the direction of the voice, my gaze met the intense eyes of a man. He leaned on the wall, arms crossed as he watched me.

How didn't I notice him before?

This man was striking in every way. He was tall, with a well-muscled body that exuded an air of power and authority. He had a defined jawline and a slightly crooked nose that gave him an aristocratic look. He had shiny black hair that complimented his flawless bronze skin and piercing icy blue eyes. I was drawn to this man in a way I couldn't explain.

A sense of familiarity suddenly washed over me as I held his gaze.

Those eyes. I have seen those eyes before.

“You’ll scare her away, Devyn.” the woman chuckled and I took note of his name… Devyn suited him perfectly.

“She’s not going anywhere.” his tone was brusque, his gaze still fixated on me. Realization hit me when I remembered where I had seen his eyes and sensed his ambiance. He was the stalker and also the wolf that pounced on me.

“You’ve been the one following me.” I stated, certain of it. When he didn't respond, I pressed on.

“Why were you following me?”

I began to lose my patience when he chose to ignore me again. His handsome face was devoid of any emotion as he watched me, his gaze never wavering. You couldn't even tell how he felt or what he was thinking but I already gathered that he was an arrogant prick.

Ponytail spoke up, breaking the silence— I really needed to know their names. ”You should get some rest, there’s a lot to do,” he said to me, then motioned to the woman, “Let’s go.”

She nodded in response and waved at me before they both left me in the room alone with this man. I didn't know them well enough or trust them, but at least they had the decency to explain the situation to me. This one on the other hand just watched me like we were having a staring contest.

“Look, no disrespect to your goddess, but I’m not doing this… I’m not even a werewolf.” I said

“You don’t get to decide” he finally spoke and I felt anger bubbling in me.

“It's my life. I’m not going to let wolf people decide.” I snapped at him, then continued, “Look, I appreciate the hospitality and all but I really don't want to be here.”

“There are people who want you dead and others who would use your powers for unimaginable things,” he said blankly like that was a normal thing to say, but I got his point clear— leaving here meant putting my life in jeopardy.

I guess I didn't really have a choice then. I heaved a sigh, still trying to accept my supposed fate. “Is my safety guaranteed? What if I get kidnapped again?”

The thought of those men who kidnapped me earlier made my body shiver. A part of me felt relieved that I was here instead. At least, these people treated me like a person and not an animal.

“I won't let anyone hurt you.” There was a glint of determination in his eyes as he said this… Or maybe I imagined it.

He tramped around the room until he was at my bedside, directly beside me. I inched back a bit as he stared down at me, his eyes scrutinizing me like a predator observing its prey.

My breath hitched in my throat as I drank in his close appearance. He was devilishly handsome, every bit of him and he looked so much hotter up-close.

Before I could think, he took my right arm in his large hand and brought it to his face, staring at him. The immediate skin contact made my body surge with an electric feeling, making me gasp audibly.

What was that sudden sensation?

I watched his face to see if he had felt the same thing, but his face remained expressionless.

“I don't want you bruising yourself like this.” he dropped my arm, the tingling sensation from his touch still there. I remembered I got the bruise when I fell in the woods.

“You’ll learn to control your abilities. Wilona will train you.”

I assumed Wilona was the blonde woman and didn't really see a problem with her training me. She seemed really nice and that way, I could understand my abilities— whatever they were.

“How long will I be here? I have school and people that'll be wondering where I am.” I thought of Kristen and my dad, imagining how worried they would be.

“School will be the last thing you'll worry about.”

I didn't enjoy school anyway.

I looked around me, searching for my cell phone and my purse.

“My cellphone… I need to tell my friend I'm okay”

“You won't be needing that here,” he said flatly, and that made me suddenly mad.

“Am I a prisoner here?” I snapped, through gritted teeth.

“If you don’t want to put your loved ones and yourself in danger, then you won’t be needing it.” His face was stern, making it hard for me to tell if he was bluffing or not, but I wasn't going to take any chances with their safety. Whatever mess I was getting into, I didn't want them to be part of it.

“They will be informed that you're okay.” He reassured me.

Thoughts of running away from here crossed my mind, and as if reading my mind, he said, “Don’t even think about escaping. My men will catch you before you even get past the gate,“ he narrowed his eyes at me, “Or I’ll drag you back here myself.”

I didn't doubt it.

“This will be your room. If you need anything, let me know.” I hated to admit it but the room was comfortable and luxurious, nothing compared to the rooms I had lived in all my life.

“My things,” I said, remembering I didn’t have anything of mine here. “ my things are still at the apartment”

“You’ll get new ones.”

Wow.

“Liam will be your bodyguard, you’re not allowed to go anywhere without him.” I didn't like how arrogantly he spoke, it pissed me off.

“I don’t need a bodyguard.”

He ignored me. “And be on your best behavior while you’re here.”

Who does this guy think he is?

He walked towards the door, about to leave, when he turned to my direction.

“Make yourself at home.” He said, then left the room.