02. Gabriel

[Rachel's POV]

Graduation day had finally arrived, and I couldn't believe that my high school journey was coming to an end. As I walked towards the school auditorium, I felt a sense of excitement and trepidation. It was the end of one chapter of my life and the beginning of another. As I looked around the auditorium, I couldn't help but notice the smiling faces of my classmates. It was a bittersweet moment, knowing that we would all be going our separate ways, but I was determined to focus on the future and the possibilities that lay ahead.

After graduation, I threw myself into my passion for photography. I traveled to different parts of the world, capturing the beauty of nature through my lens. It was an exhilarating experience, and I felt like I was living my dream.

However, as time went by, I realized that things were not as easy as I had thought. Photography was a competitive industry, and I found it challenging to get my work noticed. There were times when I felt like giving up, but I knew that I couldn't let my dreams die.

One day, I was taking pictures in a secluded park, when I heard someone calling out, "Excuse me, miss?"

I turned around to see a tall, muscular man with piercing blue eyes and jet black hair. There was a mysterious aura about him that intrigued me, and I found myself drawn to him.

"Can I help you?" I asked.

"I was just admiring your photography," he said, gesturing towards my camera.

"Thank you," I replied, feeling a flush of pleasure.

"I'm Gabriel," he said, extending his hand.

"I'm Rachel," I said, shaking his hand.

We struck up a conversation, and I soon discovered that he lived around the area. We talked about our mutual love for nature and photography, and I found myself drawn to his charming and friendly personality. We spent the day together, exploring the park and taking pictures. It was a carefree and enjoyable experience, and I felt like I had made a new friend.

As the day drew to a close, I realized that I didn't know much about Gabriel. "So, where do you live?" I asked.

"I live around here," he replied, smiling. "I like to take walks in this park when I need to clear my head."

"That's cool," I said, feeling a sense of connection. "I like to come here to take pictures when I need inspiration."

"I can see why," he said, gesturing towards my camera.

As we said our goodbyes, I couldn't help but feel like there was something different about Gabriel. There was a strength and power that I had never seen before, and there were moments when he seemed to be in tune with the nature around him. It was a strange and exhilarating feeling, and I couldn't wait to see him again and discover more about him.

Little did I know, Gabriel was not just an ordinary man, but a lycan, and our chance encounter would lead me down a path that I never imagined.

[Gabriel's POV]

I had been having a bad day. My boss had been breathing down my neck at work, and my ex-girlfriend had called me to tell me that she was engaged to someone else. I needed to clear my head, so I decided to take a walk in the park.

As I walked, I noticed a girl with a camera taking pictures of the trees. She was focused on her work, and I found myself drawn to her. I had never seen anyone so dedicated to their craft before.

I decided to approach her, hoping that she wouldn't mind the interruption. "Excuse me," I said, trying to sound as friendly as possible. "What are you taking pictures of?"

She looked up at me, and I was struck by her beauty. "Oh, just the trees," she said, smiling. "I like to take pictures of nature."

I was impressed. "You're really talented," I said, admiring her work. "I've never seen anyone take pictures like that before."

She blushed, and I felt a warmth in my chest. I couldn't remember the last time someone had made me feel so alive.

As we talked, I couldn't help but feel like there was something different about Rachel. There was a sense of strength and power that radiated from her, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

I soon discovered that Rachel was a photographer, and she was traveling the world to capture the beauty of nature. It was a noble pursuit, and I found myself admiring her more and more. As we parted ways, I couldn't help but think about Rachel. There was something about her that intrigued me, and I knew that I had to see her again.

That night, as I lay in bed, I felt a strange sensation in my body. I felt a surge of energy coursing through my veins, and I felt more powerful than I had ever felt before. I smiled to myself, thinking of Rachel and the possibilities that lay ahead. I had a feeling that my life was about to get a lot more interesting. I received a call later that evening that my pack was in trouble, and I knew I had to rush to their aid. The threat of rival packs was never something to take lightly, and I couldn't leave my fellow lycans to fend for themselves.

I shifted into my lycan form, feeling my fur grow thicker and my senses heighten. As I ran through the woods, I could hear the sounds of snarling and howling getting closer.

But then, as I reached the clearing where the fight was taking place, something caught my eye. It was Rachel, the human girl I had been getting to know. I couldn't believe my luck; of all the times for her to show up, it had to be now, in the middle of a lycan battle. I tried to ignore her and focus on the task at hand, but it was difficult to concentrate with her there, snapping photos of the fight.

As I moved closer to the fight, I saw that it was more intense than I had anticipated. The rival pack was putting up a fierce fight, and I knew that my pack would need all the help they could get. I couldn't just stand by and watch them fight alone. I knew that I had to jump in and fight with them.

That's when I noticed that Rachel was taking pictures of the lycans. I tried to keep her out of harm's way, but it was too late. One of the lycans from the opposing pack spotted her and started to charge towards her. I knew I had to act fast to protect her.

I shifted my focus from the fight and ran towards Rachel, grabbing her and pulling her away from the danger. As I did, I could feel my lycan form beginning to fade. I tried to explain that she needed to leave, but I couldn't risk her finding out about my true identity.

I couldn't let her get hurt, and I knew that the rival pack wouldn't hesitate to go after her if they knew she had seen them. I knew that if I told her to leave without me, it would only raise her suspicions, so I had no other choice but to flee the scene, leaving my pack members behind. 

It was an unfamiliar feeling, abandoning my own kind for the sake of a human girl whom I barely knew. Yet, something inexplicable kept drawing me to her like an invisible bond. As we reached a safe spot, she thanked me and seemed uneasy. I quickly inquired if everything was okay, and she assured me that she was fine.