Peaceful days passed by. Everything seed great, except for one thing. Astrid couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. The sensation clung to her like a shadow, just like the faint yet persistent scent of her mate. At first, anxiety gnawed at her, but she brushed it off. There was no way her mate, probably the Vampire King would co to such a place lwt alone follow her around. Why would he want a mate like her, miserable, abandoned, and barely surviving?
Shaking off the unsettling thoughts, Astrid hurried through the bustling streets. She was heading to the inn where she had been working for the past few weeks when she suddenly collided with soone. The impact nearly sent her stumbling, but a firm hand caught hers just in ti.
"I’m really so—" Her words died in her throat as her gaze t the stranger’s face. Shock widened her eyes. "You!"
"Yes, ." The man smiled, his grip lingering before he reluctantly let go.
Astrid’s shock lted into joy. She had believed everyone perished during the raid, but standing before her was Liam. Her closest friend and forr employer.
"How... I an..." She struggled to form words, her emotions overwhelming her. This man had been her pillar of support during the hardest months of her life. She would never forget his kindness.
"Calm down," Liam chuckled. "I managed to escape too. I searched for you and your brothers before leaving the village, but you were nowhere to be found. I assud you had also gotten away."
Astrid’s eyes flickered with curiosity as she gazed at Liam. "How did you find ?"
Liam smiled, shaking his head. "Pure coincidence. I ca here looking for my family, and I happened to see you."
Astrid nodded, accepting his answer. "I see... I was just heading to work."
"Will I see you again?" Liam asked.
She hesitated for a mont, considering her schedule. "The day after tomorrow, I’ll be free. Let’s et at the sa place we bumped into each other." As she chuckled lightly.
Liam nodded. "Alright. I’ll see you then."
With a quick farewell, Astrid rushed off, weaving through the crowd as she headed toward the inn.
*****************
That evening, the present moon lightly lit up the sky. Astrid walked ho at a steady pace, her arms wrapped around herself despite the mild night air, before that feeling returned. That eerie sensation of being watched.
Her footsteps slowed and her ears perked. Every instinct in her scread that soone was following her and she couldn’t shake it away this ti. Not wanting to appear suspicious, she kept walking as if nothing was amiss. But instead of heading toward her small ho, she subtly changed her direction, veering toward the outskirts of the village.
If soone had really been following her, it was ti to find out who. Her heart pounded as she moved further away from the village lights.
The feeling of being watched intensified. Then, without hesitation, she made a sharp turn and sprinted. She didn’t run toward ho. Instead, she ran in the opposite direction, leading her pursuer further away. Her werewolf instincts kicked in, and she moved swiftly, barely making a sound. If this person truly ant to follow her, they would be forced to show themselves soon.
The further she got, the darker the bushes beca. Sensing she had put so distance between herself and her follower, she skidded to a stop and crouched low. Her hands touched the ground, claws extending slightly. The transformation happened in re seconds. Her body shifted, bones rearranging, muscles expanding, until her fur-covered form stood in place of her human one.
A low, growl rumbled from her throat as she found a spot hidden between thick bushes and waited.
Not long after, a dark silhouette moved through the trees, approaching cautiously. Whoever this was, they weren’t an amateur. They didn’t stumble or make unnecessary noise. They were following her deliberately, yet not recklessly.
Astrid’s wolf instincts took over. With powerful hind legs, she leaped from her hiding place, her claws extended as she pounced. Two swift jumps were all it took before she collided with the figure, knocking them to the ground with a hard thud.
Snarling, she pinned the stranger beneath her, ready to strike.
But the mont her eyes locked onto his, everything stopped.
Dark, familiar and piercing eyes stared back at her.
Her earlier fear and uncertainty vanished like dust in the wind. A strange pull, warm and sweet wrapped around her senses, drowning her in sothing she couldn’t na.
The man beneath her didn’t resist. He simply lifted a hand and touched her fur, his fingers stroking her gently.
"Mine."
The word was whispered, but it reached her ears like a command, igniting sothing deep within her. Astrid shivered under his touch, warmth spreading through her. She wanted more of it.
Shaking herself free from the spell, she leaped off him, landing a few feet away. Her wolf instincts were screaming at her to submit, to bask in his presence. But she couldn’t.
With a deep breath, she shifted back into her human form, her long hair cascading over her shoulders as she stood tall.
The man rose to his feet as well. Even in the dim light, everything about him scread power. From his regal stance to the way his dark clothing fit perfectly against his muscular fra, there was no doubt this was a man used to being in control. A king.
Astrid swallowed hard, her heart pounding against her ribs.
She didn’t need to ask to know the truth. The scent of him, vampire and wolf blood mingled together, was unmistakable. He really was a hybrid.
A lump ford in her throat as she took a small step back. Her gaze never left him, but uncertainty filled her. Why was he here? She wanted to ask.
Her fingers curled into her palms, nails digging into her skin. She bit her lower lip, wanting to say sothing, anything but the words refused to co.
The silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating. Then, the man finally spoke. "Are you afraid of ?" His voice was deep, and authoritative.
Astrid’s body stiffened. Was she afraid? Yes. Very terrified. Not because he might hurt her, but because she didn’t know why he had been following her around. She was nothing and he could not have taken interest on her, right? Why would soone like him want a mate like her?
Astrid lowered her gaze. She didn’t answer. Instead, she turned, intending to walk past him, to escape before this mont shattered her further.
But the mont she moved, he grabbed her wrist.
In one swift motion, he pulled her against him, trapping her within his arms.
Astrid gasped, her body tensing as her face pressed against his firm chest. His scent filled her lungs. It was dangerously alluring, tempting her into wanting more of it. She instinctively shut her eyes, every part of her aware of how close he was. His touch was firm, yet gentle. His fingers tilted her chin upward.
"Look at ." His voice was softer now, almost coaxing.
Astrid hesitated before finally opening her eyes. The mont their gazes t, everything else faded away. Gone was the fear and the uncertainty.
All that remained was warmth. His eyes, dark as the night, bore into hers, searching. Then, he asked again. "Are you afraid of ?"
Astrid’s lips parted, but no words ca. She should say yes. She should tell him she feared him, that she wanted nothing to do with this. But she couldn’t lie.
Slowly, she shook her head.
"But... your heartbeat says otherwise," the man whispered to her face, his hot breath hitting her like a furnace.
How could she explain? That her heart was not racing rapidly due to fear but sothing else. Her face flushed under the starry dark night, hoping he wouldn’t see the change on her.
"Speak to . I want to hear your sweet voice," he added, tracing his thumb on her chin softly.
Astrid gazed at him deeply before replying, "I’m not scared."
She could see the man’s lips rise a little. The strange feeling rose up further, and she almost touched his face.
"What’s... your na?" He asked.
Astrid blinked but still replied. "Astrid." And yours? She wanted to add but couldn’t.
"Astrid," he whispered, smiling. "Astrid, don’t you want to know my na?"
Astrid nodded imdiately then felt embarrassed about it. She wanted to face down but his hand under her chin would not let her.
"Don’t look down. I’m delighted you’re also curious about ." He chuckled, his hand on her waist tightening. "It’s... Alaric."
Astrid pronounced the na inwardly and it felt smooth and... amazing. Good thing he could not read her thoughts or she would never be able to face him.
"I understand."
Alaric’s eyes flickered golden, knowing she was probably thinking about him. "You know what we are to each other, right?"
Astrid froze, unable to think of what to answer. "We are... mates." She whispered, blushing furiously.
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