Episode 9

Siena

Night has fallen, and after putting Jasmine to sleep, I sit on the cabin steps, wrapped in a cloak against the cool breeze. My mind drifts back to Derek, remembering the abrupt way he left and that agonized howl that echoed through the forest. Could it have been him?

"Derek..." I whisper, looking into the darkness of the forest.

Why am I feeling these strange things? It's like I yearn for him, need him by my side. I feel a heat radiating through my body, a new and intense sensation that I can't fully comprehend. My thoughts are jumbled, and my heart races, almost as if it's trying to tell me something my mind hasn't grasped yet.

The darkness of the forest seems more alive than ever, every shadow and every sound standing out in an almost hypnotic way. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my restless heart. Perhaps it's the adrenaline from what we went through, or maybe it's something deeper, something I can't avoid.

Lost in these thoughts, I hear a slight rustle in the nearby trees. My breath catches in my throat, and my body tenses, but it soon relaxes when I see a familiar figure emerging from the shadows.

"Derek?" I call out, my voice barely a whisper but full of joy at seeing him again.

He approaches, his eyes shining intensely in the dim light. His steps are silent but determined, and when he's finally close, I see the worry etched on his face.

"Are you alright?" he asks, his voice deep but soft, laced with genuine concern.

"Yes, I am," I reply, trying to hide the confusion in my heart. "And you? I heard a howl earlier as soon as you left in such a hurry... was that you?"

He hesitates for a moment, his eyes searching mine before he answers.

"Yes, it was me. I was... releasing some tension."

I feel a surge of relief and at the same time a wave of worry for him.

"Is that why you left so abruptly?" I say, standing up and approaching him.

I then observe the exact moment when he covers his nose with a panicked look and says, "Stay where you are! Don't come any closer."

My heart pounds, my chest rising and falling rapidly. Unable to stop myself, I ignore his request and, stepping closer, I say, "What's going on, Derek? Why am I feeling these strange things around you? I feel this strange heat radiating from you."

His eyes widen, and with his nose still covered, his voice comes out muffled, "And you're telling me this... don't make things more difficult, Siena. You have no idea how hard I'm holding on."

I stop a few steps away from him, my confusion and curiosity mingling with a growing concern. His gaze is intense, full of a conflict that seems to be on the verge of exploding.

"Holding on to what, Derek?" I ask softly, trying to understand the intensity of the moment.

He closes his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath before speaking, "Holding on to my instinct, Siena. The instinct of a wolf who has found his mate. You don't understand what this means to me. How hard it is to control this, especially when you're so close."

My mind goes blank for an instant, processing his words. The heat I feel, the inexplicable connection between us... it all starts to make sense. But the intensity of the revelation is overwhelming.

"Mate?" I repeat, almost voiceless.

He just nods, his eyes shining with a mixture of longing and pain. I feel my heart beat even faster, a mix of fear and curiosity taking root within me.

"Derek... I don't know what to say."

He takes a step back, trying to create a safe distance between us.

"You don't have to say anything, Siena. I'll find a way to deal with this."

I nod, understanding the seriousness of his words, but still feeling the strength of the connection between us. As he walks away, the night seems even quieter, bearing the weight of unspoken emotions and unexpected revelations.

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