Chapter 1:The New Beginning

The night air was heavy with the scent of pine and earth as you stepped out of the car, the gravel crunching beneath your shoes. Ahead of you, a mansion stood bathed in the soft glow of moonlight, the sprawling structure partially concealed by tall, brooding trees. Shadows lingered around the edges of the house, making it seem like it held secrets—secrets that whispered in the darkness, waiting for someone brave enough to uncover them.

You adjusted the strap of your bag on your shoulder, feeling the weight of this new chapter settle over you. A part of you wanted to turn around and leave, to go back to the life you knew, but that wasn’t an option anymore. Your mother had remarried, and with that came new beginnings, a new family. You forced yourself to take a deep breath, filling your lungs with the crisp air that seemed to carry an unexplainable chill.

“Ready, Y/N?” your mother asked gently, her voice pulling you back to the present. She placed a comforting hand on your shoulder, offering you a warm smile that tried to mask her own nervousness.

You nodded, mustering a small smile in return. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

Together, you made your way up the grand steps leading to the mansion’s entrance. The heavy wooden door loomed above you, intricately carved with designs that looked almost… ancient. It was as if the house itself had a history—a story woven into the wood and stone that would take years to uncover.

The door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit foyer. Inside, the atmosphere was different from anything you’d known. A faint scent lingered in the air, a mixture of aged wood and something else, something musky and earthy that made your senses tingle. There was a strange familiarity to it, yet you couldn’t quite place where you’d smelled it before.

Before you could process the new surroundings, a figure appeared at the top of the grand staircase, watching you with a gaze so intense it sent a shiver down your spine. You recognized him immediately—Min Yoongi, your new stepbrother. He was a few years older than you, though you’d only ever seen him in photos. In person, he was… different. Taller than you expected, with sharp, defined features and eyes that seemed to hold a world of secrets behind them. His hair fell messily over his forehead, dark strands framing his face in a way that added to his mysterious aura.

Yoongi’s gaze met yours, and for a moment, you felt as if he could see right through you, as if he could read every thought, every fear, every doubt swirling in your mind. He didn’t smile or even acknowledge you beyond that intense stare. He simply observed, his expression unreadable.

“Y/N, this is Yoongi,” your mother said, her voice soft as she followed your gaze. She smiled at him, but he didn’t return it, only nodding slightly before looking away. Without a word, he turned and disappeared down the hall, his footsteps echoing through the silence of the mansion.

“He’s… well, he’s a bit reserved,” your mother said apologetically, her hand resting on your shoulder. “But I’m sure he’ll warm up to you in time.”

You forced a small smile, but you couldn’t shake the strange feeling Yoongi had left you with. Reserved? That didn’t seem to fully describe him. There was something more, something darker lingering beneath the surface, like he was hiding a side of himself that he didn’t want anyone to see.

As your mother led you through the mansion, you tried to focus on the details—the polished wood floors, the grand paintings on the walls, the faint glow of antique lamps casting shadows that danced in the corners. Yet, your mind kept drifting back to Yoongi. His eyes, the way he seemed to assess you in that one brief moment, left a mark on you that was hard to ignore.

You followed your mother upstairs, where she showed you to your room. The space was elegant and comfortable, but it felt strange, too perfect, like a room in a museum rather than a place you were meant to live in. You set your bag down by the bed, taking a moment to absorb everything.

“I know this is a lot to take in, Y/N,” your mother said gently, standing in the doorway. “But just give it time. It’s a fresh start, and I think… I think you might find something here that’s been missing in your life.”

You wanted to ask her what she meant, but before you could, she gave you a soft smile and left, closing the door quietly behind her. Silence settled over the room, a thick, almost suffocating quiet that made the shadows in the corners seem darker, heavier.

You wandered over to the window, drawing back the heavy curtains to reveal a breathtaking view of the surrounding forest. The trees stretched as far as you could see, their dark silhouettes against the night sky creating a hauntingly beautiful scene. In the distance, you thought you saw something move—a flash of silver fur, a figure darting between the trees—but when you blinked, it was gone.

A soft knock on your door startled you, and you turned to find Yoongi standing there, leaning casually against the doorframe. His presence filled the room, his dark gaze pinning you in place as he studied you silently.

“Hey,” you managed to say, your voice barely above a whisper.

He didn’t respond at first, only tilting his head slightly as if weighing his words carefully. “Just wanted to say… welcome,” he said, his voice low, almost a rumble that seemed to reverberate through you.

“Thanks,” you replied, feeling a strange heat rise to your cheeks under his intense stare. “It’s… a beautiful place.”

Yoongi’s lips quirked in a small, almost bitter smile. “Looks can be deceiving,” he murmured, his gaze drifting out the window. “The forest… it’s not as peaceful as it seems. Be careful if you ever wander out there.”

There was something unsettling in his words, a warning that seemed to go beyond mere caution. He looked at you again, his eyes flashing with an emotion you couldn’t quite identify.

Before you could ask him what he meant, he turned and left, disappearing down the hall without another word. You stood there, staring after him, your heart pounding in your chest as you tried to make sense of the strange interaction.

That night, as you lay in bed, you found sleep elusive. Every time you closed your eyes, you saw Yoongi’s face, heard the low timbre of his voice warning you about the forest. You couldn’t shake the feeling that he knew something—something he wasn’t telling you.

And as the hours passed, you thought you heard something outside—a faint, distant howl that sent a chill down your spine.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***