Chapter 2

The next morning, Evelyn woke to the sound of chirping birds and sunlight streaming through her window. She stretched, trying to shake off the remnants of a restless sleep. The encounter with the wolf replayed in her mind. It felt surreal, like a dream she couldn’t quite forget.

Shaking her head, she muttered, “Get a grip, Evelyn. It was just an animal.”

But deep down, she couldn’t ignore how peculiar the whole thing had been. The wolf hadn’t acted like a wild beast. It had felt… intelligent.

After breakfast, Evelyn decided a walk in the woods would clear her head. The forest near her cottage was her sanctuary, a place where she could escape the world and let her thoughts wander freely. With a thick coat and a scarf wrapped snugly around her neck, she set off down the familiar path.

Meanwhile, Damien stood at the edge of the forest, his human form clad in dark jeans and a leather jacket. His mind was clouded with thoughts of the girl from the night before. He hadn’t been able to shake the feeling of her presence, her voice, or the way she’d looked at him without fear.

“Damien,” came a voice from behind.

He turned to see Logan, his beta and closest friend, striding toward him.

“You’ve been distracted since last night. What’s going on?” Logan asked, his tone laced with concern.

Damien ran a hand through his thick black hair. “I saw… someone.”

Logan raised an eyebrow. “Someone?”

“A human,” Damien admitted, his voice low.

Logan’s expression hardened. “Damien, you know the rules. Humans and wolves don’t mix. What if she saw you?”

“She did,” Damien said, meeting Logan’s gaze. “But she wasn’t afraid. She’s… different.”

Logan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Whatever this is, you need to be careful. The council won’t tolerate any slip-ups.”

“I know,” Damien said, his tone firm. “But I can’t ignore this.”

Before Logan could respond, Damien’s sharp senses picked up a familiar scent. It was her. Evelyn was nearby.

Ignoring Logan’s protests, Damien followed the trail, weaving through the trees until he spotted her. She was walking along the path, her hands tucked Into her coat pockets, her eyes scanning the forest with a mixture of curiosity and awe.

For a moment, he just watched her, captivated by the way she moved so effortlessly, as if she belonged here.

Evelyn, feeling the weight of someone’s gaze, stopped abruptly. She turned, her eyes landing on a tall figure standing a few feet away.

“Hello?” she called, her voice cautious but steady.

Damien stepped forward, his heart pounding in a way he wasn’t used to. “I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said, his deep voice smooth and calm.

Evelyn blinked, taking in the man before her. He was strikingly handsome, with dark hair and eyes that seemed to glow amber in the sunlight. His presence was commanding, yet there was something oddly familiar about him.

“It’s… fine,” she said, her cheeks warming under his intense gaze. “Do you usually wander around the woods like this?”

Damien’s lips twitched into a small smile. “You could say the woods are like home to me. What about you?”

“I live nearby,” Evelyn replied. “The forest helps me think.”

Damien nodded, as if he understood exactly what she meant. “I’m Damien,” he said, extending a hand.

“Evelyn,” she said, shaking it. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver up her spine.

There was a brief silence as they studied each other. Evelyn couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d seen him before, though she couldn’t place where.

“Well, I should get going,” she said, feeling suddenly self-conscious under his intense gaze.

“Be careful out here,” Damien said, his voice carrying a hint of something she couldn’t quite name.

Evelyn gave him a small nod before walking away, her mind racing with questions.

Damien watched her until she disappeared down the path. His wolf stirred within him, restless and eager. There was something about Evelyn that drew him in, something he couldn’t ignore.

As Evelyn returned to her cottage, she found herself glancing back toward the forest, wondering about the mysterious stranger. Little did she know, Damien was already planning how to see her again.

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