Chapter 4

Evelyn sat by her window that evening, her fingers wrapped around a steaming mug of tea. The events of the past two days swirled in her mind—first the wolf, then Damien. Something about them felt connected, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.

“It’s just your imagination,” she muttered, trying to convince herself. But deep down, the question lingered: What if it wasn’t?

She stared out at the forest, the silver moonlight casting eerie shadows on the trees. For the first time in years, the woods she loved so much felt mysterious, almost alive.

Meanwhile, Damien paced back and forth in his cabin at the heart of the Blackridge pack’s territory. The cabin, rustic but spacious, was perched on a hill surrounded by dense forest, far from prying human eyes.

Logan leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching his alpha with concern.

“You’re still thinking about her, aren’t you?” Logan asked.

Damien stopped, his amber eyes flickering with frustration. “She saw me, Logan. She knows there’s something different. I can feel it.”

“So, what’s the plan? Are you going to tell her?” Logan’s voice carried a note of disbelief.

“No,” Damien said firmly. “Not yet. I can’t risk it. But…” He paused, running a hand through his hair. “I can’t stay away either.”

Logan sighed. “This is dangerous, Damien. If she gets too close, the council won’t hesitate to intervene. You know how they are about humans.”

“I know,” Damien growled, his voice low and guttural. “But she’s not just some human. There’s something about her—something I can’t ignore.”

Logan hesitated, then gave a resigned nod. “Fine. But you need to be careful. If you’re not, it won’t just be your life on the line—it’ll be hers too.”

The next day, Evelyn decided to visit the library in town. If her mind wouldn’t stop fixating on wolves and the supernatural, she figured she might as well indulge her curiosity. She spent hours flipping through old books about wolves, folklore, and legends, searching for anything that might explain the strange encounter.

“Werewolves,” she mumbled, reading a passage about shapeshifters who lived among humans. The idea was ridiculous, yet something about it made her pulse quicken.

She shook her head, closing the book with a thud. “This is absurd. Wolves don’t turn into people.”

Still, the thought refused to leave her.

As she walked home that evening, the wind whipped through the trees, carrying with it a faint, familiar scent. She paused, glancing around, her senses on edge.

“Damien?” she called out hesitantly.

From behind a tree, Damien stepped into view, his tall frame illuminated by the fading sunlight.

“Evelyn,” he said, his voice warm. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“You keep showing up,” she said, her tone a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

Damien smiled faintly. “The forest has a way of bringing people together.”

Evelyn raised an eyebrow. “That’s vague.”

“I’m a vague kind of guy,” Damien said, a glint of humor in his eyes.

Despite herself, Evelyn chuckled. “You’re impossible.”

They began walking side by side, the path bathed in golden light. Evelyn found herself relaxing in his presence, though her mind was still full of questions.

“You seem to know a lot about the woods,” she said, testing the waters. “Do you spend all your time out here?”

Damien glanced at her, his expression unreadable. “You could say it’s my second home.”

“Were you out here the night I saw the wolf?” she asked, her voice casual but her gaze sharp.

Damien’s jaw tightened, but he kept his tone even. “I was. Wolves are common in this area.”

“That wolf didn’t seem common,” Evelyn said. “It was… different.”

Damien stopped, turning to face her. “What are you trying to say, Evelyn?”

She hesitated, unsure how to voice her suspicions without sounding ridiculous. “I don’t know. It’s just… odd. First the wolf, then you. And you both have the same eyes.”

Damien’s breath hitched, but he quickly masked it with a chuckle. “Are you saying I’m a wolf in disguise?”

Evelyn flushed, realizing how absurd it sounded. “No. Of course not. That’s crazy.”

“Crazy is an understatement,” Damien said, his tone light. “Wolves and humans don’t mix, remember?”

Evelyn frowned, unsure if he was mocking her or hiding something. “I guess so.”

They walked in silence for a while, the air between them heavy with unspoken thoughts.

As they reached the edge of the forest, Damien stopped. “Be careful, Evelyn. The woods aren’t always as peaceful as they seem.”

Evelyn studied him, her instincts telling her there was more to his warning than met the eye. “I’ll keep that in mind,” she said softly.

Damien watched her until she disappeared into her cottage, his heart heavy. He knew it was only a matter of time before the truth came out, and when it did, everything would change.

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