PULLED INTO THE DARK

Chapter Three – Pulled into the Dark

The city blurred past in streaks of wet neon, her pulse louder than the rain. Elena stumbled as he pulled her into the shadows of an alley, his grip unyielding, his stride unhurried—like a predator that knew she wouldn’t escape.

She twisted. “Let me go!”

Her voice cracked between fury and fear, but he didn’t release her. Instead, he stopped, turning slowly until they were face-to-face beneath the broken glow of a flickering streetlamp.

His hand loosened on her wrist, but he didn’t let her go entirely. His thumb brushed once—slow, deliberate—across her skin. That one touch was enough to send fire darting up her arm.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he said softly, though the way he looked at her promised something far more complicated. “But they will.”

Elena tried to steady her breathing. “They? Who the hell are you talking about?”

For a moment, his expression softened, as though he were searching for the right words. His other hand lifted, hovering just near her cheek, so close she could feel the heat of it. But he stopped before touching, like he knew if he did, she might break—or burn.

“Shadows move differently around you,” he murmured. “You’ve noticed it. The nightmares. The feeling of being watched. They’ve already marked you.”

Her heart skipped. How could he possibly know?

She hated that she couldn’t pull her gaze away from him. The storm caught in his silver eyes—unnatural, consuming, beautiful. Everything about him screamed danger, and yet, her body leaned in, traitorous, aching.

“You’re insane,” she whispered, though the words lacked conviction.

A faint smirk tugged at his lips. “Perhaps. But you still haven’t walked away.”

She should have. God, she should have.

Instead, she remained there, caged by his presence, by the soft graze of his thumb still tracing her pulse.

Her voice broke when she asked, “What do you want from me?”

His eyes darkened, and for a heartbeat, she saw something raw flicker there—possession, hunger, something that wasn’t human at all.

“What I want,” he said, leaning closer until his breath warmed her rain-damp skin, “is dangerous. For both of us.”

The alley seemed to shrink around them, shadows curling tighter, pressing her against him without ever quite touching.

“Then maybe,” she whispered, unable to stop herself, “you should stay away.”

His mouth curved into something wicked. “Maybe I can’t.”

And before she could ask what that meant, the sound of footsteps echoed down the alley—too many, too close.

He shifted instantly, stepping in front of her, shielding her with his body. For the first time, Elena saw the shadows themselves stir, bending toward him like loyal hounds waiting to be unleashed.

“Stay behind me,” he said, voice low and lethal. “Whatever happens—you don’t run.”

And when the figures emerged from the darkness, Elena finally understood what he meant when he said they’d found her.

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