**Sam's Shock and the Search for Julie**
Sam's heart raced as he stared down at his empty hand, his grip now painfully empty. Just moments ago, he had been holding Julie's arm, desperately trying to keep her from falling. Now, she was gone. His breath caught in his throat as his mind struggled to comprehend what had just happened. One second, she had been in his grasp, and the next, she had vanished over the edge of the cliff, lost in the dense trees below.
Panic gripped him. His body went numb as he realized the full extent of the situation—Julie was falling, and no one knew where she had landed. He had no idea if she was alive or dead.
He shook himself out of his stupor, his body acting on instinct. He screamed for the guards to free him so he could search for Julie. His voice was hoarse, desperate. "Help me! Let me go, I need to find her!"
Rebecca was already crying uncontrollably, her face twisted in horror as she fell to her knees, unable to process the nightmare unfolding before her. Nathan, meanwhile, was frozen, trying to make sense of what had just transpired. His mind raced as he tried to figure out how this could have happened, why the rope snapped, why Julie was now somewhere, alone, in the forest.
The guards finally succeeded in lowering them from the cliff. As soon as Sam was on the ground, he dashed toward the cliff's base, eyes wild with fear. Misha quickly followed, intent on helping with the search, her thoughts only on Julie's safety.
She turned to the instructor, her eyes fierce. "How do we get to her? How can we search for her?"
But Sam was already pulling Misha away, his tone impatient and urgent. "No. Misha, let's go. I know the way. We need to find Julie. Now."
He barely waited for a response before he took off, leading the way down the narrow path toward the bottom of the cliff. Misha followed, her expression hard with determination. "We'll find her," she muttered under her breath, her voice laced with fear. "We have to."
"Please be safe, Julie," Sam whispered to himself, his eyes scanning the woods as they hurried along.
---
**Lucas's Unseen Connection**
Somewhere deep in the woods, Lucas was running, his feet pounding against the earth, trying to outrun the turmoil in his chest. The unsettling feeling had been growing ever since they had arrived at the mansion, but now it was stronger than ever. His heart was beating erratically, and every instinct screamed that something was wrong.
Suddenly, a scream tore through the air. It was raw, filled with terror and pain. Lucas's heart lurched. It wasn't the first time he had heard a scream, but this one felt different—personal, as if something deep within him had recognized the call. The pull was undeniable.
His chest tightened as his feet began to move faster, carrying him toward the source of the cry. He didn't understand why, but he felt like he needed to reach that place before something worse happened. Every part of him, every fiber of his being, screamed that he was needed there.
His heart was already racing, but now it beat faster, a pulse of urgency. He could feel it.
Without thinking, Lucas veered sharply to his left and sprinted with renewed determination, his instincts taking over. As he neared the cliff, the sound of frantic voices grew louder. And then, his eyes locked on a scene he hadn't been prepared for.
A girl, a stranger to him, was hanging in mid-air, her hand clutched by another man. But the man's grip was faltering. Lucas could hear their hearts beating in frantic rhythm, but the one that caught his attention the most was hers. Her heartbeat. It was wild with fear.
His breath caught in his throat as the man's hand slipped, and the girl began to fall.
"No!" Lucas's mind screamed. He couldn't—he wouldn't—let her fall.
With supernatural speed, Lucas ran toward the cliff's edge, his body moving almost faster than the eye could follow. He arrived just in time to catch her, his arms wrapping around her waist as she plummeted.
The moment she was in his arms, everything froze.
---
**Julie's Fall and Lucas's Realization**
Julie's world spun as she fell through the air. Her body felt weightless, but the sharp sting of branches raking across her skin brought her back to the brutal reality of what was happening.
She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for impact, but it never came.
Instead, she felt something—someone—catch her. The force of the fall was absorbed in an instant, as though her body had been cradled by something strong and steady. Her heart skipped, and she opened her eyes in confusion.
There, holding her effortlessly, was a man—dark, intense eyes meeting hers with a mixture of awe and possessiveness.
His words were soft, almost to himself, but Julie heard them clearly: "Mate."
Her heart skipped a beat at the word. Before she could process the enormity of it, her mind was clouded with dizziness. The shock of falling, the rush of adrenaline, and now the presence of this stranger—this... man who seemed to know something she didn't—was too much for her to handle.
Her eyelids fluttered as the exhaustion overtook her. His grip tightened on her, as though he feared she might slip from his arms.
"I've got you, princess," he whispered, his voice low and reassuring.
Julie couldn't respond. Her eyelids fluttered one last time before her world went black.
---
**Lucas's Decision and the Aftermath**
Lucas's chest heaved as he stared down at the woman in his arms. Her two long braids, the soft curve of her lips, the vulnerability in her closed eyes—everything about her was pulling him in. He could feel the bond between them, the undeniable force that made his heart race faster.
Her heartbeat was erratic, but it was steadying. She was alive. That was all that mattered right now.
His hand softly wiped the tear from her cheek as he gazed down at her in awe. "You are mine, princess," he muttered, his voice thick with emotion. He hadn't expected to meet his mate like this, certainly not in such a dramatic, life-threatening way, but now that she was here, he wasn't going to let her go. Not now. Not ever.
But the sound of approaching footsteps and the frantic voices of her friends reminded him of the urgency of the situation. They would be here soon. He couldn't let them see her like this—not yet.
"I will see you again soon," Lucas promised, his voice soft but determined. With a final glance, he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, his lips lingering just for a moment. He then carefully laid her down on the forest floor and stepped back into the shadows, his gaze never leaving her.
He watched as a man—likely one of her friends—rushed to her side, scooping her up into his arms. Julie remained unconscious, but he could hear the concern in their voices as they checked her for injuries.
"She's alive," the man said, voice shaky. "Julie, please wake up."
Lucas's eyes narrowed. He could see the man holding her too tightly. The possessiveness flared in his chest, but he tamped it down. For now, he had to be patient. He couldn't reveal himself.
---
**The Arrival of Help**
Moments later, the paramedics arrived. They moved swiftly, assessing Julie's condition and administering first aid. Sam, the man who had caught her, lifted her carefully into his arms once more.
Lucas felt a pang of jealousy surge through him at the sight, but he couldn't act. Not yet.
Sam and Misha rushed with Julie to the nearest ambulance, while Rebecca and Nathan stayed behind to speak with the police.
Lucas, from his hidden vantage point in the trees, watched the ambulance pull away. His eyes glowed red with barely contained fury. He had learned everything he needed to know—Julie's name was Julianne. She was the woman he had dreamed of, the woman he was destined to be with.
The name rolled off his tongue, and for the first time, it sounded right.
"Julianne…" he whispered to the wind, his heart thumping in his chest. He knew he would not rest until she was safely by his side.
---
**A Quiet Promise**
Back at the mansion, Lucas found one of his trusted guards waiting. His name was Marshall, and Lucas trusted him with his life.
"Follow her," Lucas instructed, his voice cold with determination. "Make sure no one knows about this—no one. Not even the King or Queen."
He showed Marshall a mental image of Julianne, the woman he had caught, and the guard nodded before disappearing into the trees.
---
**In the Hospital**
Rebecca and Nathan arrived at the hospital after giving their statements to the police. Misha was sitting in the waiting room, her eyes swollen from crying.
"How is she?" Rebecca asked, her voice thick with concern.
Misha sighed and looked up, her face pale. "She's stable. No fractures or major injuries. But... she's still unconscious. The doctors think it's shock, but I'm hoping she wakes up soon."
Rebecca nodded, her heart heavy with worry. She embraced
Misha tightly, understanding how close they had all become to Julie. The thought of losing her, of what could have happened if she had not servived was too much to bear.
---
**Author's Note**
Hello, dear readers! I hope you're enjoying the story so far. Let me know your thoughts and theories in the comments. As always, thank you for your support!
- Kiseki_1