Lucas' heart pounded in his chest as his eyes locked with Julie's. The world around him seemed to freeze, the rush of blood in his ears louder than anything else. Her green eyes—wide with confusion and still clouded by the fog of her recovery—stared back at him, like they were calling out to him in a way no words ever could. The moment their gazes met, the world shifted. He felt it—an electric pull, a magnetic force drawing him toward her. The bond between them, once a distant whisper, was now screaming inside him, undeniable, overwhelming.
He *knew*. She was his mate.
His instincts roared. Every fiber of his being urged him to step out of the shadows, to walk to her, to hold her in his arms and make sure she was okay. To feel the warmth of her skin beneath his touch. The need to protect her surged through him, a primal, uncontrollable hunger to be near her.
But his rational mind was still trying to gain control. Julie was human. She had no idea who or what he was. Revealing himself to her now, in this moment of vulnerability, would not only put her in danger—it would terrify her. She would never understand the significance of the bond, the magnitude of what being a mate meant for a creature like him.
*She will freak out,* he thought, his mind screaming in warning.
Lucas' breath hitched as he stood rooted in the shadows, barely breathing, waiting. He could feel his hands twitching at his sides, the longing to touch her gnawing at him, but he couldn't give in. Not yet.
The sound of a click echoed in the hallway, the door to her room creaking open. A momentary distraction. Julie's eyes flickered toward the noise, her focus momentarily breaking from their intense connection.
Seizing the opportunity, Lucas turned swiftly, slipping out of the room before anyone could notice. His footsteps were quiet as he moved toward the window. He didn't want to be seen—couldn't afford to be seen. Not when he was still struggling to process everything inside him.
He jumped out of the window effortlessly, landing on the ground with the grace of someone who had lived for centuries. He took a moment to steady himself, the weight of his emotions pressing down on him, but he had to focus. He couldn't lose himself in this. Not now.
Quickly, he made his way to his car, the engine purring to life as he drove out of the hospital parking lot. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, most of them centered around Julie. His mate. The very word felt like a curse.
*I never wanted this,* he thought bitterly, his fingers gripping the steering wheel with such force his knuckles turned white. *But now... now I can't stop thinking about her. She's all I can think about.*
Lucas closed his eyes for a moment, trying to center himself. His heart clenched as he realized that he didn't want to be away from her. Not for a second. Yet, part of him resisted—he needed time. He needed to understand what this bond truly meant.
In the meantime, he opened a mental link with his trusted aide, a loyal man who had been working on gathering information about Julie. The very same man Lucas had sent out on a mission to uncover everything about her—the woman who had no idea she was his mate. His feelings were still so tangled, and the last thing he wanted was to involve anyone else in this.
"Have you learned everything?" Lucas asked through the mind link, his voice terse.
"Yes, Your Highness," came the reply. "We've learned she's from a small town, a regular human life. No prior connections to any... supernatural entities. She's lived in an orphanage for he whole life.." The pause was enough to make Lucas' mind race. "There's something odd about her recovery. Her body seems... resistant. There were reports that her injuries were not as severe as they should have been, considering the fall."
Lucas' stomach clenched. He didn't need to be told twice. His mate, Julie, had somehow survived what should have been a fatal accident. *How had she survived?* He knows the answer better than anyone because he was the one who saved her. His heart still thumped in his chest at the memory. The thought scared him if he has been a second late he would have lost her even before meeting her. The gravity of the situation fall on him. He is sure that the accident was not mare accident but a pland murder.
As his car sped through the night, Lucas felt an odd mix of dread and hope. He had to figure this out. He had to understand it all before he could let Julie into his world—before he could let her see him. Let alone love him.
But he was already in too deep.
---
Meanwhile, inside the hospital, Julie's world was slowly coming back into focus. The sound of footsteps approaching her room pulled her from the fog of her thoughts, and she quickly turned her attention to the door. The doctor entered, her face calm and professional.
"Ah, Miss. Julie, I see you're awake," the doctor said, smiling warmly. "Everything seems to be in order. Your injuries aren't severe. Some scratches from the fall, a few bruises, but nothing to worry about. You'll be discharged in the morning. We just need to monitor you overnight to be sure."
Julie blinked, trying to process the news. "I—I'm going home tomorrow?" She whispered, trying to grasp what was happening. She remembered the fall, the pain, the terrifying feeling of losing control. But here she was—alive.
"You're very lucky," the doctor continued, flipping through her notes. "Your body's healing faster than expected. I'm sure you'll be fine in no time. Just take it easy for the next few days."
Julie couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. Her mind began to clear, and for the first time in what felt like ages, she could breathe. She wasn't in immediate danger.
Just then, Misha and Sam entered the room, both looking more relieved than Julie had ever seen them. Their faces softened when they saw she was awake.
"Hey," Sam said softly, walking over to her bedside. "How are you feeling?"
"Much better, I think," Julie replied with a weak smile, still feeling a bit dizzy but grateful to be alive.
"You scared the hell out of us," Misha said, sitting on the edge of the bed. Her voice was tight, betraying her worry, but there was a warmth in her eyes too. "I'm just glad you're okay."
Julie felt a pang of guilt at seeing the concern on their faces. "I'm sorry I made you both worry," she murmured. "But... how did I end up here? I don't even remember how I was found after I fell."
Sam and Misha exchanged a glance, their eyes full of uncertainty. "We don't know," Sam admitted. "We didn't see anyone when we found you, just... you. But you were unconscious, and... well, we rushed you here. We weren't sure what happened, but you're here now, and that's all that matters."
Julie nodded, trying to push away the questions she knew she shouldn't ask. There was still something off about the whole situation, but right now, it didn't seem important. She just wanted to feel normal again.
As the conversation shifted, Julie couldn't help but notice the luxurious surroundings of her room. The private VIP suite, the soft, fresh linens, the plush furniture—it was more than she had ever expected from a hospital room.
Her eyes widened. "Wait, what... what is this? Why am I in a VIP room?"
Misha smiled sheepishly. "It's... kind of a long story."
"Don't worry about it," Sam chimed in, his tone unusually serious. "We'll take care of it. It's not a problem."
Julie hesitated, her heart sinking a little. "But... the bills, Sam... I can't afford this."
Sam looked at her, his expression firm. "Consider it my way of making up for not being able to save you in time." His voice softened. "It's the least I can do."
Julie swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his generosity. She knew he wouldn't accept anything in return, but she couldn't help but feel indebted to him. She resolved, however, to pay him back in some way—no matter how long it took.
"You really don't have to do this," she murmured, though she knew he'd never let her pay for it.
Sam just smiled faintly. "I know."
But even as she tried to focus on the present, the lingering questions about her fall and the strange dreams she'd had plagued her thoughts. She had no answers, only more questions—and the nagging feeling that she was being pulled into something much bigger than she understood.
As Lucas' car sped away from the hospital, he couldn't shake the image of Julie's face, still so innocent and unaware of the dangerous world that now surrounded her. She had no idea that her life was about to change forever.
And neither did she know how much she meant to him.