I took a deep breath, trying to find the courage to speak the words, to bare my soul.
"From me," I replied, the words leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. The truth was staring her in the face, yet she seemed oblivious.
Was I relieved? Or disappointed? I wasn't sure.
She must have thought I was talking about relationships, about emotional hurt. If only she knew, if only she understood the depth of my words, the darkness that lurked within me.
I saw her shoulders slump slightly, a soft sigh escaping her lips. It was as if she had hoped for a different answer, as if she had hoped to see a different side of me.
"I see," she said, her voice a mere whisper. It was as if she was afraid to break the silence that had enveloped us, to disturb the delicate balance we had managed to achieve.
There was a silence, one that felt like an eternity. Her eyes held mine, searching for truth, a glimpse into my past. I had given her nothing but vague hints, a jigsaw puzzle with too many missing pieces. Yet, there was a spark of understanding, a sign that she was beginning to unravel the mystery that was me.
"Tristan," she began, her voice steady, the earlier hesitation gone. "You know, I graduated from the Listening Club, right? I may not be a professional, but I'm a damn good listener."
Listening Club? Really?
A weak chuckle slipped past my lips. "Yes, I remember, you were one of the best in class."
It was a fleeting moment, an unexpected source of levity, but it was quickly replaced by a hard swallow. Her words had given my troubled thoughts a brief respite, yet my problems loomed ominously in the back of my mind.
Her hands, which had still been in contact with mine, squeezed reassuringly, a silent message that she was there for me. It was a small gesture, one that normally wouldn't have fazed me, but today, it brought me solace. A warmth spread through me, a warmth I hadn't felt in a long time.
"Cecile..." I murmured, her name feeling unfamiliar on my tongue, yet perfectly right. "I appreciate the offer, really. But, I'm afraid this is something that I can't share, not yet."
Her expression didn't change, but I saw a flicker of disappointment in her eyes. I had pulled away, once again erecting the walls that kept me isolated from the world.
"Cecile, I apologize for bringing you here without your consent. If you wish to leave, I won't stop you," I said, breaking our contact. I pushed my chair back, standing up abruptly. My legs felt wobbly, my head was a whirl of emotions.
There was silence, the tension in the air palpable. I felt her gaze on me, felt her hesitancy. She was at a crossroads, unsure of what to do. It was her choice now, to stay or to leave.
I rose from my chair, feeling the weight of our conversation. I glanced at Cecile and saw the mixture of emotions swirling in her eyes. As I turned to walk away, I felt her hand grab mine. I turned back in surprise.
"You say you're trying to protect them... what about me? Don't I need protection anymore, Tristan? Minutes ago you said something different. Why am I an exception?" she said finally, her tone steady. Her words were an echo of our earlier conversation, a declaration of her defiance. A plea for me to see the flaw in my half-baked words. But she didn't know the whole story. She didn't know what I truly was.
I looked away, my gaze falling on the cold marble floor. Her words hit harder than she intended. I wanted to believe her, to let her in, to let her see the beast that I was, and yet... I couldn't. Not yet. She deserved to know, deserved better than the lies I was weaving. But I wasn't ready. Not yet.
She stepped closer to me, the world around us seemed to slow down as her fingers gently cradled my chin. She pulled my face towards hers, standing on her tiptoes, her eyes never leaving mine. My heart pounded in my chest, the loud thumps echoing in the silence of the room.
Before I could comprehend what was happening, she pressed her lips against mine, her kiss filled with warmth and longing. It was unexpected, shocking, leaving me momentarily frozen.
It was a gentle kiss, hesitant yet demanding. It sent shockwaves through me, leaving me breathless. She tasted sweet, intoxicating, and for a moment, I allowed myself to get lost in the sensation.
As quickly as it happened, she pulled away, a flush creeping up her cheeks. "I...I'm sorry," she stammered, her eyes wide with a mix of confusion and embarrassment. "I shouldn't have... I don't know why I..."
She turned to leave, but my hand shot out, grabbing her arm. I pulled her back into my arms, leaning in and capturing her lips with mine, pouring all my pent-up emotions, and my hidden desires into the kiss.
It was a desperate kiss, one that spoke of need, of longing. It was a kiss that stopped time, a kiss that stirred emotions long buried.
I felt her stiffen in surprise before she melted into me. Her arms wound around my neck, pulling me closer. The kiss deepened, our bodies moving in sync, my heart beating in rhythm with hers.
This was dangerous–an alpha male drawn to a human female. This was intoxicating. This was... right.
Suddenly, the room wasn't just walls and furniture. It was filled with us, our presence, our emotions. The walls had witnessed the first chapter of our story, one that was uncertain and full of uncharted territories. But at this moment, nothing else mattered. It was just Cecile and me.
And as I pulled away, looking into her eyes, I knew one thing. Whatever was happening between us, there was no turning back.
Just as I was about to say something, there was a loud crash, the front door splintering into a thousand pieces. Shadows moved, and a menacing growl filled the room.
We were not alone.