One month. Four weeks. Thirty days.
That's how long it had been since I'd set foot in Elderon. The familiar sounds of the city—cars honking, people chattering, vendors shouting—felt alien to me. It was as if I'd returned from another world. But wasn't that the truth? I had been in a world where wolves pursued me, and where an enigmatic man named Tristan was my savior.
As I stepped out of the taxi, the world seemed to move in slow motion. My heart pounded as the memories flooded back. That night with Tristan... The passion, the desperation, and the understanding that passed between us. I had offered myself to him to repay my debt, and he had accepted. It had been so wild, so intense... And now, I carried the proof of that passionate night within me.
I was wearing a loose cotton sundress, my blond hair tied in a high bun, and a pair of sunglasses hid my blue eyes from the glare of the summer sun. I could pass as any other city girl returning from a brief holiday, but the reality was different.
My hand instinctively rubbed over my still flat belly, a soft whisper escaping my lips, "We'll be okay, little one."
"You're going to have a great life," I told the barely noticeable bump. "Mommy promises." The thought of bringing a life into this world, my child, was equally thrilling and terrifying. But I was determined to be the person my child could look up to.
I took a deep breath and pulled my suitcase from the trunk. My luggage was limited to a single suitcase, containing my life of the past month and the future to come.
The sidewalks were packed, and the rush of Elderon was in full swing. People passed me in waves, and I realized how insignificant I felt in this bustling metropolis, a speck of dust on the canvas of the city.
The memories of that night when I ran for my life from those wolves, flashed before me. It was uncanny how these very streets which had once been a symbol of fear and terror, now seemed to brim with life and opportunity.
As I navigated through the crowd, a familiar scent caught my attention. There was a group of men coming towards me. They were dressed impeccably in sharp suits, and the air of authority around them was unmistakable.
At the center of the group, an influential man walked with an air of nonchalance. Despite his composed demeanor, there was a veil of mystery shrouding him. The guards flanking him were clearly there to ensure his safety, but their presence added a note of disdain to the scene.
Who do they think they are to treat others like dirt?
As they walked, I noticed how the city catered to them, the crowd parting ways to give them unhindered passage. My nose scrunched in displeasure at the audacity. The thought of how these wealthy men were comfortable inconveniencing others irked me.
Why were they walking the streets? They seemed wealthy enough to afford a fleet of fancy cars. Yet, they strode down the sidewalk as though they owned it, pushing past the other pedestrians with little regard for their comfort. It was a display of arrogance that left a bitter taste in my mouth. I stood rooted to my spot, watching them approach. I felt a strange connection to the man, a sense of deja vu that gnawed at the back of my mind.
As they passed, the man gestured to his guard who had started to advance towards me. I didn't miss the protective stance the man took, his hands placed on his chest, a warning to his men to keep away. It was then that I felt it—a strange connection, a silent pull toward this stranger. A sense of familiarity washed over me as if our paths had crossed before. Little did I know, our paths had indeed crossed that fateful night a month ago.
Unknown to me, he too felt the same magnetic pull. He caught a whiff of the air, the scent reminding him of that unforgettable night. His nostrils flared slightly as he recognized my scent, the one that had ignited his instinctual desire within him. His gaze trailed over my back, a hint of recognition flickering in his eyes.
I continued my journey, leaving the man and his entourage behind. My thoughts were a whirlpool of confusion and curiosity, but my priorities lay elsewhere. I had a life growing within me, and that was what mattered the most.
But destiny had its ways of intertwining lives. Just as I was about to disappear into the crowd, I felt a strong, yet fairly gentle grip on my wrist, causing me to gasp in surprise. I turned to face the person, only to meet with a pair of familiar eyes, the same eyes that had looked at me with such confusion, fear, and passion that night.
"Cecile," he called, his voice soft yet firm. My heart skipped a beat at the sound of my name, the way he pronounced it so fondly as if cherishing each syllable.
His words echoed in my ears, drowning out the hustle and bustle of the city around us. His touch sent a spark of electricity coursing through my veins, making me jolt in surprise. My wide eyes met his intense gaze, and both of us lost in a moment that felt like an eternity.
Shock washed over me as recognition dawned. The man standing in front of me was no stranger. It was Tristan. The man I had left behind a month ago, the man I thought I'd never see again. The man who was the father of my unborn child.
I was stunned into silence, my heart pounding in my chest. His gaze held me captive, and I found myself falling into the depth of his intense eyes. I had so many questions, so many things I wanted to say. But before I could utter a single word, everything went black.