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It was late into the night when Damian, overwhelmed by the pull of his mate, shifted into his wolf form. Without hesitation, he darted out of the city, his muscles rippling with strength as he ran. The village was only a couple of miles away, but to him, it felt like an eternity. The speed with which he ran was almost effortless—he was far from winded. His desperation to see his mate, to be near her, was driving him to the edge of his sanity.
As the outline of the village came into view, Damian noticed something moving in the distance—a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction, heading toward the forest. The cool night air carried a mix of scents, but amidst the crisp winds, there was one scent that stood out unmistakably: his mate. Her scent lingered in the air, and Damian, driven by the primal urge to be near her, couldn't resist. Without thinking, he began following the vehicle, his instincts guiding him toward her, the pull of their bond urging him forward.
As Damian followed the vehicle through the night, his mind was flooded with a storm of questions. Why the hell was his mate in that car? What was she doing, heading toward the forest at this hour? Didn't she realize how dangerous it was to venture into the woods in the dark? The forest was full of threats—wild animals, unstable terrain—and it could be deadly for someone unprepared, especially her.
The anxiety began to churn in his chest, the instinct to protect her growing stronger with every passing second. The thought of her in danger, unaware of the risks surrounding her, set his heart racing. His wolf was restless, urging him to close the distance, to reach her before anything could harm her.
Just as Damian was about to brace for the vehicle to head deep into the forest, it unexpectedly shifted direction. Instead of entering the woods, it followed the forest's edge, moving along the tree line. Damian quickly adjusted his course, making sure to stay close enough to keep an eye on the vehicle, while also remaining vigilant for any threats that might emerge from the dark woods. As he ran, he caught a faint scent of water on the breeze, the familiar scent of a river or lake. That's when the realization hit him—his mate was headed to the lake.
But why? Why at this time of day? After a while, the vehicle came to a halt at the edge of the lake. Damian paused, keeping his distance, hidden in the shadows, far enough to remain unseen by whoever was inside the vehicle. His heart pounded in his chest, his senses sharp as he focused solely on the figure he knew was his mate. He couldn't approach her—not yet. Not now. He knew that if he made himself known, she would think he had been following her, that he was some kind of stalker, lurking in the shadows. No, he had to be patient, watch from a distance, and wait for the right moment.
He quietly hid behind a large rock, his gaze fixed on the vehicle. As soon as it stopped, the driver's side door opened, followed by the passenger side. Two figures stepped out from the back seats, and there she was. She moved with an elegance that made his heart race. She wore a flowing long deep red skirt that brushed the ground and a black blouse with backless straps, the tie unusual but alluring. Her back was facing him, giving him only a glimpse of her thick, dark hair, which cascaded down to the small of her back.
Her skin, a warm light brown, seemed to glow in the moonlight, and as she moved, he could hear the delicate sound of jewelry—soft jingles with each step she took. That's when he realized—she was wearing anklets. The sound they made echoed through the silent night, their soft chimes accentuating her presence even more.
Damn, she was beautiful. The blouse hung just below her breasts, and Damien felt a surge of heat ripple through him at the sight of her exposed skin. His body burned with desire, the mere glimpse of her sending fire coursing through his veins. His eyes hungrily traced her form, unable to tear away from the sight of her.
He heard one of the women with a dark complexion call out to her, "Maya, come here, see this."
Maya. That was her name. A beautiful name, perfectly suited to her. He watched as the two girls chatted away. The one with dark brown hair and skin seemed to be talking nonstop as if she hadn't spoken in years. The other, with skin pale as paper, added her thoughts, and together they created a constant stream of words. Damien just wanted them to quiet down so he could hear his mate's voice. But Maya… she remained silent, not saying a word. After a while, the girls decided to swim in the lake. Damien knew he should turn away to give them privacy, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He wrestled with the urge to look, but in the end, his honour won. He forced himself to look away from the other girls as they stripped and jumped into the water, but his back was to them. He could hear their laughter and chatter, but it was Maya's laughter that caught his attention. It was so beautiful, a sound that echoed in his mind, and he found himself lost in it, captivated by the sweet melody of her joy. In the end, he lost it and turned toward the lake. Damien couldn't tear his eyes away from Maya.
Damien's eyes were locked on Maya as she half-submerged herself in the lake, the water glistening against her skin. His gaze travelled hungrily over her, every curve and subtle movement drawing him in. His breath quickened as he watched the water cling to her breasts, his mind consumed by thoughts of how it would feel to taste the skin with his tongue. His wolf growled in response, an instinctive, primal reaction to the bond between them. he could feel a burn entering his system.
Maya let out a soft moan as the cold water lapped against her skin. The chill made her body tense, and she shivered slightly, clearly uncomfortable with the sudden drop in temperature. Her breath hitched, and Damien couldn't tear his eyes away. He could hear her soft sound, and it drove him wild, stirring something deep within him. The sound was both a plea and a challenge to his resolve.
Suddenly, Maya let out a laugh, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She scooped water in her hands and splashed it at her friends, the playful motion causing her breasts to shift, drawing Damien's attention right back to them. His gaze lingered, unable to resist, as the simple movement stirred a fire deep within him. He noticed that Maya's body didn't adhere to typical beauty standards. It wasn't that he was comparing her to any other woman—she was unlike any beauty he had ever seen before. She had curves, the kind he longed to caress, full and enticing, making his pulse quicken with desire.
The girls continued having fun, laughing and splashing around in the water. But then, suddenly, Maya paused. An unsettling feeling crept up her spine like someone was watching her. She quickly spun around, her eyes scanning the area. There was no one in sight, yet the chill that ran down her back made her heart race. Fear gripped her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she wasn't alone.
Maya quickly called out to Kalandi, her voice trembling slightly. "I think... I think someone's here. We should be careful."
Kalandi, always calm and composed, immediately called out to Grace. Grace's voice was reassuring as she responded, "Maya, there's no one here. This lake is secluded, no one comes out this far. Besides, think about it—if any of your village people knew about this place, would you still be fetching water from that well?"
Maya paused, considering Grace's words. Slowly, the tension eased from her shoulders as her worry began to dissipate. Grace was right; the secluded lake was a place only a few knew about, and the chances of anyone else being around were slim.
But there was someone. Damien had heard everything—the conversation, the slight tremor in Maya's voice. He had been listening, hidden in the shadows, and when he heard the fear in her tone, guilt washed over him like a wave.
He hadn't intended to make her afraid. He only wanted to watch, to be close to her, to feel that bond, but hearing her worry, hearing the uncertainty in her voice made him realize how wrong he was to have followed her like this.
The guilt settled deep in his chest. She was his mate, but she wasn't ready for him to show himself. Not like this. he has to do something.
Being outside the village, away from the prying eyes and the constant buzz of daily life, was a gift of comfort for Maya. The open air, the soft rustling of the trees, and the stillness of the lake offered her a rare sense of peace. In these quiet moments, she could breathe freely, without the weight of expectations or the pressure to conform. The world beyond the village felt like a sanctuary, a place where she could simply be herself, untethered by the rules and responsibilities that often defined her life. It was a space where her mind could wander, and her soul could find solace. Yet, in the back of her mind, a subtle unease lingered, as if something—someone—was watching her, though she couldn't quite place the feeling.