The next day, Emilia couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled deep in her bones. The woods had been quiet after Alaric had escorted her back to the edge of town, but the unsettling growls and strange presence in the forest had lingered in her mind. She tried to focus on unpacking her things at the inn, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Alaric and the cryptic warnings he had given her.
She couldn't understand why someone like him so strong, so imposing seemed so intent on keeping her away from the mysteries of Ashwood. The way he had looked at her, his dark eyes filled with intensity, almost as though he could see straight into her soul. There was a strange magnetism to him, one that drew her in despite the danger he seemed to represent.
It had been over twenty-four hours since she'd met him, and yet his presence felt like it was everywhere in the town. It was in the air she breathed, in the whispers of the townspeople as they spoke in hushed tones whenever she passed by. They knew about him. They all did.
The morning passed slowly, and by afternoon, Emilia found herself wandering once more, hoping to distract herself from the growing sense of paranoia that plagued her. The sun was high in the sky, but the shadows of the trees still loomed, casting long, dark stretches across the streets. She walked aimlessly, hoping the fresh air would clear her mind.
She was nearing the town's edge, where the forest began when she saw him again.
Alaric.
He stood near the edge of the woods, his dark figure unmistakable against the backdrop of the towering trees. This time, he didn't seem as surprised to see her, but his expression was still unreadable. It was as though he had been waiting for her.
Emilia's heart raced in her chest, her thoughts a tangled mess of confusion and curiosity. She wanted to run up to him, to demand answers, to ask him why he seemed so intent on keeping her away from the truth about Ashwood. But something held her back something deep within her that told her she wasn't ready to know the answers yet.
"Emilia," he said, his voice low and commanding. "I told you to stay inside."
She stopped a few feet away from him, her arms crossed as she tried to steady her breathing. "I couldn't. I don't know what you're so afraid of, Alaric. But something's wrong with this town. I can feel it. I need to know what's going on here."
Alaric's gaze softened slightly, but the intensity of his eyes never wavered. "You don't understand," he murmured. "This isn't a place for people like you. It's dangerous. I'm trying to protect you."
Emilia swallowed the lump in her throat. She wanted to shout, to demand he tell her the truth. But something in his tone, something in the way he spoke, told her that he wasn't lying. She could see the sincerity in his eyes, but she also saw something darker something that hinted at the inner struggle he was battling.
"I'm not some fragile thing you need to protect," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I can handle myself."
Alaric stepped closer to her, his eyes scanning the trees around them as if searching for something or someone. He was on edge, his body tense as though he were preparing for a fight.
"I wish that were true," he said softly. "But there's more at play here than you know. The wolves in these woods... don't play by the same rules. They're not like anything you've encountered before."
At the mention of wolves, Emilia's heart skipped a beat. The growl from the previous night flashed in her mind, along with the eerie feeling that something was watching her. Was he talking about those creatures? The ones she had felt lurking in the forest?
"You're saying there are... werewolves?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly despite her best efforts to remain calm.
Alaric didn't answer immediately. Instead, he glanced around them once more, his jaw tightening. "I'm not telling you this because I want to scare you, Emilia. I'm telling you because you need to leave. Now."
Her confusion deepened, but before she could respond, a sharp, guttural howl echoed through the woods, cutting through the air like a blade. It was followed by several more, each one sending a ripple of fear through Emilia's chest. The sound was haunting and primal, and it carried with it a sense of danger that was unmistakable.
Alaric's eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that left her breathless. Without warning, he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her toward the town.
"Come with me," he commanded, his voice laced with urgency. "We don't have much time."
Emilia didn't have a choice but to follow. Her mind raced as she tried to make sense of the situation. Werewolves? Was he serious? She had heard stories of supernatural creatures before, of course, everyone had but to think they were real, living just outside the town, was something she could hardly grasp.
As they hurried down the narrow path toward the town, the howls grew louder and closer. Panic surged through Emilia's veins, and her heart pounded against her chest. What was happening? Were they under attack?
"Why are they howling like that?" she asked, her voice shaking.
"They're getting closer," Alaric said, his voice grim. "And I'm afraid we're not safe here anymore."
Before she could ask anything further, they reached the edge of the town. Alaric led her to a small, secluded house hidden away from the main street. It was an old, two-story building, its windows dark and its doors locked. He opened the door with a swift motion, pulling her inside.
Once they were inside, Alaric immediately shut the door behind them, locking it securely. He stood in front of her, his back against the door, his chest rising and falling with every breath he took. The tension in the air was palpable, and Emilia could feel it in the pit of her stomach.
"What's going on?" she demanded, her voice stronger now. "What are you not telling me?"
Alaric ran a hand through his hair, his expression tight with frustration. "There's no time for explanations right now. We need to stay here and wait for the danger to pass."
"Danger?" Emilia repeated, her mind struggling to process everything that was happening. "From what? The wolves?"
Alaric's gaze flickered to the window, his body tense as he listened for any sign of movement outside. "Yes. But not just the wolves. There are other things other creatures that roam these woods. Ashwood isn't a normal town, Emilia. The people here... they're not who they seem."
Emilia's heart skipped a beat. She had already suspected as much. The town was filled with secrets, and Alaric seemed to know them all. But how much of it was true? How much of it was part of the dark world he was a part of?
"You're not just a man, are you?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Alaric's eyes locked onto hers, and for the first time since they had met, there was a flicker of vulnerability in his gaze. "No," he said quietly. "I'm not."
The air between them thickened, charged with a tension that was both dangerous and intoxicating. Emilia had known there was more to him than met the eye, but the reality of it was more than she had bargained for.
As the howls grew louder and closer, Emilia realized that Ashwood had become a far more dangerous place than she could have ever imagined.