The city hummed with life as night descended, casting a golden glow over the streets. The air carried the scent of damp pavement and the faint aroma of roasted coffee from the corner cafés. Selene pulled her coat tighter around her as she walked home from dinner with Amara, the crisp autumn wind sending a shiver through her spine.
Tonight had been ordinary—just like every other night. And yet, something inside her felt... unsettled. A strange warmth had lingered in her chest all day, like a whisper of something forgotten.
As she crossed through the park, the streetlights flickered, creating elongated shadows that danced across the pavement. It was late, and most of the city had quieted, save for the distant sounds of traffic and the occasional murmur of passersby.
And then, she felt it.
A presence.
Selene's steps slowed, her heart tightening in her chest. The air felt different—thicker, charged with an energy she couldn't place. Her breath hitched as she glanced around, scanning the area. The park was empty. Or at least, it should have been.
That's when she saw him.
Leaning casually against a lamppost at the edge of the park stood a man draped in shadow. He was tall, his figure poised with effortless confidence, as if he belonged nowhere and everywhere at once. The dim lighting barely revealed his features, but the way he stood, the air around him, it sent a ripple through Selene's spine—equal parts intrigue and unease.
She couldn't look away.
The man tilted his head slightly, as if sensing her gaze, and then—he smirked.
A slow, knowing smirk that sent a rush of warmth through her body.
Selene swallowed, forcing herself to keep walking.
"You're walking awfully late, little fox," the stranger's voice cut through the silence, smooth as velvet yet laced with something sharp.
Selene froze mid-step.
Fox?
Her pulse quickened, confusion flickering through her. She turned slowly to face him. "Excuse me?"
The man pushed off the lamppost with lazy elegance, stepping into the dim light. Selene's breath caught.
He was striking.
Midnight-black hair fell in tousled waves, framing a face that was both sharp and undeniably beautiful. His eyes—molten gold, like liquid fire—gleamed with amusement as they locked onto hers. There was something unnatural about them, something almost… inhuman.
He took a slow step toward her, his gaze never wavering.
"You heard me," he murmured, his lips curving into a teasing smile. "You don't seem like the kind of girl who should be walking alone at night. Dangerous things lurk in the dark, you know."
Selene bristled at his tone, which is playful but also equally unsettling. "I can take care of myself," she said, lifting her chin.
"Oh, I don't doubt that." His eyes glowed faintly as he studied her, his voice dipping lower. "But tell me, Selene… have you ever wondered why the shadows seem to follow you?"
Her stomach flipped. He knew her name.
Her mind scrambled for logic. Had she met him before? Did Amara know him? Was this some kind of joke?
"Who are you?" she demanded, stepping back instinctively.
The man chuckled, the sound low and rich. "Now, that would ruin the fun, wouldn't it?"
Selene's heart pounded. Every instinct told her to turn and leave, but something about him kept her rooted in place. There was an odd familiarity in the way he looked at her, as if he had known her for far longer than she could comprehend.
"Are you following me?" she pressed, narrowing her eyes.
Zane let out an exaggerated sigh. "Ah, humans. Always so suspicious." He placed a hand over his heart dramatically. "You wound me, truly. What if I told you it was fate that brought us here?"
Selene scoffed, crossing her arms. "Fate doesn't exist. And you're avoiding my question."
His smirk widened, golden eyes gleaming. "Smart girl. I like that."
Something about the way he said it sent a shiver down her spine.
His gaze flickered over her, assessing. Then, without another word, he stepped past her, moving with the kind of grace that made it seem like he was barely touching the ground.
"Wait," Selene called before she could stop herself.
Zane paused, glancing at her over his shoulder.
"Who are you?" she asked again, her voice quieter this time.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, he turned fully to face her, eyes darkening ever so slightly.
"Zane Shadow," he said at last, his voice smooth but unreadable.
The name sent a strange sensation through her.....a flicker of familiarity she couldn't grasp.
He must have seen the confusion on her face because his smirk softened into something almost amused. "Don't worry, little fox. We'll meet again soon."
Before she could react, the streetlights flickered once more and just like that, he was gone.
Vanished into the night as if he had never been there at all.
Selene's heart hammered as she stood frozen in place, her breath uneven. Had she imagined it? The way he had moved, the way he had spoken to her like he knew something she didn't.
Fox.
Why had he called her that?
Her fingers curled into fists as she tried to steady herself. None of this made sense. But one thing was certain.
This wasn't the last time she'd see Zane Shadow.
And somehow, she knew her life would never be the same again.