Leonard stood frozen, his mouth agape, struggling to process the words that had just tumbled out of Alexa's mouth. The soft light in the dim room cast a warm glow on her face, but it only heightened the chill that crept up his spine. "Supernatural being?" he repeated incredulously, his mind racing.
He turned to her, searching her face for any sign that she was joking, but the seriousness etched in her features told him otherwise. "You're trying to tell me that there's… a monster out there after you?" He couldn't keep the disbelief from creeping into his voice, as if merely saying the words out loud could somehow make this all more real.
Alexa let out a deep sigh, rubbing her temples as if warding off a coming headache. "You're missing the point, Leonard. He's not a monster," she insisted, her eyes pleading for him to understand. "You've got to see he's more complicated than that."
Leonard furrowed his brow, the confusion deepening. "From everything you just told me about that Alpha Valle guy, he sounds like a total monster to me. Someone without emotions, someone who feeds off power." The words felt heavy as they left his mouth, slicing through the air with an unexpected finality.
"Leonard, he is not a monster—" she started, but he interrupted, unable to digest the contradiction.
"Why are you defending him?" he shot back, feeling a mix of anger and bewilderment. "You just said he's dangerous!"
She closed her eyes for a moment, collecting her thoughts. When she opened them, they were filled with something he hadn't expected—an unfathomable depth of emotion. "Because Valle is my mate," she said quietly, as if the weight of those words bore down on her like a physical burden.
"M-mate?" He scratched his head, trying to make sense of it all. "What the hell does that even mean?" The sheer absurdity of the situation intensified, and he felt like he was caught in a whirlwind of fantastical elements.
Alexa took a deep breath, her words spilling out in a rush. "It means we're connected, Leonard. Bound together by something deeper than just emotions or attraction. We're two halves of the same whole, meant to be together. Fated mates are rare, and when we find each other...it's like nothing else matters."
Leonard's eyes widened, his face awestruck. "You mean, like...soulmates?"
Alexa nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Exactly. But it's more than that. It's a connection that goes beyond the physical realm. We can sense each other's emotions, feel each other's pain...it's like our hearts beat as one."
Leonard's mind reeled, trying to wrap around the concept. He looked at Alexa, his expression a mix of shock and amazement. "And you're telling me this...Valle guy is your fated mate?"
Alexa nodded, her eyes locked on his. "Yes, Leonard. He is."
* * * * *
Valle's stomach growled severely, the pangs of hunger piercing his abdomen like a sharp knife. He hadn't eaten in days, and the months he'd spent in the human world had done little to help him adjust. He'd been surviving on scraps, sleeping in alleys, and stealing clothes to blend in.
As he walked down the bustling street, the aroma of sizzling meat and fresh bread wafted through the air, tantalizing his senses. His eyes landed on a food stand, and his stomach growled louder, as if urging him to move closer.
Valle approached the stand, his eyes scanning the array of dishes on display. "I'll have...all of it," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
The owner, a kind-eyed old man, looked at him with a mixture of surprise and amusement. "Sorry, kid, but you need to pay for that."
Valle's expression turned confused. "How do I...get money?"
The owner's gaze softened, taking in Valle's disheveled appearance and the desperation in his eyes. "You look like you could use a meal. I'll give you food, but you have to promise to work for me later, okay?"
Valle's face lit up with gratitude. "I'll do anything. Thank you."
The owner nodded and handed Valle a steaming plate of food. "Eat up, kid. You can help me with the evening rush later."
Valle devoured the food, the flavors exploding in his mouth, and for a moment, he forgot about his struggles. As he finished, he looked up at the owner with a hint of shame. "Thank you...I don't know how to repay you."
The owner smiled. "Just show up later, and we'll call it even. Name's Joe, by the way."
Valle nodded, a small smile on his lips. "Valle. I'll be here, Joe."
As Valle turns to leave, he's suddenly struck by an intoxicating scent that courses through his veins like liquid fire. His head spins, and his heart races with a primal intensity. He's caught in the grip of a ancient instinct, one that cannot be denied.
The scent is hers, his mate's, "Alexa"
* * * * *
The dark room was shrouded in an impenetrable shadow, making it impossible to discern any features of the person seated within. However, the broad shoulders and masculine physique hinted at a male figure. The air was heavy with anticipation, as if the very darkness itself was waiting for the man to speak.
And then, in a low, gravelly voice, he began to speak. "So, it's true. The midnight tales, the legends, the myths about wolves, witches, and supernatural beings... they're all true."
As he spoke, he slowly rose from his seat, his movements fluid and deliberate. His footsteps echoed through the room as he started to pace, his voice growing more animated with each step.
"If I could get my hands on powers like that... I would be unstoppable. The whole world would bow at my feet, and those who once looked down on me would worship the ground I walk on."
His words dripped with an unquenchable thirst for power, a hunger that seemed to consume him from the inside out. His footsteps quickened, his voice rising to a crescendo.
"I must, no matter what I have to do, get my hands on those powers. I will stop at nothing, crush anyone who stands in my way. The thought of it is intoxicating... the power to bend reality to my will, to command the very fabric of existence."
As he spoke, the darkness itself seemed to grow thicker, as if it was feeding off his ambition. The air was electric with tension, and it was clear that this man would indeed stop at nothing to achieve his goal.