The days following the discovery of the body were filled with hushed whispers and wary glances. Fear clung to Blackwood Estate like a heavy fog, seeping into every corner and darkening every shadow. The once-peaceful grounds had transformed into a place of unspoken terrors, where even the rustling of leaves seemed to carry hidden meanings. Yet somehow, amid this growing darkness, Cane remained a source of strange comfort for Selene—a steady flame in an increasingly uncertain world.
Their walks had become a daily ritual, a way to escape the suffocating tension that had gripped the town. The autumn air carried the scent of decay and approaching winter, crisp leaves crunching beneath their feet as they traced familiar paths through the estate's sprawling grounds. Today, they found themselves near the lake, its surface rippling like liquid silver in the dying light of evening.
"You're quiet today," Cane remarked, his voice carrying that peculiar mix of honey and danger that always made Selene's pulse quicken. His dark eyes studied her face, searching for something she couldn't quite name.
Selene glanced at him, offering a small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. The weight of recent events pressed against her chest like a physical thing. "Just thinking."
"About the body?"
She nodded, watching as a fallen leaf spiraled down to join its brethren on the damp earth. "It's hard not to. Things like this don't happen in Blackwood. Not here, not in our safe little corner of the world." She wrapped her arms around herself, suppressing a shiver that had nothing to do with the cool air. "And now, everyone is scared."
Cane sighed, running a hand through his dark hair—a gesture she'd come to recognize as a sign of inner turmoil. The fading sunlight caught his features in a way that made him look almost otherworldly, all sharp angles and shadows. "It's awful. But thinking about it won't change anything. Let's focus on something else."
She appreciated the way he always tried to ease her worries, even if part of her couldn't shake the unease she had felt since that night. There was something in his tone when he spoke about the incident—not quite guilt, not quite fear, but something that lingered in the space between. Wanting to lighten the mood, she changed the subject. "You never told me why your family moved here."
Cane hesitated before answering, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly. "Fresh start, I guess. My mom wanted a change of scenery."
Selene noticed the way his shoulders tensed, how his eyes flickered briefly toward the darkening forest. It was the same reaction he had when she had pressed him about his family before. She let it go, not wanting to push him away, but filed away the observation in the growing collection of oddities surrounding Cane Alaric.
As they walked further, the sky bleeding from amber to deep purple, Cane suddenly stopped. His hand disappeared into his pocket, emerging with something that made Selene's breath catch. "I got something for you."
She paused, looking up at Cane. He held something between his fingers —a white flower, its petals soft and unblemished. Selene's heart skipped a beat at the sight of it. "For you."
"I figured you might want another one," Cane said, extending the bloom toward her. His gaze held a quiet understanding, as if he remembered exactly what had happened to the first one.
Selene hesitated before reaching for it. Her fingers brushed against his for a fleeting moment, sending an unexpected warmth through her skin. "It's beautiful," she murmured, holding it carefully, as though it were something precious.
Cane studied her reaction. "You said the red one was too intense," he said after a pause, his voice softer than usual. "I think this one suits you better."
Selene looked at him, caught off guard by his words. The white petals glowed softly in the sunlight, pure and untarnished. Unlike the red flower, which had been vibrant and bold, this one felt gentler—like an unspoken promise.
"Thank you," she said, a small smile tugging at her lips.
A silence settled between them, but it was not uncomfortable. Selene felt a strange sense of ease in Cane's presence, as if for the first time, she was beginning to understand him beyond the wary glances and hushed warnings from others.
Before she could dwell on it further, Cane stepped closer. Without a word, he wrapped his arms around her, his touch firm but careful, as if he feared she might pull away. The embrace was unexpected, yet Selene found herself relaxing into it, her cheek resting lightly against his shoulder.
For a moment, there was nothing but the rustle of the wind and the steady rhythm of Cane's breathing.
"You should get going," she murmured, stepping back before she could lose herself in whatever magnetic pull existed between them.
Selene swallowed, gripping the flower a little tighter. "I won't lose this one," she said, more to herself than to him.
Cane gave a small nod, a hint of a smile playing at his lips. "Good."
As he walked away, Selene remained seated, staring at the white petals in her hand. A thought flickered at the back of her mind—something about Cane felt different now. And for the first time since meeting him, she wasn't entirely sure she minded.
Later that evening, as she recounted the day to Naksu, her friend scoffed, dark eyes narrowing with concern. "And you still don't think he's weird?"
Selene sighed, absently touching the red flower she had placed in a small vase by her window. "He's different, yes, but that doesn't mean he's dangerous."
Naksu folded her arms, her expression a mixture of worry and exasperation. "You're falling for him."
Selene opened her mouth to deny it, but the words wouldn't come. Was she? Or was it just fascination with the mystery he presented? She wasn't sure anymore. The line between attraction and danger had become increasingly blurred, like the boundary between shadow and light at dusk.
That night, as she placed the white flower on her nightstand, watching as moonlight painted its petals in shades of silver, she realized something that sent a shiver down her spine—Cane was getting under her skin in a way no one ever had before. He had somehow wound himself around her heart like thorny vines, beautiful and potentially lethal.
And that terrified her more than anything else.
For in Blackwood Estate, where shadows held secrets and monsters wore human faces, falling in love might just be the most dangerous thing of all.
Chapter 6: Howls
Two nights had passed since Selene had given C