"You shouldn't be here."
Ariana froze, her fingers tightening around the mug of tea she'd been holding. The voice came from behind her, low and sharp, laced with something she couldn't quite place—anger? Concern?
She turned to see Kaelen standing in the doorway of the inn's small kitchen. His broad shoulders filled the space, his presence somehow making the room feel smaller. He wasn't wearing his usual coat, just a plain black shirt that clung to his frame, and his hazel eyes burned with intensity.
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize the kitchen was off-limits," Ariana said, her voice steady despite the slight tremor in her chest.
Kaelen shook his head, stepping closer. "That's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.
"You shouldn't be in this village," he said, his tone firmer now. "It's not safe for someone like you."
Ariana set the mug down on the counter, her patience wearing thin. "What is it with you people and your cryptic warnings? If you're trying to scare me into leaving, it's not going to work."
Kaelen sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "I'm not trying to scare you."
"Could've fooled me," she muttered under her breath.
He caught the words, his jaw tightening. "Do you ever listen? Or do you just assume you know everything?"
The accusation stung more than it should have. Ariana crossed her arms, glaring at him. "I don't know what your problem is, Kaelen, but I'm not going anywhere. I have a job to do, and I don't need you—or anyone else—telling me what I can or can't handle."
For a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them thick enough to cut.
Kaelen's voice softened, though his eyes still held their fire. "This isn't about what you can handle, Ariana. It's about what's out there."
"What's out there?" she pressed, her frustration bubbling over. "What, wolves? Bears? I know how to take care of myself, Kaelen."
His lips twitched, like he was about to argue, but instead, he looked away, his shoulders sagging slightly. "You don't understand," he said quietly.
"Then make me understand," she shot back, taking a step closer.
Kaelen's eyes flicked back to her, something raw and conflicted flashing across his face. But before he could say another word, the innkeeper, Mrs. Callahan, appeared in the doorway.
"Kaelen," she said, her tone stern. "Leave the poor girl alone, will you?"
Kaelen's jaw tightened, but he didn't argue. He gave Ariana one last look—one she couldn't quite decipher—before turning and walking out.
The next morning, Ariana sat on the edge of her bed, staring out the small window of her room at the fog-covered village.
Something wasn't right here.
She'd only been in the village for a few days, but the unease she'd felt since her arrival had grown stronger with each passing hour. The villagers avoided her, whispering behind her back. Even the children seemed wary of her, their curious gazes quickly shifting away whenever she looked their way.
And then there was Kaelen.
He was a puzzle she couldn't figure out. One moment he was cold and dismissive, the next… something else. Something almost protective.
Ariana shook her head, letting out a frustrated sigh. She didn't have time for this. She was here for work, not to get caught up in small-town drama.
But even as she told herself that, a part of her couldn't let it go.
Kaelen stood at the edge of the forest, his hands clenched into fists.
He could still feel the weight of Ariana's gaze, the way her words had cut through him like a blade. She was stubborn, infuriatingly so, but there was something about her that he couldn't ignore.
And that terrified him.
For years, he'd kept his distance from outsiders, from anyone who might tempt him to let his guard down. The curse had taken enough from him—his wolf, his status, his pride. He couldn't afford to lose anything else.
But Ariana… she was different.
Kaelen closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He couldn't let himself get distracted. Not when Lucian was still out there, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Far from the village, in the shadows of a crumbling estate, Lucian Thorn leaned back in his chair, a wolfish grin spreading across his face.
"So," he said, his voice smooth and venomous. "Kaelen has a visitor."
The man standing before him nodded, his expression nervous. "A woman. Human, from what I've heard."
Lucian's grin widened. "Interesting."
He tapped his fingers against the armrest, his mind already working.
Kaelen was weak now—broken, cursed, a shadow of the Alpha he'd once been. But if there was one thing Lucian knew about his old rival, it was that he still had a weakness for those he cared about.
And this woman… this Ariana…
She might be just the leverage Lucian needed.
Later that afternoon, Ariana ventured back into the forest, her camera slung over her shoulder. The unease she'd felt earlier hadn't gone away, but she needed to focus on her work.
The woods were quieter today, the usual sounds of birds and rustling leaves strangely absent. Ariana tried to ignore it, focusing instead on the golden light filtering through the trees.
But then she heard it—a low, guttural growl.
She froze, her heart pounding. Slowly, she turned, her eyes scanning the trees.
For a moment, she saw nothing. But then, out of the shadows, a pair of glowing yellow eyes appeared.
The wolf was massive, its fur dark and matted, its teeth bared in a snarl.
Ariana's breath caught in her throat. She took a step back, but the wolf advanced, its growl deepening.
"Stay back," she whispered, her voice trembling.
The wolf lunged.
Ariana screamed, throwing up her arms to protect herself, but before the wolf could reach her, a blur of movement appeared between them.
Kaelen.
He moved with inhuman speed, his body colliding with the wolf's in a violent crash. The two tumbled to the ground, teeth and claws flashing.
Ariana could only watch, her heart racing, as Kaelen fought the wolf with a ferocity she'd never seen before.
Finally, Kaelen managed to pin the wolf down, his hands gripping its throat. He growled something low and guttural—a sound that didn't seem entirely human. The wolf whimpered, then scrambled to its feet and fled into the trees.
Kaelen turned to Ariana, his chest heaving, his hazel eyes glowing faintly in the dim light.
"Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice rough.
Ariana shook her head, still too stunned to speak.
"You shouldn't have come out here alone," he said, his tone sharp.
She found her voice. "I didn't… I didn't think—"
"Exactly," Kaelen snapped. "You didn't think."
Ariana flinched at the harshness of his words, but before she could respond, Kaelen's expression softened.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I didn't mean…" He trailed off, running a hand through his hair.
Ariana took a shaky breath. "What was that?"
Kaelen hesitated, his gaze flicking to the trees. "Just a wolf," he said finally.
"Just a wolf?" she repeated, disbelief in her voice. "That thing was massive. And what about you? How did you…?"
Her words trailed off as she noticed the faint glow in his eyes again.
Kaelen turned away, his voice tight. "You should go back to the village."
"Kaelen—"
"Now, Ariana."
Reluctantly, she nodded, her mind racing with questions.
That night, as Ariana sat in her room, she couldn't stop thinking about what had happened in the forest.
Something wasn't adding up.
Kaelen wasn't just a man. He couldn't be—not after what she'd seen.
And then there was the wolf. The way it had looked at her, like she was prey. Like it had been sent for her.
Ariana's thoughts were interrupted by a knock at her door. She opened it to find Mrs. Callahan standing there, a troubled look on her face.
"May I come in, dear?" the innkeeper asked.
Ariana nodded, stepping aside.
Mrs. Callahan sat down at the small table, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.