Tangled Fates

Chapter 13

The rain pounded against my skin as I stumbled through the dense forest, my heart racing with every step. The Alpha moved gracefully beside me. His wolf's ebony fur bore a constellation of droplets that shimmered like stardust with each motion.

I reached out a trembling hand, my fingers sinking into the warmth of his pelt. He didn't flinch or pull away. Instead, a guttural purr vibrated from deep within his chest, a soothing lullaby woven amidst the storm.

My breath came out in short gasps as I clung to him, relishing the luxurious softness beneath my fingers. The scent of damp earth and pine needles swam around us, grounding me in the present even as memories of Zander clawed at the edges of my mind. Amidst this chaos, it was the Alpha's presence that held back the encroaching shadows.

As I pressed deeper into his fur, exploring layers of warmth hidden beneath its surface, his purr deepened. A resonating call drawing me closer like an unsuspecting moth ensnared by a flame's hypnotic dance. A fleeting thought fluttered across my mind. Would holding the Alpha's hand evoke similar sensations? Would our connection spark identical currents of warmth? And did he perceive this strange magnetic pull between us just as intensely as I did?

All too soon, the massive stone walls of the castle stood before us. The Alpha shifted back to his human form in one fluid motion, his naked body illuminated by a flash of lightning. Rain droplets traced a riveting path down his chiseled back, cascading over each sculpted curve until they disappeared into the shadows below... I hastily tore my gaze away, heart pounding like a wild drum. I drew in lungfuls of the rain-cooled air, desperate to douse the embers of desire smoldering within me.

He quickly opened the castle door and was greeted by a female servant. She was striking, petite, with golden waves framing her angelic face and a figure that would stir carnal yearnings in any man's heart. A pang of self-consciousness made me glance down at my own form. My body was fragile, more skeletal than feminine beneath the shapeless expanse of male attire that hung loosely on me. Scars littered my skin like constellations etched in pain and bruises bloomed like darkened flowers.

Why did it matter how I looked? Why did this sudden surge of insecurity gnaw at me? I was a warrior first and foremost. Even in my weakened state, I could best her in combat if needed. Yet there she stood, radiant amidst the gloom, while I felt like a phantom cloaked in darkness.

The servant greeted the Alpha with a warm smile and handed him trousers which he swiftly donned. As I tried to keep my eyes diverted, an unbidden blush crept up my cheeks despite the chill still clinging to me from the rain. What is happening to me?

"Come, let's get you inside and dry," the Alpha said. His lips moving to form the words that sent shivers down my spine, a shiver that had nothing to do with the cold. I responded with a faint nod, my teeth sinking into my lower lip as a distraction from the chaos brewing within.

As we climbed the stone steps, I couldn't help but steal glances at him from beneath my lashes. The defined contours of his chest, the sinewy strength evident in his arms, even the way rainwater trickled down his neck, soaking his dark hair... A battle raged within me, desire clashing with fear, creating a nauseating swirl in my stomach.

"Are you alright?" His question broke through my internal war, concern etched in those captivating golden eyes as he held open the wooden door for me.

My gaze fell to avoid his intense scrutiny, an uncomfortable cocktail of shame and yearning stabbing at my heart. How could I have such feelings for him after enduring Zander? What did that say about me?

I nodded, keeping my eyes away from his piercing gaze.

The Alpha studied me for a long moment, his brow furrowed. I could feel the weight of his stare, the unspoken questions hanging between us. But he simply nodded and gestured for me to enter, ever the gentleman, even as the wildness of the wolf lurked just beneath his skin.