Selene barely slept that night. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw them again—those golden eyes glowing in the shadows, piercing her as if they could see straight into her soul.
She tossed in bed, her small apartment suddenly feeling too quiet, too ordinary. Outside her window, the hum of the city offered no comfort. The memory of the forest clung to her skin like a second shadow.
By morning, she convinced herself it had been a trick of the light. Maybe she was overtired, her imagination running wild. She was, after all, the girl who lived half in her sketchbooks and half in her dreams.
But deep down, she knew better.
Her hands still trembled when she picked up her pencil to draw. Instead of the city skyline she had meant to sketch, her paper filled with sharp golden eyes, a strong jaw, and a body that radiated power. She stared at the drawing in disbelief, heat rising to her cheeks.
"This is ridiculous," she muttered, ripping the page out. "He's not real. He can't be."
But he was.
By late afternoon, she found herself walking again—this time along the very edge of the forest. She told herself it was for inspiration. She needed more references for her art project. But her pulse betrayed her. Each step toward the trees was drawn not by duty, but by a dangerous curiosity she couldn't shake.
The wind rustled the branches, carrying a faint, musky scent she couldn't name. It was sharp, wild, and oddly intoxicating. Selene's heartbeat quickened.
She hadn't meant to step inside again, but before she realized it, her sneakers pressed into the carpet of leaves and soil.
The silence pressed down on her once more.
And then she heard it.
Crunch.
Her head snapped toward the sound. A figure stood between the trees, half-shadowed, but unmistakable.
Him.
Selene's breath hitched as the stranger emerged from the darkness. Damon Nightshade. His presence was just as overwhelming as before—tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in dark clothes that hugged his powerful frame. His golden eyes glowed faintly, sharper now that dusk painted the sky.
"You again," he said, his voice deep and rough. His expression wasn't surprise—it was annoyance.
Selene forced her chin up, even as her knees threatened to buckle. "You… scared me last night."
"I warned you," Damon replied, his gaze unblinking. "Yet here you are. Humans never learn."
"I'm not here to cause trouble," she said quickly. "I'm just… drawing." She lifted her sketchbook, though her trembling hands betrayed her calm tone.
He stepped closer, his movements too fluid, too quiet for someone of his size. "Drawing? You're risking your life for… paper?"
Selene bristled. Fear and defiance warred inside her chest. "You don't get to decide what's worth it for me."
For the first time, his eyes softened—just slightly. He tilted his head, studying her like a puzzle he couldn't solve. "You're not like the others."
"Others?" she echoed.
"Most humans run at the first growl. But you stand here, arguing." His lips curved faintly, though not quite into a smile. "Foolish. Or brave."
Selene swallowed hard. His presence was magnetic, pulling her in even as danger screamed at her to step back. Her heart thudded painfully, heat crawling up her neck.
"What are you?" she whispered before she could stop herself.
The question hung in the air. Damon's jaw tightened. He looked away for the first time, his gaze scanning the forest.
A howl shattered the silence. Long. Piercing. Too close.
Selene jumped, fear flooding her veins.
Damon's body stiffened, his eyes flashing brighter. "Stay behind me," he ordered, his tone sharp and commanding.
"W-what was that?" she asked, panic rising.
"Wolves." His voice was grim. "And not all of them follow my rules."
Another howl answered the first, this one accompanied by rustling in the underbrush. Selene clutched her sketchbook against her chest, heart hammering.
Damon moved, quick as lightning, and grabbed her wrist. His hand was warm, strong, almost burning against her skin.
"Let go!" she yelped, struggling.
He leaned closer, his golden gaze fierce. "Do you want to live?"
Selene froze. The authority in his voice silenced her protest. Her chest heaved, but she gave a small nod.
Without another word, Damon pulled her deeper into the shadows, moving silently despite his size. He guided her behind a massive tree, his body shielding hers. Selene's back pressed against the rough bark, Damon's presence surrounding her like a wall.
The footsteps grew louder. Shapes moved between the trees, dark and quick. Selene's breath caught in her throat.
Damon's eyes glowed brighter, his lips curling back in a low growl that vibrated through the air. It was inhuman, primal—and it shook her to her core.
One of the shadows drew closer. Selene glimpsed glowing eyes—red, not gold—before the figure slipped away again.
"They're hunting," Damon murmured, low enough that only she could hear. "You're lucky I found you first."
Selene's pulse thundered. She wanted to ask what he meant, but his body was tense, every muscle coiled as though he was seconds from striking.
The forest grew quiet again, the danger receding. Still, Damon didn't move from in front of her. He was too close, his breath brushing her cheek, his golden eyes locked on hers.
"You shouldn't be here," he repeated, softer this time, though the edge of warning remained.
Selene couldn't speak. She could only stare, torn between fear and something else she didn't dare name.
Finally, Damon released her wrist, stepping back. "Go home," he ordered.
Before she could reply, he melted into the shadows, gone as suddenly as he had appeared.
Selene pressed a trembling hand to her chest. Her pulse still raced where his hand had touched her.
She should have been terrified. She should never come back.
But as she stumbled out of the forest, her sketchbook clutched tight, one thought burned through her mind:
Those golden eyes would haunt her forever.
Author's Note:
🔥 Did you feel the tension? Damon's world is darker than Selene imagined, and the bond between them is already sparking. If you loved this chapter, please vote with Power Stones and drop a comment. Your support keeps me writing more every day! ❤️