"You may think what you're searching for is the truth, but the truth is far more than what you imagine," he murmured. " It is darker and older. "
Her hands shook from fear. " Why are you saying this to me? We've never even met ."
" Because you need to stay alive. You're in danger, real danger. And if you keep digging before you're prepared, they will reach you beforei can. " he responded
" You're protecting me? "
" Trying to"
" Why? " There was a long pause.
"You'll understand soon. "
ISABELLA'S POV
Alive. Alive . Alive . Everyone kept telling me the same thing over and over again, that I need to be protected and alive. I ran my fingers through my hair from frustration. Why is this happening to me.
I realised that the stranger wasn't warning me our of kindness, neither was he stopping me for my parents' sake, but for some unknown reason, he claims to need me alive.
I realised that the stranger wasn't warning me out of kindness, neither was he stopping me for my parents' sake, but for some unknown reason, he claims to need me alive.
I forced out a whisper. " If I'm truly in danger, then I have more reason to keep looking."
There was a long pause after I made that statement. Then, after a while, he said with a soft voice almost mournful that I'm already looking and that alone is enough to draw attention.
He took a step backwards and then another his form fading into the shadow again as if he wasn't there a few moments ago.
" Be careful which eyes you attract. " And with that, the figure vanished before I could even reply.
I stood frozen in the hallway, chest heaving in up and down motion, and my fingers trembling so violently that I had to hold a pillar for balance.
I'm being watched, i thought to myself. How did he even get to know where I was going and what I was going to do? Was he hiding in my room without my knowledge? Because I didn't talk to anyone about this decision except myself. I wrapped my arms around myself, breathing sharply.
I wasn't supposed to ask questions. I wasn't supposed to uncover the truth. I wasn't supposed to know, but the warning did nothing but strengthen my resolve.
I had to find the truth. I would find out who tried to reach my window . I would find out who the stranger was and who his master was. And I would also find what "dark and old truth " they were hiding.
Because if the danger was already at her doorstep, then running away from it wouldn't save her, and the only way out is to move forward.
***
Days passed by, and I hadn't found any useful information, so I decided to do something else.
I slipped into the mansion's old library late in the evening, trying to find records or letters that might explain the truth behind the alliance and supposed protection. Dust gathered in the corns of the tall shelves . I pushed the door close with a soft click and exhaled, letting my shoulders drop. Finally, an alone moment.
I moved quickly , pulling out drawers and old books from the shelves , flipping through pages, searching for anything that might reveal what her patents won't tell her. I didn't know exactly what I was looking for, but there had to be something, anything why my parents were suddenly desperate for the alliance.
My fingers brushed over a stack of old documents , half of the pages burned around the edges for whatever reason I don't know about. I bent closer, squinting at the ink, trying to identify the words written.
But a faint vibration of the floor made me freeze, I heard footsteps and voices arguing in low, sharp whispers outside.
"- not your territory to interfere in," someone hissed
" it becomes my business when people start going back on their words. " A deeper voice growled back.
I held her breath. Both voices were male. The deeper one carried a low rumble behind it, a resonance that made the hair on my arm lift . It wasn't just anger. It was dominance and power. Something wild in the way he spoke like he wasn't used to being challenged.
" You're here for peace, " I heard the first man snap. " Nothing more . "
The deeper voice laughed, a cold humourless sound.
My breath caught, and before I could move or hide better, the library door swung open with force.
My body stiffened as two figures stepped inside.
The first man entered abruptly mid argument, tall, broad shouldered looking furious. I had seen handsome men before, but this one looked carved straight out from a dangerous legend. Dark hair fell over his brow sharp jaw with bright golden eyes. He was wearing simple black clothes but nothing about him was forgettable.
I noticed that he stopped walking the moment he laid eyes on me. It might be me being delusional, but yeah, he did.
Behind him, another man tried to catch up with him, clearly annoyed.
The handsome stranger's gaze locked on me sharp and assessing as if I was a puzzle to be solved. I straightened, refusing to shrink under his gaze.
He didn't speak or move. He only stared, and something about that stir made my jaw clench.
" You're blocking the light," I told him flatly. " Move"
The thinner man inhaled sharply eyes widening as if I had said something forbidden. The tall one raised an eye brow, his expression shifting between amusement and offence.
" You give orders now? " he asks voice smooth but edged with annoyance.
" Yes , when men stand where they shouldn't. " I shot back.
His eyes narrowed. " You're bold."
" You're in my way. "
The second man tries to interfere hurriedly. "Alpha, please -"
But I cut him off. " And who the hell are you? "
He steps further into the room with slow, deliberate steps . " Someone you shouldn't speak to like that. "