SHADOWS OF DESTINY: Love And magic in the veil of darkness

“Caleb, I really think we should start heading back now!” a man’s voice echoed in the dimly lit towering trees jolting Roselia and causing her phone and her violin to nearly slip from her grasp. 

She was sitting on a moss-covered fallen log, humming to the symphony of her violin and enjoying the moonlit sky, as she just turned twenty-two years old, the night of her birthday. 

“What did you say?” A deep, growling, and husky male voice interjected, its depth sending a shiver down her spine—even though the words weren't directed at her. Maybe it was the sheer force of his voice, or perhaps the way his tone sliced through the air, devoid of all warmth.

“I said, I think we should start heading back now” Roselia heard the man’s voice again. “It's too late, let alone dangerous for us to be wandering in another territory, all for a long-dead prophecy?”

Roselia held her breath, waiting for the man’s response, but only silence followed. Her curiosity sparked. What prophecy she thought to herself. Despite her curiosity tempting her to steal a glance, she remained frozen, waiting until at last, the man broke the heavy silence. 

“Is that all?” was all he responded, causing Roselia to gasp in disbelief at how uncaring he sounded. 

“W-what?” the man was shocked at his response 

“Tell me, what do you want me to do?” 

“Your Majesty, with all sense of care, I advise that we head right back to the pack. Going this far because of a meaningless feeling you suddenly felt doesn't mean anything. You've been reading this long-forgotten prophecy for months now and I believe it's taking over your mind. Let's head back and you'll get some rest”

“Go back on your own, I want to be alone, I'll catch up with you” he declared, his steps slowly approaching the log where Roselia hid quietly.

“W-w-what?” 

“I won't repeat myself”

“Your Majesty, your father will burn me alive if I don't come back with you right now, and I'm so certain he's very worried about you right now. We should go back your Majesty” 

“Adrian, didn't you hear me properly?” the man’s tone became even deeper with a hint of wildness, almost harsh. “Adrian, go back on your own, I want to stay here alone for a while I promise to catch up with you”

Roselia was left utterly shocked by the conversation unfolding before her. “Your Majesty? The pack?” her mind raced with disbelief.

Realizing the situation wasn't coming to an end anytime soon, she felt an urgent need to leave. But the fear of being seen kept her frozen. Stuck between escaping and the danger of being seen, she could only reluctantly stay hidden. 

“Adrian, I suggest we let His Majesty be and go ahead without him as he said” Another man started talking. “But please, can you promise us you’d be back before sunrise? Your father would be over-worried for you to stay the night in an unknown location far from the pack members” 

At that point, Roselia was so shocked she could no longer stop herself from taking a peek at them. She just couldn't believe what was happening. She just couldn't believe what her ear was hearing was happening in real life. This was absolute madness for her. 

When she saw the man, her hands flew to her own mouth. Her confusion peaked and she started feeling scared. 

She couldn't believe her eyes. The man had distinct-looking glowing eyes, and some fur on their body,  with a snout and pointed ears. 

Roselia widened eyes and then shifted to the man referred to as His Majesty but she couldn't see his face because he had his back on her. 

“I won't take long out here, you don't have to be concerned and my father will be alright! I'll be back before you know it” his voice echoed with a little warmth in it. “Now GO BACK! Else face what comes to you in the next 30 seconds” Roselia took back her thought. His growling voice echoed even louder and the harshness in it was shaking. 

Then just like that they both turned their backs and slowly walked away. 

When the sound of their footsteps could not be heard anymore, Roselia finally came back to her senses and quickly hid herself again. 

However…..

“Come out, I know you're there. Now.” The man’s command echoed through the trees leaving Roselia so stunned that she remained motionless for an extended beat. She knew he was talking to her and she detected from his tone that he didn't want to repeat himself, so holding her breath, she finally stepped out. 

“Come over” the man ordered, and Roselia slowly lifted her face. She was incredibly nervous. She couldn't remember if anyone had ever made her feel this scared and nervous before in her entire life. 

As soon as their eyes met, Abigail almost gasped. The man or Wolf? Wasn't merely good-looking, the term was a heavy understatement. He existed on a mysterious plane of handsome, far above any celebrity she had ever laid her eyes upon in her entire life. His statue was imposing and his Raven black hair seemed to be almost all over his body, fell naturally under the caress of his fingers, elegantly swept back from his face. 

Everything about him portrayed rogue masculinity and wild allure. His strong, muscular physique was accentuated by a thick, lustrous coat of fur. His piercing eyes held a hint of mystery and intensity, drawing her in with their magnetic gaze.

But this glaring creature was glaring down at her. His dark eyes were hostile, making her want to shrink to the floor and disappear. The way he looked at her was definitely the definition of the phrase, ‘if looks could kill’.

“Who are you? A spy?” Roselia flinched at the displeasure in his voice. His dark cold eyes glimmered with a dangerous light and it made her shiver more than the dressing temperature. She couldn't help but think that this man was the perfect example of the inhumanely beautiful male she often read about in fictional stories. 

Swallowing hard, Rosalie forced herself to respond to him. “No, I'm not” She shook her head, but the man’s eyes narrowed and then he moved, walking closer to her. 

Time seemed to freeze and the air around her tightened, but surprisingly she was able to hold her ground despite her shaking knees. When the man stopped just a little meters away from her, she couldn't help but bite her bottom lips.

The man was scrutinizing her, looking at her like she was his prey. She knew from one look at those eyes that dangerous was quite an understatement to describe him. 

“Little fox… did you hear anything?” he asked, his gaze deadlier than the sharpest dagger. She had never seen eyes as beautiful and at the same time as cold as his. He had killer eyes that could pierce through literally anything! 

“I… I’m s-sorry, I didn't mean to…” Roselia managed to answer as the man raised his hands towards her, she flinched in far and instinctively closed her eyes, thinking the man was going to hurt her. 

But that didn't happen.

Slowing, shocked Roselia opened her eyes.

He didn't say a word.

Her twenty-second birthday couldn't get any better, all this happening in one night? She reasoned within herself.

He was solely focused on the reddish-brown violin, made of wood. For some reason, the once dangerious glaciers in his eyes seemed to be suddenly replaced with a now odd blankness.

She glared downwards and noticed his hand touching the edge of the violin. Filled with confusion, Roselia froze in a place, her heart racing drastically. The air around her tightened once more. 

“Violin…” he murmured to himself as he dropped his hands, and then the look in his eyes changed again, but he didn't look cold anymore like he did earlier on. 

“Where did you get this from?” He asked, his face was clearly filled with curiosity, and Roselia failed to understand what the fuzz about what he found so interesting about the violin. 

Roselia exhaled as she watched him curiously looking at the details and patterns of the violin, as though he was studying it, but she just stood there unmoving, her face watching every move he made. 

“Are you a witch?” he asked without turning to look at her. 

“A witch!?” Roselia slatted out, in surprise. 

A whole realization of her standing in front of a human sort of creature suddenly sparked in her mind. She rethought the beginning of the whole night and didn't think he was joking about it.