4- Aiden’s Torment

**Isabella**

The next morning, I’m still reeling from the events of the previous night. I hardly slept, my mind too busy replaying everything that happened, trying to make sense of it all. But no matter how hard I try, I can’t shake the feeling that something significant has changed, something that I’m not ready to face.

I go about my usual routine, trying to distract myself with chores and responsibilities around the orphanage. But it’s no use. My thoughts keep drifting back to the forest, to him. Who was he? Why did he affect me so deeply? And why can’t I stop thinking about him?

The other girls notice my distraction, casting curious glances my way, but they don’t say anything. They’re used to me being the quiet one, the one who prefers the company of nature to people. But today, even the solace of nature can’t calm the storm inside me.

By midday, I’ve had enough. I need answers, and I won’t find them sitting around here, pretending everything is normal. I make up an excuse to leave, something about needing to gather herbs for the kitchen, and slip out of the orphanage unnoticed.

The path to the forest is familiar, but today, it feels different. The trees seem taller, the shadows darker, as if the very forest itself is alive, watching me, waiting for me to return. My heart pounds in my chest as I step off the beaten path, moving deeper into the woods.

I don’t know what I’m expecting to find. Maybe I’m hoping he’ll be there, waiting for me. Maybe I’m hoping to catch a glimpse of him, to understand what happened between us. Or maybe I’m just hoping to prove to myself that it was all in my head, a figment of my imagination.

But as I walk deeper into the forest, I feel that same pull, that same magnetic force drawing me forward. It’s like the forest itself is leading me somewhere, guiding me toward something I’m not sure I’m ready to face.

I don’t stop until I reach the clearing where we met, the place where everything changed. The air here feels charged, electric, like the forest is holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

But he’s not here. The clearing is empty, the only sound the rustling of leaves in the breeze. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, a mixture of relief and disappointment washing over me.

What did I expect? That he’d be waiting for me, ready to reveal all the secrets that have been haunting my thoughts since our encounter? The logical part of my mind tells me that it’s better this way, that I should be relieved he’s not here. But deep down, there’s a part of me that’s disappointed—a part of me that wanted to see him again, to feel that strange, dark connection that I can’t seem to forget.

I move slowly through the clearing, my fingers brushing against the rough bark of the trees, my eyes scanning the area as if he might suddenly appear from the shadows. But the only thing that greets me is the silence, heavy and oppressive, pressing down on me like a weight.

Why can’t I stop thinking about him? Why do I feel like something is missing, like there’s a piece of me that’s still out there in the forest, waiting to be found? It doesn’t make sense. None of this makes sense.

I reach the spot where he stood the night before, the place where he touched me, and I close my eyes, trying to recapture the memory of that moment. His voice, deep and rough, echoing in my mind; his touch, so gentle yet charged with something dangerous; the way he looked at me, as if he could see right through me…

A shiver runs down my spine, and I open my eyes, half-expecting to see him standing there, watching me with those intense, predatory eyes. But there’s nothing. Just the trees and the silence, both mocking me for my foolishness.

I let out a frustrated sigh and turn to leave, but something catches my eye—something small and glinting in the grass. I kneel down, parting the blades to reveal a small, silver pendant, its delicate chain tangled around a twig.

I pick it up, holding it carefully in my hand. The pendant is simple, a small, intricately designed crescent moon, cool and smooth against my skin. It doesn’t look like it belongs here, in the middle of the forest. It looks… out of place, much like I felt last night.

Without thinking, I slip the pendant into my pocket, feeling its weight settle against my leg as I stand. I don’t know why, but something tells me it’s important, that it means something, even if I don’t understand what yet.

I take one last look around the clearing, hoping for some sign, some clue that will explain everything. But the forest remains silent, indifferent to my search. With a heavy heart, I turn and start back down the path, the pendant clinking softly in my pocket with each step.

As I walk, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve missed something, that there’s a deeper meaning to everything that’s happened. But no matter how hard I try, I can’t piece it together. The only thing I know for sure is that my life is no longer the same, that something has shifted, and there’s no going back.

When I reach the edge of the forest, the orphanage lights glowing warmly in the distance, I pause, my hand unconsciously reaching for the pendant in my pocket. I pull it out, letting it dangle from the chain, the crescent moon catching the last rays of sunlight.

It’s beautiful, in a simple, almost haunting way. But there’s something about it, something that feels… familiar, like I’ve seen it before. But that’s impossible. I’ve never owned anything like this, never seen anything like it. So why does it feel like it belongs to me?

I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. This is all too much. First the encounter with him, now this pendant—it’s like the universe is trying to tell me something, but I can’t figure out what.

Tucking the pendant back into my pocket, I push open the gate and head toward the orphanage, my mind still racing with questions. As I step inside, the warmth of the building wrapping around me like a comforting blanket, I try to focus on the present, on the here and now. But it’s no use. My thoughts keep drifting back to the forest, back to him, and back to the pendant that now feels like a secret I’m meant to uncover.

For the rest of the day, I go through the motions, pretending everything is normal, but my mind is elsewhere. Every time I touch the pendant, a strange sense of calm washes over me, as if it’s somehow connected to the answers I’m searching for. But those answers remain just out of reach, taunting me from the shadows of my mind.

By the time night falls, I’m exhausted, both physically and mentally. I lie in bed, staring up at the ceiling, the pendant resting on the pillow beside me. I’ve examined it from every angle, searched for any markings or symbols that might give me a clue, but there’s nothing. Just the crescent moon, simple and unadorned, yet somehow full of meaning.

I close my eyes, hoping sleep will bring some relief from the endless questions, but even as I drift off, the pendant remains in my thoughts, along with the image of him—the mysterious man who has turned my world upside down.

---

**Aiden**

I watch from the shadows as she leaves the forest, the pendant now safely tucked away in her pocket. I should have known she’d find it. I left it there for her, after all. It’s a test, one she doesn’t even realize she’s part of. A test to see if the pull I feel toward her is real, or if it’s just some twisted trick of fate.

She’s more fragile than I thought, more innocent. I can see it in the way she moves, the way she clutches the pendant like it’s a lifeline. But there’s also a strength there, a resilience that intrigues me, that makes me want to push her, to see how far she can go before she breaks.

My wolf is restless, pacing inside me, urging me to go to her, to claim her now before it’s too late. But I resist. I need to be sure. I need to know that this connection, this pull, isn’t just some fleeting desire. I need to know that she’s mine, in every sense of the word.

As she disappears into the orphanage, I linger at the edge of the forest, my thoughts tangled in the web she’s unknowingly spun around me. This isn’t how it’s supposed to be. I’m supposed to be in control, to protect my pack, to keep humans at a distance. But she’s already shattered that control, and the more I try to fight it, the stronger it becomes.

I close my eyes, breathing in the scent of the forest, the lingering trace of her scent still hanging in the air. It’s intoxicating, a heady mix of innocence and something darker, something I can’t quite place. It calls to me, drawing me in, even as I know I should stay away.

But I won’t stay away. I can’t. She’s mine now, whether she knows it or not, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure she understands that. Even if it means breaking every rule, every vow I’ve made to protect my pack. Even if it means risking everything.

Because one thing is clear: she’s not just some human girl. She’s something more, something that could either destroy me or save me. And I’m going to find out which.

As the night deepens and the forest falls silent, I turn and disappear into the shadows, the pull of her presence still thrumming in my veins. This is only the beginning. The game has started, and I intend to win, no matter the cost.