6- Isabella’s Curiosity

**Aiden**

I watch her from a distance, hidden in the shadows just beyond the orphanage grounds. She’s back from town now, sitting on her bed with the pendant in her hand, turning it over and over as if it holds the answers to all her questions.

And maybe it does. But those answers aren’t for her to find. Not yet.

I’ve been watching her all day, ever since she left the forest. I should have left it alone, let her go back to her normal life, forget about me, about what happened. But I can’t. There’s something about her, something that keeps drawing me back, no matter how hard I try to resist.

The pendant was a test, and she passed it. She’s more resilient than I expected, more determined. Most humans would have shrugged it off, dismissed it as a coincidence, but not her. She’s digging, searching for answers, and that could be dangerous.

For both of us.

But even as I tell myself I should end this, I know I won’t. I’m too far gone, too caught up in the pull she has over me. My wolf is restless, pacing inside me, eager to claim her, to make her ours. But I’m not ready for that. Not yet.

She’s still too fragile, too unaware of the world she’s stumbled into. If I take her now, if I bring her into my world, it could destroy her. And despite everything, I don’t want that. I want her to understand what she’s getting into before I make my move.

But that doesn’t mean I’ll stay away. I can’t. She’s mine, whether she knows it or not, and I’ll be damned if I let anyone else get close to her.

I’ve spent years building walls, keeping my emotions in check, making sure nothing could ever reach me the way she has. But all of that crumbled the moment I laid eyes on her. She’s different, in ways I can’t even begin to explain. And that difference is what draws me to her, like a moth to a flame, even though I know it could destroy everything I’ve worked for.

The moon is high in the sky now, casting an eerie glow over the orphanage. It’s quiet—too quiet. I can hear her breathing from where I stand, soft and steady, but beneath that calm exterior, I know her mind is racing, trying to make sense of everything. She’s confused, scared even, but there’s a strength there, a fire that refuses to be extinguished. It’s that fire that intrigues me, that makes me want to push her further, to see how much she can take before she breaks.

But there’s a fine line between pushing her to her limits and breaking her completely, and I’m walking that line now. One wrong move, and everything could fall apart. But then, maybe that’s what I want—what I need. To see how far I can go before everything collapses.

I take a step closer, my eyes fixed on the window where she sits, still lost in thought. My wolf growls low in my chest, urging me to go to her, to take her now before she has a chance to slip away. But I hold back, watching, waiting. Patience has never been one of my strong suits, but for her, I’ll make an exception.

She’s mine, whether she realizes it or not. And soon, she’ll understand that. But not yet. I want her to come to me willingly, to choose this life, knowing full well the dangers that come with it. Because once she’s in, there’s no going back. Not for her, not for me. And I need to know that she’s ready for that, that she’s ready for the darkness that will come.

I disappear back into the shadows, my eyes still locked on her. She’s close to the truth, closer than she realizes, and that excites me more than I care to admit. But I won’t let her find it on her own. I’ll guide her, slowly, carefully, until she’s ready to take the final step. Because once she does, there’s no turning back.

Tonight, I’ll let her sleep, let her think she’s safe, that she’s in control. But tomorrow… tomorrow is a different story. I’ll be there, watching, waiting for the moment she’s ready to take that final step into my world. And when she does, I’ll be there to catch her, to claim her as mine. Because that’s what she is—mine.

---

**Isabella**

I wake up to the sound of birds chirping outside my window, the morning light streaming in and casting a warm glow over my room. But the warmth doesn’t reach me. I feel cold, unsettled, as if something is wrong, but I can’t quite put my finger on what it is.

The pendant is still on my pillow, glinting softly in the light, and I reach for it, my fingers closing around the cool metal. The weight of it feels different today, heavier somehow.

I sit up, the events of the previous day rushing back to me in a flood of confusion and unease. The pendant, the man in the forest, the strange pull I feel toward him… none of it makes sense, and the more I try to understand it, the more lost I become.

I know I can’t keep going back to the forest, hoping for answers that never come. Something has to change. I have to take a different approach if I’m going to figure out what’s really going on.

As I get dressed, an idea starts to form in the back of my mind—an idea that both excites and terrifies me. What if, instead of waiting for him to come to me, I try to summon him? The thought is absurd, but it sticks with me. There’s something about that man, something powerful, almost otherworldly, and I can’t shake the feeling that he’s connected to the pendant in ways I don’t understand.

I tuck the pendant into my pocket as I head downstairs, the cool metal a constant reminder of the questions I still don’t have answers to. The other girls are already up, chatting and laughing over breakfast, but their voices seem distant, muffled, like they’re coming from far away.

I grab a piece of toast and sit down at the table, trying to join in, to pretend that everything is normal. But it’s no use. My thoughts are too tangled, too wrapped up in everything that’s happened, and the more I try to push it aside, the more it takes over.

“You okay, Isabella?” one of the girls asks, her voice pulling me out of my thoughts.

I force a smile, nodding even though I know it’s a lie. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just didn’t sleep well last night.”

She gives me a sympathetic look, but doesn’t press the issue, for which I’m grateful. The last thing I want is to explain what’s going on in my head when I don’t even understand it myself.

After breakfast, I slip out of the orphanage and head back toward the forest, but this time, I’m not going to just wander aimlessly. This time, I have a plan. As I walk, I mentally prepare myself, focusing on what I want to say, on the questions I need answers to.

When I reach the clearing, I pause, taking a deep breath. The forest feels different today, almost expectant, as if it’s waiting for something to happen. I pull the pendant from my pocket and hold it up, the crescent moon glinting in the dappled sunlight.

“I know you’re out there,” I say, my voice steady despite the nervous fluttering in my chest. “And I know you’re connected to this.” I hold the pendant up higher. “I need to understand what’s going on. Please, show yourself.”

For a long moment, nothing happens. The forest is silent, the only sound the rustling of leaves in the breeze. I start to feel foolish, like I’m talking to thin air, but just as I’m about to give up, a sudden chill washes over me, and the shadows around me seem to deepen.

I spin around, my heart pounding in my chest, but there’s no one there—at least, no one I can see. The air feels charged, almost electric, and I know, deep down, that I’m not alone.

“Who are you?” I demand, trying to keep my voice steady. “Why did you give me this?”

The pendant in my hand suddenly grows warm, almost hot, and I gasp, dropping it to the ground. It glows faintly, as if it’s alive, pulsing with an energy I don’t understand.

Before I can react, a figure steps out of the shadows—a man, tall and imposing, with eyes that seem to glow in the dim light. It’s him, the man from before, the one who’s been haunting my thoughts.

But this time, he doesn’t just stand there, watching. He moves closer, his presence overwhelming, and I take a step back, my heart racing.

“You called, and I came,” he says, his voice low and rough, sending a shiver down my spine. “You’re more determined than I expected.”

“Who are you?” I ask again, my voice trembling.

He stops just a few feet away from me, his eyes locked on mine. “I am someone who should not be meddled with, little human. You’ve stepped into a world you don’t understand, and now you’re playing with forces beyond your control.”

“Then help me understand,” I say, my fear giving way to frustration. “I didn’t ask for any of this, but it’s happening. I need to know why.”

He studies me for a moment, as if weighing his options. Then, slowly, he crouches down and picks up the pendant, holding it out to me. “This is your key. Your invitation into a world you’re not ready for. But once you cross the threshold, there’s no going back.”

I hesitate, staring at the pendant in his hand. Everything in me is screaming to run, to get as far away from this man as possible. But I know I can’t. I’ve come too far. I need to know the truth.

I reach out and take the pendant, the warmth of it seeping into my skin. The moment I touch it, the air around us seems to crackle with energy, and I feel a strange connection, not just to the pendant, but to him.

“What does it mean?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

“It means you’ve been chosen,” he says, his eyes never leaving mine. “But chosen for what, even I don’t fully know. There are forces at play here, forces older and more powerful than you can imagine.”

“Chosen?” I repeat, my mind struggling to keep up. “Chosen for what?”

He stands up, towering over me, his presence almost suffocating. “That’s something you’ll have to discover for yourself. But know this: the path you’re on is dangerous, and it will only get more so. You’re walking into the unknown, and it will test you in ways you can’t begin to imagine.”

I swallow hard, my heart pounding in my chest. “Why me?”

“Because you were the one who found it,” he says simply, as if that explains everything. “Or perhaps it found you.”

The pendant in my hand pulses again, and I feel a strange warmth spreading through me, a connection that I don’t fully understand but can’t deny.

“What are you?” I ask, the question slipping out before I can stop it.

He smiles, but it’s a cold, dangerous smile. “That, little human, is a question for another time. But know this: I am not your enemy. Not unless you make me one.”

The weight of his words sinks in, and I know he’s telling the truth. This man, whoever or whatever he is, holds the key to the answers I’m searching for. But those answers come with a price—a price I’m not sure I’m ready to pay.

“What do I do now?” I ask, my voice trembling with uncertainty.

“Keep the pendant close,” he says, his voice low and commanding. “It will guide you when the time comes. But be warned: once you start down this path, there’s no turning back. You must be prepared to face whatever comes, no matter how dark or dangerous it may be.”

I nod, my mind racing with a thousand questions. But before I can ask any of them, he steps back into the shadows, disappearing as quickly as he appeared. The forest returns to its quiet stillness, the only sign of his presence the lingering chill in the air.

I stand there for a long moment, the pendant clutched tightly in my hand, my thoughts swirling with confusion and fear. But beneath that fear, there’s something else—something darker, something that thrills me in a way I can’t explain.

I’ve been given an invitation, a key to a world I don’t understand, but one that I can’t resist. I know the path ahead is dangerous, that it will test me in ways I’m not prepared for. But I also know that I can’t walk away. Not now. Not when I’m so close to the truth.

With a deep breath, I turn and head back down the path, the pendant warm against my skin. The answers I’m searching for are within reach, but I have to be willing to pay the price. And as much as it scares me, I know that I will. Because I need to know the truth, no matter the cost.

---

**Aiden**

I watch her leave, my mind a whirlwind of emotions. She’s stronger than I thought, more determined. Most humans would have run by now, but not her. She’s different, and that difference is what makes her so dangerous—and so intriguing.

The pendant has bound her to me, whether she realizes it or not. It’s a connection, a thread that ties her fate to mine. But it’s also a risk, a gamble that could backfire if I’m not careful.

I should stay away, let her figure things out on her own. But I can’t. She’s too important now, too crucial to the plans that have been set in motion. I need to guide her, to make sure she doesn’t stray too far off the path. But I also need to be careful. One wrong move, and everything could fall apart.

The forest around me is silent, the shadows deep and impenetrable. But I know I’m not alone. There are others watching, waiting to see what happens next. They’ve been waiting for a long time, and now, the time is almost here.

I turn and disappear into the shadows, my thoughts already on the next step. The game has begun, and she’s the key to everything. But the game is dangerous, and the stakes are high. One wrong move, and it could all come crashing down.

But I’m willing to take that risk. Because she’s worth it. And because, deep down, I know that she’s the one I’ve been waiting for.