Chapter 3 A Night Too Close

The city was quieter than usual, the kind of silence that presses against your ears and makes every sound sharper. I told myself I was just going for a walk, clearing my head after the strange encounter the night before. But I knew the truth I was walking toward him, toward the mystery that had taken root in my chest and of course, he was there.

Leaning casually against the alley wall, shadows clinging to him like a second skin. His amber eyes found me before I could even speak, glowing faintly in the dim light. My pulse hitched instantly.

"You came back," he said, his voice low and smooth, a predator's purr wrapped in silk.

"I... I didn't plan to," I stammered, though the lie tasted hollow even to me.

He smiled, just the corner of his mouth, but it made my stomach tighten. "Lies are a dangerous habit, don't you think?"

I tried to take a step back, but something about the way he moved-slow, controlled, deliberate made my knees weak. The air between us seemed to hum with tension.

"I don't understand you," I whispered, finally. "There's something about you... something I can't explain."

He stepped closer, close enough that the heat from his body brushed against mine. I caught the faint scent of him wild, sharp, intoxicating. My hands trembled. My instincts screamed to flee, but I couldn't move.

"You're curious," he said softly, his gaze never leaving mine. "Curiosity brought you back. And now... you're in my world. Whether you like it or not."

I swallowed hard, every nerve alive with anticipation and fear. His closeness was suffocating, yet I couldn't tear myself away. And then it happened.

A sudden movement, and his shadow stretched, darkening unnaturally. His amber eyes flared, glowing brighter. My breath caught as I realized the growl wasn't human anymore. The sound vibrated through my chest, primal and raw.

He stepped so close that our bodies almost touched. My heart pounded in my ears. I wanted to run. I wanted to scream. And yet... I wanted to stay.

Then, just as suddenly, he pulled back, fading slightly into the shadows. But his eyes burned into me, leaving no room for doubt.

I will find you again, they seemed to say.

I backed away slowly, chest heaving, my hands clutching my coat. The alley felt colder now, emptier, and yet somehow heavier with his presence.

I knew something had shifted between us. The danger wasn't gone. The attraction wasn't gone. And whatever he was... whatever he could become... I was already too close.

"I didn't know if I was terrified or drawn to him... but one thing was certain that I couldn't stay away, and I couldn't escape what was coming next."