Chapter 2 A Glimpse of Fate

Morning mist clung to the ground as Tiara ventured back into the woods as it had become her routine.

Today, she walked deeper than usual, drawn by something she could not explain.

The forest remained stilled as it was still very early.

Then- she heard movements.

Suddenly, a sleek black wolf darted between the trees. Her heart skipped. She turned, prepared to run when he-Alpha Edwin Stone suddenly stepped out from the bush, bumping into her.

Although weak, Tiara tried to hold herself from falling into the moist ground of the woods but she couldn't.

Observing the man before her, he was taller up close. Muscles tensed under his dark cloak, his golden eyes piercing.

"You should not be this deep in the woods," he said.

"I....I....erm..." She stuttered, obviously mesmerized by the sight before her.

"You might be mistaken for a spy considering the fact that you are here all alone, by yourself."

"I am sorry." Tiara apologized.

"It is fine, you really do not have to apologize." he gently replied her.

"It is understandable that you must be so scared and flustered." He said.

"Let me help you up." he said, stretching out his hand to her.

Tiara hesitated. "Should she take his hand or not?" Wondering if she should just get up on her own?"

"Thank you." she replied, finally taking his hand.

Tiara was surprised that she took his hand, she did not know how it happened or what it was but she felt attracted and drawn to the man before her.

"Why are you here, all by yourself?" he asked, leading the way.

"I come here to gather herbs," she replied, following his lead that coincidentally led to her house.

"Are you sick?? Or are your parents ill?" he asked.

"No, not at all." She quickly replied.

"I am healthy and my parents are not sick." she added, hiding the fact that she was an orphan.

"Why then do you come into a dangerous place like this to gather herbs?" he curiously asked.

"I- I gather herbs. For remedies," she stammered.

"For remedies?" He raised his brows.

"I come here to gather herbs so I can sell at the market so as to make ends meet." she replied.

"Ohh, you are an herb seller," he said, nodding his head after getting her explanation.

"Yes, I am." She replied, biting her lips.

The man simply nodded his head and was about to say something else when his eyes fell on someone- hiding behind a big tree that stood close to them.

He stepped closer. "What is your name?"

"Tiara."

"You sure have a fine name and it is so good to have seen you here." He complimented.

Something flickered in his eyes. "You don't feel it?"

"Feel what?" she asked, taking a cautious step back.

"The bond." He tilted his head. "Strange."

"What bond?" The clueless Tiara asked.

The person behind the tree was also dressed like the other men but he appeared to be older and of a higher rank.

The man before Tiara slightly raised his head, maintaining eye contact with the man behind the tree- indirectly sending him a message for him to leave his hideout, unnoticed.

Tiara noticed that his body had drifted away from her, so she followed his gaze-

She was sure that was looking in the same direction as him but she saw nothing.

"What is he looking at? Is someone or something there?" She asked herself.

"Is everything okay?" She questioned the man before her.

"Yeah....yes, everything's fine." He replied, stammering a little.

"Why do you ask though?" He questioned, looking in the direction where her eyes were and he knew that she must noticed his gaze on the hideous person in the forest.

"Ohh, nothing." She replied.

"I thought I saw you move zone out but it must just be as a result of me being tired and exhausted from today's work." She added.

He knew she was actually telling the truth about seeing his attention elsewhere but he could not agree to it.

"Ohh, accept my apologies for keeping you waiting for long when you should be home, resting or doing something more profitable." He said, apologizing to her.

"You do not have to apologize.....sir." she said, not knowing what to call him.

His eyes moved to her lips and watched how they moved and turned against each other as she spoke.

Her lips looked so soft and succulent with a two toned color that added a more alluring look to her face.

"What were you saying?" He asked her, still fixing his eyes on her lips.

Tiara touched her face to see if there was something on it that made him to keep staring at her.

"Is there something on my face?" She asked, wiping her face with the hem of her dress, flustered out of embarrassment.

"No, not at all." he answered.

"If I heard you correctly I think you wanted to know what my name is since you had no idea what to call me." He added.

"Yes, I actually do not know what to call you." Tiara agreed, shying away.

He was so pleased to see how calm, reserved and shy she is.

"Well, I will tell you my name because I believe we will meeting again, and very soon." He said, winking at her.

Tiara was quick to face the other side as she was surprised by his move.

"Alright sir." She replied, biting her lower lip.

"Why is she biting her lower lip now of all times?" He asked himself.

"I know you want to draw her close and kiss her." His wolf said.

"You sure are more attracted to her than I am." He inwardly replied.

"You were going to tell me your name, sir." Tiara mentioned again, bringing him out of the slight daze.

"My name is Edwin." he finally said, telling her his name.

"Edwin Stone." He added, extending his hand out for a handshake.

"Nice to meet you sir." She said, taking his hand.

The duo felt a spark of electricity run through their veins with a magnetic feeling as they both shook hands.

Tiara was quick to withdraw her hand after the sensation she felt.

"Did you say your name is Edwin Stone? You mean Edwin as in the alpha?" She asked, wanting to be sure.

Edwin on the other hand knew why they both felt that sensation, making him motionless with an expression void of surprise

Before he could respond, a howl echoed through the trees. Edwin turned, alert.

"I think you should head home now since I have taken so much of your time." He said, smiling sweetly at her, waving his hand a little like he was not sure if he was doing the right thing.

"Thank you, sir." She said, waving back at him.

Edwin wanted to wait a little more so he could see her turn and leave but he did otherwise and hurried back into the forest before she could take her leave.

"Stay safe, Tiara."

He vanished into the woods, leaving her with a heart thundering in her chest.

Heart still hammering, Tiara bent down to pick up her fallen basket-when she noticed deep claw marks slashed into the tree beside her. Far larger than any normal wolf could make.

A shiver ran through her.

As she reached for a bunch of herbs nearby, her fingers brushed against something cold-a pendant, half-buried in the dirt, pulsing faintly with a blue light.

She picked it up, brushing away the dirt. Her breath caught. The pendant bore the same ancient symbol her father wore on his ring-the ring he never took off, even the night before he died.

Why was it here? What did it mean?