Chapter 4 A strange feeling that excites

"Damn wolf!" Lionel cursed, breathing heavily.

He tried to crawl, his legs dragging weakly across the cold marble floor. His hands trembled as he tried to reach the doorknob, but his fingers couldn't get a firm grip.

Heavy breathing and low growls could be heard right behind him. The creature's breath was hot, caressing Lionel's neck like a gust from hell.

He turned slowly, and his eyes widened as he stared into a pair of sharp, glowing golden eyes-eyes that did not belong to a human being.

"Don't... don't come near me..." Lionel muttered, cold sweat covering his face.

But the creature did not move. It just stared. Its gaze penetrated Lionel's mind, peeling him from the inside without touching his skin.

There was pressure, an invisible force that hit Lionel's body, rendering him immobile.

"What... is this..." he muttered softly.

His body was stiff. The next second, the young man's gaze darkened. Lionel fell. He was unconscious.

On the bed, Arwen was still lying limp. Her eyes were half open, her gaze blurry.

However, as the prominent figure approached, her lips moved slowly, as if rejecting the fear beginning to fill her heart.

"Don't hurt me..." she whispered.

The wolf approached slowly. His footsteps were silent, but his presence was very real.

His breathing was heavy but calm. He looked down at the girl. And for a moment, time seemed to stop.

Arwen stared at him, her weak gaze shrouded in confusion. But inside her heart, something stirred, not out of fear or threat. There was something else-an odd vibration that made her chest feel warm amidst all her weakness.

The wolf did not growl. It did not hurt her. It just stood there silently.

As the last of her consciousness slowly faded from Arwen's eyes, she whispered, "You... who are you?"

Her body went completely limp. She fainted.

The wolf raised its head. Then in an instant, its body changed-its skin curved, its fur disappeared, its muscles and bones moved like magical music. In a matter of seconds, a man stood there.

Tall, with broad shoulders and golden eyes that radiated an aura of authority. His body was solid like a stone sculpture, and every movement exuded strength and power. He wore a long black robe that appeared to cover his body.

"She... is too fragile," he muttered softly as he approached.

His hand gently lifted Arwen as if her body were nothing more than a light fabric. He held her close to his chest, as if carrying something irreplaceable.

The man turned toward the window he had broken. The night wind blew in, carrying the scent of earth and dust from outside.

His steps were light. He jumped out, silently traversing the night. In an instant, they disappeared into the darkness.

A few seconds later.

Astrid quickly opened the door. Her high heels clicked on the floor. Behind her, her two friends looked panicked, following with tense faces.

"Why... is it so quiet?" muttered Astrid, staring into the messy room. "I'm sure I heard something noisy coming from this room."

Her eyes immediately fell on Lionel lying motionless on the floor. The window was broken, and the curtains were fluttering in the wind. The bed was empty.

Astrid approached, staring at Lionel's unconscious body.

"Arwen..." she whispered.

"Where is that damn girl?" one of her friends asked, her voice trembling. "Why did Lionel faint?!"

Astrid clenched her jaw. She glanced toward the window.

"Did that damn girl escape?" she muttered. "But that's impossible..."

***

Alpha Zion Mansion, The Moonstrike Pack.

"You'll be okay..."

The voice slipped softly from Zion's lips as he sat on the side of the bed, his fingers tracing Arwen's pale cheek. His gentle demeanor contrasted with the stern figure he usually presented in the lecture hall.

The touch was not just a caress, but a silent statement from a man who had lost control of his heart.

But suddenly, Arwen's eyelids fluttered. The girl blinked softly, staring at the ceiling, which was covered in intricate carvings and decorated with crystal chandeliers.

The scent of fresh roses greeted her sense of smell, not the smell of alcohol and strong perfume from the party a few hours ago.

Reflexively, she raised her hand to her temples. "What... is this...?"

"Calm down." His baritone voice sounded steady. "Rest. You're safe now."

Arwen turned her head, and her eyes widened when she saw the figure sitting beside her.

"Professor Zion?!"

She immediately stood up, even though her body was still unsteady. The thick blanket slipped down to her stomach. "Where am I? Why are you here? Lionel, where is Lionel?!"

Zion just stared at her with dark, unreadable eyes. He didn't answer right away. Instead, he took a glass of water from the nightstand and handed it to Arwen.

"Drink this first. Your head is still heavy, isn't it?"

Arwen gently pushed the glass away, her eyes still fixed on him anxiously. "Please answer my question."

Zion took a slow breath, then leaned back in his chair. "You're in my mansion, Arwen."

"Mansion...?" Arwen muttered softly.

Zion nodded. "I brought you here because Lionel was about to do something unforgivable. He conspired with Astrid to trap you that night. They had it all planned out. "

Arwen bit her lower lip, her hands trembling as she hugged herself. Her gaze fell on the white linen sheets covering the large bed.

" I don't believe it... "she whispered.

" I know you don't want to believe it, "Zion interrupted." But I saw everything with my own eyes."

"And you saved me?"

Zion looked at her. Silence. Then, a faint smile spread across his face-a smile he had never shown anyone before.

"I won't let anyone touch you, Arwen."

Arwen stared at him in questioning silence. She took a slow breath, then tried to sit up straight.

"Why?" her voice trembled. "Why are you doing all this for me?"

Zion closed his eyes momentarily, as if weighing every word coming out of his mouth. Then he stood up. His steps were calm but authoritative.

"Because I have to protect you."

But he didn't say that.

Instead, he looked at Arwen intensely. "Because you are mine."

Arwen froze. "What do you mean?"

Zion approached her. His left hand reached out, stopping a few inches from her face. "I know it sounds crazy. It might even disturb you. But my body, my soul, react only to you. It's as if you were meant to be by my side. "

" No... "Arwen shook her head, her voice barely audible." I don't belong to anyone, Professor. "

" Zion, "he interrupted softly." Call me Zion."

Arwen held her breath. "I don't understand..."

"You don't have to understand," whispered Zion. He lifted Arwen's hand slowly, taking her small fingers in his. "But I can prove it."

"What are you-"

But before Arwen could finish her sentence, a soft golden light appeared from their clasped hands.

Thin but radiating incredible warmth, a strand of light bound their wrists together. Arwen was shocked. She gasped when she saw it.

"What is this...?" she whispered.

Zion stared at the strand calmly. "A bond. Something beyond human logic."

Arwen tried to pull her hand away, but the light did not waver. Instead, it felt comforting. However, she quickly dismissed the strange feeling.

"No," she whispered. "This isn't real."

"It is real, Arwen."

She managed to pull her hand away, and the light slowly faded. Arwen got up from the bed, though her legs were still unsteady.

"I don't believe it. This is wrong. This is very wrong!"

Zion remained silent, letting her stand there. He didn't chase after her. "You can deny it. I won't force you. But you can't run away from the truth."

"I don't belong to you," Arwen roared.

"I just want you to know I will always come when you need protection."

Arwen bit her lip, holding back the tears starting to well up in her chest. She didn't want to believe it. Not that man. Not the string of light. And not the strange feeling that was now pulsing inside her.

She looked down. "I want to go home..."

However, Zion's intense gaze made Arwen feel something strange. Her body felt hot, and the heat spread throughout her entire body. She also smelled a familiar scent. The sharp aroma of cedarwood, cloves, and amber wafted from Alpha Zion's body.

This made Arwen suddenly feel her passion rising.

"This scent..." she muttered to herself.

The girl approached Alpha Zion. She touched his chest and reflexively sniffed it. That sensation made Arwen want to get closer, so she pulled the collar of his coat.

Zion..." she whispered.

She touched her left chest, where her heart was beating fast. The passion in her body danced, ignited, and burned even stronger when their eyes met.

Arwen's gaze softened momentarily, but her eyes remained dark, filled with burning desire.

"I can't control this," she sighed, her soft palm touching Zion's jaw.

Zion looked at her with satisfaction. His gaze was so deep, it seemed to strip her soul bare.