4. ELOWEN

Chapter 4

ELOWEN

Who exactly is this man?

Why can't I take my eyes off him? And why is my heart pounding in my chest?

I stand by the door of our healer's hut, watching as one of our healers attends to the Alpha and his pack.

The man I rescued is standing before me, his shirt discarded and his chest bearing a fresh claw mark. My gaze locks onto that muscular chest before rising to his piercing grey eyes that seem to penetrate deep into my soul.

Emotions become a maelstrom inside me.

There's lust, undeniable and raw, coursing through my veins, mingling with confusion and a hint of something else I can't quite place. Could it be... love? That's absurd.

He flinches slightly, and my eyes drop back to his wounded chest. Anger boils up inside me, hot and fierce, at the thought of another set of hands touching him.

I want to snatch the healer's hand away, to replace it with mine, to tend to his wounds myself.

With all the force I can muster, I will myself to look away, to break free from his gaze. But somehow, my eyes find their way back to him, and he's still looking at me, his gaze unwavering, his presence like a magnetic force pulling me closer.

I grit my teeth in frustration, a bit embarrassed for feeling this way.

But deep down, I know there's no denying the pull between us, the undeniable connection that seems to transcend time and space.

As our eyes meet again, I feel something shift inside me. A spark ignites between us that threatens to consume us both. And at that moment, I know nothing will ever be the same again.

I remember learning about this rare feeling, this undeniable connection that signifies the bond between mates. And as the realization dawns on me, I realize deep down that he is my mate. But the knowledge fills me with a sense of dread, as this can ruin the alliance and safety of my people.

I'm lost in my thoughts, contemplating the impossible situation I am in, when someone clears their throat behind me. Startled, I snap out of my reverie to see Finn standing there, studying me curiously.

Turning to face him, I meet his weary gaze and can't help but feel a tad bit disappointed in myself for looking away from the man.

"Is everything okay?" Finn asks.

I glance at the guard standing behind Finn and ask if my father has been reached. The guard shakes his head, and I nod before turning back to Finn.

With a heavy sigh, I walk out of the healer's hut. Finn falls into step beside me. He looks at me expectantly, his brow furrowed with concern.

"Elowen, what's going on?" He asks. "I saw the way you were looking at that guy back there. It looked like you wanted to tear his clothes off."

"I think I've found my mate," I confess, my voice barely above a whisper.

Finn's eyes widen in shock. He opens his mouth to speak, but no words come out. Instead, he just stands there, his eyes filled with a mixture of emotions that mirror my own.

I am flushed with embarrassment at his expression. I take a deep breath, meet his gaze, and begin to tell him everything, starting from the moment I saved the mysterious man in the woods to the overwhelming realization that he is my mate.

As I recount the events, Finn listens intently, his expression shifting from concern to shock.

"Your mate?" Finn repeats incredulously. "But what about Kain? What about the promise you made to marry him?"

I bite my lip, feeling a wave of guilt wash over me. "I don't know, Finn," My voice is hoarse. "But I can't ignore this connection I feel. It's like nothing I've ever experienced before."

Finn nods, his expression somber. "I know you, Elowen," he says softly. "And I know you wouldn't make this decision lightly. But you need to be prepared for the consequences, whatever they may be. You know how Kain is. He will never let you go. Not now, after you've finally accepted his proposal."

I swallow hard, knowing that Finn is right. The path ahead is uncertain and fraught with danger, but I can't deny the pull of my mate's presence, drawing me closer with each passing moment.

Finn's questions echo in my mind as we walk, his words triggering my anxiety. Does that man even know who I am? Does he realize he's my mate? And most importantly, is he going to fight for me?

I let out a sigh, shaking my head in frustration. "I don't know, Finn—but I'm about to find out."

With a determined nod, I turn back towards the healer's hut, steeling myself for the confrontation ahead. But as I enter the room, ready to tell the healer to leave, I'm greeted with an unexpected sight.

The mysterious man stands alone in the center of the room, his back turned to me. My breath catches in my throat at the sight of a pair of eyes tattooed on his back. They look so familiar.

My heart pounds in my chest as I realize where I've seen them before— they're mine, the same eyes I've seen countless times in the mirror.

Before I can process this revelation, the man turns to face me, his gaze locking with mine. And in that moment, all thoughts flee from my mind, replaced by the overwhelming sense of recognition and connection that surges through me.

For the first time, I feel like I'm truly seeing him, and he's seeing me in a way that goes beyond words.

Unable to tear my gaze away from his, I feel myself being drawn closer to him by some invisible force. My pulse notches up as we stand there, locked in a silent exchange, our eyes speaking volumes without a single word exchanged.

As if hypnotized, we take a step toward each other, and I freeze momentarily, my body tingling with anticipation. But the pull is too strong to resist, and I continue to walk towards him.

I can barely breathe as his eyes roam over my face, tracing every contour with an intensity that sends shivers down my spine.

And when he stops in front of me, with little space between us, a low growl vibrates from his chest, causing my breath to catch in my throat.

Before I can react, he leans down and places his face in the nook of my neck, taking a deep sniff. His warm breath makes goosebumps prickle my skin, and I feel a surge of electricity coursing through me as he growls, "Mine."

His voice sends a tremor through me as a wave of desire crashes over me. I almost moan at the sensation, but I catch myself just in time, biting my lip to stifle the sound.

Snap out of it, Elowen. Do what you came here to do.

"Who are you?" I manage to whisper. "What's your name?"

He seems a bit absentminded as he plays with me, his touch giving me pleasant chills. His fingers trail slowly over my shoulders, tangling in my hair, and I can't help but lean into each caress, craving the contact.

" Thorne," he replies in a low, husky voice. "Alpha of Silver Crescent Pack."

His name resonates, stirring something deep inside that I can't quite put into words.

But before I can dwell on it further, his presence overwhelms my senses, clouding my thoughts and leaving me unable to think straight.

His touch feels like fire against my skin, igniting a primal desire I can't ignore. And as I hold onto him, my hands resting on his chest, I feel a sense of belonging wash over me, as if I've finally found my place in the world.

"Th-thorne," I stutter, my voice betraying my nerves. "W-what are you doing here? Why were you attacked?"

He chuckles softly, the sound sending shivers down my spine. "I was on a mission to find someone," he explains, his voice laced with amusement. "And as for the attack, it seems our paths crossed at just the right moment."

I can feel the heat rising to my cheeks as he teases me, his touch sending waves of pleasure coursing through me.

But despite my embarrassment, I can't help but be drawn to him, to the magnetic pull of his presence that seems to grow stronger with each passing moment.

As he plays with me, his fingers trailing over my skin, I lose track of time, lost in the intoxicating haze of our connection.

I want to say something, anything, but before the words can form, his lips graze my cheek, and a soft, involuntary moan escapes me. I freeze as the sound fills the air, the reality of the moment crashing down on me like a tidal wave.

Quickly, I push away from him, my chest heaving as I try to catch my breath. His eyes are clouded with desire, mirroring my tumultuous emotions.

"I-I'm sorry," I stammer, my voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't mean—"

Before I finish my sentence, he reaches out to me, his touch gentle yet firm as he cups my face in his hands.

"Don't apologize," he murmurs, his voice husky with desire. "I can feel it too, Tiger. This connection between us—it's undeniable."

I tremble under his touch, my heart racing as I look into his eyes.

I need to ask him questions. I need to be able to think.

"Wait... Please wait," I breathe out, my voice shaky. "I want to speak with you. And I can't do that with you being so close to me." I push away from his touch and take a few steps back. "And my name is not Tiger, it's Elowen."

My heart pounds in my chest as I try to put some distance between us, needing space to clear my head.

But he doesn't seem to like that I'm no longer in his arms. His desire clouds his judgment as he growls and attempts to pull me back towards him. I raise my hands in protest, holding him at bay as I muster the courage to speak.

"Nuh-uh," I say firmly, shaking my finger. "Let's talk."

He grits his teeth in frustration but ultimately relents. We stand there, staring at each other, our breaths coming out in ragged gasps as the tension between us crackles in the air.

But as I try to gather my thoughts, everything I want to say suddenly flies out of my head.

Fuck it . I think, feeling a surge of reckless abandon coursing through me. And almost as if he senses it too, we both move toward each other, unable to resist this bizarre and relentless pull.

In an instant, his arms wrap around my waist, tugging me close as his lips meet mine in a searing kiss. The taste of him is intoxicating, and I'm lost in the sensation.

I can feel his hardness pressing against me, and I moan into his mouth as he deepens the kiss.

I can't believe how quickly things have escalated, but I don't want to stop. There's something about him that sets me on fire, and I want more.