Silent Tension

They stood frozen, caught in a stigma of uncertainty—not knowing how to respond or act as they found themselves surrounded by a group of strangers and wolves.

Ella and her bodyguards had believed they'd stumbled upon an isolated village, far removed from modern society. Nestled deep in the mountains or forest, it seemed untouched by the outside world. However, their assumptions began to unravel as they studied their surroundings.

The villagers' attire hinted at wealth, their garments finely woven and adorned with intricate patterns. Their weaponry, though primitive by modern standards, was pristine and well-crafted: swords with gleaming blades, hammers of forged steel, and arrows tipped with sharpened bone or stone. The contrast was striking.

Why swords, arrows, and spears? Ella wondered. How do they defend themselves against guns?

The tension thickened as both groups assessed each other. Ella's bodyguards instinctively tightened their protective formation, their sharp eyes flickering between the villagers and the massive wolves prowling nearby.

Then, the crowd shifted. A hushed ripple passed through them as they parted, giving way to a single figure.

He emerged like a shadow made flesh. Tall, broad-shouldered, and radiating authority, Darian moved with the confidence of someone accustomed to power. The air around him seemed to hum, and even the wolves lowered their heads slightly as he passed.

Ella's gaze locked onto him, her curiosity sharpening. There was no doubt in her mind—this man held sway over the villagers. Yet there was something else. Something intangible.

Darian's eyes swept over the newcomers, but his focus lingered on Ella. Her scent filled his senses, consuming his thoughts. Mate. The word pulsed through him like a heartbeat, both he and his wolf enthralled by her presence.

Stopping a short distance from Mason, Darian stood before them, his eyes unwavering as they met Ella's.

He spoke.

"⟟⧫⏃⍀⟒ ⏁⍀⟒⍜⎅⍀ ⏃⎅⍜ ⏚⏃⏁⍜⍙⟟⏁⟟⏃⏁ ⎍⏃⏚⎅⏃⍙⏃⏁⟒?"

The sounds were foreign, completely alien, and beyond recognition of Earth's many languages. His deep voice carried a rhythm, the words laced with authority and curiosity.

Ella blinked, unsure how to respond. She glanced briefly at Mason, whose furrowed brow betrayed equal confusion. Neither she nor her bodyguards could decipher the meaning of his words, but his commanding presence left no room for dismissal.

The silence that followed was heavy. Darian waited patiently, though his wolf stirred with excitement, eager to be closer to her. Despite the stillness, Darian's mind was restless. His wolf growled at the sight of her surrounded by other men, their protective stance around her chafing at him.

They're too close. Too familiar.

It was irksome, to say the least. Yet Darian suppressed the urge to act on his instincts. They both agreed—any reckless display of possessiveness might frighten her away. There will be time to address this later, he thought grimly. For now, patience was paramount.