7. Xavier finding Wanessa

AT THE SAME TIME

XAVIER'S POINT OF VIEW:

She looked up, her eyes meeting mine. For a moment, the world seemed to stop. Her expression shifted from surprise to something I couldn't quite place. A wariness, perhaps, or disbelief. She stood slowly, clutching the basket to her chest.

"Who are you?" She asked, her voice soft but steady.

I stepped closer, my heart pounding. 

"I'm Xavier. You might've heard people call me the White Knight, but I'm just a traveler now. No titles, no grand stories, just a man passing through." I said.

Her brow furrowed slightly, and she tilted her head, studying me.

" A traveler? You don't seem like someone who just passes through. "She said.

I chuckled softly.

"I suppose I don't. But I'm here for a reason. This village... it seems special." My gaze lingered on her for a moment before I added. "And the people here seem kind."

She didn't respond immediately, her eyes narrowing as if trying to read between the lines of my words.

"Well, Sundown is a good place. People look out for each other here. "She said.

"I can see that." I said, my voice softening. "It's rare to find a place like this."

Before I could say more, Noah's voice broke through the moment.

"Xavier! Let me show you where you'll be staying."He said.

I turned to see the village leader standing a few steps away, his arms crossed and a welcoming grin on his face.

"Of course." I said, nodding to Wanessa before following him.

Noah led me to a small but well kept cabin on the edge of the village.

"It's not much, but it's warm and dry," he said, pushing open the door.

"It's perfect." I replied, stepping inside. The space was simple, a bed, a table, a chair, but it would do.

Noah leaned against the doorframe, his expression thoughtful.

"You're not just passing through, are you?"Noah asked.

I turned to face him, deciding honesty was my best option. 

"No, I'm not. Wanessa... she's my mate."I said.

Noah's brows shot up, but he didn't look entirely surprised. 

"Does she know?"He asked.

"Not yet. Maybe." I admitted. "And I don't plan to tell her outright. She's been through enough. I need to earn her trust first."

Noah nodded slowly, his respect for my approach evident. 

"You'll have your work cut out for you. Wanessa's strong, but she's guarded. She doesn't let people in easily."He said.

"I don't care how long it takes." I said firmly. "She's worth it."

Later that evening, as the villagers gathered around the fire, I decided to speak openly. They deserved to know my intentions. Standing, I cleared my throat, drawing their attention. 

"I have something to share." I began, my voice steady. "Wanessa is my mate. I didn't come here by chance, I came here for her."

The villagers exchanged surprised glances, their murmurs rising like the crackle of the fire. Noah raised a hand, silencing them. 

"Let him finish."He said.

I nodded gratefully. 

"I know she's been through a lot. I don't want to overwhelm her, but I also can't ignore what she means to me. I'm asking for your help not for myself, but for her. I want to show her that she's not alone, that she's cherished."I said.

The murmurs turned into nods of approval, and one of the older women spoke up. 

"She's a good girl, that one. If you're serious about her, you'll have our support."She said.

"Thank you." I said sincerely.

As the evening wore on, the villagers began sharing stories about Wanessa, her kindness, her resilience, her quiet strength. Each tale only deepened my admiration for her and solidified my resolve. She didn't know it yet, but I was here to stay. And I would do whatever it took to win her heart. When the morning sun filtered through the trees, casting dappled light over the village. I stood leaning against the edge of the small cabin Noah had assigned me, watching Wanessa from a distance. She moved with quiet purpose, gathering herbs near the outskirts of the village. Even in her simple attire, with her hair loosely tied back, she carried an air of quiet strength. I wanted to approach her, to close the distance between us, but I knew she still didn't trust me. Every time I got too close, I could see the guarded look in her eyes, the subtle way she shifted her body as if preparing to bolt. Still, I couldn't stop myself from walking over when I saw her struggling to untangle a particularly stubborn vine from a patch of herbs.

"Need a hand?" I asked, keeping my voice light.

She looked up sharply, her green eyes narrowing slightly. "I can manage." she said, her tone polite but distant.

"I don't doubt it." I replied, crouching down beside her.

"But two hands are faster than one."

She hesitated for a moment before sighing softly.

"Fine. Just don't pull too hard, or you'll ruin the roots."She said.

I followed her instructions carefully, letting her take the lead. Her hands moved deftly, her fingers brushing against mine occasionally as we worked. Each accidental touch sent a jolt through me, but I kept my focus, not wanting to push her away. When we finally freed the herbs, she sat back on her heels, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

"Thanks." She said.

"Anytime." I replied, giving her a small smile.

She didn't return it, but I caught the faintest flicker of something in her eyes curiosity, maybe. It was a small victory, but I'd take it. That evening, as the villagers gathered around the fire, the mood was warm and relaxed. Laughter and the smell of roasting meat filled the air, but my attention was entirely on Wanessa. She sat across from me, her posture a little stiff, her eyes scanning the group as if she were waiting for something to go wrong. One of the older villagers, a man named Garret, leaned forward, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"Wanessa." He said, his tone gentle and kind." You've been here with us for some time now, and we're glad to have you. But I think we've all wondered... how did you end up in the Death Forest?"He asked.

The firelight cast shadows across her face as she froze, her hands tightening around the mug. Finally, she took a deep breath and spoke, her voice steady but laced with pain. 

"My pack kicked me out."She said.

A murmur of shock rippled through the group.

"What?" One of the women gasped. "Why would they do that?"

Wanessa's gaze dropped to the ground. 

"My mate rejected me. For my stepsister. After that, my parents... they said I was an embarrassment, that I wasn't worthy of the pack. They left me in the forest and told me not to come back."She said.

The silence that followed was deafening. My hands lenched into fists, and I felt a growl rising in my throat. They had abandoned her? Left her to fend for herself in one of the most dangerous places imaginable?

"They left you there to die." I said, my voice low and trembling with barely restrained fury.

She looked up at me, her eyes wide. 

"I survived." She said simply, as if that made it all right.

"No." I said sharply, standing up. "That doesn't make it all right. They had no right to do that to you. None."

The villagers nodded in agreement, their expressions a mix of outrage and sympathy.

Garret shook his head. 

"Unforgivable. A pack is supposed to protect its own."He said.

"They don't deserve to call themselves a pack." I muttered, pacing near the fire.

Wanessa shifted uncomfortably, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her shawl. 

"It doesn't matter anymore. I'm here now, and I'm fine."She said.

"No, you're not fine." I said, stopping to look at her. "You're strong, yes. But what they did to you... it's not something you just forget. And they don't get to walk away from it like it didn't happen."

Her lips parted as if she wanted to argue, but she stayed silent. 

"I'm sorry." I said, my voice softer now. "I didn't mean to upset you. But you deserve so much more than what they gave you."

She looked at me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, finally, she nodded. 

"Thank you." She said quietly.

As the fire crackled and the conversation shifted to lighter topics, I couldn't stop thinking about what she had revealed. The anger in me hadn't faded, it had only grown stronger. I would make them pay for what they had done to her. That much was certain. But more than that, I would make sure she never felt abandoned or unwanted again. For a moment, I thought she wouldn't answer.