8. Xavier's little ways to win her

IN A MORNING

WANESSA'S POINT OF VIEW:

The morning air was crisp and cool, carrying the faint scent of dew soaked earth and wildflowers. I walked through the village, basket in hand, gathering herbs for the healer. My steps were steady, but my mind wandered to the man who had suddenly appeared in our quiet lives. Xavier, the so called White Knight. There was something about him, something that made my instincts pull in two different directions. On one hand, I didn't trust him fully. He was too intense, too watchful, and his presence stirred something unfamiliar in me. Yet, on the other hand, I felt oddly safe when he was near, as though nothing in the world could touch me when he was around.

"Wanessa. "He said.

I turned at the sound of his voice, deep and smooth, cutting through my thoughts like a blade. Xavier stood a few paces away, his dark eyes fixed on me. His presence was commanding, but there was something softer in his gaze now, something that made my chest tighten.

"Yes?" I asked, keeping my tone neutral.

He stepped closer, his movements deliberate and almost predatory.

"You've been avoiding me." He said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

I frowned.

"I've been busy."I said.

"Busy avoiding me." He countered, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

I rolled my eyes, turning back to the herbs I was sorting.

"Not everything is about you, Xavier."I said.

'Maybe not." He said, crouching down beside me. "But I'd like to think I'm worth a little of your attention."

I glanced at him, startled by the sincerity in his tone.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because I want to get to know you." He said simply.

His honesty caught me off guard. I hesitated, my fingers pausing in their work. 

"Why?" I asked again, this time softer.

He tilted his head, studying me. 

"Because there's something about you, Wanessa. Something I can't ignore. And I think you feel it too."He said.

My heart skipped a beat, but I quickly masked my reaction. 

"I don't know what you're talking about."I said.

"Don't you?" He asked, his voice low and almost teasing.

I looked away, focusing on the herbs in my hands. 

"I don't trust you." I admitted quietly.

His expression didn't falter. 

"That's fair. But I'm not going anywhere, so maybe you could give me a chance."He said.

I sighed, setting the herbs aside. 

"Fine. Tell me something about yourself."I said.

His smirk softened into a genuine smile. 

"What do you want to know?"He asked.

"Why are you here?" I asked, meeting his gaze.

"To find something important." He said, his tone serious.

I raised an eyebrow. 

"And have you found it?"I asked.

"Not yet." He said, his eyes never leaving mine. "But I think I'm close."

There was a weight to his words, a meaning I couldn't quite grasp. I shook my head, standing up and brushing off my skirt. 

"You're impossible." I muttered.

"And you're fascinating." He replied, standing as well.

I turned to leave, but his voice stopped me. 

"Wanessa."He said.

I looked back at him, my heart beating faster than I cared to admit.

"Thank you." He said, his expression sincere.

"For what?"I asked.

"For not running away this time."He said.

I didn't have a response to that, so I simply nodded and walked away. As much as I wanted to keep my distance, I couldn't deny that there was something about Xavier that drew me in. In a morning the soft rustling of leaves accompanied the morning breeze as I knelt by the edge of the stream, rinsing the herbs I'd gathered. It wasn't the forest's usual sounds that distracted me it was him. Xavier. I didn't even need to turn around to know he was there. The weight of his presence was impossible to ignore, like the air grew heavier whenever he was near. My fingers trembled slightly as I finished washing the last bundle of herbs, and I silently cursed myself for being so affected by him.

'Wanessa." His deep voice called softly, startling me.

I turned to see him standing a few paces away, holding a small wooden tray. On it were a bowl of steaming soup, a chunk of fresh bread, and a cup of tea.

'You've been working all morning." He said, his tone calm but firm. "You should eat."

I blinked, caught off guard. 

"I… I'm fine. I don't need-"I said.

"You do." He interrupted, stepping closer. "You're pale, and your hands are shaking."

I instinctively hid my hands behind my back, but his sharp gaze caught the movement. There was no escaping his scrutiny.

"Please." He added, softer this time. "Take it."

I hesitated, my pride warring with the gnawing hunger in my stomach. Finally, I reached out and took the tray from him, careful not to let my fingers brush his. 

"Thank you." I murmured, avoiding his eyes.

As I sat down on a nearby rock to eat, I felt his gaze linger on me. It wasn't oppressive, but it was intense, as though he was studying every detail of my face, every movement I made. My wolf stirred faintly inside me, a weak presence I hadn't felt in a long time. Her voice was barely a whisper, but it was there, tugging at the edges of my consciousness.

"He could be ours." She murmured, her tone hesitant but hopeful.

I froze mid bite, my heart skipping a beat. 

"No." I whispered under my breath, shaking my head.

"What was that?" Xavier asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Nothing." I said quickly, taking another bite to avoid speaking.

But the thought wouldn't leave me. My wolf, weak and battered from rejection and neglect, had never spoken so clearly before. She had always been silent, a distant part of me I could barely feel. And now, here she was, whispering that this man, this stranger might be my mate. He was crouched by the stream, his sharp features softened by the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. There was a quiet strength about him, a steadiness that unnerved me as much as it comforted me.

"No." I told myself firmly. He's just being kind. That's all.

But my wolf didn't agree. She stirred again, stronger this time, and her voice was tinged with longing. 

"He might be the one to heal us."She said.

I clenched my fists, trying to shove the thought away. Xavier was dangerous, and not just because of his reputation. He had a way of making me feel things I wasn't ready to feel, of stirring emotions I thought I'd buried long ago.

"Are you feeling better?" He asked, breaking the silence.

There was genuine concern in his eyes, and it made my chest ache in a way I couldn't explain.

"Yes." I said quietly. "Thank you."

He nodded, his expression softening into a small smile.

"Good. You shouldn't push yourself so hard, Wanessa. You've been through enough." He said.

His words hit deeper than I expected, and I quickly looked away, focusing on the food in front of me. As I finished the meal, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between us. Whether it was my wolf's whispers or the way he looked at me, I wasn't sure but I knew that he was trying to show me ways that I could be happy once again.