Chapter 2

The wedding reception was still in full swing, laughter and music spilling into the warm night air. But none of it seemed to reach me. My gaze lingered on Alaric, standing by the dance floor with his ever-perfect girlfriend, Emily, her hand casually resting on his arm as they smiled and chatted with another couple.

I'd spent so much time convincing myself that my feelings for him were buried deep, but seeing him like this, so happy and so far from me, it felt like a quiet ache.

Later, as the evening began to wind down, my phone buzzed. It was my parents calling to check in. I stepped away from the crowd to a quiet spot near the edge of the clearing.

"Hi, Mom," I said, forcing cheerfulness into my voice.

"How's the wedding? Did you have fun?" her warm voice asked.

"It's… it's beautiful," I replied, letting her ramble on about some new recipe she'd tried before, even tho she was my step mom she was the best , handing the phone to Dad, who gave his usual, "Don't forget to eat," advice.

As the call ended, I sighed, looking back at the glowing lights of the reception. The thought of rejoining the crowd, of pretending everything was fine, felt unbearable. That ache was back, stronger now.

Then I heard it—a soft voice carried on the wind, low and lilting, like a whisper just out of reach.

"Raven."

I froze, looking around. The reception was too far to hear clearly, and yet…

"Raven."

This time, it was closer, insistent. My pulse quickened as I stepped deeper into the trees, following the sound.

The whisper led me to a break in the woods, and my breath caught as I stepped onto a pristine beach I'd never seen before. The moon hung low over the horizon, painting the waves in silver. The air was thick with salt and mystery, and for a moment, all my unease melted away.

I walked to the shoreline and sat on the cool sand, letting the peace of the scene wash over me. This place felt untouched, sacred, like it existed outside of time.

And then I wasn't alone.

I turned my head sharply as I heard the soft crunch of footsteps behind me.

The man was impossibly striking, tall with long, golden hair that shimmered in the moonlight. His skin seemed to glow faintly, pale and smooth like polished stone. He wasn't wearing a shirt, and water dripped from his hair, trailing down the sculpted ridges of his chest.

"Who are you?" I asked, scrambling to my feet.

His gaze was piercing, blue like the deepest part of the ocean, swirling with something untamed. He looked at me like I was an intruder in his kingdom.

"You shouldn't be here," he said, his voice low and edged with authority.

"Well, I'm sorry, but your beach wasn't marked 'private,'" I shot back, though my voice wavered slightly under his intensity.

"This place is forbidden to you," he said sharply, taking a step closer.

"Forbidden?" I crossed my arms, annoyed by his arrogance. "Look, I didn't mean to disturb your midnight swim. I just… followed a sound."

His expression flickered for the briefest moment, but his tone remained cold. "You heard a call you shouldn't have answered."

I frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you're trespassing," he said, his voice dropping, like a warning.

I couldn't help myself. "You always this rude, or am I just lucky tonight?"

His lips twitched, but it wasn't quite a smile. "You shouldn't be here," he repeated.

"Yeah, you've mentioned that," I muttered, stepping back as his presence seemed to grow heavier, pressing against me.

"Leave," he said, the finality in his tone making it clear this wasn't a suggestion.

But before I could respond, I heard it again—a soft whisper, faint but distinct.

"Raven."

I turned sharply, but there was nothing there. When I looked back, the man's expression had hardened.

"Don't follow it," he said, his voice suddenly grave. "Go back to your world before it's too late."

"Too late for what?" I demanded.

But he didn't answer. Instead, he turned, walking toward the waves. And as I watched, his form shimmered, dissolving into the water like he was never there.

I stood there for a long moment, the soft crash of the waves the only sound in the air. When I finally returned to the reception, my mind raced with questions. But I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd just stepped into a world far beyond my own—and I wasn't sure if I wanted to leave it behind.