Chapter Three
844 Words
Nyra didn’t move.
For a moment, she thought she had imagined it. The shift had been too quick, too unnatural for her mind to fully catch. But the space in front of her was no longer the same.
Where the wolf had been—
A man stood there.
Tall. Bare-chested. Completely still.
Nyra tightened her grip on the blade.
Her mind tried to make sense of it, but nothing settled. She had heard stories, but not like this. Not this close. Not real.
He didn’t move right away. His attention was on her, steady and quiet, like he was waiting for something.
Nyra gave him nothing.
He stepped closer.
She didn’t step back.
“You crossed the river,” he said.
His voice was low and controlled, like it wasn’t a question.
Nyra said nothing.
He studied her for a moment, his gaze moving briefly over her before returning to her face.
“You’re not from here.”
She held onto the silence.
It was the only thing she controlled.
He watched her a second longer, then said, “You can speak.”
Nyra didn’t react.
He stepped closer.
“You’re choosing not to.”
Her grip tightened slightly.
That was enough.
“Nyra.”
Her breath caught.
Just for a second.
He saw it.
Of course he did.
“You should have kept running,” he added.
Nyra didn’t respond, but something in her posture shifted. She couldn’t tell what unsettled her more—the fact that he knew her name, or the way he said it like it wasn’t new.
Like he had expected her.
“Do you know where you are?” he asked.
She didn’t answer.
“You crossed into my territory.”
The words settled between them.
Not a warning.
A fact.
Nyra didn’t wait.
She turned and walked.
Not rushed. Not hesitant. Just a decision.
She had barely taken a few steps when something changed.
The air shifted.
She stopped.
When she turned, he was closer.
She hadn’t seen him move.
Nyra tightened her grip on the blade and kept going.
This time faster.
She stepped past him—
And stopped.
He was in front of her again.
Nyra’s patience thinned.
She struck.
He caught her wrist.
Effortlessly.
Nyra twisted, trying to pull free, but it didn’t make a difference. His grip held steady, like he wasn’t even trying.
“Enough.”
His voice was low, but it carried.
Nyra pushed again.
Nothing.
He stepped closer, forcing her back without using real force.
“You’re not leaving.”
Nyra’s jaw tightened. “Move.”
He didn’t.
She struck again, sharper this time.
He caught it again.
This time, he didn’t release her immediately.
“Stop fighting me.”
“I’m not staying here.”
“You don’t have a choice.”
That landed.
Nyra went still, but her eyes didn’t leave his.
“You don’t get to decide that.”
“I already did.”
He let go.
Nyra pulled her hand free immediately and stepped back, putting space between them.
Her breathing was faster now.
Not fear.
Frustration.
She moved again, changing direction, trying to get around him.
It didn’t matter.
He was there.
Always in front.
Nyra stopped.
For a second, she just stared at him, trying to understand how he was doing it.
Trying to find a way past him.
There wasn’t one.
He stepped closer.
This time, she didn’t back up.
“You’re in my territory,” he said. “That makes you my responsibility.”
Nyra let out a quiet breath. “I didn’t ask for that.”
“I don’t need you to.”
Her grip tightened around the blade again.
“Stay out of my way.”
“No.”
The answer was immediate.
Flat.
Final.
Nyra shook her head slightly. “You don’t even know me.”
“I know enough.”
Something in the way he said it made her pause.
Just for a second.
That was all he needed.
He stepped in, closing the distance before she could move again.
Nyra reacted on instinct, lifting the blade, but he caught her wrist before it went anywhere.
This time, he held her there.
Close.
Too close.
“Listen carefully,” he said.
Nyra held his gaze.
“If you walk out of here, you won’t make it far.”
“I made it this far.”
“You got lucky.”
Nyra’s jaw tightened.
“I don’t need your help.”
“That’s not the problem.”
His grip loosened slightly, but he didn’t let go.
“You crossed into something you don’t understand.”
Nyra didn’t look away.
“Then explain it.”
He studied her for a moment.
Then he released her.
“You’ll see.”
Nyra stepped back immediately, putting distance between them again.
Her chest rose slowly as she steadied her breathing.
She didn’t trust him.
Didn’t like him.
Didn’t like that he had already decided things for her.
But she understood one thing now.
He wasn’t going to let her walk away.
Not tonight.
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