Chapter6
836 Words
Chapter6
The house—if I can call it that—is unlike anything I've ever seen. From the outside, it appeared to be a modernized cave, but inside, it's a sprawling space with high ceilings and natural stone walls polished to a gleam. Sunlight filters through skylights cut into the rock above, casting warm patches on the wooden floors.
"This is the main living area," Leon says, his hand still holding mine. The warmth of his touch is distracting.
The space opens to a kitchen that would make any chef jealous—all gleaming countertops and state-of-the-art appliances. Beyond that, I glimpse what looks like a dining room, and several hallways branching off in different directions.
"How is this possible?" I ask, unable to hide my wonder despite myself. "We're inside a mountain?"
"Part of one," Liam answers from behind me. His proximity sends another wave of that strange awareness through me. "Our ancestors carved it out generations ago."
"Ancestors?" I turn to look at him, searching his face for clues. "So you're..."
"A family with unusual tastes in architecture," Leon finishes smoothly, but there's a glint in his eye that tells me there's more to it.
I pull my hand from his grip, needing space to think. "And what, you just bring random women here against their will?"
Liam's jaw tightens. "You're not random."
"Then what am I?" My voice rises with frustration.
The two men exchange a look that speaks volumes in a language I don't understand. It's Leon who answers.
"You're our mate," he says simply. "Our perfect match. The one meant for both of us."
I shake my head, backing away. "That's not a thing. People don't have 'mates.'"
"Normal people don't," Liam says, and there's that flash in his eyes again—amber-gold, like a predator's.
"We're shifters," he says. "Wolves, to be specific."
I laughed, the sound brittle and unconvincing even to my own ears. "Werewolves? Seriously?"
"We prefer shifters," Liam says dryly. "It's… more accurate. We're not creatures of myth or legend. We're… something else entirely."
"This is insane," I muttered, running a hand through my tangled hair. "I've been kidnapped by delusional men who think they're…" My words trailed off as I met Liam's gaze, a flicker of something wild and ancient in his eyes.
The words die in my throat as Liam's eyes change completely, pupils elongating, irises blazing gold. A low growl emanates from his chest—not human, not even close.
The words die in my throat as Liam's eyes change completely, pupils elongating, irises blazing gold. A low growl emanates from his chest—not human, not even close.
I stumble backward, colliding with Leon who steadies me with gentle hands. "Easy," he murmurs. "He won't hurt you. Neither of us will ever hurt you."
"This can't be real," I whisper, but I know it is. Somehow, impossibly, it is.
"It's why you feel the pull," Leon explains, his voice soothing against my ear. "The connection. Your body recognizes what your mind doesn't yet understand. You belong with us."
"I don't belong to anyone," I say, but the conviction in my voice is waning.
"With," Liam corrects, his eyes slowly returning to normal. "You belong with us. There's a difference."
I shake my head again, needing to clear it. "I had a life. A fiancé. A future all planned out."
"A future you were dreading," Leon points out gently. "We could feel your misery from miles away. It called to us."
"That doesn't give you the right—"
"No," Liam interrupts, surprising me. "It doesn't. And if you truly want to go, to return to a life that makes you unhappy..." He swallows hard, the words clearly painful for him. "We won't stop you."
Leon's head snaps toward him. "Liam—"
"We won't," Liam insists, his eyes never leaving mine. "But not yet. Give us three days. Three days to show you what your life could be. If you still want to leave after that, we'll take you back."
I stare at him, searching for deception and finding none. "Why should I trust you?"
"Because we're meant for each other," he says simply. "And deep down, you know it too."
I should say no. I should demand they take me home immediately. But the thought of returning to my old life—to a fiancé I don't love, to a future I've been dreading—doesn't fill me with the relief it should.
"Three days," I agree finally. "And then I decide."
Relief washes over both their faces, so palpable I can almost taste it.
"Thank you," Leon says, and the genuine gratitude in his voice makes something twist inside me.
Liam nods once, then gestures to one of the hallways. "There's more to see."
As I follow them deeper into their strange, beautiful home, I can't shake the feeling that I've just made a decision that will change everything. And the strangest part? I'm not entirely sure I'll regret it.
- Writer
