1. The Shadow Seeker

I had just set up my easel on the beach and settled in to paint. The day was beautiful and the sun was giving off the perfect light to paint the scenery today. I longed to use the vibrant colors on my pallet to bring the ocean and the sky alive.

I set the canvas on the old wooden easel that I rocked into the sand. Once the easel was leveled out I sketched the ocean and closed my eyes to let the waves and the sounds of the beach calm my soul. I needed a stillness inside of me before I placed a brush upon the waiting canvas.

Suddenly I felt someone staring at me. As I looked around, I couldn't see anyone, but my senses were on high alert. I felt the danger coursing through my veins. I could feel the chill in the air moving towards me, his presence.

I stood up and looked again into the woods, as the air grew colder. I was frozen into place as the fear in me started to grow.

Why today? What changed?

He wouldn't seek me out and give his secrets away in the daylight.

I was just being über paranoid.

Yet here I was being a silly school girl. I called out his name, but as his name rolled off my tongue, his presence instantly disappeared.

The cold was gone. My fear subsided but I was no longer in the mood to paint and so I packed up my art supplies as quickly as possible and carried them to the car.

I felt a bit safer in the parking lot as there were other cars and parents moving about with their children in tow. So I didn't rush loading my easel and canvas into the trunk of my beat up sedan.

I should have known better than to have a false sense of security knowing that he was around.

As I sat in the driver's seat, I wondered where we went wrong. The words spoken; unspoken. The anger in my heart; the hate in his. Now instead of loving him, I was living in fear of his shadow and the man I believe him to be.

How much more do I fear being in his presence? Not knowing what harm will come. He can't break my heart any further, but maybe he can take my soul. I still don't really grasp his powers and if they are used for good or evil.

What I do know is that he's a very powerful man and I am completely powerless when I am wrapped in his arms.

I shook my head and tried to banish these crazy thoughts. I don't love him! I can't! Putting the key in the ignition I started the car and just as I was ready to back out of my spot, he was standing there in all his glory.

Oh, how I hated myself for the crazy thoughts swirling around in my brain. Lust and desire were powerful elixirs to weaken my resolve when I am around him and he wasn't playing fair.

Damn you!

I knew I should just drive away, but I reluctantly put the car in park and took the keys out of the ignition, as I slowly got out of the car.

He was calling me to him, without speaking. His power was seductive but I could resist if I truly wanted to.

I could hear his voice inside my mind. I didn't want to believe him. He just kept casting that he wanted to talk.

I knew that he shouldn't be trusted, after all the lies he's told. His hidden world of deception and evil. Yet he could be so gentle and caring. I was clueless as my heart betrayed me.

I was wracked with utter confusion for this vile man standing in front of me.

As I shook my head to free me of his thoughts, he spoke out loud, "Anna, please come here and let's talk this through."

He knew his spoken word was more powerful as he realized I could fight off the unspoken when he cast his thoughts into my mind.

I saw the frustration growing in his eyes as I fought him off. For whatever reason, I could resist him and evidently it drove his desires for me to new heights.

I stood my ground to his annoyance. I crossed my arms and shook my head. I didn't move an inch towards him.

Then he gave in and walked towards me faster than humanly possible.

I didn't understand the signs of a mate or I might have reacted differently towards him from the beginning. I would have tried to run but he would always be able to find me.

I tried to get back in the car but I was too slow, too late. As I struggled with the key fob, he took me in his arms and just held me and said, "Anna, we need to talk. I can't have you being a rouge and on your own. You know too much."

"Just stay away from me and I'll stay away from you," I shrugged as I spoke those silly words. For it was much more complicated than I could comprehend.

His hands entangled in my red hair and I could hear the rhythm of his breathing. He buried his face in the mess of my wind blown hair and I could feel his warm breath cascading down my neck sending shivers down my spine.

He was trying to drive me mad, as he cast me the memories of our last encounter and the bitter words that had been spoken.

His touch might have been sensual as his hands pulled me closer and our bodies were intertwined in his embrace but he was being vindictive as he cast memory after memory to me.

He was trying to break me with my past emotions and words and I wasn't going to last long, under his spell.

This time, I was helpless and unwilling to fight him anymore.