CHAPTER 3: LETS SEE

ELLA'S POV

You're not one of them," I whispered, a flicker of hope rising in my chest. Perhaps he was not the killer.

The stranger said nothing, his gaze fixed on me like a wolf stalking its prey.

The stranger's silence stretched on, heavy and weighted with the intensity of his stare. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat a reminder of my vulnerability. I had to be careful, had to stay in control.

"What brings you here, witch?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous. The word "witch" hung in the air between us, a reminder of my own secrets and the darkness that lurked in my past.

"I am no killer," I replied, meeting his gaze without flinching. "I seek the one responsible for this, just as you

"His name is Julian," I whispered, revealing what I knew to the stranger. The name seemed to echo through the forest, a name that held secrets and danger. The stranger's eyes narrowed, and I could sense the hunger for vengeance swirling within him.

"And how do you know this name?" he demanded, his voice filled with suspicion. "Are you one of his lackeys?"

"No," I replied, shaking my head. "I am no ally of Julian's. I am his enemy."

My words seemed to give the stranger pause, a crack in his anger and mistrust.

3RD PERSON POV:

As his gaze lingered on her, he felt a spark of something unexpected flicker within him. Despite his suspicion and anger, there was a magnetism about her, a pull that called to something primal and fierce within him. He could sense a strength in her that matched his own, a ferocity that burned like wildfire.

He would be a fool to let his guard down, but he found himself unable to fully deny the attractio

"Julian is a powerful foe," she warned, her voice hushed and urgent. "He wields dark magic, the kind that twists the soul and corrupts the mind. Wherever he goes, death and destruction follow. The scent of blood and magic lingers in his wake, like a miasma that taints the very air."

his eyes narrowed. "And how do you know all this?"

The fire in her eyes cooled, her expression transforming into one of cold detachment. She stepped back, the very air around her seeming to shift, as if she were drawing into herself, becoming a fortress of walls and shadows.

"My past is my own," she said, her voice hard and unyielding. "It is not yours to question or judge. If you want to know more about Julian, then follow his trail of destruction. But do not ask me to relive my nightmares for your benefit."

ELLA'S POV

From my vantage point, I watched Liam's expression shift and change, like clouds shifting across the sky. First, confusion wrinkled his brow, his eyes darting back and forth as if he were trying to read my mind. Then, understanding dawned, a slow and steady illumination of his features. He dropped his gaze, a somber acceptance settling over him.

I remained impassive, my walls of defense still firmly in place. But inside, a tiny part of me ached, yearning to let him in, to trust him with the truth of my past.

I've told you more than enough," I said, my voice hard as flint. "Now tell me, who are you? What's your stake in all of this?"

Liam straightened, his eyes flashing with a dangerous light. "I am Liam, Alpha of the Silver Fang Pack."

Before he could say more, I cut him off. "You're the werewolf king," I said, the words bitter in my mouth. "But that is not your place. You know where your place is, don't you?"

Liam's face hardened, his jaw clenching.