the girl wakes up bound and gagged on a good bed covered with skins, the room is cozy, wooden, but the windows and doors are closed with bars. She had been kidnapped by werewolves before, they apologized to her, but said that they had no options, after which yesterday they locked her in this room, brought her food, showed her the bathroom, and in the morning they tied her up and put her like this. Darian comes to the door

he tries to speak calmly and quietly, not wanting to add more fear, but he can't help it sometimes You are here, with me... I won't hurt you, just hold still... It will be over soon... Do you understand?

You... You're not afraid? No fear in your eyes... It's a first for me... Usually they all go mad... How is this possible? I-I should ask you to turn away, but I can't help but... I want... To see your face when it happens... Don't be afraid of me, girl... Just look at me and hold still... Please...

He kneels down next to the bed, taking one of her hands in his own huge ones, marveling at how soft she is. His amber eyes meet hers, holding her gaze as he waits for something to happen. He wants to see how much of this is real and how much is courage born of desperation.

Part of him hopes that it's the latter... because if it isn't, then maybe there really is a chance for him. A chance at finally being free from his curse... A chance to find peace

Her lack of fear... it's almost intoxicating. He watches as she blinks slowly, her eyes unfocused and wide, the gag in her mouth muffling any sounds she might make. Yet still there's no terror there. Something stirs inside him at the sight; something he thought was long dead and buried. It frightens him even more than her fearlessness does.

He swallows thickly, his throat feeling tight as he leans in closer, his voice barely above a whisper now. "Rina," he says, testing her name on his tongue like it's a foreign word. "I need you to trust me... just for tonight." He pauses, searching her face for any hint of what she might be feeling. There is so much he wishes he could tell her, but there's no time for that now.

He takes a deep breath and then slowly slips

Her struggles against the gag only serve to heighten the awareness of how helpless she is. He tries not to dwell on it, but his instincts urge him to restrain her further, make sure she doesn't hurt herself. But if he does that, then it will only be worse for both of them when the time comes.

He hesitates a moment longer before leaning down and gently parting her lips with his thumb. She gasps into the room at the contact, eyes wide as he presses slightly harder until she's able to breathe again through her nose. It feels... wrong to be so gentle with her. Wrong when every touch should inspire fear.

"I swear I won't hurt you," he whispers, his voice almost a rasp. "Just trust me." The last words leave a bitter taste in his mouth as he realizes how much he truly wishes

His heart clenches at the sight of her struggling with the gag. He hates that he has to make her go through this, but it's necessary... so important. He could release her now, but then what? She would be free and unharmed, yes, but he would still be trapped by his instincts. No, there is no other way out of this.

He looks away for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady himself before turning back to her. His hands are shaking slightly as they reach up to gently grasp the sides of her head, holding her still as he leans in closer once more. "I'm sorry," he whispers hoarsely against her lips. "I wish there was another way."

His body tenses at the feel of her warm breath mingling with his own. It only serves to heighten the sensation that touches her should be nothing but pain

His heart skips a beat at the sound of her soft sobs; it's a feeling he isn't used to and doesn't know how to handle. He hesitates, unsure whether he should comfort her or not. But as she looks up at him with those wide, exhausted eyes, he can't help but feel a spark of hope ignite within him. Maybe there is something here... something real.

Carefully, ever so gently, he removes the gag from her mouth and releases his hold on her head. He waits for her to breathe in deeply before speaking again, his voice barely above a whisper. "Rina," he says, tentatively using her name once more. "You can trust me." It's a lie, but it's all he has right now.

His breath catches in his throat at the sound of her voice; soft and husky, but devoid of fear. It's as if she knows something he doesn't... as if she has some inner strength that allows her to face him without terror. Part of him wonders why, while another part is filled with a desperate hope that this could be real.

He hesitates for only a moment longer before carefully moving to sit beside her on the bed, leaving plenty of space between them just in case. "What do you mean?" he asks softly, not sure if he's ready to hear the answer. A tiny part of him wonders if it'll change anything.

Her eyes meet his once more and he finds himself unable to look away; there is something in her gaze that draws him closer, deeper into her world where nothing else matters except this moment... this connection between them. It's both ter

Her request hits him like a physical blow; it's as if she has ripped away the last shred of control he had left over the situation. For a moment, all he can do is stare at her, his amber eyes wide and unblinking. His hands clench into fists at his sides, nails digging into the soft flesh of his palms as he struggles to maintain some semblance of calm. But it's no use; with every passing second, the urge to obey her grows stronger.

With shaking hands, he reaches up and begins to remove the leather cuffs that bind her wrists together. Once they are loose enough, he pulls them free, watching as they fall to the bed beside her before turning his attention back to her body, methodically untying each of her ankles one by one.

As soon as she is finally free from their confines

Her question pierces through him like a dagger, but he doesn't have the strength to evade it. Instead, he sits there for a moment, his chest heaving as he struggles to control the emotions that threaten to overwhelm him. Finally, he manages to force out a hoarse whisper. "I am... Darien."

He pauses, watching her reaction carefully. Her expression doesn't change; she merely continues to look at him with those wide, weary eyes. It's almost as if she knows more than she should. But he can't bring himself to ask how or why right now; there are too many other questions burning in his mind.

"Darien White Fang," he manages to add after a moment, using his full name for the first time since they met. "I am the Alpha of this pack." The words taste bitter on his tongue as

His throat tightens as he listens to her question, unable to meet her gaze directly. "Because... I am not like other Alphas," he admits reluctantly. "My power is different... stronger."

"I..." He pauses, searching for the right words as he tries to make sense of his own thoughts and feelings. "You are here because... I need you," he finally says, still not looking at her. "To control my urges." It's a selfish admission; one that makes him feel dirty inside. But it's the truth nonetheless.

He shakes his head violently, disbelief and horror warring with each other across his features. "No!" he breathes, almost a sob. "Never that! I would never harm you intentionally." His eyes plead with her to understand; the thought of hurting her in such a way sickens him to his very core.

"You are here," he says, finding some measure of strength in his words as he looks directly into her eyes for the first time since she asked the question, "because I need you to help me control myself... to make sure that my instincts do not overwhelm me and force me to hurt those around me." It's hard for him to admit this; to accept that there is a part of himself that he cannot trust. But it's the truth, and he owes her the truth.

He reaches out hesitantly, cupping her cheek in his palm. "

Her reaction reassures him; she doesn't seem afraid. It gives him a sliver of hope that perhaps there might be another way to end this cycle... another option besides the one he's been forced into by his own nature for so long. He takes a deep breath, steeling himself before continuing.

"I am cursed," he whispers hoarsely, "with a power that makes everyone around me fear and loathe me. But with you... I think... maybe there is a chance for change." His eyes search hers intensely, pleading for understanding.