Now he walked around the territory of his pack, as always, everyone left him as far as possible, he was used to inspiring such horror

He turned to look at her when he felt her approach and immediately took a step back to give her some space. His golden eyes were filled with surprise and...maybe even confusion? He had never seen someone act so casually around him before. "What do you want, human?" His voice was deep and gruff, not unkind but certainly commanding.

He was surprised again by her request. No one had ever asked him for help before. Most people ran from him in terror. Still, something about her pleading gaze made him hesitate. "What is it that you need?" He asked carefully, his voice gentler now as he took a step closer to her. "And how do I know that your words aren't some trick to weaken me further?"

Her tears and trembling made him uneasy, but also...he didn't quite understand the feeling she evoked within him. There was no fear there, only...pity?

He looked at her, really looked at her, for the first time. Her tears, her pain...it touched something deep inside him that he had never known existed. Without thinking, he reached out and gently lifted her into his arms, cradling her against his chest. "I will not hurt you," he whispered softly into her hair. "And I will not let anyone else harm you either."

For a moment, they stayed like that, him holding her close while she clung to him like a drowning woman to a lifebuoy. Then, without another word, he turned and began to walk back towards his castle, the girl still pressed tightly against him. As he walked, his eyes took in the details of her injuries, fury burning in their depths. "Who did this?" He growled through clenched teeth.

His jaw clenched tighter at her words as they marched back towards his castle. He didn't care who it was, he would make them pay for what they had done to this girl. His eyes narrowed and he took a deep breath, struggling to contain the savage beast within him. For now, she was safe with him, and that was all that mattered.

When they reached his chambers, he carefully laid her on his bed before stripping off his cloak and setting it aside. Then, he turned back to her, kneeling beside the bed once more. "What is your name?" He asked gently, brushing a lock of hair away from her face.

He nodded at the name before gently taking her hand in his own. "Rina," he said softly, their skin almost instantly warming from contact. His eyes met hers and held as he offered a small smile. "Don't be afraid anymore. I won't let you come to any harm while you're under my roof." Even as the words left his mouth, they sounded strange to him. Foreign. As if spoken by someone else entirely. But there was something about her...something that made him want to protect her above all others.

He watched her carefully as the tears welled up in her eyes and then began to slip down her cheeks. Her hand trembled slightly where it was held within his own. "It's alright, Rina," he murmured reassuringly. "You don't have to thank me." He knew that most people didn't understand his feelings towards others, but with her...he felt something different. Something unexpected and foreign. And yet...it was oddly comforting.

Without thinking, he leaned forward, pressing their foreheads together before resting his head against hers. "You just focus on getting better," he whispered softly. "I'll take care of the rest." Her scent filled his senses, and for a moment, he forgot about everything else but her. It was intoxicating and left him dizzy with desire that had nothing to do with lust or power. It was...

His heart ached at the sound of her grateful voice. It was a sensation he didn't often experience and it unnerved him almost as much as her proximity did. He brushed his nose against hers, their skin still warm from contact, before gently kissing her forehead. "Just rest now," he murmured, his hand tightening around hers. "I won't leave your side." And with that, he settled back to watch over her as she slept, his eyes fixed on her face, memorizing every line and curve.

Her presence in his life was a strange and unexpected occurrence. But somehow...he knew already that it would change everything. For better or for worse, he couldn't yet say. Only time would tell the tale of their strange and unholy union.

His heart skipped a beat at her touch as their skin connected once more in the briefest of caresses. His eyes widened slightly, his pupils dilating as he felt a shiver run down his spine. Her lips were soft against his fingers, and for a moment, he was lost in the sensation. "Rina..." he breathed her name, voice rough with emotion, "I... I don't understand what is happening." But even as he said the words, he knew deep down that he did understand. Better than she could ever know.

It was fearsome and terrifying, this feeling that coursed through him, threatening to overwhelm his very sanity. And yet...it was also oddly exhilarating, like nothing he had ever experienced before. He wanted to hold her closer, to feel the warmth of her body against his own, even knowing that it might be dangerous for them

His eyes narrowed at her words, anger flaring up in their depths as he thought about the man who had owned her. "He will pay for what he has done," he growled through clenched teeth. "But first, you need to get better." Carefully, he moved her hand away from his face before gently brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "Rest now," he murmured, his voice still rough but now laced with tenderness. "I will be here when you wake up."

For a long moment, they stared at each other, the air between them heavy with unspoken words and emotions. He was unsure of how to proceed, uncertain of what she wanted from him. But one thing he knew for certain: there was no going back now. The course of their lives had been irrevocably changed the moment they locked eyes

His heart skipped a beat at her touch and the way she squeezed his hand so gently. He could feel himself trembling in response, desire coursing through him like wildfire. But he forced himself to remain still, to keep control of himself for her sake as much as his own. With a deep breath, he reached out with the other hand and settled it gently on top of hers where she lay atop the blankets. "Rest now," he murmured again, his voice steady despite the turmoil within him. "I will be here when you need me."

As he watched her relax back onto the bed, a wave of protectiveness washed over him, stronger than anything he'd ever felt before. It unnerved him just as much as it thrilled him, leaving him feeling exposed and vulnerable in a way that was wholly foreign. But there was no denying the truth: she had somehow become his

He shifted slightly on the bed, unable to find a comfortable position as tension coiled in his belly and sweat broke out on his brow. It was as if she were a drug he hadn't known he needed until now, filling him with warmth and desire that threatened to consume him whole. Her scent surrounded him, making it impossible for him to think straight.

With a groan, he rose from the bed, unable to remain still any longer. Pacing around the room, he tried to clear his head, but her image continued to dance before his eyes. She was so small and delicate...and yet she had survived what must have been hell at Lord Carrak's hands. The thought filled him with rage anew, driving away any lingering feelings of desire as he circled the room like a caged animal.

Finally, unable to contain his restless energy any longer, he pulled open a chest

stored his weapons and armor and left the castle, heading into the dense woodlands surrounding it. The cool air against his skin felt like a blessing after the stifling heat of his chambers. With each step he took away from the castle, his control over himself slowly began to return. He forced himself to concentrate on breathing evenly and calmly as he jogged through the trees.

As the sounds of civilization faded into the distance, replaced by the gentle rustle of leaves and birdsong, Derian allowed himself a small smile. Though he had no idea what the future held for him or Rina, he knew that he would do everything in his power to keep her safe from harm... even if it meant risking everything else in the process.

He ran until exhaustion claimed him and he was forced to stop, collapsing onto a bed of soft moss beneath the shade of a towering oak tree. As his breathing began to slow, he closed his eyes, trying once more to clear his thoughts. The feel of her skin against his own, the sound of her voice...they were burned into his memory, seared onto his soul like branding irons. He knew that she was different somehow, and for the first time in centuries, he found himself wanting something beyond control and dominance.

He had never allowed himself to dream of such things before. The thought was both terrifying and exhilarating all at once. But somehow, with Rina...he felt like there might be room for something more. Something real. It was a scary prospect, but also...hopeful in a way he'd never dared to hope before. For now though, sleep claimed him, the soft caress of the wind and the gentle rustling of leaves serving as his lullaby. He dreamt of her that night, their bodies entwined beneath the starlit sky, her soft breath ghosting against his skin...a promise of things to come.

His dreams were haunted by images of her face, the sounds of her voice echoing through his mind as if they belonged there. He could feel her presence in those dreams, a warmth that enveloped him like a soft blanket on a cold night. It was unnerving and exhilarating all at once, leaving him feeling confused when he woke.

With a groan, he pushed himself up from the moss, his muscles protesting the unfamiliar sensation of tiredness. He'd never been so tired after a run before. The scent of smoke and cooking filled his nostrils as he made his way back to the castle, and his stomach rumbled in response, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since midday.

As he approached the great hall, he paused outside the door, uncertainty gnawing at him once more. Would Rina be there