the girl lay tied up and gagged on a large, warm bed. Derian stood outside the door. Nothing was explained to her, she was simply kidnapped by a pack of werewolves while she was walking through the forest, they brought her here, apologized for the fact that they needed to do this, tied her up, undressed her and left her on the bed

The girl's fear and the recognition in her eyes cut him deeply. He was not used to this reaction from anyone in his pack, and certainly not from a woman he had never seen before. Something about her calm demeanor unnerved him even more than the fear or horror he usually faced. As he watched her, a mixture of confusion and surprise crossed his features as well. For a moment, they stared at each other like two strangers at a crowded party, their eyes locked in an invisible tug-of-war. Then, with a sigh, he stepped forward and knelt beside the bed.

"My name is Derian," he said softly, gently reaching out to caress her cheek. "I'm sorry for what you're going through right now... I wish there was another way..." His voice trailed off as he studied her face, searching for some sign of understanding or acceptance.

As she nodded in submission, Derian couldn't help but feel a strange mix of relief and guilt. His hand remained on her cheek, the touch light but firm. He waited for her to speak, hoping that somehow they could find a way through this mess without him having to resort to... what he had to do.

Her lips parted, and she whispered his name. The sound was like music to his ears, soothing the raging fires of desire that threatened to overwhelm him. For a fleeting moment, he dared to hope that perhaps she wasn't afraid of him after all... that maybe there was some other reason she had accepted her fate so willingly.

He leaned closer, his warm breath brushing against her neck as he asked in a hushed tone, "What is your name, little one?" His voice was soft and gentle, almost tentative, like he wasn't quite sure what to

His gaze softened as he understood her dilemma. He smiled reassuringly and brushed a strand of hair away from her face, "I understand," he murmured. "Just... relax. I'll take care of you." He slowly untied the gag around her mouth, his fingers moving with careful precision as if afraid to jolt her into another fit of panic. Once she was free, he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, offering silent support and comfort.

He nodded understandingly at her quiet introduction before leaning closer to whisper, "Rina... it's okay. You're safe now." His gaze held hers as he spoke, trying to convey the sincerity of his words and reassure her that she was in no danger from him. With a gentle brush of his knuckles against her cheek, he asked softly, "Would you like something to drink? Or perhaps... some food?"

His heart raced as their faces remained inches apart, the tension between them palpable despite their relative stillness. He forced himself not to lean closer, not to take what she was offering so willingly... but it was difficult. So very difficult.

"Of course," he murmured, gently rising to his feet and crossing the room to a small table where refreshments had been set out earlier. He poured a cup of water, added a slice of lemon, and carried it back to her before setting it on the nightstand beside her. "Here you go, Rina," he said softly. "Drink when you're ready."

He tried not to watch her as she drank, his gaze instead focusing intently on a small painting hanging above the bed. It depicted a pair of wolves standing beneath a full moon, their eyes locked in an eternal embrace. The image was at once beautiful and tragic, much like his current situation with Rina.

He smiled wanly at her comment and reluctantly knelt beside the bed once more, careful not to get too close as he reached out to untie the ropes binding her hands together. As each knot came undone, he couldn't help but wonder if this was a mistake. If letting her go would only make things worse for both of them in the end. But she looked at him with such trust and hope that he found it impossible to refuse her request.

Once her hands were free, he gave her another reassuring smile before backing away again, giving her space as much as possible. "There you go," he said quietly. "You can take your time... I'll give you whatever you need." It was a struggle for him to speak those words without his voice breaking, but he managed it somehow.

He turned away then, taking a deep breath and trying to compose himself. His back was rigid as he st

Her touch sent shockwaves through his system, causing him to tense up involuntarily. But he didn't pull away; instead, he clenched his jaw and focused on controlling his reaction. He kept breathing slowly and steadily, trying to ignore the pain in his chest as it throbbed with each beat. Her touch... it was so soft, so gentle... unlike anything he had ever experienced before. It should have driven him mad, but instead, it felt like a balm on an open wound.

"Rina," he managed to say through gritted teeth, "I'm sorry if I hurt you earlier..." His voice sounded raspy and foreign even to his own ears. He cleared his throat before continuing, "I don't want to make things any harder for you than they already are." As he spoke, he fought against the urge to close his eyes and lose himself in her

He stiffened under her touch, his breath hitching in his throat as she spoke. The memories flooded back, filling him with a mixture of shame and regret. How could he have forgotten? It had been so long ago, and there had been so many battles since then... But still, it shouldn't matter. They were enemies now. And yet, the thought of her being hurt, of her fear... It cut through him like a knife.

"Rina," he said softly, turning to look at her, "I am sorry. So very sorry." His eyes met hers, searching for any sign of condemnation or hatred. But all he saw was trust and confusion. And perhaps even a hint of sympathy.

Her offer struck him like a physical blow; it was the last thing he had expected her to say. Yet there it was, hanging in the air between them like a fragile thread.

Her question made him pause, unsure how much to tell her. He glanced down at his hands before meeting her gaze again. "Rina... it's because of who we are," he said quietly. "What I am. The werewolf in me..." He took a deep breath and forced himself to continue. "In times past, our kind... we would go mad without release. We would hurt those around us, ourselves included... and so packs like mine were formed."

He paused, searching for the right words, his expression pained. "We... control each other during these times," he finally admitted, his voice little more than a whisper. "It's the only way to keep things from getting out of hand... to make sure everyone survives." His eyes never left hers as he waited for her reaction, bracing himself for the worst.

He closed his eyes briefly at her question, struggling to find the words. "I don't want... what has happened so far," he said haltingly. "It's not how things should be. But I can't control it, Rina. Not unless... you help me." He opened his eyes and looked at her pleadingly. "Please understand."

His voice broke on the last word, betraying the desperation he felt inside. If she didn't help him, if she pushed him away... he wasn't sure what would happen. He had never been this close to losing control before, and the thought of it terrified him more than anything else.

"I won't hurt you," he said softly, reaching out a hand toward her. "I swear it." The touch was gentle, almost tentative as his fingers brushed against hers. "Please believe me, Rina."

He felt her warmth against him and closed his eyes, letting out a slow breath as he savored the contact. "You need to trust me," he murmured, still not daring to look at her face. "I won't hurt you... I swear it." He swallowed hard, his voice sounding raw and strained even to his own ears. "Just... let me take care of things. Guide me when I need it. Help me control myself during those times..."

His hand moved from hers to cup her cheek, stroking softly as he continued. "If you can do that... if we can find a way for us to work together... perhaps there is hope for both of us." He paused, searching her face once more before adding, "Perhaps there's hope for everyone here."

There was a long silence as they held each other, their bodies pressed closely together despite the physical obstacles in their way