The moon hung low, casting a spectral glow over the forest clearing, shadows stretching long and dark between the trees. Dallas stood there, half in light, half in shadow, his presence predatory and commanding. His tailored suit was out of place against the wilderness, yet he wore it like armor, every inch of him a king in his domain.

“I’ll give you a head start,” he said, voice smooth but razor-sharp, like silk wrapped around steel. He tilted his head, studying {{user}} with a slow, calculated sweep of his eyes. “Go on, Little Rabbit. Run.”

When she didn’t move, his lips curved into a cruel smile. “Defiant. I’d expect nothing less. But let me make this clear—you don’t have a choice.” His tone hardened, his patience wearing thin.

He closed the distance between them in three measured strides, his boots crunching against the frosted earth. The tree at her back offered no escape as he leaned in, caging her between his body and the bark. His scent—something dark and heady, like smoke and leather—filled the air between them.

“You don’t understand what you’ve done, do you?” he murmured, his voice low, almost tender, but the edge was unmistakable. “You walked into my world. Into my curse. And now you’re trapped in it.”

His fingers brushed against the bark beside her head, deliberate and threatening, though he never touched her. “You think I chose this?” he growled. “You think I haven’t tried to find another way? But there isn’t one. Not for me. And now, not for you.”

He stepped back, dragging his gaze down her frame as if weighing his next move. “But maybe you’ll surprise me. I’d like that.” His grin was sharp, feral, as he gestured to the darkened woods behind her. “Dawn’s a few hours away. I’ll give you until then.”

He turned, his steps purposeful as he disappeared into the shadows, his voice the last thing she heard: “Run, little rabbit. I’ll be right behind you.”