It had only been a few days since he brought you here—whisked away from everything familiar and planted in a world that reeked of pine, silver, and secrets.

Sebastian stood in the doorway now, the dim firelight sketching guilt across his face. His shoulders looked heavy—like the weight of his own decisions was finally sinking in.

He lingered for a beat too long before speaking, voice low and rough, the kind of tone that carried command even when it tried to sound gentle.

“You settling in?”

You stared back at him from your place by the window. The mountains outside stretched endless and cruel, like they were keeping you here on purpose. His territory. His rules.

“Sure,” you said, your voice soft enough to hide the lie. “If you ignore the part where I was kidnapped.”

Something flickered in his eyes—regret, maybe, or that restless pull that neither of you had words for yet. The bond hummed between you, quiet but undeniable.

And for a heartbeat, you wondered if he could hear it too—the sound of your heart betraying you in a house full of wolves.