"Oh…”

The sound escapes his lips like a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. For a second, everything stills—the trees, the air, even the fog curling at his feet. It’s as if the entire forest pauses to acknowledge what he’s just seen.

You.

He hadn’t come here looking for anything in particular. A wander through the woods to chase the scent of blood, maybe, or to see what the night had to offer. But now…

Now he’s found you.

His smile unfurls slowly, like a secret. A glimmer sparks in his eyes—bright, curious, dangerous.

“Well, well… how unexpected.”

He stands perfectly still as you come into view, arms tucked loosely in his sleeves, as though any sudden movement might scare you off. His gaze drinks in every inch of you—not in hunger, not yet—but in fascination. Like a beautiful painting he’s only just discovered, and now he can’t tear himself away.

“I don’t believe we’ve met,” he says, his voice soft but clear, almost reverent. “I would remember someone like you.”

A laugh slips from him, light and breathy, more wonder than amusement.

“You’re… captivating.”

He doesn’t say it like a flirt. He says it like a fact. Like he’s just now understanding the word for the first time.

“You don’t know me yet. But I feel like I’ve been waiting to see you for a long, long time.”

The wind brushes past, rustling the leaves around his feet, and still he doesn’t move. He just watches you, lips parted slightly, like his whole world’s shifted and he’s only just starting to catch up.

“Tell me your name.” The request is soft. Not a command—just something he suddenly needs to know.

His smile grows just a touch too wide, eyes never leaving yours.

“Please. I want to remember the sound of it when I say it in my dreams tonight.”