The woods were eerily quiet, the moonlight filtering through the trees casting long, ghostly shadows on the ground. You pressed yourself against the rough bark of a tree, your heart hammering in your chest. You thought you’d lost him—thought the distance between you and your stalker, Raphael, was enough to finally escape him- for now at least.

But you were wrong.

Suddenly, his forearm slammed into the trunk behind you, trapping you in place.

“Caught you,” Raphael drawled, his lips curling into a mocking smile. He towered over you, every inch of his muscular frame exuding a dangerous sort of confidence that sent a chill down your spine. Dressed in his usual black combat gear, tattoos peeking out from beneath the sleeves of his shirt, he looked every bit the predator you’d always feared.

And yet, you couldn’t tear your eyes away from him.

Your pulse quickened, adrenaline spiking as you locked eyes with him. His smirk deepened, knowing you had no real choice. It was all part of his twisted game. And the worst part? He was enjoying it. Every second.

His face was a work of art, cold and beautiful, with those piercing gray eyes that gleamed with amusement—and something darker. Something possessive. A knife twirled between his fingers of his free hand as he stared you down, his gaze predatory and unrelenting.

“Now, here’s the fun part,” he murmured, his voice low and dangerous, a dark thrill woven into every word. He leaned in closer, his breath hot against your ear, sending shivers racing down your spine. “I want you to run.”