UnexpectedEncounter
Grimly navigating with sniffing senses established in the deep forest, as a member of the Silver Moon Pack, I became familiar with these woods over time. Somehow or the other, tonight, it did not feel right. Trees entirely mugged me, casting lengthened ominous shadows against the ground.
Rumors whispered about the festering bad blood between the Silver Moon Pack and the Moonlight Pack. Word was around that the Moonlight Alpha, Tybalt, was equally furiously protective of his pack. All thanks to Alpha Victoria, we were quite vocal about disliking the Moonlights, a courtesy of which I have learned to be very careful.
I walked past the rustling leaves directly at the heart of the place, turning at a heartbeat. My senses prickled, and my heart raced. An appearance having a form before me-a tall figure emerging from the dark side. My thoughts rang a bell and I made a low sound in my throat.
The stranger tried to stand her ground as it came closer, its eyes breathing danger into mine. Immediately, I felt a quick shiver run down my spine as I saw it more clearly, a rough jawline, and short, dark hair. This was not an ordinary werewolf.
"Tybalt," spoken softly as reality began to dawn.
The Moonlight Alpha narrowed his eyes; the words, however scarce, also drifted tantalizingly with another step closer. Quickly, his eyes marked my face, making me feel like I was undressed and just as tiny as an ant before him.
"What are you really here for?" The bass of Tybalt threw goosebumps through my veins.
I stammered, sounding just a tad less than a whisper. "I could ask you the same."
Tybalt kept gazing for a moment longer and then, he gave a small nod. "Well, I'm here to protect my pack's boundaries. What about you?"
I held on because I didn't know the quantity of advice to give him. A part of me, however, felt comfortable with Tybalt's clarity and boldness. "I'm on patrol," I admitted.
At that moment, our gazes didn't disconnect, and there was a grave tension between us that we didn't know about. I felt like I was drowning deep, closer into his blue eyes. I took a step back anyway, trying to break the spell.
"I really should go," I remarked as I turned to leave.
Tybalt's voice stopped me. "Be careful, Sonia." "The woods can be treacherous at night."
I cast my shoulders back for one final time. Our eyes barely met again. "I'll be okay," I said, sounding confident nevertheless.
That was it. I left, knowing my life would never be the same again. There was something about my encounter with Tybalt that left me feeling somehow different. I increased my pace, my racing heart still throbbing from meeting him.
He was back in the den of Silver Moon Pack, where my best friend Tera waited. Her golden hair was a ponytail style, and her large brown eyes sparkled with concern.
"So, what's going wrong?" Tera asked, noticing my agitation.
I held on, not knowing how to explain my encounter to Tybalt. "I just ran into someone," I said vaguely.
Tera's eyes became saucers. "Who?"
Sigh. Never could I manage to keep this to myself. "Tybalt. The Alpha of Moonlight."
Tera transformed the way she looked at me. "What did he want?"
I shrugged. "Pretty much checking that his pack's borders were secure, I guess."
Tera nodded thoughtfully. "I'm sure you know Victoria won't be happy about this."
Although I knew our Alpha's stance on the Moonlights, when I replayed my meeting with Tybalt in my mind, I couldn't help but be drawn to him. There was something in him that connected deep within me.
So, back to lying on my bed that night. I kept wondering what it would be like to find him next to me again. To feel the intensity of his stare. A flutter inside my chest told me I might be in trouble. I was getting attracted to the one person I shouldn't be.
The next day was spent lost in thought again, crawling around with everything Tybalt had said to me playing in my mind. I know I should be concentrating on my duties, but that encounter just won't leave me. Patrolling the forest, there I would be searching and wondering if there was a chance I would come across him again.
Little did I know, very soon, we would cross paths again, and from there, my life would become forever entangled in his.
Days went by, and most increasingly in those days, my thoughts would drift toward Tybalt. Just thinking about him would flash those deep-blue eyes and chiseled features in front of me. I couldn't fathom why such a magnetic pull from him could seep through me. We were from rival packs, for Pete's sake.
There had been animosities for ages between our families, and Victoria, my sister, would never have in her wildest dreams thought about my going near him. But despite all these dangers, Tybalt. I didn't know how it would happen, but it felt different; that he was someone I could trust. I knew, though, it was foolish. Yet, I couldn't help it.
One night, I felt that a walking tour in the forest would clear all muddied thoughts from my mind. While I ambled, I came across a very familiar figure standing near a tree. Tybalt. My mind nearly raced away as our eyes ran into each other.
"Why are you really here?" I asked, trying to be casual with him.
The gaze of Tybalt was piercing through mine. "I could ask you the same," he said in a low husky voice.
Shrugged shoulders, accompanied by a flutter in my chest, "Just needed some fresh air."
Tybalt nodded his head, but his eyes were glued to mine. "I know the feeling."
We stood there for a moment, tension palpable. It could almost be felt with a ruler. At such a distance, the two of us were drawn closer by the attraction as if by a magnet.
Suddenly, Tybalt took one step closer. "Sonia," he whispered, and sent chills down my spine.
I raised my eyes at him, my heart racing. "Yes?"
Tybalt's eyes went through my own, as if he needed something. "I actually can't say what is going on between us," he said, almost whispering. "But I know I want to find out."
Before I even knew it, I thought I was going to catch my breath as his words walked around the ambient air. I had normal reactions that came with knowing that I should run or be scared. But I couldn't. I was very much a moth to that flame.
Moved a little closer to him, beating too fast in my chest. Tybalt's gaze locked onto mine, and at that point, I knew we had sealed our fate. Different worlds collided but charged in a way that is going to change everything.
We stood together while the surrounding forest melted away, leaving us alone, both in a moment of uncertainty and possibility. I anticipated the aftermath of our meeting, but I was ready for it. For the first time ever, I felt as if I were listening to my heart instead of my duty.
And when Tybalt's eyes burned into mine, I could now know that I was in too deep to turn back.
A howl split the cool night while Tybalt's lips kissed the surface of mine. There was no doubt-the secret of our rendezvous was about to be revealed.