My eyes were heavy as I pulled myself from sleep. Sunlight filtered through the window, and flecks of gold danced in the air as I craned my neck to survey my surroundings.

I didn't have time to question anything however, as I saw Phelan sitting in the occasional chair in the corner of the room.

He was observing me. His brows were furrowed, his chin resting in his interlaced hands as he lent over his knees.

Our eyes locked and I couldn't look away. I couldn't explain why, but I was struck with overwhelming guilt at having abandoned him, what I assumed was the night before.

He looked depleted. A melancholic mood written across his face as his expression, although difficult to decipher appeared to be one of pity and concern.

He broke the silence first.

"I should have expected you would run, Edie." His voice was soft, deliberate and mournful. I had wounded him with my actions and my heart sank by the revelation despite knowing it shouldn't.

I strained to swallow, my nerves getting the better of me. "What happened?" Nothing made sense, it just seemed the pile of impossible continued to grow.

"It is my fault." he rambled as if to himself. He paused before clarifying, "You can't leave Haven or you will get very sick."

His eyes met mine once more as if deciphering my reaction to his assertions.

I gulped. A rollercoaster of emotion that surged into resignation, then frustration and then despondency. "So I'm stuck here, whether I like it or not? Why?!"

I fisted my hair as my hands trembled with frustration. My unease was obvious.

"I didn't want this for you Edie. I let you live your life, to make choices of your own free will. Your free will led you here."

"Yeah. You let me live my life... That implies it was within your control Phelan."

Was my life not my own?

Perhaps I was being melodramatic and unfair. Maybe it was because I knew he was right. It was my free will that led me here. But he also knew I would come looking for answers, and perhaps this was his way of absolving himself of any responsibly but he was clearly upset.

"Well what would you have me do? Don't make me out to be a villain when I didn't plan any of this."

I rolled over, stuffing my arm under the pillow as I stared at the wall.

My voice was soft, almost as if I was talking to myself. "Again with the vagueness..."

I knew it was pointless asking for answers that he wasn't prepared to give. I knew he was holding back something important, but knew him well enough that he wasn't going to share it.

I heard him exhale as he watched from his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"One day soon, you will understand. But I think you've got enough to process before I add any more to the mix."

The lump in my throat made it hard for me to swallow as I digested his words.

I was half sobbing.

Laying there listening to his words, I questioned everything. But one thing I couldn't deny was how undeniably attracted to him I was and I hated myself for it. He had comforted me twice now and that was two times too many. I wasn't about to become involved with another dangerous man. I just couldn't.

For reasons I didn't know I began to cry. I pursed my lips in an effort to hide it as I turned my head away. Trying to keep my breath steady, I closed my eyes as tears flowed on to the pillow.

I knew he'd also given up on conversation, his footsteps faded as he quietly shut the door- a terse reminder of our heated exchange and the barrier between us.

~

I waited until I heard him leave before I went to Sophia's cabin on foot.

Each step pressed harder into the soil as I replayed our interaction.

He wasn't giving me anything. No softness. No reassurance. Nothing. All he gave me was brutal honestly delivered in blows that left little care for the impact they caused.

Hopefully some time out and about would clear my mind.

"You want to lighten the mood a little bit?" A smirk curled in the corner of her lips upon my arrival. Her arms crossed as if she was enjoying watching me fester.

She opened her car door, gesturing with a bow as I jumped in the passenger seat.

I rolled my eyes, before giggling, "whatever you suggest, I'm open for anything at this point!"

We drove for a couple of miles, and as we weaved through the trees, the smell of fresh pine and a hint of sandalwood filled my senses. I couldn't help close my eyes, tipping my head back to enjoy it further.

Shamelessly it smelt like Phelan. It was him. He smelt like the wild.

I let my mind drift. His corded arms, his back, his eyes, oh his eyes... I could swim in them forever.

I squirmed in my seat, and the from the smirk on Sophia's face told me that she knew precisely why.

"Does it drive you mad?" She had a playful edge to her words.

"Does what drive me mad?"

She scoffed. "Look, I know he is a little rough around the edges... but you'll warm to him eventually..."

Sophia mulled on my words. "We haven't been fair in explaining things properly and I apologise for that. It's caused a lot of unnecessary concern for you..."

I nodded silently. I was taking in her words, but also heavily distracted by thoughts that were, up until my arrival in Haven, foreign to me.

I needed to change the subject.

"Where are we going anyway?"

"Oh you'll see... just... about... now."

And with that, the car skidded to a halt in front what I knew was called The Pack House.

I stared up at the vast building. The dark timber of the sprawling structure blended into the surroundings.

"How is this place so big?" I was genuinely awestruck and Sophia was both excited and proud that I was showing an interest.

"Well, we have an area for education for the little ones, much like a school. A small hospital and clinic for if we need it, although due to our healing, we generally don't. We also have a dining hall and kitchen for our pack get togethers and celebrations. And over there..." she gestured with her hand, "we have our training area where the strongest of our pack train to defend us from threats outside the territory."

Her smile beamed with pride.

"This is amazing, I've never seen anything quite like it."

Nudging her head to left she turned her step, "Come".

Following behind her, my eyes soaked it in. Children playing tag, the sounds of laughter from behind walls, and the scent... the scent of the Wild.

I knew what was coming before I saw it.

And then there I stood, completely unaware of anything or anyone else as I watched him among a blur of others that faded to the background.

Sweat dripped from his brow, which cocked in surprise when he saw me. I didn't move. I couldn't move. My eyes trailed from the line of his pants, upwards across his naked, and heavily tattooed chest. The intricacy took my breath away. It was beautiful- a mainstay for the man who wore it. Wild and rugged.

It was clearly symbolic to him- between the trees and branches that littered his chest and arms was the Moon, and of course, wolves. I wondered which one was him in wolf form. I also wondered how many stories each part told and what they were... I knew his body had a thousand tales to tell and in that very moment I wanted him to show me them all.

Slowly he stepped closer, as if he didn't want to break the hypnotic haze I was under. I could all but swallow as he stalked closer, forcing me to look up. I watched his nostrils flare as he closed his eyes, tilting his head back as he neared and then stalled directly in front of me.

Tiny stings littered my arms and my cheeks as we retained our proximity. Opening his eyes, swirls of dark ink bore into my pools of blue, as he looked lost to the wild.

Opening his mouth, his words caressed me, teasing me before pulling me from my unholy thoughts. "Edie, do you trust me?"