Rejected - torn by love

ut her mind was restless. She kept thinking about the dinner, the wolves, and the m

m. She wandered down the halls, feeling lost in the giant house. The mo

d saw Alaric coming toward her. He was alone, his expression

he asked, his voic

d. "No... there's jus

le. "I understand. It c

ogether. They came to a quiet balcony that overlooked the Blackwoo

ood in silence, just

ng?" Liandra said soft

ric replied, tur

You don't seem like Alden or the other wolves. You

ittle different from my brothers. Alden is the one everyone looks to for lead

ad, surprised. "But y

gaze was intense but kind, and something in Liandra's chest stirred. She fel

ly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I can

de her feel warm, safe. Her breath caught as she realized how close they were standin

whispered, her voice trembli

touch sent a spark through her, and she felt her cheeks flush. His e

is voice deep and soothing. "

lt in a long time. As she looked up into Alaric's eyes, she realized she was drawn to him-really drawn to him. Th

eaned in, just a little closer. Their hands brushed again, this time li

ng new. Something exciting. And as they stood there, under the moonlight, she

she was starting to fee

g that as an invitation, Liandra tiptoed and placed a kiss on his lips. Alaric caught his breathe. When Liandra stopped kissing him, Alaric placed a hand on her hip, drawing her close to himself and kissed her back. His lips tasted of strawberries,

y, her heart pounding in her chest. Standing at the door was the woman she had

she stammered, stepping back from Alaric. Without looking back, she hur

r gaze to Alaric. "You're playing a da

g the back of his nec

e sharp but calm. "There's more at stake here than just

door where Liandra had just left, his mind ra

night before. She kept busy by exploring the estate, taking long walks t

" he asked, giving h

h her mind was still cloud

h. After a while, Liandra decided to ask someth

something?" she

e," Alden

e asked carefully. She had heard the term whispere

oming more serious. He looked ahead as h

" Liandra ec

sides of a whole. One is the light, the other is the dark. Together, they can

her brow. "What

ight away. His lips tightened, as if he

Alaric and I have always had to live with. We've spent our lives trying to stay united, tryin

e made it sound like there was something much deeper going o

e her, his eyes serious. "That's someth

e could, Alden smiled and said, "I think that's eno

was the price they were talking about? And why did it feel like sh

hake the feeling that something important was being