Noah.
I couldn’t believe I was back in this place again.
The familiar surroundings stretched before me, stirring memories I hadn’t expected to revisit so soon.
There had been a time when this place meant something entirely different to me. It had once been one of my favorite locations, a place I found myself returning to every now and then whenever the weight of life became too much to bear.
The quiet atmosphere had always managed to calm my restless thoughts, allowing me to breathe a little easier and clear my head before facing the world again.
But everything was different now.
The strange excitement I used to feel each time I came here had long since disappeared, replaced by an emptiness that no amount of nostalgia could fill.
The place hadn’t changed, yet it no longer felt the same. Somewhere along the way, my heart had found something far more precious than these familiar walls.
Now, all I truly wanted was a place I could call my home. A sanctuary where I could wake up every morning with Maria beside me and fall asleep every night knowing she was still there. That simple dream meant more to me than anywhere this place could ever offer.
"Should we move to the room you stayed in the last time?" Maria asked softly, her warm, slender fingers remaining tightly interlocked with mine as we walked side by side.
I smiled sheepishly, my breath catching slightly in my chest.
Did she just say "we"?
Was she actually planning on sleeping in the exact same room as me tonight? The mere thought flashed through my mind, and immediately, an intense heat rushed all the way up to my face, warming my cheeks.
"What are you thinking about?" Maria asked, noticing my sudden silence as she pouted her lips in that adorable, innocent way of hers.
Damn it! I knew right then that I could never, ever have enough of her. She was simply too alluring, too impossibly enticing for my own good. A wave of profound gratitude washed over me, and I felt so fiercely proud that she was truly willing to be mine, choosing me above everything and everyone else.
I couldn’t hold myself back for another second. Unable to control the sudden surge of affection, I turned around completely, wrapped my arms around her, grabbed Maria tightly by her waist, and pulled her flush against my chest until there wasn’t an inch of space left between us.
Her ears reddened immediately, the bright crimson blush spreading fast across her delicate skin.
"I was thinking about you, Maria!" I said teasingly, leaning down so my breath brushed against her cheek. "About our future home!" I added calmly, my voice dropping into a soft, tender whisper. "Tell me, how many children do you think we should have?" I asked, watching her reaction closely.
Maria became even more red, the deep blush cascading down her neck as she bit her lower lip tightly in pure embarrassment.
"Stop it, Noah!" she said shyly, trying to hide her burning face as she lightly hit my chest. "That is definitely not what you were thinking about!" she added, her voice trembling with sweet hesitation.
I chuckled slightly, leaning down until my lips almost brushed her skin. "If you were to break both my skull and my heart right now, Maria..." I paused deliberately, watching the flutter of her lashes. "...all you would see inside is your name!" I added, my voice dropping into a low, tender murmur. "Boldly written, and just waiting to acknowledge you."
"Stop it!" she squeaked, a brilliant flush spreading all the way across her cheeks. "Let me go arrange the room, Noah!"
Not wanting to force her or spoil the sweet, comforting moment we had been sharing, I reluctantly loosened my grip around her waist. My arms resisted for the briefest second, as though they were unwilling to let her go, but I eventually withdrew them anyway. It wasn’t because I wanted to release her. Far from it. I simply didn’t want my selfish desire to keep her close to become a burden she felt obligated to indulge.
Freed from my embrace, Maria slowly turned around before making her way toward the hallway. Her pace was quick, almost eager, yet there was still a gentle, graceful sway to her steps that effortlessly caught my attention.
My eyes remained fixed on her retreating figure until she disappeared from sight, leaving behind only the lingering warmth of her presence and the faint echo of her footsteps.
The very moment she left to prepare the room for the both of us, an unexpected wave of quiet solitude settled over me. The silence that filled the corridor suddenly felt much heavier than it had only moments ago, wrapping itself around me and leaving me with an odd sense of loneliness. It was strange how quickly the absence of one person could make an entire place seem so empty.
Needing something to occupy my mind while I waited for her to return, I decided to take a short walk around the estate and look around.
It was one of the bad habits I had unknowingly cultivated over the years—a restless urge that always resurfaced whenever I found myself back in this place.
Almost instinctively, my feet would carry me from one familiar corner to another, as though searching for something I could never quite name.
I immediately turned on my heel and began walking aimlessly through the winding hallways, moving with no real direction in mind.
I was completely lost in thought, admiring the ornate decor and familiar stone scenery, when I unexpectedly collided right into someone. The impact was hard enough to break my train of thought and cause me to briefly lose my balance.
The moment I regained my stance and straightened up, I looked over to see who I had bumped into.
It was Anabel.
"Anabel—" I called out softly, extending a hand toward her.
But I didn’t get to say anything more. The moment her name left my lips, she immediately turned around and briskly walked away down the dark hallway without uttering a single word.
Her reaction was absurdly strange, leaving me standing alone in the quiet corridor with a heavy sense of unease. I couldn’t help but reach out mentally and question my wolf about the weird encounter.
What exactly was wrong with her?
Was she intentionally avoiding me for some reason, or was it something else entirely?
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