As evening fell and a longing for fresh air filled her mind, Arabe stepped onto the porch of the grand house and entered the garden, her breath escaping in a sigh as she gently locked the door behind her. For the first time since her arrival, she stood before the house, staring in awe at its beauty, which surpassed even her imagination. Her gaze swept from the towering ss windows to the elegant red brick walls of the bungalow.


    From her room’s window, she had caught glimpses of the breathtaking outside view, sparking a growing desire to explore. Despite ze’s warning to remain within the safety of the house due to the presence of Sandro, his soldiers, and associates who might be lurking about, she could no longer abide by the restriction. Besides, she doubted Sandro would venture into the tranquil environment. The solitude was ratherforting, in stark contrast to the noisy surroundings she had grown ustomed to before her abduction by Sandro.


    The leaves rustled softly underfoot as she stepped into what appeared to be a small garden. She made her way to the central fountain, pausing nearby. A sage-colored fence partitioned the garden, marking a clear boundary between the greenery and the house. Arabe took a deliberate deep breath, inhaling the sweet scent of roses that wafted on the breeze, momentarily closing her eyes and savoring the sensation.


    As the wind tousled her hair around her face, she reopened her eyes, only to startle as theynded upon arge dog. The animal emitted a low growl, revealing blood-stained teeth as it bared its aggression towards her.


    Arabe’s face twisted in a grimace as she stumbled backward, surprised she hadn’t noticed the dog’s presence earlier. If she had, she might have made a swift escape. Her mind raced to the idea of fleeing indoors, but the dog swiftly positioned itself in her path. A gasp escaped her lips as she instinctively jerked, losing her bnce andnding awkwardly on her bottom.


    Her eyes widened as the dog closed the distance, its rapid movements contrasting with its imposing size.


    Arabe had never encountered a dog of such immense size before, nor had she ever felt fear towards these animals, until now.


    “Stay away from me!” Arabe’s voice erupted in a shout as soon as her vocal cords responded. The dog appeared momentarily taken aback, halting its advance and cocking its head before letting out a haunting howl that pierced the sky. “Fuck!” Arabe seized the opening and bolted back into the house, her exmation of expletives trailing in her wake.


    “Ouch.” Arabe winced, a grimace forming on her face as her hand collided with the sharp edge of a ss vase, the impact tearing into her flesh. She quickly grabbed a tissue to stem the blood that welled from the wound. As she turned, she inadvertently crashed into a solid yet surprisingly warm figure.


    A screech tumbled from Arabe’s lips, her arms iling as she instinctively tried to distance herself from the unexpected presence. However, a firm hand reached out and sped hers, steadying her.


    “It’s me!” ze’s voice cut through the haze of her panic. “You look terrified.”


    “A… a dog!” Arabe gasped, her breathing in ragged bursts.


    “Deep breaths, Be, deep breaths,” ze instructed, his hand soothingly caressing her back.


    Arabe followed his guidance, inhaling shakily and then exhaling slowly. She repeated the process several times, gradually feeling her racing heart settle. Her gaze remained fixed on ze, who was intently observing her.


    “What happened?” ze’s voice was filled with concern as he questioned her again, his tone softer now that she had regained someposure.


    “I saw a dog in the garden, and it seemed like it was about to attack me,” Arabe admitted in a hushed voice.


    “I explicitly told you to stay within the house. When will you start listening?!” ze’s frustration burst forth in a shout, his re directed at her.


    “The room started feeling suffocating,” Arabe murmured, her voice small.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    Her lower lip caught between her teeth, and Arabe averted her gaze, feeling the intensity of his re bore into her.


    “Are you hurt? Did ite close to you?” ze’s voice was rougher now, his hand lifting her chin to meet his gaze.


    Arabe flinched, meeting his eyes with her own wide ones. She shook her head and released a shaky breath. “No, it didn’te near me. It just scared me.”


    “Good,” ze responded curtly. “I want you to-”


    His words trailed off, his focus sharpening on something behind her. Puzzled, Arabe furrowed her brow and turned around, only to collide with ze once more. Her eyes fell upon the dog once again.


    “Please, make it go away!” she pleaded, gripping his shirt tightly as her body trembled and her breathing turned rapid. “Please!”


    “Arabe, breathe!” ze growled, his voicemanding.


    His gaze shifted from her to the creature that sat calmly in the middle of the room. Thalia, as Arabe presumed, was not a mere dog; she was in her werewolf form.


    Despite thebel of “dog,” Thalia bore no resemnce to the canine form; her stature was imposing, her golden fur radiated in the light, and her dark eyes shimmered with an intelligence that transcended mere animal instinct. ze could feel her anger and annoyance reverberate through their shared mental connection.


    ‘What’s wrong with you?!’ Thalia’s voice hissed in his mind. ‘Why did you intervene?!’


    ‘Let her be.’ ze retorted as he expelled a sigh and cast a scowl. ‘She hasn’t harmed you in any way.’


    ‘She’s trespassing in my territory and acting like she owns the ce!’


    ‘Fine.’ ze’s re intensified. ‘I’ll leave the house with her. If you can’t tolerate her presence, then maybe you don’t want me here either!’


    Thalia’s mental response carried a sense of defiance. ‘Why are you so worked up about me not wanting her here? Is she your mate or something?!’