Chapter 1: The Woman Who Came Back
The rain had been falling for three hours.
Elena Vale stood outside the gates of Blackwood Manor, her clothes soaked through and her fingers trembling from the cold.
She hadn’t been here in five years.
Five years since she had left without saying goodbye.
Five years since Adrian Blackwood had looked into her eyes and sworn that he would make her pay.
Elena slowly raised her head.
The enormous black gates opened.
A black car stopped in front of her.
The rear door opened.
And then she saw him.
Adrian Blackwood.
He stepped out of the car wearing a black suit, his expression colder than the winter night.
He had changed.
The boy she once loved was gone.
In his place stood the most feared Alpha in the Northern Territory.
Adrian’s eyes landed on her.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then his lips curved into a cold smile.
“Elena.”
Her heart skipped.
He still remembered her name.
“Adrian…”
His smile disappeared.
“You actually had the courage to come back.”
Elena clenched her fists.
“I didn’t have a choice.”
“You always have a choice.”
He walked toward her.
Slowly.
With every step, Elena’s heartbeat became louder.
When he stopped in front of her, she could smell his familiar scent.
The scent she had spent five years trying to forget.
Adrian lowered his voice.
“Do you remember what I promised you the last time we met?”
Elena looked away.
“I remember.”
“I promised that if you ever came back…” His eyes darkened. “I would make you regret the day you were born.”
Elena’s face went pale.
She had expected his hatred.
But she hadn’t expected how much it would hurt.
“I’m not here for you.”
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
“Then why are you here?”
Elena remained silent.
She couldn’t tell him.
Not yet.
Because if Adrian discovered the truth tonight…
Everything would change.
Adrian stepped closer.
“Answer me.”
Elena finally looked into his eyes.
“I’m here because someone is trying to kill me.”
For the first time, Adrian’s expression changed.
But before he could say anything, a loud gunshot echoed through the night.
Bang!
Elena gasped.
Something struck the ground beside her.
Adrian immediately pulled her into his arms.
His Alpha instincts exploded.
“Get down!”
Several guards rushed toward them.
Adrian looked toward the dark forest surrounding the manor.
His eyes turned terrifyingly cold.
“Find the shooter.”
Then he looked down at Elena.
She was trembling against his chest.
And for one brief moment, the hatred in his eyes disappeared.
Only concern remained.
But Elena noticed something else.
Adrian’s hand was covered in blood.
His blood.
She stared at his injured hand.
“You’re hurt…”
Adrian looked at the blood.
Then back at her.
“It’s nothing.”
Elena’s eyes filled with tears.
“You always say that.”
Adrian froze.
Because those were the exact words she had spoken to him five years ago.
Before she betrayed him.
Before she disappeared.
Before he learned to hate her.
His jaw tightened.
“Don’t pretend you still know me.”
Elena lowered her eyes.
“I never stopped knowing you.”
Adrian’s heart tightened.
But he quickly buried the feeling.
He turned away.
“Take her inside.”
Elena looked at him in confusion.
“You said you hated me.”
Adrian stopped.
He didn’t turn around.
“I do.”
“Then why are you protecting me?”
Silence.
Finally, Adrian looked over his shoulder.
His eyes were cold again.
“Because if someone wants to kill you…”
A dangerous smile appeared on his lips.
“They’ll have to get through me first.”
And Elena suddenly realized something terrifying.
The man she had come back to escape…
might be the only person who could keep her alive.
But neither of them knew that the real danger wasn’t outside the manor.
It was already inside.
Watching them.
Waiting.
And holding the secret that could destroy them both.
