Lily
Noticing that my herbs had helped to calm him a little, I continued to gently press the mixture onto the wound on his hand. His shirt was torn, exposing his skin, and I hesitated just a moment before touching him. My fingers trembled slightly as I worked, the coolness of the paste contrasting against the heat of his skin. His deep molten eyes never left mine, and something in them pulled me in, drawing me closer in a way I couldn't explain.
There was an intensity in his gaze that made it hard to look away, like a magnetic force I couldn't resist. Despite his injuries, despite the fact that I didn't even know who he was, there was an undeniable connection and an inexplicable bond. I could feel his pain, almost as if it were my own, and with every touch, I was oddly compelled to ease it. Fear simmered beneath my calm exterior but I couldn't deny the strange comfort in caring for him.
"What's your name?" I finally asked, my voice softer than I intended.
"Elis," he answered, his voice smooth and calm despite the pain. He studied me with a gaze lingering longer than I expected. "You?"
"Lily," I replied, feeling a flutter in my chest at the way his eyes seemed to soften just slightly when I spoke. It was like he was memorizing every detail of me, and that awareness made my heart beat faster.
He inhaled sharply, as if gathering his thoughts before speaking again. "Lily, you shouldn't be here in the woods under the full moon."
I met his gaze defiantly, my pulse quickening with an unexpected surge of courage. "Neither do you," I retorted, surprised by the boldness in my voice, not knowing where it came from. My heart raced as I held his gaze, the tension between us inexplicable.
He began to lift a hand, his fingers trembling as though he wanted to touch my face. For a moment, I froze, caught in the unspoken connection between us. But then, just as quickly, he recoiled, doubling over with a guttural groan, his body shaking as if a wave of unbearable pain had crashed into him.
"Elis!" I gasped, panic rising in my chest as he let out a howl that echoed through the woods, raw and primal.
"What's wrong?" I asked, my voice breaking as I dropped to my knees beside him. Every fiber of my being felt his torment, as though his pain was somehow becoming my own.
His molten lavar eyes snapped open, glowing faintly now, wild and full of anguish. "Lily," he growled, his voice strained and guttural. "Leave! Right now! You don't want to be here."
Fear clawed at me, but so did concern. My instincts screamed at me to run, but my heart refused to abandon him. "I don't want to leave you here. You're…" I began, my voice trembling, but his sudden roar cut me off.
"RUN!" he thundered, his voice deep and inhuman, shaking me to my core.
In that instant, I saw his body tremble violently, his muscles rippling under his skin as though something inside him was trying to break free. The air around him seemed to hum with energy, and his eyes burned with a feral intensity that stole my breath.
Terror surged through me, and without thinking, I stumbled to my feet, my body moving on instinct. I hesitated for the briefest second, glancing back at him, but his roar came again, even louder this time, sending shivers down my spine.
I bolted, the forest became a blur around me as my feet carried me away. The sound of his pained growls and the rustling of leaves echoed behind me, haunting me with every step.
I was almost home, panting and trembling, when a terrible realization struck me.
"My basket." I gasped, stopping dead in my tracks. I had left it behind, right beside Elis. My herbs - everything I'd painstakingly gathered - were gone.
"Oh no," I muttered, my voice cracking with panic. "What do I tell Grandma now?"
The thought of her frail body and the tea she so desperately needed made my stomach twist. Her health depended on those medicines. I couldn't wait until tomorrow to gather more; the night wouldn't allow it.
Resolute, I turned back toward the woods, my heart pounding for reasons I didn't want to name. It wasn't just the herbs. I was drawn to Elis - curious, worried and unable to shake the image of him in agony.
My steps quickened as I neared the woods, the shadows closing in around me. I was walking faster and then running, as if I could somehow miss him if I didn't hurry. When I reached the clearing, my pulse spiked at the sound of grunts and ragged breathing. Relief washed over me, however fleeting. He was still there. He was alive.
I crept closer, my footsteps light, careful not to startle him. Elis was slumped against a tree, his body trembling violently. His clothes were barely hanging onto him, ripped and tattered as if shredded by claws. His breathing was shallow, his fists clenched, his body glistening with sweat in the moonlight.
"Elis?" I called softly, but he didn't seem to hear me.
I hesitated, fear gnawing at the edges of my resolve. But the sight of him suffering overwhelmed any instinct to run. Without thinking, I closed the distance between us and placed my hand on his arm. His skin burned under my touch, like fire, but I didn't pull away.
"Come with me," I said, my voice trembling but firm. "Let me help you. I have herbs at home - something that can ease the pain. You can't stay here like this. You're suffering."
His head turned toward me, and for a moment, I was caught in those glowing molten eyes, wild and pained. His jaw clenched as he struggled to speak.
"You don't understand," he grunted, his voice rough, barely human. "I'm dangerous. You shouldn't be near me."
"You're hurt …" I started, but he cut me off with a low growl, his body tensing as if he was fighting some invisible force.
"I can't control it," he rasped, his voice breaking with desperation. "You need to leave, Lily. Before it's too late."
"I'm not scared of you," I said, my voice steady despite the fear twisting in my chest. I couldn't bear to see him like this. "Come with me, Elis. I live with my grandmother, and our cottage isn't far from here. I know what you need."
I stretched out my hand toward him, my palm open, waiting. His glowing eyes locked on mine, a mix of disbelief and conflict flickering in their depths. For a moment, he didn't move, he just stared at me as though trying to figure out if I was foolish, brave, or both.
"If you don't come with me," I said firmly, my voice rising with conviction, "I don't have any other choice but to stay here with you. I can't leave you like this. Not alone. Not like this."
He let out a low growl, his jaw tightening, his body visibly trembling. "You don't know what you're saying," he muttered, his voice heavy with warning. "You don't understand the risk."
"I don't care about the risk," I shot back, planting my feet on the ground as if rooting myself to the spot. "You need help, and I'm not leaving until you let me help you."
His gaze darkened and the wildness in his eyes grew more feral. For a heartbeat, I thought he might push me away, or something worse. But then, his shoulders slumped, the fight draining out of him.
"You're impossible," he growled softly, shaking his head in frustration.
"I've been called worse," I said with a faint smile, refusing to back down.
For a moment, neither of us moved. The forest was quiet, save for the sound of his labored breathing. Then, slowly, hesitantly, he lifted his hand toward mine. The moment his fingers brushed against my palm, a spark shot through me, warm and electric. I gasped softly but didn't pull away.
His hand was strong but trembling, his touch both hesitant and desperate. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into," he murmured, his voice almost a whisper.
"Maybe not," I replied, tightening my grip on his hand. "But I know I'm not letting you suffer alone."