Chapter 151: Golden Eyes.

HELENA. I sat with Luna in the living room, where the fire crackled softly in the fireplace. The warm glow was a welcome comfort, especially after the tense day I'd had. It helped reduce the chill I felt every now and then. Luna was focused on a stack of papers, her brows furrowed in concentration as she studied more on the scroll of vengeance. She had suddenly remembered that she had a lot more to do on it, before putting it to work. I didn't want to disturb her, so I picked up a book I had found earlier. It was a romance novel, which surprised me a bit. I hadn't expected to find such a book in Lunaville, where things seemed so….different. The cover was old-fashioned, with a couple in a passionate embrace against a background of green hills. The title was 'The Heart's Whisper," and it was written by an author I'd never heard of. Who knows, maybe a werewolf. Luna didn't really fill me in on the details. The plot was pretty engaging. It was about a young woman named Eliza, who lived in a small village during a time when arranged marriages were the norm. Eliza was beautiful and kind, but she craved for a love that went beyond social expectations. Her family had promised her to a wealthy suitor who was well-respected, but rather cold and distant. Eliza's world changes when she meets a charming and mysterious stranger named Thomas, who comes to the village under the guise of a traveling merchant. Thomas was everything Eliza's arranged suitor was not—warm, passionate, and full of life. As Eliza and Thomas spent time together, she began to fall for him, despite the risks involved. The story was full of dramatic twists. Eliza and Thomas had to keep their love a secret, sneaking away to meet in hidden spots around the village. They faced obstacles from Eliza's family and the society that frowned upon their relationship. But through it all, their love grew stronger, and they faced their challenges with courage and determination. It reminded me of…me. And as a fan of romance novels, that was an automatic plus. What really surprised me was how relatable the emotions were. Despite the historical setting, Eliza's struggles and feelings felt timeless. It was easy to get lost in the story, imagining what it would be like to have a love so intense and all-consuming. Except I already did, with Aaron. I quickly shoved aside the blush that threatened to give away my thoughts. He wasn't here, I could survive. I found myself absorbed in the book, my earlier worries fading as I turned the pages. The world of Eliza and Thomas was a welcome escape. I was so engrossed that I barely noticed the time passing. The firelight flickered across the pages, casting warm shadows on the walls. Finally, I looked up from the book and glanced at Luna. She was still deeply immersed in her research, and the room was quiet except for the occasional rustle of paper and the crackle of the fire. I felt a bit of peace, even if it was just for a moment. 'Helena," Luna said suddenly, without looking up from her papers, 'I think I'm going to call it a night. There's a lot more to go over with this scroll, and I need to be fresh." I glanced at the clock. It was late, and I was feeling the day's weariness too. 'Sure, Luna. I understand." She gave me a quick, tired smile and started packing up her things. I watched her go, and once she was upstairs, the house felt unusually quiet. I wandered over to the balcony, the same one where Aaron and I had talked before. The cool night air felt refreshing against my skin as I leaned on the railing, looking out at the dark expanse of Lunaville. Thoughts of Aaron filled my mind. He hadn't returned home yet, and a knot of worry had settled in my stomach. My thoughts drifted back to the encounter with the female wolf at the Alpha House. She had been so hostile, so aggressive. Who was she? I was still trying to understand why she had targeted me and what her anger was truly about. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I thought about her crimson eyes and the way she had snarled. In an attempt to distract myself, I reached for my phone. I was a bit surprised that cell service still worked in Lunaville, especially since I hadn't seen any wolves using phones. I dialed Veronica's number, hoping a chat with her would ease my mind. I hadn't spoken to her since we got here. On the third ring, she picked up. 'Helena! I didn't expect a call from you right now. How's everything going? Gasp. Is there big news? Come on, don't keep me hanging." I smiled at her familiar, cheerful voice. Veronica was the life of well, everything. 'Hey, Veronica. Lunaville is... well, it's not what I expected. It's a lot more intense here than I thought it would be. I've had quite a day." 'What happened?" Veronica asked, her tone turning curious. 'I thought you'd have a nice, relaxing time exploring. Is Aaron not doing his job?" I chuckled lightly. 'He is. But let's just say I got more than I bargained for. I had a run-in with a rather unpleasant wolf who seemed to not like me being here." 'Are you serious? Really? That sounds intense. I hope you're okay. I hope she didn't touch you. That's where the line's drawn. Did you tell Aaron?" Veronica's concern was genuine, which was comforting. Even though she asked me fifty things at once. 'I'm fine," I assured her. 'But it was a bit unnerving. Anyway, I wanted to catch up and hear about your experiments. How's that going?" Her tone brightened. 'Oh, it's going great! Actually, I've made a significant breakthrough. I've managed to eliminate wolfsbane entirely. The stuff that was so deadly to werewolves is now completely harmless. And for some reason, I don't feel like I'm being watched anymore." I raised my eyebrows in surprise. 'That's incredible! Does that mean you're no longer under the risk of threat?" 'Exactly," Veronica said with a hint of relief. 'The men who were after me because of the experiments have suddenly backed off. It's like they just vanished. I've heard they might be going after someone else, though. A girl named Cynthia, I think. But I don't know much about her." I frowned, puzzled. 'Cynthia? I haven't heard that name before. What did she do?" 'I don't know, probably something like I did." That was weird. 'I'm glad you're safe now. It must be a relief to have one less thing to worry about." 'Definitely. It's like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders," Veronica agreed. 'So, tell me more about Lunaville. What's the vibe like? I'm sure it's pretty... unique." I laughed softly. 'Unique is one way to put it. It's definitely different from what I imagined. The wolves here are intense, and there's a lot of history and tradition. But I'm managing. It's just... there's a lot going on." 'Sounds like an adventure," Veronica said. 'I'm glad you're hanging in there. Just remember, if you need anything or if something comes up, don't hesitate to call." 'I will," I promised. 'Thanks for the call V, I'll check in again later." 'Anytime." Veronica said warmly. 'And tell Aaron I'm watching him." I laughed at her threat. 'Sure." After we ended the call, I stood there for a moment, letting the cool breeze wash over me. My mind wandered back to Aaron. I hoped he was okay, and I couldn't shake the worry that lingered. Suddenly, I heard a faint noise outside. It was a subtle rustling, almost like footsteps, but too soft to be certain. I tensed up, scanning the darkness outside the balcony. The sound continued, and my heart began to race. Then, through the bushes, I saw a pair of golden eyes glowing in the darkness. My breath caught in my throat. The eyes were piercing, almost glowing with an eerie intensity. I couldn't see the figure clearly, but the eyes were unmistakable. They reminded me of the wolf from earlier. My instincts screamed at me to run, but my legs were glued. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. The presence was unsettling, and I needed to stay calm. I wanted to call out to Aaron, but he wasn't here. I didn't want to draw attention to myself, but I also didn't want to ignore a potential threat. The golden eyes remained fixed on me, unblinking. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched, and the tension was almost deafening. I took a few steps back from the railing, keeping my gaze fixed on the eyes in the bushes. The night seemed to stretch on, every second feeling like an eternity. Finally, the eyes vanished, and the sound of rustling faded away. I was left standing alone on the balcony, my heart pounding. I took another deep breath, trying to calm myself. Whatever it was, it had disappeared for now. But it left me on edge. I couldn't ignore the feeling that something was amiss, and the presence of those golden eyes was unsettling. Too unsettling.