Isabella and Adrian went to a nearby cafeteria to pass the time while waiting for David. Adrian ordered a cup of black coffee, while Isabella chose a chocolate milkshake. After finishing their drinks, they stepped out of the mall and began walking along the open area outside.
Just then, Adrian's phone rang. It was David calling. Adrian moved a little away from Isabella to answer the call.
At that exact moment, a black car came speeding toward Isabella from behind, aiming straight at her. She didn't notice it, but Adrian did. His eyes widened. In a split second, he used his werewolf speed, rushing to her side faster than the human eye could see, and pushed her away to safety. They both stumbled to the ground, but Isabella was safe.
However, in the process, Adrian's arm got scraped by the car's bumper, leaving a deep bleeding cut.
"Adrian!" Isabella cried in shock. She grabbed his injured arm, panic in her eyes. Blood was running down his hand.
But the moment her hands touched his skin… something strange happened.
Right before their eyes, the wound began to close. The bleeding stopped. The skin healed completely, as if nothing had ever happened. Isabella stared wide-eyed at his arm, confused and shaken.
Adrian ignored his own pain and looked at her worriedly. "Are you okay, Isabella? Did you get hurt anywhere?"
"I—I'm fine," she replied quickly, still in shock. "But your hand… it was bleeding. We need to go to the hospital—"
"My hand?" Adrian frowned and looked at his arm. There was no wound. Not even a scratch.
"I'm not bleeding," he said calmly and showed her his arm. "See? I'm perfectly fine."
Isabella blinked in disbelief. "But I saw blood… I really did," she murmured, still confused.
Before she could say anything more, David came running toward them from the parking area. He had witnessed the near accident.
"Boss! Are you okay?" David asked, breathing hard. "I saw your arm—there was blood—"
He stopped mid-sentence when he saw Adrian's arm. It was completely healed.
"What? But I saw it… I swear your arm was bleeding," David said in shock, looking between Adrian and Isabella.
"I told you!" Isabella said, pointing at the ground. "Look, the blood is still there!"
They all looked down. Sure enough, small drops of blood were splattered on the road where Adrian had stood seconds ago.
David stared silently, unable to explain it. Isabella looked at Adrian again, but his expression was unreadable.
"I'm fine," Adrian said in a firm tone, ending the discussion. "No more talks about this. We are getting late."
He took Isabella's hand and gently led her away. "Let's go. We still have a meeting to attend."
Isabella followed him, but her mind was far from calm.
What just happened? How did his wound heal so fast?
Inside the car, the soft humming of the engine and the quiet rhythm of the road created a peaceful silence. Isabella lay on Adrian's lap, her eyelashes fluttering slightly as she slept. Adrian gently brushed his fingers through her hair from time to time, making sure she was comfortable. He kept glancing at her face, as if afraid she might disappear if he looked away even for a second.
Her breathing was slow and steady, but there was still a trace of tiredness on her face. She had been through so much lately—fear, confusion, and sleepless nights. Adrian knew she needed rest, so he insisted she lie on his lap. Isabella had refused at first, shy and hesitant, but his warm gaze and calm voice made her give in.
After a while, he felt her move. Isabella slowly opened her eyes, blinking at the soft sunlight entering through the car window. Her head was still resting against his shoulder. She lifted herself slightly and glanced outside—then her eyes widened in surprise.
The world outside looked like a dream. Tall ancient trees stood proudly like silent guardians on both sides of the road. Their leaves shimmered in shades of emerald and gold. Flowers of every color decorated the landscape—lavender, crimson, silver-blue—as if nature had painted everything with love. A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of wild roses. The mountains in the distance stood tall beneath a silver sky.
"Where… where are we?" Isabella whispered, unable to hide her amazement.
Adrian didn't answer right away. Instead, he held both her hands with one of his, his touch warm and protective. With his other hand, he gently tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, his eyes never leaving hers.
"This is Moonveil Territory," he said quietly.
His voice carried a strange emotion—pride, sadness, and something unspoken. Isabella could sense it, and she waited for him to continue, but he fell silent. A shadow passed through his eyes, as though he was lost in memories he wasn't ready to share.
The car slowed as they reached the entrance of the territory. Stone pillars covered in ancient carvings stood on each side of the road. Something about the place felt… mystical. Powerful. Alive. Isabella suddenly felt a chill travel down her spine, as if unseen eyes were watching them.
Just then, Adrian spoke again, his voice deep and serious. "Isabella, I love you… more than you can ever imagine." His thumb brushed the back of her hand softly. "And there are many things I must tell you—things I should have told you before. But I promise I will explain everything once we return."
She looked at him, confused but moved by the emotion in his eyes.
He continued, "Until then, if you see or feel anything unusual here… don't be scared. Don't hide it from me. Ask me anything. I don't want you to face anything alone."
Her heart tightened. Something in his words felt like a warning.
He took a deep breath. "And one more thing, my love. You may witness things here that are hard to accept. Things that go beyond logic or reality." His eyes softened with plea. "But please… trust me. Give me time to explain before you judge me or this place."
David, who was driving, didn't say a word—but Isabella noticed his grip tighten slightly on the steering wheel. He understood exactly what Adrian meant… which only made Isabella more curious and nervous.
What was Moonveil Territory hiding?
Why did Adrian sound like he was preparing her for something unbelievable?
And why did her heart suddenly feel like something big was about to happen—something that could change her life forever?