Silas’s P.O.V
The door handle was made of wrought iron, cold to the touch as I grasped it, attempting to turn it to no avail. The door itself was thick and sturdy, blocking out any sound from the other side. It seemed to tower over me, an imposing barrier between me and the safety I hoped to find inside. Every time I knocked, the sound echoed throughout the forest, a stark contrast to the serene quiet that surrounded us.
I knew I was wasting time going over the details of the wood, over the damn cold doorknob that I wanted to break down. I was buying time, letting myself think of a way I could explain all of this to her. What would make her understand? What would make her believe me? She seemed to be hysterical…
My mind raced with thoughts of how she was feeling after witnessing the truth about the existence of werewolves. I couldn't imagine how shocking it must have been for her to learn that the myths and legends she had grown up hearing were actually true.
I tried knocking on the door once again, but there was no answer. I could hear her moving around inside, but she seemed to be avoiding me, probably trying to get as far away from me as possible.
"Please, Zoya, let me in," I practically begged her in desperation, never having imagined a day like this would come. "I won't hurt you. I just want to explain everything."
But she didn’t answer, and I half-wished that she would, even just to turn me away, because at least she was still talking to me. At some point, though, I stopped pestering her to let me in, and the sounds of activity inside eventually died down in favor of silence.
I couldn't help but feel guilty for not revealing the truth to her sooner. I had known her for a while now, and I should have told her about our true nature before it was too late. But now, the damage was done, and all I could do was wait for her to come to terms with the truth on her own.
I couldn't shake off the feeling of worry and concern that gnawed at me as I stood outside the cabin.
The night that surrounded me was a mixture of darkness and faint light. The sky was overcast, and the moon was only a sliver, casting a faint, eerie glow over the trees, and the stars were barely visible, hidden behind the clouds that seemed to stretch endlessly overhead. The air was cool and damp, with a light breeze that rustled the leaves of the nearby trees, creating a soft whispering sound that only added to the eerie atmosphere.
Despite the darkness, my senses were on high alert. My keen eyesight, honed by years of training as a werewolf hunter, allowed me to see shapes and shadows moving in the distance. I could hear the faint rustling of small animals in the undergrowth, and the occasional hoot of an owl in the trees. My sense of smell was also heightened, allowing me to detect the scent of wet earth and decaying leaves, mixed with the faint aroma of wood smoke from Zoya's cabin.
I must have been waiting outside for a while now, because at some point, my mind drifted to memories of my own transformation from a child to a young adult with a limited understanding of pheromones and mate bonds, and how I had struggled to accept my new reality and all its complexities. I could relate to Zoya's predicament in a way, but at the same time, everyone's experience was different. I didn't know what she was going through, but I could only imagine the fear, confusion, and disbelief she must be feeling.
I knew I needed to do something to help her, but I also had to consider my own safety. As the night deepened, the patrol guards could be on their way, as it was only a matter of time before they came looking for the rogue, and I couldn't risk being caught. The fear of being captured and executed was now more real than ever, and the last thing I wanted was to be caught by my packmates and taken in to trial in front of my half-brother, Ezra.
I had to get inside and talk to Zoya before anything else happened, and I knew I had to act fast, and I could feel the desperation building up inside me. I had to break in…it was the only way I could save myself now.
With no other options left, I finally made the decision to break into Zoya's cabin. It was a risk, but I couldn't waste anymore time just standing outside her cabin, freaking naked and looking like a maniac that needed a one-way ticket to the mental hospital! I needed to take action now and care about whatever Zoya’s reaction would be later.
I took a few steps back and looked around the cabin, searching for any weak spots or openings. Much like the first time when I had entered this cabin on a whim, I spotted a window on the side of the cabin that looked old and dilapidated. I approached it cautiously, careful not to make any noise that could alert the guards in this area.
With a deep breath, I kicked the window with all my strength, shattering it into tiny fragments. I could hear Zoya's sharp intake of breath from inside the cabin. She must have heard the glass breaking as well. Good, that meant that she wouldn’t at least start screaming when she saw me.
Looking around me one last time, I quickly climbed in and took stock of my surroundings once again. Thankfully, Zoya wasn’t in the living area, which meant that she was in her room. Taking that as a positive sign, the first thing I did was put on the extra pair of pants that Zoya had provided me, that I kept at one of the empty cabinets in the kitchen, paired with a t-shirt that belonged to her ex.
Once I was done dressing up and no longer in danger of flashing Zoya, I finally turned to the bedroom door and just like I had before, twisted the doorknob a little too hard and the door sprang right open.
Zoya was huddled at the foot of her bed, her eyes wide with fear as she stared at me. And I immediately raised my hands in a gesture of peace. "Zoya, please, I need to talk to you," I said softly.