Mateo stared at me, conflicted. His eyes showed a silent struggle between the need to protect and fear of the consequences. “You don’t understand what you’re asking for,” he growled. “This isn’t a story for you to uncover. It’s a warning. Stay away from the woods. And stay away from me.”
His words felt like a slap, cold and final. But instead of scaring me away, they fueled my determination. Mateo was hiding something. And I was convinced it was connected to the attacks.
More than that, there was an undeniable chemistry between us. A spark that I couldn’t ignore, even as he tried to push me away. I wanted to understand why he seemed so intent on keeping me at arm’s length.
“I can’t do that,” I said firmly. “I won’t.”
Mateo’s eyes flashed with anger, frustration, and perhaps fear. He took a step back into the shadows of the cabin. “Then you’re a fool,” he muttered before shutting the door.
I stood there, staring at the closed door with my mind racing. I should have felt angry or humiliated. But all I could think about was how my heart pounded when he looked at me. How my skin had tingled when he said my name.