Stella Canali's POV

I was exhausted as I was exploring the town on my own. It was a refreshing experience for me as I was looking at the antiques and all the locals have been nice to me, even though they don't speak English.

However, I have been fortunate enough to know that Sam, the waitress from the cafe earlier, happily wanted to show me around the town. I was looking for Xavier, of course, but I have to keep my head above water.

I was doing this to get away from my heartbreak, not looking for a rebound.

Okay, maybe I was exaggerating that I wasn't looking for a rebound. Of course, I still have that ambition to find the perfect guy but right now, I wanted to focus on myself.

"So, what do you think of Paphos?" Sam asked me when we were taking some break before we headed home. I mean, she would as I would just go back to the hotel.

"It was nice actually. All the antiques and ancient sites. That would make my friend insane with this place," I said as I was drinking some cold iced latte as I was looking at the shop that was closing. It was barely 6 PM.

"Are the locals love to close their shops early?" I asked Sam as she was looking around.

"Sam?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah. They were afraid of the dark?" Sam said as she was sipping on her coffee. That piqued my curiosity as I wanted to know why.

I know, for someone that was an English major, I have the curiosity of a scientist.

"Well, there was a legend around here," Sam started as my eyebrows were up at her.

"Legend? What legend?"

"The Lycanthrope," she said as I was trying to remember what that word means. Then, it hit me.

"You mean werewolves?" I said before Sam was covering my mouth.

"Shh!. Don't say that out loud, you don't know who's listening," she hissed at me. Now, I was getting more curious about this legend.

"Why not?"

"Well, legend said that this island was once covered with them. This was their first base during Ancient Greece and still is," Sam said as I was keen on listening to her.

"Then, what happened?"

"Well, you know the rest of the history. The werewolves were feared for their super strength and super speed. They were hunted to extinction, no thanks to Alexander The Great," Sam said as if she distasted the name.

"Alexander The Great? The Alexander The Great that conquered half of the world?" I said as I was blinking at her. She nodded before she sipped on her coffee as I can sense that she was wary of the dark.

"Maybe I should not be telling you this," she said quietly as she was starting to leave me.

"But why?"

"Because…" she said as she was looking at the forest. I turned to look as if she was looking at something. But when I turned to look, there was nothing.

"I got to go. My mum would be worried sick," she said as she was hastily leaving me around.

"Thanks again for showing me around town," I shouted as Sam was waving at me before she was running toward her house, I presumed.

I shrugged at the legend. Werewolves? What a joke! I never heard about them before and I ain't sure to believe it now. I went back to the hotel as I was walking alone. I saw that people were getting inside their houses as if there was a monster lurking around.

I hastily walked to the hotel as I went inside the lobby. I was breathless as I looked at the receptionist. He nodded at me as I walked to the elevator and I went up to my room.

I unlocked the door before I got inside as I was looking at the window. My heart was beating fast as I saw some shadows moved. It was my imagination. I don't believe in these legends, hence it did not apply to me.

But how wrong I was when the very thing stood in front of me that night.

Xavier Marchand's POV

I was lurking in the forest as I heard that Sam was telling our legend to the newcomer. I gritted my teeth as I don't like it when the newcomer knows about us.

But maybe it will be a good thing.

Stella will be so scared that she will depart from the island as soon as the morning came. But then, why did my heartache at that thought?

'Mine,' my wolf purred as I was trying to control it. I can see that Stella was listening keenly to the stories as she was trying to figure it out as if it was real or not.

I hoped she believed it.

I smirked at the thought of her being scared to her death as I transformed in front of her. She would be running scared but I don't want that.

I wanted her to accept me for who I was and maybe, just a little part of me that was naive, still hoping that she would look it on the bright side and tell me that she did not care about it.

About my curse.

I sighed as I was lurking in the forest as I know Sam can smell me. I was watching Stella as others would lock up their stores and shops after 6 PM. But Stella did not know our customs. She was an outsider and she did not grow up in fear.

She was a carefree person and cheerful.

When I first looked into her eyes, it held a warmth that I have never look at before. I wanted it. I wanted it all. I needed it as if I was breathing using it.

I think I might kidnap her if she was to leave the island.

Get it together, Xavier. You will get her. There was still time. 4 days until you can say goodbye or maybe just kidnapped her and keep her in your room.

I smiled at the thought as I was lurking in the shadow before I linked my mind with Sam.

'Go home now. I take care of her,'

"But—'

'Now!' I stated firmly before she was looking at me in the eyes in the forest. I knew she knew I was near and she was looking at me.

"I got to go. My mum would be worried sick," Sam said before she said goodbye to Stella. She was waving at her before she was heading to her hotel room. My wolf purred as we will be alone now with our mate.

Now, let the game begins.