Chapter 1
🌛MEET THE CHARACTERS✨️
✨ Elena (The Protagonist) –
Age: 22
Appearance: Beautiful with long, dark hair, big expressive eyes, and a soft, delicate look that hides her brave heart.
Who she is: A smart, curious scientist who travels to the dangerous Blackwood Valley to study rare plants.
Her Role: She gets trapped in the dark mansion. Even though she is terrified of the monsters, she finds herself completely addicted to the dangerous master of the house.
🩸 Julian (The Male Lead / The "Devil") –
Age: Unknown (He looks 25, but carries an ancient curse).
Appearance: Breathtakingly handsome, tall, and muscular. He has midnight-black hair, a sharp jawline, and piercing, glowing amber eyes that turn blood-red when he loses control.
Who he is: The lonely, wealthy master of Blackwood Manor. He hides a dark secret—an ancient curse forces a terrifying, bloodthirsty beast to wake up inside his blood.
His Role: A highly possessive, protective alpha. He will brutally slaughter any monster that tries to touch Elena, claiming that she belongs only to him.
Chapter 1~
Elena was completely lost in the dark forest of Blackwood Valley. She was a scientist who came to study the strange plants here, but a terrible storm had started. The rain was hitting her car so hard she could barely see. Suddenly, her car engine died. "Ah Fuck! Was my car's engine supposed to break down here?" Elena said. The lights went out. The forest became pitch black and completely silent.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Elena whipped her head around. Long, dark shadows were scraping against her car window. She heard a horrible, inhuman screech in the trees. Terrified, Elena threw her car door open and ran into the pouring rain. Her feet slipped in the mud. She looked up and saw a giant, creepy Gothic mansion on the hill. It was Blackwood Manor.
She scrambled up the stone steps and pounded on the heavy wooden door. "Please! Help me!" she screamed.
The heavy door swung open smoothly. Standing in the dark entryway was a towering, breathtakingly handsome man. He had midnight-black hair and a sharp jawline. But his eyes were a fierce, glowing yellow color, just like a wild wolf.
"You shouldn't have come here, sweetheart," his deep voice vibrated right through her chest. "The things in these woods are hungry. And I am the hungriest of them all."
Julian closed the heavy door, shutting out the storm. Elena backed away until her spine hit the cold stone wall. She was trapped. Julian took slow, predatory steps toward her. He was so broad and muscular, and he radiated a wild, fiery heat. He pinned her against the wall, slamming both of his hands on either side of her head. Elena noticed his fingers were transforming into long, sharp claws.
"I should tear you apart for coming here," Julian growled low in his throat. His face was just inches from hers. He looked down at her shaking lips, completely obsessed with her.
Elena’s heart was beating like crazy. She was terrified of his sharp claws, but looking at his beautiful face made a sudden, hot desire explode in her stomach. "I don't want to leave," she whispered breathlessly.
Julian let out a dark growl and claimed her mouth.
The embrace was intense, a sudden meeting of two desperate souls amidst the chaos of the storm. Julian held her firmly, his presence overwhelming the small space between them. Elena felt the strength in his grip, a silent promise of protection that contrasted with the terrifying power he radiated.
Suddenly, a massive BOOM shook the house. A creature from the forest slammed against the front door, the wood groaning under the impact. Elena gasped and clung to Julian, her fear returning in an instant.
Julian’s expression shifted into one of protective fury. His features sharpened, and his presence seemed to grow even more imposing. He lifted Elena with ease and carried her quickly up the grand staircase, seeking refuge in the upper chambers of the manor.
He set her down near the fireplace, but the peace was short-lived as another creature shattered the bedroom window. Julian let out a defiant roar and lunged at the intruder. A fierce struggle ensued as he fought to defend his home and the woman who had sought his help.
Elena watched from the corner, trembling as the room was thrown into disarray. When the struggle ended, Julian turned back toward her, his breathing heavy and his eyes still glowing with a wild, golden light. Elena held her breath, unsure of what would happen next.
But Julian’s movements were gentle. He reached out, his hand hovering near her before he softly cupped her face, shielding her from the sight of the room’s destruction.
Elena looked up at him, seeing the conflict in his gaze. He seemed ready to retreat into the shadows, perhaps fearing he had truly terrified her.
But Elena reached out, her hands finding his. "I am not afraid," she whispered, her voice steadying. "You saved my life."
The tension in Julian’s shoulders seemed to vanish. The harshness of his features softened, and the wild light in his eyes settled into a warm, intense amber. He moved closer, his presence a comforting weight in the dim light of the fire.
"You have seen the truth of this place, Elena," Julian whispered, his voice low and resonant. "The woods are dangerous, but no harm will come to you within these walls. You are under my protection now."
He leaned in, his forehead resting against hers for a long, quiet moment as the storm continued to rage outside. Elena felt a strange sense of belonging, a surrender to the dark mysteries of Blackwood Manor.
Julian slowly pulled his lips away from Elena’s mouth. His breathing was very heavy and loud in the quiet hallway. The air between them felt hot and thick. His yellow eyes glowed brightly in the dark like a wolf. He looked down at her red lips, then down at her neck. He could see her pulse jumping.
Elena’s heart was beating so fast it felt like a trapped bird. Her knees were shaking, and she felt weak. She knew she should be running away because this man was dangerous and strange. But her fingers were still gripping his shirt tightly. Her body did not want to move away from his warmth.
"Are you still afraid of me, Elena?" Julian whispered. His voice was deep, rough, and very low. He moved his long, sharp claw gently down her cheek. The cold tip of his claw tickled her skin, but it also made a hot shiver run down her spine.
"Yes," Elena breathed honestly. She looked straight into his glowing eyes. "I am terrified of you. But I don't want to leave.
"Julian smiled a dark, wicked smile. He loved her honesty. He leaned down again, pressing his forehead against hers. She could smell the scent of rain, old books, and a strange, wild forest on him.
"Good," Julian murmured, his lips brushing against hers as he spoke. "Because you cannot leave. The valley has chosen you. This house has chosen you. And you belong to me now."
He grabbed her small, cold hand in his large, burning hot hand. He squeezed it firmly, letting her feel the strength in his fingers. "Come. Let me show you your new home, sweetheart."
Julian pulled Elena back into the shadows of the heavy stone wall, his gaze fixed on the dark corridor ahead. The air in the old mansion had grown heavy and cold, smelling of rain and ancient dust.
"Stay close," Julian whispered, his voice barely audible over the wind rattling the frames.
Elena nodded, her pulse quickening. She could feel the strength in his posture, a rigid alertness that suggested he was prepared for whatever was lurking in the depths of the estate.
"What is that sound?" she breathed, gesturing toward the upper floors.Suddenly, a terrifying sound broke the silence.
CRASH!
One of the grand glass windows at the top of the stairs shattered into a million pieces. A cold, howling wind rushed into the hallway, blowing out the candles and plunging the house into darkness.
From the darkness above, a loud, wet screech echoed down the stairs. It sounded like something heavy and powerful was descending rapidly toward them. Julian stepped in front of Elena, shielding her as he reached for a heavy iron fire poker nearby.
Elena looked past his shoulder into the dark staircase. Two bright, glowing white eyes were staring down at them, and she could hear the sound of long, razor-sharp claws scraping against the stone floor. The mystery of the mansion had finally revealed its true, dangerous form.
Julian stood close to Elena, the tension in the narrow hallway mirroring the chaos outside. The stone walls felt cold, but the intensity of the moment kept them focused.
"We have to make it through this, Elena," Julian said quietly, his gaze steady and filled with a deep sense of protection.
Elena nodded, her hand resting briefly on his arm for support. The adrenaline from the situation made every second feel vital. They shared a brief, meaningful moment of connection—a silent promise to look out for one another as the danger drew closer.
Julian leaned in and pressed a brief, firm kiss to her forehead, a gesture of comfort and shared resolve in the face of uncertainty. Elena leaned into him for a split second, drawing strength from his presence before they both turned their attention back to the sounds echoing from above.
BOOM!
A loud crash came from the floor above, followed by a sharp, echoing screech that rattled the door.
Julian immediately stepped back, checking his surroundings. "It is time to move. Stay close to me."
The focus shifted entirely to survival as they prepared to navigate the dark corridor.
Julian didn't give the creature a chance to move. He grabbed Elena’s waist with his large, powerful hands and pulled her flush against his hard chest. He backed her swiftly into a dark alcove beneath the stairs, completely shielding her body with his own.
The physical closeness was sudden and overwhelming. Elena’s breath hitched as her front pressed tightly against his bare skin where his shirt had torn. She could feel every muscle in his chest tightening as he held her down, his heart hammering a frantic, wild rhythm against her own.
"Don't make a sound," Julian breathed against her lips. His voice was a raw, gravelly whisper that sent a violent wave of heat straight down her spine.
Above them, the creature's heavy, wet footsteps slithered across the stone floor, searching for any sign of movement. Inside the dark alcove, the air was thick with the scent of old dust and the sharp tang of Julian's adrenaline. Julian remained perfectly still, his eyes fixed on the sliver of light at the edge of the shadows, watching for any sign of the monster's descent.
Elena remained frozen, her mind racing as she tried to quiet her breathing. She could feel Julian’s physical strength as he stood as a barricade between her and the threat, his muscles taut and ready to react at the slightest sound. The tension in the small space was absolute, a stark contrast to the screeching and scratching coming from the floor above.
Julian’s grip on the shadows seemed to tighten as the creature let out a low, guttural growl that vibrated through the stone walls. He slowly reached for the heavy iron fire poker he had grabbed earlier, his knuckles white against the metal. The silence between them was not one of peace, but of a shared, desperate focus on survival.
Every second felt like an eternity as the footsteps circled directly above their hiding spot. Julian leaned slightly closer to Elena, ensuring she was completely hidden from view, his gaze never wavering from the stairs.
The creature’s wet footsteps slowly faded away, moving down the opposite side of the long hallway. The immediate danger had passed, but the adrenaline inside the dark alcove was still boiling over.
Julian looked down at Elena, his amber eyes dark and completely consumed by a different kind of hunger. The threat of death outside had broken all of his control. He dropped the iron poker, and it hit the floor with a quiet thud.
"I almost lost you," Julian growled, his voice rough and laced with a desperate, possessive anger.
He didn't wait for her to answer. Julian slammed his mouth onto hers, claiming her lips in a fierce, breathless collision. Elena gasped into the kiss, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and pulling him as close as humanly possible. The fear from the monster morphed instantly into pure, overwhelming desire.
Julian groaned against her mouth. He lifted her easily, her legs wrapping around his waist as he carried her out of the alcove and straight toward the large bed across the room. He kicked the heavy bedroom door shut, locking out the rest of the world.
He laid her down on the dark velvet sheets, his heavy, muscular body following her down immediately. The physical tension between them snapped completely. Elena pulled his shirt completely off his shoulders, her hands gripping the smooth, warm skin of his back as his lips traveled from her mouth down to her racing pulse.
The heavy curtains muffled the sounds of the night as the tension between them finally gave way to the deep, silent connection they had both been fighting.
Hours later, the storm outside finally stopped.
Elena woke up as the first light of the morning sun began to peak through the tall windows. The room was warm and quiet. She shifted slightly against the soft pillows, her body feeling exhausted but calm after the events of the previous night.
She turned her head to look at the other side of the giant bed. The velvet sheets were tangled, but Julian was gone. The space beside her was already cold.
