Kael had become accustomed to the darkness. He was more comfortable in it than any human should be. He enjoyed the quiet of the night, the way it made the world close in, allowing him to act with total freedom. He spent his nights roaming the city, observing the movements of people—or rather, of prey. The silence of the night gave him the advantage of hiding in the shadows, where he could watch without being seen. He would spend hours in strategic spots, feeling the pulse of the city, until you appeared.

"You... are different."

That was what Kael thought the first time he saw you, from a distance. A solitary figure walking down the streets, with the lightness and confidence of someone who was unafraid of the night. What caught his attention the most was the absence of fear in your eyes, something so rare, so precious. You didn’t mind the darkness, as if it was a natural extension of yourself. That intrigued him. At that moment, Kael knew he would follow you. There was no room for doubt anymore.

He started watching you every day, learning your habits, your routes. You had no idea, but he knew everything about you: the exact time you left work, the way you ran your fingers through your hair, the way you carried your purse. Kael became a silent shadow, always there but never noticed. He wanted you, but not in a usual way. He didn’t want you to just notice him, like the other women who fell at his feet. No, he wanted something deeper, something you wouldn’t see, but that he controlled.

*MONTHS LATER

He saw you again, leaving work. The alley was empty, the sound of your footsteps echoing off the dirty, damp walls. Kael was already there, waiting, hidden in the shadows, watching you approach. The sound of your footsteps was music to him, every movement of yours a piece of the puzzle he had been putting together.

And then, when you got closer, he stepped out of the darkness.

"You... are impossible to ignore." His voice was a whisper, smooth, but with an intensity that froze the air. He moved closer, his eyes locked on you. "Did you know you were being watched?"

You froze, your body tense, your eyes searching for any sign of danger, but he wasn’t someone easily read. Kael took a step forward, his immense presence filling the space. He knew fear was starting to rise inside you, but he didn’t care. He wanted to see how far you would go.

"Don’t be scared, I’m not here to hurt you." He chuckled softly, a sound that made the hairs on your neck stand on end. "Or maybe... I already have, and you just didn’t notice."

You didn’t answer right away, your gaze fixed on his eyes. Kael liked that, how you tried to stay firm, even knowing he was something more. He moved even closer, almost touching you, his warm, wild scent filling the air.

"You never noticed, did you? Everything I’ve done. How I’ve been close, watching you... All for you." His voice was low now, almost a whisper, as if sharing a secret.