I briefly lost all sense of weight and watched as my body fell into the rocks below. I attempted to scream, but I was left gasping for air.

He hauled me back up to the cliff's edge while firmly holding onto me and flexing his biceps. He held me tightly but gently, and as he pressed against me, I could feel the heat from his body.

"Are you okay?" he inquired, his voice low and soothing.

Too frightened to talk, I just nodded. I was struck by how attractive he was as I peered up into his face. He had a small amount of stubble on his chiseled jawline, and his piercing green eyes seemed to be staring right through me. He had big shoulders and a toned chest that rippled beneath his shirt. He was a muscular man.

We both stood there for a brief period of time, exhaling heavily and maintaining eye contact. We were in conflict, and I could sense the attraction simmering just beneath the surface.

I became aware that I might be in danger at that point. I had just fallen off a cliff and been saved by a stranger who identified himself as my mate. I was unsure of his identity and what he desired from me.

"Who are you?" I questioned, the terror in my voice audible.

The man's face softened, and he extended his hand to remove a hair from my face. He said in a soft, low voice, "My name is Ethan. "And I swear I won't hurt you," he added.

I backed away from him as my heart began to race. "How can I be sure you're trustworthy?" I prompted.

Ethan smiled at me in a little, dejected way. He acknowledged my fear, saying, "I get it. "But you must have faith in me. You and I were intended to be together."

I murmured, scarcely raising my voice above a whisper, "I don't understand."

Ethan moved a step closer while keeping his gaze fixed on me. "You will," he promised. "Just give me an opportunity to convince you of my love and loyalty."

I paused for a split second. Not only was I unsure of my ability to trust him, but I was also unsure of my ability to trust myself. It was impossible to deny the connection I had with Ethan, and that frightened me.

"Maya. Where are you, Maya?" Liam's voice came to me.

Ethan made a solemn face as he turned to face me. I have to go, Maya," he murmured. "But, I swear I'll return to get you."

I frowned, unsure of what he meant. "Go where? And why do you have to leave?"

"I can't explain right now," Ethan said, his voice urgent. "But please, trust me. I will come back for you."

Before I could say anything else, Ethan began to transform. His muscles bulged and twisted, fur sprouting from his skin as he shifted into his wolf form. In just a few moments, the man I had met was gone, replaced by a large, majestic wolf. He turned back and disappeared into the woods.

I stood there, stunned and alone, as Liam finally reached me. "Maya, are you okay?" he asked, his eyes wide with concern.

I turned around and saw Liam standing a few feet away, looking worried. He had come to check up on me after what happened earlier when he kissed me without my permission.

"I'm fine, Liam," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Are you sure?" Liam asked, taking a step closer.
I nodded, but I could tell that Liam wasn't convinced. He took another step closer, and I instinctively took a step back.

"Look Maya, I'm sorry about earlier," Liam said, his voice filled with regret. "I shouldn't have kissed you like that. I just couldn't help myself. I've been wanting to do it for a long time, and I thought maybe..."

I interrupted him before he could finish. "It's okay, Liam," I said, trying to reassure him. "I know you didn't mean anything by it."

Liam smiled, relief evident on his face. "Thanks Maya," he said. "I'm glad you understand."
We stood there in silence for a few moments before Liam spoke up again. "So, what happened? How did you end up here?"

I hesitated, unsure if I should tell him about Ethan and what he had said.

I took a deep breath and looked away, trying to come up with a plausible lie. "I just got lost," I said, shrugging. "I was wandering around and couldn't find my way back."

Liam frowned, looking at me suspiciously. "Are you sure that's all that happened?" he asked.

I nodded, making an effort to sound as believable as I could. "Sure, Liam. Just that. I simply got lost."

I could tell Liam wasn't buying what I was saying by the way he kept looking at me. But instead of pressing the matter, he chose to put it on hold for the time being.

"Okay, then let's get you back home," Liam remarked, motioning for me to follow him.

I couldn't help but think about Ethan and what he had said as we made our way back. A part of me yearned to be honest with Liam, to confide in him, and to solicit his counsel. A different part of me, however, was terrified of what he could say or how he may respond. Although I wasn't sure whether I could trust Ethan myself, I didn't want to take the chance of losing Liam's trust.

I couldn't stop thinking about Ethan and the strange connection I felt with him. It didn't make sense that he could be my mate. Lycan werewolves usually met their mates when they turned eighteen, but I was still seventeen.

Despite my confusion, I couldn't help but feel drawn to Ethan. His eyes, his voice, his touch – they were all etched into my mind. I spent hours replaying our encounter over and over again, trying to make sense of what had happened.