Chapter 2: The Mansion in the Mountains
525 Words
The drive up to the Volkov estate was treacherous, the road winding through dense forests and steep cliffs.
As she ascended, the air grew colder, and the trees more foreboding. Luna’s GPS had long since lost signal, but she trusted the handwritten directions that had accompanied the invitation.
When she finally reached the gates, they loomed large and intimidating, wrought iron twisted into the shape of wolves.
They opened slowly, almost reluctantly, as if they could sense an outsider approaching.
The mansion itself was a relic of another era. It stood tall against the gray sky, its stone walls weathered but still imposing.
A long driveway led to the front entrance, where a man in a tailored suit waited for her.“Miss Davenport,” he greeted her with a polite nod. “Mr. Volkov is expecting you.”
Luna stepped out of her car, smoothing down her coat as she took in the grandeur of the place. The air was thick with the scent of pine and something else she couldn’t quite place—something wild.
“Thank you,” she replied, her voice steady despite the unease that had begun to creep in.
She followed the man through the massive wooden doors and into the mansion.
The interior was just as grand as she’d imagined—vaulted ceilings, intricate chandeliers, and artwork that belonged in a museum. But there was a heaviness to the air, a sense of history and secrets long buried.“Mr. Volkov will see you in the library,” the man said, leading her down a long hallway.
The walls were lined with portraits of stern-looking men, all with the same piercing blue eyes that she knew Alexander was famous for.
They stopped in front of a set of double doors. The man knocked twice before opening them.“Miss Davenport,” he announced, and then stepped aside to let her enter.
Luna took a deep breath and walked into the room. The library was vast, with walls of bookshelves stretching up to the ceiling.
A fire crackled in the large stone fireplace, casting a warm glow over the room.
And there, standing by the window, was Alexander Volkov.He turned as she entered, and Luna was struck by how different he looked from the few pictures she’d seen.
Tall and broad-shouldered, he exuded a quiet strength. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and those famous blue eyes seemed to see right through her.“Miss Davenport,” he said, his voice low and smooth. “Thank you for coming.”Luna smiled, hiding the sudden flutter in her chest. “Thank you for inviting me, Mr. Volkov. It’s not every day that I get an invitation like this.”Alexander’s lips curved into a small smile. “I suppose not.
Please, have a seat.”Luna sat down in one of the leather armchairs, trying to ignore the way her heart was pounding.
This was it—the moment she had been waiting for.
But as she looked into Alexander’s eyes, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was stepping into something far more dangerous than she had anticipated.
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