Chapter 3

Ella Whitmore

My hands trembled as I locked every lock in my apartment, the image of the strange man and memories of everything that happened back there still clung to my head.

Cold goosebumps washed over me as I sat before my laptop at 3AM, the image of those golden eyes, and his impossible speed flooded my mind.

My fingers clicked over the keyboard as I made research, typing everything crazy that I could think of.

'Can humans have glowy golden eyes?'

'Can a human move like a flash?'

The results didn't make sense. They were pointing at supernatural beings... Something that doesn't exist.

It's not possible. They only exist in fiction and myths. It's not real. I told myself, trying to brush it off, but I was sure of what I saw. I couldn't deny it... not even to myself.

'Always trust your instinct, Ella'

My finger froze across the keyboard as my mom's last words echoed in my head, as if she was here with me.

She died fifteen years ago when I was just eight, and I've held on to that all these years, and right now, my instinct is screaming that the stranger was dangerous, and I should run from him, but a part of me wanted to see him again.

I wanted to satisfy this curiosity brewing inside me. I needed to confirm who he really was.

Time slipped by fast, and soon, it was morning.

I rolled out of the bed and into the bathroom the moment my alarm rang.

As I got ready for my part-time job, my phone chimed with a text.

Jasper;

'I'm sorry about last night. Let's meet. I'll explain everything that happened. Merry Christmas, baby'

I scoffed at the end of the text, my grip tightening on the phone.

Explain everything? He must be insane to think that I'll listen to his lies.

With a loud hiss and a deep sigh, I tossed my phone on the bed.

I was supposed to stay back home today being Christmas... I had taken days off from work to spend Christmas with Jasper, and since he decided to betray me, there was no point staying back home.

My hand stilled over my hair as I brushed it, a strange cold washing over me as memories of last night replayed in my head again.

Sighs. Don't think about it, Ella. You need to stay focused.

I told myself, sliding into my boot, wore my hand gloves, and grabbed my car keys from the nightstand.

Cold bit into my skin, the moment I stepped out of my apartment. My car was almost covered with snow, but thankfully, it wasn't much.

Just as I approached my car, a loud sound of car engine revving pulled my attention, and as I lifted my gaze, a familiar car pulled over in front of my gate.

Jasper stepped out of the car, cladded in gray pants and a white sweatshirt. A gray neck warmer tied round his neck.

My gaze dropped to his hand as he approached me. His fingers were clutching tightly around a bouquet of my favourite flowers... red roses.

My chest burned, fingers tightened at my sides. He dares show his face to me after what he did?

"Ella..." he said with a shaky voice as he stood before me, "I'm sorry about everything. Yeah, I messed up... I shouldn't have done that. I didn't know what came over me... I was just..."

His voice faded into a soft sigh.

Did he run out of lies?

I stared silently. Back then, I would be all excited having him around... my heart would pound hard, but looking at him now, I felt nothing... just emptiness and a numb heart.

"I won't ever hurt you..." The rest of his words faded as my eyes flicked past him to the person standing across the street, eyes on us... no, on me.

Something snapped inside me. A familiar cold washed over me. The same one I felt last night.

I didn't see his face... but I recognised him right away. His height and body sold him out.

The stranger from last night.

My heart stilled, fingers slowly curling into fists beside me as I took a step back. How did he know here? Did he stalk me?

Just the thought gave me chills... but strangely, I wasn't so scared like I was supposed to.

Then he started crossing the road.

My breath hitched.

Before I could react, Jasper's voice snapped me back as he grabbed my hand roughly, "are you even listening to me, Ella?"

His voice was full of rage.

"Yeah, I cheated... But at least I'm sorry about it. How could you ignore me like that?" His voice was full of rage.

"Let me go!" I cried out, but my voice stilled when I lifted my gaze and was welcomed by those pairs of golden eyes.

They were unmistakably the same eyes from last night.

The stranger was standing right behind Jasper now.

My breath caught in my throat, knees buckled beneath me.

My lips parted, but no words came out. My heart was pounding in my throat.

Before I could react, he grabbed Jasper's hand and pulled him back roughly, twisting his wrist.

I heard the cracking of Jasper's bone as he yelped in pain...

Chapter 4

Ella

My eyes locked with the stranger's. I finally saw his face.

He had the kind of face that seemed to be made for only him. The kind of presence that screams dark aura... and the kind of eyes that would make your heart shift... the rarest pair of amber eyes.

He had the kind of handsomeness that could only be likened to inexistent fiction characters. And his body... broad chest, slim waist, and long straight legs.

Something snapped inside me. Fear? Confusion? I couldn't explain.

Wait... Is he even real?

Jasper's cries snapped me out of my trance.

He was holding his wrist tightly. A part of me felt happy that he was being taught a lesson, but the thought of this stranger distracted me as many questions ran through my mind.

He closed the distance between himself and Jasper, leaning in to whisper something into Jasper's ear.

In half a second, Jasper's face drained of colours, then fear crept up his face, his body shaking.

Without another second, Jasper stumbled backwards before running back to his car.

I swallowed hard, taking a step back as the stranger turned to me, our eyes locked.

What did he say to Jasper to make him run off like that?

But that wasn't the main question lingering on my mind. Who the fuck was this man?

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. It suddenly felt like my tongue was tied down to my mouth.

He suddenly closed the distance between us. He didn't speak, but his eyes were all over me... as if checking me out.

I swallowed hard, pushing my fear aside and mustering courage to ask the million dollar question lingering in my mind.

"Who... are... you?" My voice cracked into a whisper, but he heard me.

He moved his hand to my face, but froze mid-air before pulling back... just like last night.

"Why do you keep following me?" I asked again, my voice steady and demanding this time, "last night... and even now... wasn't just a coincidence, right?"

His eyes glued to mine for a moment, as if trying to see through me. I felt chills.

"Mine..." my voice cracked again, my stomach twisting nervously, "what did you mean by that?"

He didn't say anything. Instead, his eyes lingered on me... Longer than normal.

And without a word, he pulled a card, his palm hot against mine as he held my hand, thrusting the card into my palm.

I stiffened at the hotness of his hand. It's snowing heavily this period, and everywhere is cold... Isn't his hand supposed to be cold, considering that he wasn't even wearing gloves?

I swallowed the lump in my throat before my gaze dropped to the card.

Kael Ashfang. Shadow Ridge Security.

Nothing else was written in the card.

I blinked, lifting my gaze, but he had already disappeared.

I stiffened, my chest pulsing heavily.

My gaze dropped to the card, fingers tightening on it.

My phone pinged with a text, and I lifted it to my face.

Jasper;

'You're rolling with wild animals now, huh? Look what that bastard did to me'

I was going to ignore the text, but the attached image drew me in.

My thumb hovered over the picture, trembling, before I clicked on it.

And I froze.

Jasper's wrist, where the stranger grabbed earlier, had deep scratch marks. The kind of mark you wouldn't get from just being grabbed by a random person.

I told myself that I was just overthinking it, but I knew what I saw. The mark looked like they were gotten from claws... too deep and precise.

My breath caught.

I swallowed hard, my grip tightening on the phone as I lifted my gaze. I was the only one standing here under the snow, cold biting into my skin, but not enough to dismiss the chills I still felt from earlier.

I couldn't go to work anymore, so I turned and headed back to my apartment.

*****

By night, my eyes suddenly snapped open, cold air gracing my face as I sat up on my bed.

I was sleeping, but even in my deep sleep, it felt like someone was watching me. Not just anyone... the stranger from earlier.

I stilled on the bed as my gaze drifted to my window. They were opened, fresh snow covering the windowsill.

My fingers slowly curled on the bedsheet, breath hitching.

I was sure I locked them before I slept off. I couldn't have forgotten to, knowing that it's snowing outside and I would freeze to death if I left them open.

Did a thief break in?

But I brushed it off immediately. The neighborhood and even this apartment was heavily guarded, and I also live on the sixth floor. There's no way a thief could've made it through up to here.

I swallowed hard, scrambling on the bed, cold sweat forming on my forehead as his image flashed through my head.

No... he didn't... He really didn't.

I shook my head in denial, but just then, a dark shadow flashed past my window.

I stiffened...

Chapter 5

A few days later

Ella Whitmore

My car slowed down, making a loud grinding sound against the tarred road before halting.

Ugh! Fuck! Not now, please.

I'd repaired the car five times already in the last two months.

I purchased the car from someone three years ago because it was cheap... I couldn't count how many times I'd taken it to an engineer these past years.

I really should discard it now, but I have bills piled up, and saving money to buy a car is the last thing on my list now.

I sighed frustratingly as I stepped out of the car. Of all places the car could break down, why a deserted road?

No cars. No one passing by.

Just an unending road covered in fog and snow ahead and behind me.

I rubbed my cold palms together.

I was supposed to be in the office in thirty minutes, and here I am, stuck in the cold in the middle of nowhere.

Right... I should call a mechanic. Maybe I could find anyone nearby.

With that in mind, I went back inside my car and grabbed my phone.

The battery blinked back at me. Just one percent.

Before I could call for help, it went blank.

Sighs. Switched off.

That was my last hope.

I couldn't stand there. It'll only get worse. I had only one choice... to walk.

With that in my mind, I reached for my car keys, locked the doors, and started walking aimlessly down the street, hoping to find help soon.

Cold bit into my coat down to my skin, my inside almost freezing, and my legs begging for rest as I walked down the streets.

Five minutes... just five minutes, and my legs couldn't go any farther.

My body shivered, teeth chattering, heart pounding hard, breath stuttering, and my pulse slowly slipping away.

My legs finally gave in, and I crashed to the floor at the side of the road, my vision blurring out.

God! I might die if I don't get help in another minute.

At that moment, the only person I could think of was that stranger... Kael Ashfang.

Deep down, I longed for his presence... A part of me waiting for him to come save me.

Crazy! Is this a movie where the male lead pops out of nowhere whenever the female lead is in trouble like he was always lurking around her?

I laughed silently at my silliness, because I knew for sure no one was coming to save me.

"Ple...please... sa...ve me..." Still, I whispered, my voice inaudible.

With my eyes half opened, I saw someone approaching me... a tall figure. One that was unmistakably Kael Ashfang.

I blinked. Did it work? Did he really pop out of nowhere to save me?

Relief coursed through me, but I asked myself... Why was he always everywhere? Especially whenever I was in danger?

First was that night, then when Jasper tried to hurt me... and now?

But it didn't matter at that moment. I just needed to leave here.

He stopped before me, and without hesitation, lifted me effortlessly from the ground, into his arms like I weighed nothing.

Without a word, he turned and started walking away. I didn't resist. I didn't ask questions. I just curled on his chest, his body hot against mine... just what I needed.

We got to his car. A black sleek luxury truck.

He got inside the car, still holding me firmly, his body hot against mine... like he was burning from inside.

It was weird that he was burning up while it's cold out here... I wanted to ask if he was fine. I mean, it's weird being hot in this weather.

But I didn't. I just stayed in his arms, getting all the warmth that I needed.

The cold had reduced, but not completely gone. My body still shivered, teeth still chattered.

Then he reached for his jacket, draping it round my body, its smell greeting my nose.

It smelt like pine and something wild... One I couldn't identify.

I should be afraid... Anyone in their right mind would be.

It was weird that this man came from nowhere and has been showing up whenever I was in danger like he was always watching me.

This should scare me, but it didn't. Wrapped in his arms now, surrounded by his heat... I had never felt so safe in anyone's arms like I felt now.

My pulse steadied... Fingers tightened on his shirt as a heavy invisible weight pressed on my eyelids.

I shouldn't trust him enough to fall asleep around him, but it was already too late.

My consciousness had already slipped away, his heat seeping into my frozen body.

At that moment, only one question echoed in my head... Where will he take me? What happens when I wake up?