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?

Chapter 6

Ella Whitmore

When I opened my eyes, I was in a cabin in the middle of nowhere. Fire cracking and popping inside the room, my clothes hanging above the burning fire, and I was now wearing dry clothes. One that gave me the warmth I needed.

Did Kael change my clothes?

The thought of it made my breath stutter, my hands flying to cover my chest, cheeks burning with embarrassment.

My breath caught, the moment my eyes met Kael. He sat across the room in the shadow, his eyes on me... No, they preyed on me.

My skin prickled, heat pooling in my chest.

I swallowed hard, my nails digging into the floor beneath the clothes I laid on.

The silence was intense and unbearable. I couldn't tell what was going through his mind.

I struck a conversation, my voice unsteady, "thank you... for saving me,"

He nodded without a word.

I sighed. His silence was driving me nuts. If he hadn't spoken that night that we first met, I would've thought he was mute.

Silence kicked in again. Lingering on longer than before, the sound of fire cracking across the room.

Then I asked, my voice shaky and barely audible, "ho... how did you find me?"

Silence. Eyes calculating.

"Can you come over here?" I beckoned him, but he didn't move.

Sighs. What was I expecting? Ugh!

Our eyes locked again, and I saw that bright golden colour flashed through them. It was just for a split second, but it gave me chills.

At that moment, there was only one thing I could think of.

GET OUT OF HERE!

I acted on it, stood up abruptly and dashed towards the door as if trying to run.

Sighs. I was really trying to run off.

However, a cold icy wind blew directly into my face the moment I pulled the door open.

I stepped back instinctively, turned back sharply, but stiffened.

Kael stood before me, his eyes darkened as they locked on me.

I gasped sharply, backing the wooden wall, my back pressing hard into it.

He stared in a way that gave me chills.

"Uhm... I...I wasn't... trying to escape... I was just... just checking outside," I said, my voice shaky.

Come on, Ella. He's not dumb. You were clearly trying to escape.

Without warning, he suddenly slammed the door shut behind me with just one hand.

My heart skipped a beat, cold sweat forming on my forehead.

I subconsciously stepped back as he leaned in, my back pressing into the door.

He moved his hand to my face, his palm hot against my skin, thumb brushing against my lips, his eyes flashed gold again.

Then he spoke... no, he growled. A sound that no human should make, his eyes darkening, "you're not leaving, Ella..."

I hicupped. He knows my name?

Don't be dumb, Ella. He's been stalking you, of course, he should know your name already.

"... Not tonight... not ever,"

My fingers tightened at my sides as our eyes locked, knees buckling beneath me. I felt fear, I was sure of it, but I felt something else. A feeling I couldn't explain. One even I didn't understand.

Fuck it, Ella. You can't be stuck here. You need to go home. Don't show him that you're scared.

I scoffed, my voice shaky, hands almost trembling as I gently pushed him back, his body rigid at first, but he gave in a second later, stepping back.

"You can't claim an adult like that..." I muttered, walking back into the room.

"I don't even know anything about you," I added, more to myself than to him.

I sat back on the wooden seat in the cabin, facing him, "and you can't keep me here with you. I need to go back home. I have to go to work,"

Silence. Not that I expected a reply from him anyway.

Just as I was busy thinking of what to do, his voice tore through the heavy silence, "it's late. You'll go home tomorrow... Your car's fixed,"

Sighs. Finally, I could leave here.

"Did you fix my car?" I asked, just to lighten the awkwardness I was feeling, but he just nodded.

I gave up talking.

Night came, but I didn't sleep.

I laid on the clothes Kael laid for me... and him? He paced in the room, as if he was some guard.

"Aren't you sleeping?" I asked, and he paused, stared for at least three seconds, then continued pacing.

Right... maybe he doesn't sleep.

I didn't sleep all night... Not when a stranger was lurking around me.

Once it was dawn, Kael drove me back to my car.

He didn't glance at me through the drive, not a word... he stared straight ahead, his knuckles white on the steering wheel, his jaw clenched so tight, I almost asked if it didn't hurt... but I didn't.

The car came to a halt, and I recognised the environment. It was where my car broke down yesterday.

I looked ahead through the windshield, and my car was parked in the same spot I left it.

"Thanks for taking care of me, and thanks for the ride," I said with a small smile before turning to open the door, but he grabbed my wrist.

His grip was firm but gentle, and as I turned to look at him, our eyes locked.

I stilled, swallowing the big lump that formed in my throat.

"Wh.. what?" My voice cracked into a whisper, heart pulsing in my ears.

He quietly pressed something smooth into my palm and just one word, "keep this. you'll need it," before his grip loosened on me.

I gave him a long confused stare before my gaze dropped to my hand.

An oval-shaped black stone.

I blinked, my brows knitting together as I lifted my gaze back to him. A part of me wanted to ask what this stone was, and what I would need it for, but I didn't ask.

Without another word, I stepped out of the car, walking toward my car, my grip tightening on the stone.

I should throw it away, but I didn't. It didn't even cross my mind to do it.

I expected to find my car covered in frozen snow, but it wasn't. It was cleaner than I left it yesterday.

Did Kael help clean it?

I paused and looked back. His car was still there, but he didn't step out.

I glanced back over my shoulder again just before I stepped into my car, and this time, Kael stood before his car, his eyes on me, hands tucked in his pants.

I got in my car and started driving.

Kael still stood there through the rearview mirror, watching me as I drove away.

My vision blurred for half a second, and when it cleared, a giant black wolf with ice cold golden eyes stood where Kael stood, eyes on me... I hated to think about it, but it stared at me the way Kael did.

Cold chills ran down my spine, and my leg slipped off the pedal, but I was quick to get a hold of it again, bringing the car to an abrupt halt.

When I blinked, the wolf was gone again... Just an empty road. Not even Kael or his car was in sight...