Chapter 5. Savior.

Naya’s POV

I woke up to the scent of cedarwood and something faintly sweet, like fresh vanilla. My body ached in places I didn’t even realize could hurt, and as I tried to rise from the antique four-poster bed where I was slumbering, my throbbing head painfully punished me for my sudden movements. I recall passing out while struggling with Kieran. Something was off since this wasn't the room we walked into last night. 

I peeked out of the window and realized that this place was nowhere near the bond ceremony venue. Worse, it was already daytime. Judging by the direction of the sunlight and how bright it was, it was already noon.   

Finally managing to sit upright, one edge of a thick woolen blanket falling off my shoulders, I allowed the memories of last night to invade my thoughts, And although every bit of it was foggy, like a dream that I try so hard to recall, I couldn’t quite bring it all together. 

But one thing was clear… I wasn’t supposed to be here! Wherever here was, that is.

The bedroom door suddenly creaked open. Without knocking, Kieran confidently stepped into a large mug of steaming coffee in his hand.

His elegant Kiton suit jacket was gone, leaving him in a branded long-sleeved white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up. His handsome square-jawed face displayed a wide smile. 

“You’re awake,” the muscular male said in a pleasant tone, his voice soft. “How are you feeling?”

I did not answer, my face reflecting the question I could not get myself to say aloud. He read my expression, took a sip of his hot java, and gave his reply.

“Nothing happened last night,” Kieran remarked sharply after noticing my nervousness.

Kieran then placed his mug on the bedside table nearest him and leaned against one of the posts of the bed with his broad and slightly hairy arms crossed.

“I was supposed to take you home last night, but when I got to your place, Sabrina...” He paused with an almost imperceptible sigh, his jaw tightening. “Well, she wasn’t exactly welcoming even though I already told her that you fainted. And I didn’t feel comfortable leaving you there with her and that guy with her.”

“So, you thought bringing me here would be better for me?” I tried to sound calm, but the words came out sharper than I intended. It was clear that I was in his house, his bedroom to be precise. “And how the hell did you know where I live, anyway,”

“I have my sources,” he answered, his expression darkening furrowed. “I wasn’t going to leave you alone with people like that when you’re in that state.”

I wanted to argue, but exhaustion weighed heavily on me. Instead, I sank back into the pillows, my head spinning. 

“I shouldn’t stay here. People will talk!” I stated firmly.

“They already are,” he confirmed while a wry smile tugged at his lips. “Your parents called me this morning. They think we should make this arrangement… legal.”

My heart sank. “Of course, they do,” I muttered under my breath in a frustrated tone. 

Why am I not surprised? This was so typical of them. Always seeing opportunities to further their social standing, no matter if they used me as their sacrificial lamb, Sigh… 

Kieran sighed as well and pushed himself off the bedpost. “Don’t worry, you’re safe here, Naya. That’s all that really matters to me right now.”

Safe. The word felt hollow and meaningless to me. Was I ever truly safe? Sabrina, the only person I have trusted with my condition, now hates me, ever since she saw me in my room with Seth. I had tried to tell her that it was all his doing, but all my words fell on deaf ears. 

As Kieran left his room, I walked into his private bathroom and took a warm bath. After I was done, I dried and styled my hair before I made my way to the mansion’s largest sitting room by following Kieran’s scent. 

As expected, I found him seated on a large, vintage-looking dark brown leather couch with his laptop on his massive thighs. He looked up at me as I entered, a wide smile spreading across his comely clean-shaven face.

“You look a lot better,” he stated with slight relief and admiration.

“Thanks to your five-star accommodations, of course,” I said, forcing a smile as I sat in the vacant space beside him. “But I should be heading back. I don’t want to overstay my welcome.”

His thick eyebrows furrowed, “Not until we talk. Sabrina’s behavior isn’t something I can ignore anymore.”

I froze. So he really does care… Interesting.

“She’s my older sister. She won't harm me,” I said with a bitter tone while avoiding his blue eyes. “Besides, I won't cause her trouble anymore. I plan to talk to my best friend and ask her if I can stay at her house temporarily until I find a job.”

“You’re not the one causing trouble, and what about your studies? ” he said firmly, sliding nearer to me and holding my shoulder. “If we don’t address this now, it’s only going to get worse.”

“I’ll only take a part-time job so I can rent a room somewhere,” I explained softly while still looking down. “Besides, Sabrina isn’t my real problem.”

“It’s that guy she’s with, right?”

I look up, startled, “How did you…”

“He was looking at me really weird last night when I told your sister that you were with me. And any guy can read another man’s thoughts with a stare like that.”

Yes, he really does care. But why?

I gave him a wan smile and then stood up. “Thanks for the concern, but I really need to go back now,”

He shook his head and got to his feet as well, “I’ll drive you there.”  

Kieran managed to bring me home within the hour; he didn’t leave until I entered Sabrina’s apartment. My heart skipped a beat when I came face to face with my older sibling when I got to the 2nd floor on the way to my room. Immediately, our eyes locked, and she had a strange smirk on her freckled face. 

“Naya,” she began, “It’s the talk of the town that you stayed at Kieran’s place last night. How cozy of you both.”

“I didn’t have much of a choice since you weren’t exactly welcoming me back even if he already told you about the state I was in.” I spat out accusingly.  

Her smile dropped, replaced by a cold glare.

“Well, maybe you should have taken the hint, sister. You don’t belong here anymore. You’ve taken Seth away from me and we’ve broken up. So what else do you want from me, huh?”

Something inside me snapped at her blaming words and condemning tone…

“You don't just get it, Sabrina! I never wanted Seth in the first place. He wanted to force himself on me! Is it my fault that you fell for a dude who was nothing but a horny, fucked up two-timing bastard who only wanted to play around you to get to me and nothing else?” 

I watched as her pretty face twisted in fury, and before I could react, she suddenly stepped forward and shoved me with all her strength as she shrieked in anger. My foot caught on the edge of the staircase, and everything tilted. I fell down the stairs, pain shooting through my form until I reached the floor. 

“Oh my God! Naya! Are you okay?” I heard Sabrina's gasp somewhere above me, her voice laced with mockery. 

To my chagrin, I realized that there were just the two of us in the house…

Or so I thought!

As the crushing pain in my ribs left me writhing in pain, I suddenly saw Kieran appear above me with an extremely worried expression on his comely face. While he kneeled beside me, I could hear Sabrina sobbing nearby as she gave an Oscar-award-winning performance.

“It was an accident,” my sister cried out, her crocodile tears freely flowing.“She tripped and fell!”

But as Kieran’s eyes locked onto mine, I saw the truth register in his silent stare. He didn’t believe her.

“Naya,” he whispered soothingly, as he took me in his arms like a mother would carry her baby. “Can you hear me? Please, stay with me.”

I tried to speak, but the words died in my throat. Extreme pain stole my breath as fresh blood trickled down my temple.

Kieran’s grip was firm yet gentle as he wolf-sped out of the house and carefully placed me in the back seat of his car … 

“You’re going to be okay,” he assured me from the driver’s seat, his voice trembling as he swiftly drove towards the closest hospital he knew. “I’ve got you.”

I was barely conscious when the sterile scent of the hospital stung my senses. When I finally woke up, Kieran was at my side, both his massive hands were wrapped tightly around mine. His face was still pale and drawn, anxiety deeply etched into every line.

“You’re finally awake,” he breathed, intense relief flooding his voice. “Thank the goddess.”

I tried to sit up but a sharp pain shot through my ribs, forcing me back down. “What happened?”

“You fell,” he answered, his tone tight. “Or rather, you were pushed.”

The memory came rushing back… the anger in Sabrina’s eyes, the strength of her hands as they touched my torso, and the repeated blows as I fell down the narrow stone steps of Sabrina’s residence. 

“She did it, Kieran,” I hoarsely whispered, tears instantly running down my cheeks. “She wanted to hurt me.”

Kieran’s jaw clenched, while a vein in his neck throbbed strongly. “I know, Naya. I saw it. I decided to enter the house when you both started shouting at each other. I’m just so sorry that I was too late to stop her.””

My heart sank. “What are you going to do now?”

He leaned closer, his deep gaze fixed on me. “I’m going to make sure she never comes near you again.”

True to his word, Kieran didn’t waste any time. He reported what happened to the authorities who launched an investigation. Within days, the truth came out. Security footage from the house confirmed everything he witnessed. From Sabrina pushing me, my fall, her staged act of concern to Kieran’s rescue. 

Everything to the last detail…

When he finally told me, I felt a great weight lifted off my shoulders. I hadn’t wanted things to come to this, but there was no turning back now.

“You’re safe now,” Kieran assured me firmly, both his hands resting lightly on mine.

I turned to him, a smile tugging beside my curvy lips. The room was silent for a while, the soft humming of the machines filling the air. 

“Thank you,” I said softly. “For everything.”

He grinned at me, a broad, reassuring smile stretching his cupid bow-shaped lips. “You don’t have to thank me, Naya. I’m just doing what I should’ve done a long time ago… protecting you.”

I shut my eyes, took a deep breath, and willed my mind to rest. For now, the only goal that filled my thoughts was how to heal completely. Maybe after that, I'd figure out how to get on Sabrina's good side. She was my sister, after all, and I wasn't going to give up on her…

At least, not yet.

Imagine my surprise when my hospital room’s door opened and in walked Sabrina and strode to the foot of my bed…

“What the hell are you doing here?” my male savior and companion snarled ferociously.