Catch Her

Serenity POV

"Ughhh..."

The sun's glare instantly dazzled my eyelids, which were still closed at the moment. The bright sunlight immediately disturbed my sleep that had been very comfortable since last night. It made me feel compelled to immediately reopen my eyelids, while rubbing them a few times using my palms now.

"It's morning already... time flies so fast apparently." I muttered, when I had completely opened both of my eyelids now.

But I was still lying on my side, still with my back to the stranger I had helped last night. My eyes looked straight at the outside of the cave, which showed how bright it was this morning. I fell silent once more. Listening to the jingling of the chains that were still binding my wrists now.

I even realized that the chains on my wrists had also bruised, and my skin was reddened, due to the tightness of the chains tied there. I let out my breath slowly. It would be impossible to untie these chains from both my wrists. Besides, I wouldn't be able to be that strong.

Slowly, I began to change my lying position on the ground to sitting and leaning against the cave wall. It was only then that I realized the existence of the fire burning right in front of me now.

"How can there be fire here? And... and who lit that fire?" I muttered subconsciously while frowning deeply.

"Me..." That heavy voice instantly made me turn my head towards my left side right now. Right where the strange man from last night was sleeping, right next to me.

"Wh-what?" I could hardly believe what I had just seen in front of me right now.

Right beside me, the stranger was already in a sitting position leaning against a large rock in the interior of the cave. His body still looked a little pale, with the betel leaf mash that had dried on the wound on his body. Even the stranger's long hair again covered the part of his face that had a long incision scar. I still remember the wounds on that man's body.

"I was the one who lit the fire. I woke up last night, and I saw you shivering in the cold. So... I thought, we need fire in this cave." He replied.

I fell silent again after listening to the explanation said by the stranger there. Considering how badly injured his body was, I don't know how that man had started a fire so easily in this damp and cold cave last night.

"But you could have woken me up, and... and I would have helped you lit that fire. Your condition was so bad last night..." I muttered as I began to hide my hands, and the chains that bound me, between my legs. I don't know why I did that. Although, I'm sure that the stranger already knew about the existence of these chains on me.

"No problem... I just lit a little fire. After all, you're not the only one who needs that fire to keep warm in this cave. It's me too." The stranger murmured again. His voice, heavy and deep, sounded a little sinister. But in his gentle pronunciation, I believed he was a good person.

"Thank you."

I bowed my head deeply, then looked right at my two wrists that were in my lap right now. It felt like I was in a dream. Last night, until this morning my life depended on my escape. In two days' time, the dragon bride giving ritual would begin. I had very little time to be able to actually leave and leave this forest. Away from Alexander.

"I should be the one thanking you." The stranger murmured again.

That made me start to raise my head again, and look right at him. His eyelids, which were still closed, really made me curious. Was it possible that the stranger was still asleep? Or maybe he was delirious? Or was it possible that the stranger was still enduring the pain of all the wounds on his body?

"If only, you hadn't found me last night, I might be gone now. And... for all the help you gave me, by treating these wounds on my body, I thank you very much. I will always remember the kindness you have done to me. I also apologize, because... I might have caused you trouble by bringing me, who fainted, into this cave. Thank you once again."

Listening to the words that the stranger had just said, I somehow felt very relieved, and happy. All my life, living as an omega in the pack, I had always understood that the words 'sorry', and 'thank you', were very expensive and precious to say. I almost never heard those words.

I started to smile a little right there. I remained silent, with the feeling of relief and happiness that I was still feeling in my heart right now. I didn't care about what reaction that strange man would give when he saw me smiling like this, just from hearing all those words he said to me. I just felt so happy to be able to listen to those two words that felt so expensive and precious for the first time in my life. I was also very happy that the courage I had left in me last night was able to help a stranger live to fight and survive with a body full of wounds.

"No problem..." I mumbled, as I myself had absolutely no idea what to say to the stranger right now. After that, we both fell silent again. I tried to feel the warmth brought by the small bonfire that the man had lit last night. That's why, I was able to sleep so soundly, and only slightly felt the cold from the wind, and the temperature inside this cave before.

"May I ask a question?" I looked back at the man. "Why... are your hands in chains like that?" He asked, still with both eyes closed.

"Oh... um, it's... actually..." I cleared my throat a little, to help myself feel less nervous. "I ran away from my pack." I continued there.

"Why? Was your pack a really bad place for you?"

"So much." I nodded my head quickly, though I knew that the stranger wouldn't be able to see my nod right now.

"The Pack was like hell for me. Alpha and his girlfriend accused me of betraying the pack. They both tried to get me out of the pack in a very cruel way. They even made everyone think that I had betrayed the pack. I was just an omega. Pretty low in the pack. But I don't deserve this kind of cruelty in my life."

Quickly, I averted my eyes from looking at the stranger who had fallen silent over there. I let out my breath slowly. I tried to calm myself down. I didn't want to cry right in front of other people.

"Em, are you hungry? I'll try to find some fruit for us to eat." Slowly, I rose to my feet, while grasping the rest of the chain that dangled down. I began to stretch my body, to loosen the muscles in my body.

"Sure, if you don't mind looking for it yourself. Thank you..."

"No problem." I smiled a small smile at once. "You still need quite a lot of rest. So wait here, until I come back later. I'll be back soon with enough fruits."

Without waiting for a long time, I quickly ran out of the cave, to walk through the forest and look for fruits that could still be eaten now. Even so, I also had to feel wary of the condition of this very lonely forest right now. The fear I feel is heightened, with all the thoughts of the possibility of the Moon Stone Pack's warriors being here. I don't want them to reach this forest.

But I still feel lucky, with the existence of a tree that bears fruit like berries, not far from the cave. I quickly gathered the berries in both hands, and ran back into the cave. I don't know why I felt so excited after finding the berries, to be able to eat them together with that guy.

"I only found these berries near the outside of the cave. I don't dare to go too far from this cave. I'm afraid of something bad happening." I muttered, while walking right up to the stranger who was still sitting against the boulder right now.

"Thank you. Sorry for causing you trouble once again." The man muttered, as I sat right beside him, while placing the berry right in front of us now. I smiled a little at that. The stranger slowly moved his body, perhaps he was getting uncomfortable with his leaning position on the rock.

"Don't move around too much. The wounds on your body are still drying up a bit. It won't be good if you keep moving. It could cause your wound to open up again." I muttered. Slowly, I began to pick up the berry, then moved to be able to feed the man now. "Let me just feed you. Here, open your mouth." I said once again.

The stranger didn't say anything. His eyelids seemed to be even more tightly closed, although there was a small wrinkle on his forehead now. And a second later, the stranger began to open his mouth, and I fed him the fruit. It continued like that, while occasionally feeding myself the berry. It wasn't long before the berries were gone. At least the hunger and thirst that I felt, had diminished a little compared to before. The same went for the stranger, who had refused my berry bribes several times before. The stranger remained silent.

"You..." The stranger cleared his throat and called out to me in a low voice.

I turned my head quickly and looked at the man. "What?"

"You have a scar on the nape of your neck, huh?"

Listening to the man's words instantly made me frown quite deeply. Even unconsciously, my right hand immediately moved to the back of my body, and touched the back of my neck.

"How did you know?" I asked while gently rubbing the back of my neck.

"I accidentally saw it last night. I was thinking that it was an insect."

"No... it's a scar. It's been a long time too..."

"GO FIND HER THERE!!!" The shout instantly stopped my unfinished speech. My head immediately turned towards the outside of the cave with a quick movement.

"Oh my... they've gotten pretty close to here..." I muttered in panic.

I rose to my feet with my palms clenched tightly together now. The growing sense of panic, I could feel more and more inside my body now. How could they have arrived near this cave now?

"Are they from your pack?"

The stranger tried to rise to his feet, but I quickly restrained his movement. I shook my head frantically, though I myself knew that he wouldn't be able to see it.

"Please... stay here. Don't do anything. Or if they see you, they... they will definitely hurt you too. I don't want to be a burden to others. After all, this is my problem. You must not get involved. Sit down."

Slowly, I went back to help the stranger to sit comfortably there. After that, I tried to gather enough of the dried leaves in the cave, and covered the stranger's body with them.

"What are you doing? Why are you covering me with these leaves?"

"Sorry, but I had to do it. Otherwise, they'll get suspicious that you're here. I don't want anything bad to happen to you. I may not know you. But, this is my problem. I will face everything bravely."

"If someday we meet again what can I give you for this favor?"

Listening to that, I instantly began to smile a little. Even so, my eyes, which were starting to well up with tears, couldn't lie at all right now. With all my might, I tried to hold back my tears, so as not to fall.

" Anything... I'll accept anything you give me someday. If we have a chance to meet again, the two of us will definitely meet. Therefore, take care of yourself."

I felt like I could no longer be in that cave with that strange man there. After all, I can't make others get hurt, just because of me. The business with Alexander, as well as The Moon Stone Pack, was my own. I don't want to involve others in all these matters now. And without saying anything else, I quickly grasped the remaining dangling chain in both palms very tightly. This time, I had to run with full force. I stepped my two feet to run very fast and exited the cave. Leaving that strange man alone in the cave. I didn't look back at all. I didn't allow myself to do that.

"THERE SHE IS!!!"

That loud shout instantly made me keep running with all the strength I had right now. The hope I had was dwindling. If I didn't run out of the cave, I would probably still be captured, if they got into the cave. Besides, it might not just be me who gets captured, but that strange man as well. How could I involve other people who didn't know about my problem?

I kept running and running. I didn't even care that my feet were in a lot of pain, given that I wasn't wearing any footwear at all. The dress I was wearing got caught on a twig a few times, but I kept running, not caring if it was torn and also damaged now. The warriors' footsteps sounded faster and faster behind me. On the other hand, I could smell Alexander's body scent around me as well. Is it possible that Alexander is coming after me now? Alexander was in this forest, to ensure that I would never be able to escape safely?

Bruk

"Arrgghh!!!"

I instantly groaned in pain as I fell quite hard right onto the ground now. There was something that tripped my two feet, and caused me to fall unceremoniously onto the rocky ground right now. My breathing felt very rushed. This time, I no longer held back the tears I had been holding back.

"You think you can just run away from The Moon Stone Pack, Seren? You will never be able to escape from the pack. The ritual of giving the bride to the dragon, will still be carried out. Regardless of your condition. The dragon will accept you as his bride. Then why are you running away again, hm?"

That was Alexander's voice. So it's true. Alexander did come looking for me, just to make sure I was back.

"Until whenever... I will never want to be a dragon's bride!!! Never!"

I shouted loudly, in response to Alexander's haughty words. Slowly, I began to support my body with my two hands there. I tried hard to stand up, but even so, I fell back to the ground several times, as I felt the wounds on my feet, knees, and palms now.

"Arrgghh!!! Let go of me!!!"

I yelled out loudly, as the chains that bound my wrists together were roughly pulled away by Alexander, until I, who was originally lying on the ground, began to stand right in front of him there.

"You think, after I managed to catch you here, you can go back to running away? No, Seren. It's not as easy as you might think. Come on!" Alexander quickly pulled hard on the chain, and dragged me to walk.

With difficulty, I tried to rebel from the grip of Alexander's hands, which were pulling harder and harder on the chains that were now binding my wrists together. Several times I almost fell down, due to Alexander's dragging. The warriors who had also come along with Alexander, followed Alexander and myself, right behind us now. When we all stepped right in front of the cave, where the strange man must still be right now, I hoped anxiously about the man's safety there. There was no longer a campfire lit by the stranger there, and I thought, the man must have escaped there.

I sighed slowly, because the stranger was able to leave, without getting into trouble. Although, I myself don't know how I can escape Alexander now. Everything seems to be very difficult for me to do now. The faster Alexander's feet dragged me now, the rougher the pulls he made on the chains that were still shackling my wrists now. It doesn't matter how long it takes and how much energy I expend, to be able to release myself from Alexander's grip.

Unconsciously, my tears continued to flow down my face. Would my life's destiny be to remain a dragon bride?