3.

Mine?

I had no idea what that meant. It made absolutely no sense to me, the same way nothing had been making sense since the accident had happened.

I swept my gaze around, fiddling with the cloth that was now wrapped around my shoulders. I shifted back, pressing my back against a tree. I watched as his eyes continued to bore into mine. I shivered. I couldn't understand what was happening.

"Elian..."

"My mate, Jerry. I got another mate." He said, the pitch in his voice making me wince.

What is a mate? And what was he talking about?

Slowly, he brought his hand to my cheeks and lightly brushed on them. I closed my eyes involuntarily, sucking in a ragged breath as the cold wind seemed to hit me harder.

He inched his face closer to mine, and I could feel his hot breath fanning my face. He smelt weird. Yet nicely. I itched to rub my hands down his bare chest and...

What is wrong with you, Kimberly!? My mind screamed.

"You are so damn beautiful," he whispered, grazing his lips against mine softly, before he dropped his head and lightly grazed my neck.

"What is your name?"

"Ki...Kimberly," I managed to stammer. It makes no sense that I was sharing my name with a stranger. It feels weird, yet in a way, felt like I was doing the right thing as well.

"Kimberly,” he hummed, face still buried in my neck. “You have a beautiful name, Mate. And," I felt his tongue licking my neck, and I almost screamed at the spark I felt.

Dear Lord, just what was happening to me?

"So perfect." He moved back to stare at me, and I could swear I felt tingles run down my spine. It was as though his eyes were staring deep into my soul. He cupped my cheeks with both of his hands. The soft feeling of his palm pressing against my cheeks caused my stomach to drop.

"I love your scent."

I was hot all over. And scared at the same time.

I could hear the loud thudding in my chest increase, as though my heart would snap in two at any moment and I'd find myself losing it. It was that bad! So bad that I wanted whatever this was to stop. To end.

Yet there was this pull I couldn't explain. It was as though something was pulling me to this man. Sparks flew every single place he touched me. I wanted to scream.

But then, I want to wrap my arms around him and feel his warmth even more. To make matters worse, it was as though the want for that warmth paralyzed me and I couldn't move an inch.

His lips were back on my neck as he softly placed kisses on my nape. I had never been kissed. Never. At least not this way. And so, it was inevitable not to shake all over as he continued his rummage on my neck.

"You smell...so nice." He groaned, continuing to assault my neck.

The words brought back the memory of my assailant. I quivered under his touch, looking for a way to get free.

"Elain..." the man who I now know as Jerry called him. "You need to calm down before you hurt her. She's human after all."

She's human? What does that even mean? But before I could dwell more into the thoughts, as quickly as the pleasure had dawned on me, I felt a piercing pain when his teeth lightly grazed on my nape.

I hissed loudly, trying to push away from him. And it did the trick. My hiss seemed to have made him stop, and he pulled away quickly without me having to use much strength to push him back.

"I...I..."

"Get your stupid hands off of me, you prick!" I snarled, my hands were shaking so bad beside me, but I'd be damned if I let him notice my fear. I'm done being a scaredy cat today. I just want to go home. "Did you save me from him so you can take advantage of me as well?" I added, fighting back the tears threatening to spill from my eyes.

Just where in the world was I?! And do all the men here take advantage of women?

"I am sorry," he rasped as he stood up, running his hand through his hair. He had a bun, I noticed. He also had a sleeve tattoo.

He looked like the mafia lord I've heard Mel talk about from the books she read.

"I didn't mean..." he sucked in a deep breath, his voice bringing me out of my little reverie. "It just happened." He moved forward to touch me again, and I flinched.

"I told you to stop," Jerry called from behind him. "Now you've scared her even more."

"I...I..."

"I perfectly understand what happened. But does she?" Jerry chided yet again.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to touch you or do anything. I promise you, I didn't mean it. I was just..." he moved forward again, and I quickly raised my hands to shield myself from him, and hissed as loud as I could.

Then silence stretched and nothing else happened. So, I dropped my hands only to find him kneeling before me, his eyes a shade I have never seen any eyes with before. His eyes had changed from deep brown to another color.

Fiery red and a dip of black in the middle, swirling with something as the pull I felt a few moments ago intensified.

There was something about this man that scares me. Yet again, it excites me. It calls to me. Beckoning at me to drown in whatever temptation it was aiming at me. His red eyes did nothing to help the loud thudding of my heart. To make things worse, they seem to glow as they reflect the little light from the now setting sun.

But then, amidst all the tension, amidst all the pull I was feeling towards him, I couldn't help the wave of hatred that hit me at the prospect of him touching me without my consent. Again.

If he thinks he'd do just that and thinks his stupid apology is going to make things better, then he must be very mistaken!

You know what they say about turning your hatred somewhere else when you don't know what to do? Or when the person you were supposed to hate and be angry at doesn't exist anymore? That is exactly what I was doing. As crazy as this may sound, I know this man wasn't trying to take advantage of me. It was just a moment of pure bliss, one I had enjoyed. While I do hate to admit that, I did like the feel of his hands on me. His warm breath. His tongue. It didn't feel this way with my preparator. Which was why this scared me even more.

"I want to go home," I said quietly, holding onto the tunic he had given me. "If you truly meant me no harm, then take me home," I added, making sure my voice was firm and hard.

He balled his fist, as though he was trying to hold back from saying something. Or doing something.

"Where are you from?" He asked, after a long moment of clenching and unclenching his fist.

"Are we still in Plateau?" I asked the one question that had been bugging me. Because truth be told, this does not, in any way, look like home. And it certainly doesn't look like Plateau.

The light in his eyes vanished, replaced by beautiful brown eyes, with a golden tint in the middle. A mesmerizing color. I did not know how I could see the color, because of how dark it was. Now, even the light from the sun was fading. And the cold swishing of wind hit my body where it was bare.

I shivered.

"Plateau? Where is that?" He asked, furrowing his brows.

"That's where I live. I need to get home and get ready for work, as it is, it is already dark." I explained. I still couldn't make out what was happening. Because it certainly made no sense.

One moment, I got hit by a car, the next moment I was here; alone in a dark forest with two strange men before me, and another one further from where I sat, dead, after he tried to rape me.

Yes. Nothing makes sense whatsoever. Absolutely nothing!

"Okay," Elian said, taking a step closer. "It is already nighttime like you've said. How about I take you to my home until morning? Because I certainly do not know any pack around here named Plateau..."

"Park? Do I look like someone who would live in a park? I have a home, thank you very much!" I snapped, the bubbling rage I feel towards the man intensifying with each passing minute.

"Whoa, whoa! Calm down. What does it look like? Your home, I mean?"

"And how is that any business of yours? You try to take advantage of me and now you dare refer to me as a homeless person? Or perhaps I visit the parks and waste my time playing pointless games? Anyway, it is fine," I tried to stand up, supporting my weight with the tree beside me. "I can take care of myself and get home without your damn help!"

However, my joy at the prospect of taking matters into my hand was short-lived, as a jolting pain pierced my ankle.

"Ouch!" I yelped, falling back on my butt.

"Are you okay?" Elian asked, taking another step towards me.

"Don't. Don't you dare come towards me!" I gritted. I wasn't sure if I would be able to stop myself this time, or if I'll end up throwing myself at him.

"I..."

"Step back, Elian. Let me do this," Jerry said from behind Elian.

"But..."

"Can't you see you've ruined it all!" Jerry snapped.

As weird as it may sound, I could swear I heard a loud growl from Elian. Growls were only natural for animals to make, and not humans.

"Calm down, Alpha. You've already ruined it. At least, let me do something to help."

Alpha? Weird. I thought I'd heard that name once.

"Fine!" Elain snapped, as he moved back and allowed Jerry to step forward.

"Hello, Lu...Kimberly. My name is Jericho. Mind if I take a look at your leg? Promise, I won't hurt you."

I stared at the man. Although tall and broad, he didn't look as built as Elian did. But they both might be of the same height.

I had no idea why, but I felt like I could trust Jerry. So, I simply nodded. Not that I didn't trust Elian, quite the opposite. It was myself with him that I didn't trust. But he didn't have to know that. So let's make it look like I despise him touching me.

Perfect!

He smiled and kneeled before me, taking my right leg to examine. I heard a loud growl behind him and saw Elian take another step towards us. Jericho scoffed before he spoke, without turning to face Elian.

"Calm your... him down, Elian. I am simply helping!"

"The idea of you touching her instead of us doing it is killing us both!"

"Well, you ruined your chance by quickly rushing into everything. She doesn't want you any closer. Just stay back and let me handle this."

"Dammit!" Elian snapped, punching his hand against the other. "Fine."

Jericho resumed inspecting my ankle. "Ouch!" I yelled as he pressed on a particular part.

"It hurts here?"

"Yes," I said through clenched teeth while closing my eyes tight. Don't cry, don't cry, I chanted to myself through the pain.

"It seems you sprained your ankle quite badly. Would you let me carry you to our home?"

"Why your home?"

"Because we don't understand where yours is. And as it is, it is getting dark already. So, we need to get back."

I pondered on his words and figured I had no other alternatives. And I would rather have him take me than that Elian of a fool.

"Are you sure you will take me home tomorrow?"

"Not a promise. But we will find it together."

"Okay. Let's go." I simply said as another cold wind hit my skin.

"Elian..."

"No. I don't want him to touch me again."

"Hey. It is okay. He won't hurt you. He's only going to carry you back home."

"Why can't you carry me?" Please, not Elian carrying me. What if I lose it all?

Another growl. It was louder than usual. The deep throaty sound excited me, and for some reason, I found my eyes drawn towards Elian, who now stood beside Jerry. His eyes were weird. I could see the faint hint of red/black in his eyes, as well as the swirls of the brown. How was that possible?

"Because I can do that. And I want to." He said softly. "You are cold, and I bet you need to rest. Let me take you home." He added, the rawness in his voice causing me to squirm.

"I'd rather walk. I don't want to be treated like a baby."

"I just want to help..."

"Please. Just let me be. I am tired."

I had to close my eyes to avoid looking at the hurt that crossed his face. I don't know why, but I hated seeing him that way. And while it doesn't make any sense to me that he was acting like this towards me, my complete exhaustion from all that has happened made me want nothing but rest.

"I swear it by Kalisha, the moon goddess, I promise I won't touch you ever again without your consent. I just want to carry you home now."

"But he can do that," I pointed towards Jerry. "Why does it have to be you?" I added, refusing to ponder on what he had just said.

Kalisha? Moon Goddess. What is that?

Mami always said I was stubborn and hard to please, which is exactly true. Because right now, it seems like, while I do not appreciate him touching me, I was taking on my hatred and anger over what the dead man tried to do to me through him.

I know it's not fair, but it was the only gateway I had for the walls of emotions threatening to knock me out of my senses. A wall pushing and pushing at me, so much so that I constantly felt my breath hitching.

"Because you are mine and I'll be damned if I let another man touch you ever again!" He thundered. Somehow, it seemed as though his rage caused the earth to move and I felt it shudder beneath me. The glow in his eyes intensified, causing me to squirm more and more with each passing second.

Like a snap of the fingers, I suddenly wanted him to hold me. To touch me. The wall I had been trying to put between us instantly crumbled. Although it made no sense.

"I am sorry for yelling. It's just that we are agitated," he whispered, his voice breaking at the end. "I will only carry you home, Kimberly. Nothing more. Can you trust me with that?"

There it was again. Him talking in plural. Is he referring to himself? Or someone else? It sounds so weird and I have no idea what to make of it.

I stared deeply into his mixed orbs that still had a combination of brown and golden, and somehow, I felt the pull again. I felt his sincerity. As well as his sadness. It's like I do not only see them but feel the emotions I see in his eyes as well.

"Can I pick you up?"

I simply nodded.

A small sigh escaped my lips as he inched closer, a delicious waft of his scent hitting my nostrils. The pull was getting intense, and I wanted nothing more but to find myself wrapped in his embrace.

"Let me help you with that," he said, taking the shirt that he had wrapped on my shoulders.

"Turn around, Jericho." He grounded at his partner, who simply chuckled before turning away.

Elian helped me slip my arms through the shirt. I was glad I still had my panties on, even if my brassiere had been torn. As I slipped the shirt on, I could inhale the scent even more. Which seemed to calm me down.

Is this some sort of twisted game?

"I'm going to pick you up now, okay?" He whispered, bringing his hand to my face as though he wanted to tuck the lock of hair that had fallen to my face. But he quickly pulled his hand back and staggered back a bit, before sweeping them underneath me and lifting me as though I weighed nothing.

As though I wasn't the bag of fat everyone back at college calls me.

I buried my nose in the crook of his neck as he pressed my body into him even more. I love the feel of his bare chest pressed against my body. I love the strong arms wrapped around me. I love the scent invading my senses. I love the now back to normal eyes staring intently at me as he began taking slow steps.

Above all, I love the feeling gathering at the pit of my stomach. It was weird. But I loved it all.

I wanted this to last forever. I felt safe, which was uncanny, considering how he had touched me without my consent. And how just a few minutes ago, I was angry at him for doing that.

However, it was not as though I hated him any less for doing that; it was just that this new feeling seemed to overshadow the hatred and anger I felt towards him for trying to take advantage of me after he had saved me. Or feelings I was forcefully pushing into myself to justify my actions towards him.

However, I didn't dwell on the thought too much. Because a sudden wave of fatigue hit me. And I found my eyes dropping.

"You are going to be okay, Arwa," I heard him murmuring against my lips. "I am going to do everything possible to make sure you don't reject me as she did."

I had no time to comprehend what he had said before I lost it all.