Chapter 3

Delilah's POV:

The boy's body thumped to the ground. My eyes jumped up to the psychopath holding a knife. He mouthed creepily, “RUN.”

Chilly shivers ran down my spine. Turning around, I started running away from the crazy maniac of the man who was staring right into my bones with a creepy smile.

Ignoring the sharp branches scrapping my arms, I ran faster than my muscles would allow. Just when I thought that I had enough of a distance between us, a breath knocked out of me as I thudded into something rock hard. I knew who he was. A dark chuckle reverberated in his chest, “Do not let me catch you, little one.”

Without lifting my head, I turned around and started sprinting to the other side of the woods. I hadn't gone far when, once again, I crashed into something solid. He must be a great runner. That's the only explanation for how he was catching up to me so easily. I stumbled back and lost my balance. Just when I was about to fall, a big, meaty hand wrapped around my waist and pulled me upward.

I inhaled sharply as I flushed against his chest. I was panting heavily after all that running but his broad chest was only rising and falling rhythmically. Digging my feet into the ground, I stabilized myself and took a step back. There was no point in running away now. I was caught by the devil.

The way he was towering over me indicated that he must not be less than 6'2" tall. I tilted back my head and my eyes traveled up his chest and took in his broad shoulders before finally resting on his face.

I rasped out in a weak voice, “That boy over there..."

He cocked his head to one side, "Oh, he'll be alright. Nothing to be worried about."

Contrary to the morning when his face was covered with blood and dirt, now I could see his features more clearly. His sharp jawline seemed like it was specially carved with a chisel. Among all his aggressively masculine features, his nose was exceptionally cute. It was a straight and well-defined nose with a round tip.

Ignoring the tension building inside me, I gritted out, "Are you insane? You literally slashed his throat." I mumbled weakly, "Lemme see him," and walked around him in the boy's direction.

I had only taken a step when a rough hand clasped around my wrist and jerked me back, “You never do as you are told, right?”

His eyes, equally striking and deep, were piercing mine. His lips were full and masculine. They seemed beautiful until he stretched them in a snarl, "I don't really like to repeat myself. Now just go away if you don't want to end up like him."

I wiggled my wrist out of his grip, “Is throwing threats around like confetti your hobby?”

He was amused, “I would suggest you start taking them seriously if…”

I stopped him mid-sentence, “Yeah, yeah if I don’t want up dead in these deserted woods.”

His head tilted to the side as he mocked me, “You definitely do not look like one but you are intelligent, I guess.”

I tried to calm myself and think clearly. I was of no help to that poor boy and the best option was to go from there and call for help.

It was as if he heard my thoughts because the next thing he said was, "I would suggest you not call the police."

I muttered under my breath, "Any sane person would do that, you dumb."

He grinned, "It would be better if you won’t. For you."

I had lost the number of times he had threatened me in a span of the last 24 hours. My nostrils flared, "And why is that?"

His lip moved once again, "Because if you even dare to call the police, then..."

My fists were balled up at my sides, "Then what?"

He raised his hand and with those long, slender fingers, he traced my bottom lip. I froze as something hot and electric shot through my body at such an intimate touch. My breathing got heavier when he whispered, "Then I might kiss these lips."

His blazing hot stare didn't waver from my lips and after another minute, he pointed to my right, "Keep moving in that direction and you'll reach where you came from," and with that, he was gone.

Once my breathing was back to normal, I realized that I was all alone in the woods. I didn't know whether he really guided me in the right direction but I had no other choice but to find that out practically.

After about 15 minutes of brisk walking, I could finally hear the faint music from Eric's party. I checked my mobile phone and as soon as the signals showed up, I dialed the police. The officer picked up and I relayed to them whatever I had seen in the woods.

Reaching the villa, I saw Adeline outside with Luke. When she saw me approaching, she shrieked joyously, "Deeeeee, where have you beeennn?"

She was drunk and leaning against Luke for support. For a moment, I thought to tell her about what I just witnessed but the way she was swaying on her feet, I decided otherwise, "Just exploring the wild."

"Ready to go back or want to do some more exploring?" she slurred.

After bidding our farewell, we walked to the car. Adeline fell asleep as soon as we settled inside whereas Luke focused on driving so I rested my head against the windowpane and looked at the passing scenery.

After thanking Luke for the ride, I draped Adeline's arm over my shoulder and together we stumbled into the dormitory. Unlocking the door, I dropped Adeline on the bed and crouched down to take off her shoes. When I looked up at her, tears were brimming in her eyes. I frowned, "Hey, Addy, what happened?"

Inhaling sharply, she let out a sob, "Luke, please don't ever leave me."

I was confused, "He looked so happy with you. He won't ever leave you."

Tears flew out of her beautiful eyes as she whimpered, "He will. Once he finds his true mate. They always do that."

The line between my brows deepened, "Who? Who does that?"

But before I could get my answer, she thumped down on the bed and the next minute, her soft snores echoed.

The next morning, I woke up to the beep of alarm. It was 5 am. I set my alarm to go for the morning run as it freshened up my mind for the day. But after yesterday, I was reluctant to go to the woods. So, I opted for the gymnasium that was in the dorm building.

At noon, I was packing my stuff to go to my next class when my phone vibrated. I fished it out of my pocket and answered the call. It was the police. I wasn't convinced at all when the officer told me that they had thoroughly searched the woods but had found nothing out of the ordinary and there were no reports of a missing boy by any family.

I was shocked. I knew what I saw and nothing of that was ordinary. Not wanting to sound insane, I mumbled my okay and ended the call but I knew all of that wasn't just in my head. I was sure until...

Until I stepped out of the class and the first thing I spotted was the boy. The same boy who was killed in the woods. I remembered how his throat was slashed, blood dripped down the sharp blade, and his body thumped to the ground lifelessly.

Picking up my pace, I reached him, "Hey, can we talk for a minute?"

He stopped in his tracks, "Uh, yeah sure."

I nibbled at my bottom lip, "So, um, I saw you last night at the party..."

He smiled, "Oh, really?"

I nodded my head seriously, "...and then in the woods."

The smile instantly vanished from his face and he appeared all jittery and nervous, "I don't know what you're talking about."

I enunciated every word, "I clearly saw two men approaching you in the party and then I saw you in the woods behind Eric's house."

He started touching his glasses nervously and mumbled, "You've got the wrong guy. I'm sorry but I have to go to the class."

He picked up his pace and disappeared into the crowd. God, what in the actual hell was happening here? It's only been two days of me being here and I've already started questioning my sanity.

Getting done with all the classes, I gathered my things and left for the dormitory. My stomach was rumbling with hunger and I quickened my steps. I was climbing the stairs when my phone vibrated.

It was a message from Adeline telling me that she was going to be at Luke's for the night. I smiled to myself and unlocked the door. Getting in, I locked it back and turned around.

My whole body went rigid as a chill ran down my spine. All the lights were off, the only luminosity in the room was because of moonlight peeking through the window. But it was enough for me to recognize the silhouette of the man sitting on the bed. MY BED.