"Mmm.., this tastes good."
"I know, I will make them for you some other time. Do not finish all."
A smile was placed on the face of Peter after seeing the sparkle in the eyes of Isabella. It was a good thing that she can easily forget things like that. Her mind was working like a kid which makes her an easy and friendliest person to get along with. He is happy to see her bubbly face.
"Now, wait for me. I will be back in a few."
Peter left her alone for some time while he was giving guidance to arrange the course meal.
She was waiting when she suddenly heard someone moaning in pain. She started to follow the voice and it led her inside the forest. She found a little fox whining and his foot was trapped in a trap set by hunters.
She knew that the hunters must be nearby but she also wanted to save the fox. Hunters were one of the most heartless and ruthless ones. They trap them, hurt them, torture them, and sometimes kill them. She knew that she can save him but the question was can she save herself? Maybe it was worth the risk?
She jumped to help without thinking again.
"Don't worry, I will help you."
Isabella slowly focused on her ears to hear any voice. That way it will be easier for her to detect the enemy and save herself and the pup.
The fox was a little shocked on seeing that she can understand his language. But he understood that she was going to help him. He observed how she slowly tried to open it for two minutes and then stopped to look around. She did it frequently to keep an eye for the hunters.
"I heard that the pack at the bottom of the mountain has a human child in their pack. Never expected to meet her one day. It was my honor. Alpha's daughter."
With that, the fox slowly bowed his head and ran away as fast as he could to save his life. She knew not to expect much from him, and slowly got up to come back to the clearing and wait for Peter.
Before she could come back, she heard the crunching sound of leaves and sticks. She halted and slowly turned around just in time to see someone came out of the shadows.
"My, my, look what we have here!! A maiden who happens to send our prey away by setting it free."
They were the hunters. They were never the good news.
She slowly started taking back steps. When they were busy laughing at her being caught up in the situation, she took the chance and ran in the direction of the other side of the clearing. She could hear them following her but she could also hear the thumping of her heart in her ear.
She was scared, running alone in the forest to defend herself. She was a fast runner, but the dress didn't support her and made her fall headfirst. Luckily she saved her head from colliding and slowly turned on her back to see the hunters.
The moment she fell and stopped running, the hunter shot an arrow in her direction. She screamed, kept both her hands crossed over her eyes to block it from the impact.
She waited for the impact which never came, but rather she heard a voice came of a certain someone.
"Looks like Miss Isabella need some help?"
She slowly removed her hands, and slowly opened her eyes to see and there he stood, broad shoulders in the direction of the hunters. One hand was holding the arrow while the other was supporting his body.
The moment the cold eyes met the fear-struck eyes, any trace of humor vanishes from the voice of Alexander. He could not control his next action, and he broke the arrow in two halves and threw them back at the feat of its rightful owner.
When the arrow fell on their feet, he turned his face slightly towards them to show them his half side of the face. His glare might be scary but when shown half side of his face, it screams demonic. At first, they wanted to protest, but when they saw the heat and fire in his eyes. They were more than enough for them to cower in fear.
They ran away, which she visualized as tail tucked between legs.
Alexander wanted to see how Isabella was doing. After hearing that she was alone at the main gate of the castle, he was able to interpret that something might have happened. He knows that she is new to the castle, that being said going somewhere is one thing and going alone in broad daylight is completely another.
He expected to see her smile, her captivating eyes, what he didn't expect was to hear her scream. He didn't expect to run at the moment to her and see her on the floor. And he definitely didn't expect to see an arrow heading in her direction.
He lost it. He let his temper get the best of it. He just looked them dead in the eyes and broke their arrow. As a warning to never come near again and under whose protection she was.
They may not know that he was the royal highness himself but fear has no form and title. It is present and needs no form of communication. All he needed to plant fear which they understood.
"If I am not wrong, last time you needed help."
Alexander decided to accompany Isabella to the clearing. He doesn't want her to get in any more dangerous situation like this. And knowing her from their second encounter, he knew that she could get in one if left alone.
He wanted her to be safe and if it will ask for some of his time, then he will be more than happy to grant it to her. He saw how quickly she changes her expression as if the previous expression was not there in the first place. He liked to see her smile. It gives him an unknown sensation and satisfaction.
"Look!! there's Peter."
Alexander looked pointedly at her friend. He didn't want her to feel lonely but at the same time, he didn't want her to be close to other males. Unknown to him he felt some strange emotions hearing his name from her mouth. He also didn't want her to have a fake friend. He knows the cost of having a fake friend and he doesn't want her to pay that price.
But just as he was about to say something, he heard the sound of trumpet came at a distance. A frown adored his beautiful face. The sound of trumpet meant only one thing, the king is required for the ceremony.
"I will see you Isabella, but I have to go now. I have to be near the king. Don't get in any more trouble."
Isabella knew that he was needed to stay by his side to protect the king and everyone. She couldn't hold him back even if she wants to, she shouldn't hold him back ever. With a promise of seeing each other again, they parted their ways.
"There you are, I was worried about you."
Peter was worried about her. When he came back and found her gone without any information of her whereabouts, he got worried about her. He tried asking the surrounding people if someone knew something about her whereabouts. But after not finding anything, he started to get panic.
Different scenarios crossed through his mind and each new one was worse than the previous. She was a lady with beauty attracting lots of suitors. He doesn't want someone to hurt her. Although she avoids danger and is only involved when dragged by someone, yet he wanted to keep her away and safe.
Finally, he took a breath of relief when he saw her coming towards him. But his smile soon turned to worry when he saw a dark shadow emitted by a man where she stood a few minutes ago.
He wanted to know more about the shadow. He asked her and expected some important piece of information but all he got was a single sentence. She informed him that they both are friends and he is a nice guy.
Peter was scared. Scared for his Bella. She didn't understand that not all people are good. Some people are bad while some people are bad enough for you to stay away from them although they have goodness.
He has made those mistakes once and paid the price. He wanted her to make the right choice. But this one time, Isabella was not willing enough to listen to his words. He was trying to explain the situation to her. He wanted to lure her to give him some more information and for her to stay away from such a dark person. But Isabella refused to listen to him.
Seeing his effort of explaining her, the smile of Isabella turned into a frown. For some unknown reason, she felt hurt from his behavior. She replied him with a small smile and glistening eyes.
"He is my friend. He is a good guy. Please do not say."
That did it for him. That stopped him from saying anything further. But he promised himself, he will keep both of them apart if that is the last thing he will do. But if he is the right one for her, he will make sure to join both.