Blair took a step back as she glanced to her side. She wanted to keep a safe distance from him.
There was something different about his smell but Blair couldn't precisely point it out with her fingers. Whether it meant danger or not, she just wanted to be cautious. After all, she was the one who trespassed unto his property.
His scrutinizing eyes ran towards Blair, observing her from head to toe. He squinted as if he was reading something from her, as though there was a fine print of her personality carved onto her skin. Then, the side of his lips stretched to a smirk, wickedly amused by what he had discovered.
He stopped towards the little tear on Blair's shoulder and squinted more. The blood had dried out, but the wound was open. But then, he tried to look away, ignoring the view.
"Why are you here?" He asked again, turning away from her.
He was heading towards one of the ancient-looking but quaint armchairs, whose backrest was higher than his head.
Blair got that as an opportunity to escape. She made another step back while waiting for the right time. She was eyeing the door. However, the distance wasn't that safe for her. And, since she didn't have an idea of how snappy he could get, she didn’t dare try.
She might not know what he exactly was, but she got a strong feeling that he was not just a mere human.
'What if he is another shifter or a vampire?’ she thought.
However, that didn't stop Blair's willingness to escape since she had no intention of answering him at all.
Nevertheless, before she could even take a step, he spoke up.
"I know who you are, even if you didn't want to say anything, and I know that you are planning to escape. I'm telling you, lady, you don't have a good plan at all," he uttered in a calm yet sardonic way.
The mysterious man flexed his fingers slowly, watching her every move.
"I asked you again for the second time because I want to hear it from your mouth. What brings you here?" His voice was now firm and proprietary as he looked back at her and his eyes riveted on her.
She lost her words again as he gazed upon her. All she could feel were her trembling hands and knees.
"I - I - I was just trying to take shelter from the storm. I-I am a traveler and accidentally stumbled here in your place. I didn't mean to be here," with her shaky voice, she answered.
"Liar!" His voice reverberated. The entire place seemed to be shaking with it, as well as Blair.
With her eyes and mouth wide open, she took another step back as she looked away, trying to hide from his gaze.
However, Blair had to stand for herself. She had made it out of her village, and she knew that she was brave enough to face this man, whoever he was. She needed to shake her fear away.
"I am not, and who are you to tell me that I am? Pretending that you can read my mind?" Blair scowled.
The man sneered as he leaned his back comfortably in his armchair. His impertinence was making Blair anxious and curious at the same time. That made her realize that the thought of running out towards the door was not a best choice anymore.
She wanted to know who he was and what he knew, as the look on his face foretold that he knew something. That ‘something’ could be delicate enough for her escape. She didn't want to risk it.
"A poor she-wolf who tried to run away from her responsibility to her pack," he scoffed while speaking with his eyes closed.
"I am not running away from my responsibility. I just don't want to be tied in a marriage without that spark. I don't want to waste away my happiness because of that so-called responsibility. Besides, I didn't trust that man. I don't know why, but I sniffed something on him that seemed so… so... foul!" Blair spouted out.
She always tended to be a tight-lipped person, but she didn't know what made her gabby at that moment.
The man looked fixedly at her with a smirk. "Well, then I guess, if I would bring you back to your people, they would surely be delighted and would reciprocate me with something useful."
Blair's grip on her made-up body covering tightened. That was the last thing she wanted. She could be anywhere, just not back to her pack.
"No!" she yelled with a panicky voice. When she realized how desperate her reaction was, she tried to calm herself before she focused back on the man. "I don't want to go back there," she said with all effort to stay calm.
"Oh, poor little wolfie. But, my apologies, you can't stop me from doing that." The man halted while trying to observe Blair's reaction.
She was growing antsy, glancing from side to side.
The man knew that she was trying to think hard or planning to escape. He could feel her desperation to find another way, just not to be brought back to her pack.
"Not unless," he continued.
Blair abruptly looked back at him with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
"Not unless?" She mimicked him in question.
There, that was just what he wanted. Desperation was what he desired to see in Blair's eyes.
"You will stay here with me, and let me protect you."
Blair couldn't believe what she heard.
'Was he offering to hide me here and protect me? Why?’ she asked herself.
She wanted to believe that she was simply lucky. However, part of her was dubious, thinking that people must always have another intention for helping people.
"But why? There must be a reason," she blurted out.
"Of course, there is a condition."
'I knew it,' Blair thought. She knew he wasn't an angel sent from heaven; he could even be a devil instead. However, this could be her last-ditch, and she had no choice.
"Then, state your condition," she demanded, trying her best to show strength even behind the pressure.
"You will pretend to be my bride," he responded.