After the two finally left her in peace, Avana changed to her outdoor outfit and decided to explore the town. She grabbed her bag and exited her room, glad to find a note from Jace, saying he had left to attend to some emergency.
Thankfully, he did not hear her conversations with his sister and the boy. That would be completely awkward and embarrassing. She did not want him to make the wrong conclusion.
She carefully recalled the directions, walking along the street pavement. Smiling and bowing to the few people who were friendly enough to greet her as she passed by.
"Would you mind pointing me to the store?" Avana stopped in front of a middle-aged woman who already carried a grocery bag.
She could only guess that she just came from one, hoping that the kind lady could direct her, wanting to make sure she was not lost.
"Sure." The woman responded with a friendly smile. "You need to walk straight ahead, then …" Pointing to the path she should follow.
It was not that hard. Thanking the woman for her help. Then, she continued on her way, strolling along the street.
"Miss, are you new here?" A man suddenly walked alongside her with a wide grin on his face. He looked handsome, but his eyes gave him away.
She knew right then that he was trouble. She dealt with men like him in the past, so she believed she could handle him just fine. She ignored him and walked straight ahead.
But he seemed persistent as he kept pace with her stride. She could walk faster, but that would attract unnecessary attention. He was a mere human. She could take him down in one swing if she wanted to, but she believed it was unwarranted.
"If you want directions, I can show you around." The muscular man waved his hand in the air. "I can even show you a good time." He said with a husky tone, insinuating something else.
Avana realized he might have heard her asking a direction and had started following her around. Now, thinking that since she was not from around here. She would be easy prey.
"Thanks, but I think I can manage on my own." She responded, not having any other option since the man would not leave her alone.
She did not want to hurt a human, but if he would not stop hounding her, she might have no choice on the matter. However, the man was persistent as he continued to pursue her.
When they reached the part of the street that had a small alley on the side, he nodded his head, and three more of his peer walked up to her as if trying to block her path, giving her no other alternative but to stop and assess her situation.
"I think you should try to reconsider that." The man stepped nearer to her and whispered in her ears.
He appeared intimidating, but she had faced far worse scenarios than this. Then, his fingers dug into her flesh, dragging her arms with him as he pulled her to the alley, followed closely by his friends.
Under normal circumstances, this puny human would be kissing the floor if she wanted it. But this was not the right time and place.
"That is a good girl." The man snickered when she did not attempt to resist him as they walked further into the middle of the empty alley with the dumpsters and a stray cat rummaging through the trash.
"I told you she is perfect." The man shouted to his friends.
"Yeah, you really have an eye for beauty." A man at her back stated.
But Avana had enough of them. She believed they were far enough for anyone to witness what she would do to them. But before she could move a single muscle, she sensed another presence.
"Let go of her." A roar echoed on the dirty walls blocking the small alley.
"And who are you to order me around?" The man pulled her aside as if he was afraid the other man was about to take his toy. But the man did not respond with words, but his eyes seemed blazing with fury.
"I think you are not from around here either." Squaring his shoulders to appear much bulkier, attempting to intimidate the newcomer who appeared to be here to save the day.
She could only tighten her lips with how men could be so juvenile. One would like to bully and intimidate her, then the other would like to save her.
So typical.
Comparing their sizes. Well, the human was bulky and intimidating, but the other one. He was something else and much more intimidating. Well, that was her opinion.
And much more good-looking.
That part was not her talking.
"Come on, show me what you got." The man beckoned his opponent as his friends readied themselves for the fight.
The man finally let go of her, shoving her to the wall nearby, but she managed to stop herself from hitting the wall hard. The impact did not harm her, but she pretended to be hurt as she cried out. "Ouch!"
It was part of her act when she had to pretend to be human around them. Then, she stood straight and waited until the fight was over, which fortunately did not take long.
The man who held her was the first to attack, but her savior evaded him and countered, punching him in the jaw. He dropped down like a big sack of potato, barely conscious.
She believed his friends did not like the scene, so they ran for their lives, dragging their unconscious leader with them. She could have handled them, but still, she was thankful this man was on her side.
"Are you alright?" The man was suddenly standing before her, looking like a knight in shining armor. "You should not be wandering around this place alone."
But she did not need saving from them, but from him, who would save her as her heart quickened at his nearness. The timbre of his voice alone seemed to be sending shockwaves to her body.
"I am good. You have nothing to worry about. I could have managed to deal with those guys on my own." Avana breathily said as her voice trembled.
She was not hurt, she was fine just a minute ago, but now, she felt like her knees were about to buckle underneath her. She could not understand it, but she could guess it was because of this man.
He must sense her distress as he suddenly placed his hands on her arms, steadying her. "Are you hurt?" As she also grabbed him by the shirt for support.
Then, his eyes were on her again, drowning her, making her forget everything except him. Then, he was leaning down, too close for comfort, but she seemed immobilized at her place, unable to push him away.
Her mind was screaming to get away from him. He could be more dangerous than those other men, but her body ignored the warning and appeared to pull him closer instead.
Then, she closed her eyes.
Waiting.
She knew what was about to happen next. She had seen so many movies and read stories about this.
But nothing happened.
He unexpectedly let her go. His arms fell to his side as he gradually stepped away from her.
Her eyes abruptly opened as a chill went through her body. It was like someone poured a bucket of ice on her head as she saw him move further away.
But before he turned away, he said something that made her blood boil this time. "You should avoid wearing skimpy clothes around places like this. It only attracts perverts like those men."
She was dumbfounded as she gazed at his back as he retreated from where he came from. He left her fuming in anger, puzzled by his action.
She could not be wrong about what he felt about her. She could tell the attraction was mutual. She was confident that she felt it, but the way he was acting.
It was so confusing.
However, she would show him that she did not need him. That she was no damsel in distress.