He swiftly unbuckled the seatbelt and captured her lips.
The air crackled with anticipation as his warm breath mingled with her gasp. When their mouths finally met, a surge of electricity coursed through her body, drawing her deeper into the kiss. His hand slipped under her hoodie, gliding over her neck, igniting a wave of sensations.
But as his touch grew more intrusive, Ziana's senses snapped back to reality. She pushed him away with a fierce glare, her anger ablaze.
SLAP!
The sharp sound echoed in the confined space of the car, leaving Zayden stunned. His hand instinctively reached for his stinging cheek, bewildered by the unexpected turn of events.
"Asshole! Stay away from me!" Ziana yelled furiously before getting out of the car.
Zayden watched her retreating figure, his mind racing with disbelief. Did a mere human just slap him?!
Ziana abruptly halted her steps, turned on her heels, and marched back to the car. As Zayden stared at her, wondering if she was returning to apologize, she shot him a scathing glare, flung open the back seat door, and grabbed all the bags.
These precious gifts were given to her, so it was only fair that she took them home! With a sneer, Ziana slammed the door almost in his face and turned on her heels.
Zayden blinked in surprise, a mixture of shock and amusement dancing in his eyes. Not only had she slapped him, but she also brazenly took away all the gifts? The marriage gifts!
"Truly a wild raccoon," he mused, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he rubbed his still-tingling cheek.
"Did you validate the marriage?" Lia's voice chimed in his head, interrupting his thoughts.
"I tried, and got slapped instead," Zayden confessed, a touch of resignation lacing his words.
A moment of silence followed as Lia processed the unexpected turn of events. Did she hear him right? Did he, the legendary lord of Afterlife got slapped by a girl?
"Aww, that's unfortunate!" Lia sympathized, barely suppressing a chuckle. "Do it tonight. If not, your contract will be nullified." she warned him.
"But why is it necessary? Can't I just draw a spell and bind her soul with mine?" Zayden grumbled, questioning the purpose of the kiss and the contract itself. After all, he was powerful enough to complete the mission on Earth without a bond, unlike other reapers.
"Validating the marriage will establish a permanent connection, allowing you to always sense her presence and protect her. Now that even the demons are chasing after her, the sooner you do it, the better," Lia explained, though she shared his confusion. Their higher-ups had hastily come up with this contract, and the reasons behind it remained unclear.
"Why did the demon attack her? Have you found any clues?" Zayden inquired, shifting his focus to the matter at hand. It was evident that this was no ordinary hunger attack, and they needed to dig deeper.
"Give me some more time," Lia responded, her voice rushed. They were already overwhelmed with their duties, and his newlywed wife had only increased their burden.
Leaning back in his seat, Zayden sighed heavily. Things were far more complex than he had imagined in this unfamiliar world. He needed to complete his mission, adapt like a human and over everything, look over this stupid woman. The memory of the slap replayed in his mind, and he couldn't help but frown.
"All I did was kiss her. Don't humans do it all the time?" he pondered, his frustration growing. With a resigned sigh, he started the car and drove off into the night, the engine roaring with his unsettled thoughts.
---
Ziana stormed into her house, collapsing onto the couch with fury still burning in her eyes. The incident replayed in her mind, each moment fueling her rage.
"He promised we would never get involved romantically! What a load of bull!" Ziana grumbled bitterly, her voice thick with resentment.
How could he kiss her? The memory of his touch lingered on her lips, leaving her feeling nauseous. His handsome face invaded her thoughts, and she regretted not punching it earlier. He deserved more than a simple slap!
Just because they were married under their laws, it didn't grant him the right to such audacious actions. They were strangers from different worlds, after all. How dare he even entertain the thought of kissing her?
God, she wanted to kill someone—anyone right now!
Her gaze shifted to the entrance, where the door stood fixed. It brought a fleeting sense of relief, but the sight only served as a reminder of that insufferable jerk, intensifying her frustration.
Determined to wash away the repugnant memory, she gathered her toiletries and made her way to the bathroom. A cold shower seemed like the only respite.
---
[A few hours later.]
Restless and agitated, Ziana tossed and turned in bed, desperately trying to ignore the low growling noise that echoed in her room. Clutching her pillow tightly, she attempted to drown out the sound. But as the growling grew louder and closer, she groaned and shifted into a more comfortable position.
Suddenly, a damp, musky presence fell onto her leg, accompanied by a putrid breath that assaulted her senses. With forceful determination, she opened her eyes, rubbing away the remnants of sleep, and propped herself up on her elbows.
Reaching for her nightstand, she switched on the lamp, and her eyes nearly popped out as she saw a dog perched on her bed. Only it wasn't a dog—it was a bloody wolf!
The wolf stared back at her, its steel-blue eyes filled with a sinister blend of lust and hunger. Saliva dripped from its snarling maw, landing on her waist as it growled hungrily. Its sharp fangs glistened in the light, an eerie display of its predatory nature. Before Ziana could react, it lunged forward, sinking its teeth into her vulnerable stomach.
A blood-curdling scream tore through Ziana's throat as the wolf savagely tore into her flesh, tears streaming down her face. Agonizing pain radiated through her body, threatening to paralyze her as she fought to push the wolf away. Her desperate struggles proved futile, her strength no match for the beast.
Her head spun, and memories of a vampire attack flooded her mind—similar in nature to this wolf's assault. Vampires...weren't they merely creatures of fiction? What was happening to her? These questions swirled through her mind, mingling with her anguished tears as she kicked the wolf's snout, desperately fighting for her survival.
Helplessness consumed her as she kicked and squirmed, each motion an attempt to break free. But her strength waned, and she felt like an ant beneath the weight of an elephant. The pain numbed her senses, tears cascading down her neck as she cried out in agony, determined to cling to life.
Why was she being subjected to this torturous demise? What had transpired since her rebirth? Questions flooded her mind, each one punctuated by the searing pain that ravaged her body.
"Arghhh!" she cried, the feeling of impending death bringing painful tears to her eyes. She fought with every ounce of strength she could muster, hoping against hope to live, to overcome this nightmare.
No, she cannot die again! She needed to live! She desperately thought and reached for the night lamp.
Her trembling fingers tightened around the lamp, her knuckles turning white as she swung it with all her might. The impact echoed through the room as the metal collided with the wolf's head again and again. Desperation fueled her strikes, each blow driven by a fierce determination to free herself from the predator's grasp.
With a final, forceful strike, the wolf relinquished its hold on her stomach. Ziana winced, her injured abdomen throbbing with searing pain. Summoning every ounce of strength she had left, she kicked away the wolf and pushed herself up from the bed, her legs trembling and ready to fail her.
Her vision blurred as she fought against the encroaching darkness, but she refused to succumb. Crawling on the floor, the wooden surface scraping against her palms, she propelled herself forward, her gaze fixed on the main door. She had to escape this nightmare!
A guttural growl reverberated through the room, causing Ziana's heart to skip a beat. She glanced back, her eyes widening in terror as the wolf emerged from her room, its eyes searching for her. Panic surged through her veins, urging her forward to grab the handle of the door.
Her fingers shook as she reached for the doorknob, her body protesting every movement as she tried to stand up. The door clicked open, offering a glimmer of hope, but her weakened state betrayed her. She collapsed onto the cold floor, her body wracked with exhaustion.
A cry of frustration escaped Ziana's lips as she fought against the overwhelming pain. Every fiber of her being screamed for survival, but her miserable state only let her fall to the ground, failing her determination to stand up and run.
She heard the wolf growling again, and tears rolled down her drowsy eyes in helplessness. "Why? Why, God?" she grumbled, desperately crawling towards the yard. But her attempts were futile as the specter of death chased relentlessly behind her.
The wolf closed in and jumped over her. Ziana squeezed her eyes shut, her heart pounding in her ears as she accepted her fate and prepared to become a feast. But as seconds turned into an eternity, she felt nothing. Opening her eyes in confusion, she blinked at the sight of a figure towering over her.
It was her dear husband, Zayden, standing before her, one hand wrapped tightly around the wolf's throat.
With a swift motion, Zayden tossed the predator away, freeing Ziana from the fear. Relief flooded her battered body, mixing with the anguish of her wounds. She turned her gaze to Zayden, her voice raw with pain and desperation.
"Please, Zayden," she pleaded, reaching out for his hand. "Save me."
Zayden squatted before her, his eyes filled with concern as he examined her stomach. His touch was gentle, yet his words held a glimmer of hope. "Your wounds aren't deep," he assured her. "You will be fine."
A surge of gratitude washed over Ziana as Zayden reached for his phone, ready to call for help. But a flicker of confusion crossed his face, causing her frown to deepen.
"Wait," he uttered, his gaze meeting hers with an innocent blink. Uncertainty clouded her thoughts, mingling with the pain that still gripped her.
"Didn't you warn me to stay away?" he asked, his words a cruel twist of irony. Ziana felt a cold dread settle in her chest as Zayden's lips curled up. To her horror, he suddenly moved away from her, even getting up to leave.
"I should respect your words," he said with a sweet smile that enraged her to the point of wanting to tear his lips off.
"You should call the ambulance soon. Your time is ticking!" she heard him say as he walked towards his car.
This crazy varmint! How could he just leave her to die?!
Rage coursed through her veins, intensifying the pain. And the last thing she saw was him driving away before slipping into darkness.