I smile a little. "A hygiene freak werewolf." I become very weak. After a while, Nathaniel's voice rings in my ears. "Drink water and take the berries."
He gives me a cup full of fresh water and a handful of juicy berries, which surprises me in a nice way. His such act of kindness makes me happy as I drink the water and eat the berries one by one, enjoying their taste. It feels like time slows down, letting me really appreciate how considerate Nathaniel is being suddenly. Even though he doesn't say anything, he starts a fire, and I can see how hard he's trying as the flames start to flicker. I smell the yummy scent of searing fish as Nathaniel burns them perfectly. Each piece of fish he gives me makes me feel grateful for his kindness. Eating makes me feel warm, full, and happy to have his company. When I finish eating, I feel really content.
After eating, we are taking a rest. "Thanks, Nathaniel." He doesn't say anything.
Nathaniel's eyes are closed, and I stare at him quietly for a while. It's strange—here's he who sees me as his enemy, wants to kill me to meet his revenge, yet he is here, offering me help. I feel both fear and familiarity when I look at him as if we've been connected for a long time. I wonder why I feel this way. Is there truly a connection between us? Damn it! How is that even possible? I never met them before.
As he finishes resting, he resumes walking with me, and I remind him to tie my hands.
"Let's go, dear. I don't think you have that stamina to run away from me."
Hearing his words, a smile unconsciously spreads across my face. We arrive at a spot surrounded by familiar trees in the dense forest. Among them, I notice some medicinal plants I recognize. I gather their seeds, keeping them close. I continue collecting seeds from various essential plants. "Survival isn't guaranteed. Why bother collecting seeds?" he questions.
"Wherever I meet my end, I'll scatter these seeds, hoping my passing benefits others—humans and animals alike. Perhaps even those who hold anger towards me might find solace in this beautiful sight," I respond, driven by instinct. In saying so, I secretly hope it might earn his forgiveness. Thinking about it, a sense of lightness fills my heart. He listens silently, giving no response, perhaps at a loss for words.
We continue to move towards the north of the forest. I keep searching secretly for any place where people live but don't get any settlement.
Now the day has turned into night. He decides on a good place to stay and makes something like a canopy out of leaves and branches of trees. I also help him.
"We're only going to stay here for the night, so what's the need for this tent?" "Stay out of camp if you don't like it. Don't come to give me suggestions." "Huh, whatever I say you just insult me. Then why did you bring me here?"
"You must understand that this is a forest. There are many other dangerous creatures besides the wolves." Yes, he is telling the truth. But it seems very boring that he is working quietly and not asking me to help either.
"Are you afraid too? I thought you might be too strong. I was wrong." "No. You were right. I am very strong but you must understand that I have a very weak creature with me that will fly away in the wind." By saying this, he comes to me from behind and pushes me inside the tent.
"I don't want anyone else to take my victim." "Excuse me, I'm not weak!" "That's why you can't even digest a fish." With that, he lie down on one side and orders me to lie next to him "Hello, we are not married. How can I sleep with you in the same room? Eww." He sits back to look at me.
"All the she wolves would love to die for me." "But I am not a she wolf." As I say, he lifts his eyebrow and says, "Oh! A he wolf!" He smirks looking at me proudly.
His insult is like blister on skin. "Do I look like a man?" I ask him in great anger.
"You're saying so what can I do? Let me check then?" "Yah! Shut up." He looks at me being frustrated. "Do you have to marry me now to spend one night safely? Are you crazy?"
"No, I'm not crazy. You're crazy. I can't sleep with you." I strongly deny to sleep beside him moreover it's so small that there's no place for us to maintain a distance.
I have another reason to deny his proposal and that's my secret. The secret of sleeping like a bull. I grind my teeth and saliva drool in my sleep. I don't want him to know this at all. "Listen girl, you're not going to have shee*ggggs with me so don't bother me and sleep tight, goodnight."
Saying this, he lay down again. "Yah! How shameless you can be?" I retort.
"I've spilled the fact, if you're interested not to sleep here then get out now!"
I make an weird face to mimic him which anger him so much that he himself throw me out of the tent. Driving with great force and ego, I lie outside of the tent.
The moon shines brightly in the clear sky, accompanied by stars, creating a beautiful scene. It's easy to see because there are fewer trees than other parts of the forest. Next to it, in the shade, sits the owner of the smile that still drives me crazy.
The charming sound of insects chirping around adds more melody to the pleasant atmosphere.
But this happiness doesn't last long. I see something coming from the opposite direction. I decide to look at it from a different perspective. Now its shadow comes towards me and then fades away. My heart starts racing. The sudden hint of danger makes me quiver so I enter the shade in a rush, but here, not finding Nathaniel, I panic. "Nathaniel? Nathaniel? Where are you?" I call out his name, but there is no response. Fear grips me. "Nathaniel, where are you?" I call out again, but he is nowhere to be found. My throat dries up with fear. Still, I hear no response from him.
"Wow! Wow! Wow!" Someone says to me from behind making me jump in fear. Then when I see it's Nathaniel, I hug him without saying anything and start crying.
"Ow! Hey, it's me. No need to be afraid." "I saw something horrible! Like a creature!" I start crying more now.
"Hey, it was me." "What?!" I ask him angrily.
"I went to get food for us. When I came back, I thought to test your courage but I've found your courage below the knee. Come to argue with me with this courage?"
After getting an explanation from him, my heart finally calm down.
"How can you do this to me? You know I would get a heart attack." I keep complaining and whining like a child, and he keeps laughing at me. I start pulling his ear all of a sudden because I can't let him go unpunished.
"Ahh, Alexandra! I'm a werewolf, I'll bite you."
"I don't care." I say with full determination.
"Okay, okay, sorry. Accept my apology." I also start laughing with him.
Within moments, the place is filled with laughter and cheer. Like a happy and beautiful colony in the dense forest.
When our banter is over, he takes out the food and passes it to me. There are several kinds of fruits, but I don't know why I pick the peach first and start eating it. He looks at me and starts laughing.
"Perfect choice. You need them more," Nathaniel says in cheesy tone.
"Sorry, don't get it," I response.
"Ahh, don't get me wrong but yours are very not big, you know " He indicates something small using his hand.
"Pervert! How can you!" He doesn't say it directly but it doesn't take long for me to understand what he's trying to say. I quickly cover up my chest area using my hands.
"I'm not a pervert. I'm just telling the truth."
"Shut up! You're an alpha and judging me by my chest?" I ask being mad.
"I'm a man indeed but not only chest but also a*s."
After hearing this, I begin to growl in anger. How can he act so perverted?
"How perverted you are!" I exclaim. "As much as you want," he replies casually. "Arrgh! Stop flirting and just focus on your food."
This is getting serious now. Why is he talking about my figure and trying to flirt? I look at him and see him smirking at me. I quickly turn my eyes to the other side. This is very worrying. He never did this to me before. He's an alpha, they can do whatever they want, but I'm a human.
What if he does something to me? What will happen to me? I'll produce a child like half human and half wolf! Hell, never! I'm really scared but I don't let him understand.
Pretending that nothing happened, I start eating. I'm just eating, but it's getting difficult for me to swallow. Meanwhile, he finishes eating and starts unbuttoning his shirt. "You know, I'm feeling so hot," he says in his seductive tone. His uncertain action makes me so shocked that I forget to breathe.
"I think you should cooperate with me removing the hotness, Alexandra. Come closer dear."