UNEXPECTED ACCOMPLICEAurelia's Pov"W-What are you doing?""Isn't it obvious?" He shrugged, panting heavily as beads of sweat ran down his forehead. "Just like you, I'm trying to escape."He was climbing down the next building from my place. He had this suspender on and a tweed cap hanging on his waist. His 'probably used to be well-trimmed blonde hair' are now disheveled. It suits him better though.I shook my head and tried to focus. I must go faster now. If I don't quicken my pace, Anastasia might get in deep trouble.The both of us shared nothing but grunts and the sound of heavy breathing as we tried to climb down with all our might. I was lucky enough that he didn't say anything like 'Want to bet who climbs down faster?' or I would've been drowned in competitiveness and might hurt myself."Want to bet who climbs down faster?"Gosh, I shouldn't have thought of that.I saw a smug expression on his face. And although he's handsome, I simply don't want to lose to any man in this world.Blowing out the strands of hair sticking out my forehead, my body immediately got fueled with rivalry. "Bring it on."I tried my best to be as skilled as a lizard climbing down the wall while my palm started to get sweaty. He was getting ahead of me and I felt so frustrated I had to bite my lip. My strength is already betraying me. My legs felt all wobbly and my arms are shaking now. I felt like dropping myself and just jumping with both my feet standing like a cat but I guess that would break my legs."Hey, hey, focus,"I heard his voice which made me snap out of my weariness."Don't let go or you'll hurt yourself, do you understand? You're almost there."I forced myself to climb down and can't help but snicker when I saw him staying still, hanging on that bedsheet rope of his while trying to wait for me. I didn't say anything until I am far ahead of him."Did you stop to wait for me?" I asked, can't hide the grin forming on my face.I heard him scoff. "As if.""YOUNG LADY!"OH SHOOT.I raised my head and saw a stranger looking at me. He had this sharp scary stare and I silently hoped Anastasia made a run for herself. They shouldn't know she helped me or I'll forever be guilty!But my eyes widened ten times more when I saw his eyes suddenly glow gold. His pupils turned into slits and I almost let go of the rope when I saw claws coming out from his hands.THE MONSTERS! THEY ARE FREAKING REAL! I KNEW IT! IT WASN'T THE ALCOHOL!I'M SO DEAD!"Hey!"I looked down and saw the guy who was climbing down like me already on the ground. He was already wearing his tweed cap. When did he even have the time to wear that?!"Jump!" He shouted, extending his arms, motioning that he'll catch me."Are you dumb?! What if you fail to catch me?! Then I'm dead!" I couldn't even think of the cold wind creeping into my exposed skin, all I could think of was I'm trembling too hard right now, and any moment my tired arms would let go of this rope for real."JUST JUMP YOU, DIMWIT, COME ON!""DON'T CALL ME DIMWIT, YOU PEASANT!" Does he even know who I am?! How dare he call me a dimwit! I am so far from that! I'm intelligent and smart and-!A scream came out from my lungs when I lifted my head and saw the monster standing at the windowsill about to lunge at me any moment from now."JUMP, YOU MAGGOT!"Ugh, whatever!I let go of the rope and I shut my eyes tight as soon as I let my body fall freely with the wind. My whole flesh shuddered as I felt myself falling and falling and falling.So humiliating.Is this how I die? Is this how the honorable, most sought-after Aurelia Rothchild is going to die? But I want to die pretty at least! Not with a broken limb or two!"Got you."As soon as my body falls almost too close to the ground, I felt my back hitting something warm and firm. I squeal a little but only received a flick on the forehead."Open your eyes, dimwit. Get off me or I'll put you back hanging at the window."I opened one of my eyes and saw that annoying face with a tweed cap.I immediately hopped off his arms but as soon as I did my legs betrayed me. I almost slumped on the ground hadn't he caught me in his arms.But the feeling of relief quickly faded when I heard a loud thud from behind us. With my remaining strength, I turned and almost cursed when I saw the monster not too far from us, standing now on the ground, a sinister grin forming at the corner of his lips.Did he just jump out of the window?!"I knew it, I should have done that instead," I whispered, knowing I also thought of jumping with two of my feet first so I can land like a cat."Are you dumb?" The guy supporting me right now stared at me with disbelief. "You'll die if you do that.""I know, I'm just joking," I mumbled nervously as I stared at the monster gazing sharply at us. He started to walk slowly towards us and I immediately hid myself to this stranger's chest. At least, I'll die with a handsome guy, right? I think I deserve that at the very least."Do you trust me?" This tweed guy suddenly carried me in a bridal style but I don't even have the strength to fight with him now."Of course not," I said, whimpering as the monster walked nearer and nearer."Ha-ha," Tweed guy gave out a sarcastic laugh. "You don't have much of a choice, lady."I turned at him and my whole body went frozen as I saw how his eyes glowed gold.W-WHAT?!IS HE-?!Before I could even ask any questions, he gently closed my eyes and held onto me tightly."This could be a rough ride, hold on tight."For a split second, I felt the coldest and most chilling slap of the wind hitting my cheek. Of course, nothing beats Cora's Great Slap but still, the icy sudden gush of wind was enough to make my whole body shiver. I'm silently thankful that this guy's temperature is high. He's very warm that I somehow was able to recover with that torturous split second."Open your eyes. We're safe here. At least, for now."Slowly, I let my eyes flung open. I found myself, of course, obviously, still in his arms but we're currently on a very narrow street that only one to two people could fit here. He was so squeezed up in his position and I felt very, slightly, guilty so I hopped off immediately as soon as I recovered from the shock."You are..." The realization dawned at me as soon as I let go of his arms."A werewolf, yes," He tilted his head casually. "Now go on your own path. Don't follow me." He said and started walking away in the dark alley.Fear took over me as I saw him getting farther and farther away. There was no one else to help me now, no friends to call to and I'm left all alone to survive in this cold night.But would it be better I go with him? With how he was trying to climb down in that building a while ago, he must be a runaway, too. And for me to survive, I need someone as strong as him.Before I could even think of any excuses, my feet run to block him and he stopped halfway as I extended my arms in front of him, blocking his path."Let's run away, together. Our possibility of surviving is higher if there's the two of us, right?" I tried convincing him, but he only looked at me with contempt. I don't want to do this, too. Never in my life I felt this much desperate. It was a new thing for me to swallow my dignity and fall out from grace."Do you trust me, lady?" he asked with disdain. He was looking at me with judging eyes it kind of hurt my pride. But pride won't help me survive. Begging will do."No," I answered truthfully. "But I have no one else.""Look," He was shooting daggers at me with gaze as if he wasn't the man who helped me a few minutes ago. I feel like I am looking at a different man. "I didn't help you back there, all right? You just happened to be in my way and if that wolf harmed you, you would've screamed in pain and people will notice the accident. People who I tried to run away from, do you get it?!"His loud voice roared I have to take few steps back away. I don't want to show him I'm scared, but I'm running out of courage and the icy cold night was not helping me at all. I could feel my bones trembling while my skin is barely covered.I heard him curse in a low tone as he gazes at the sky. "Tsk, a full moon. In no time, he's going to come out.""W-who's going to come out?"Suddenly, his eyes glowed intensely gold and the claws on his hands reappeared. Only now, it was sharper and longer. Fangs started to appear in his teeth to and my instincts were telling me already to run for my life."Just be gone quickly if you don't want to die." He walked past me, and I was left frozen at my spot. I'm scared of him too, actually. But him helping me a while ago means he is less bad than those who tried to take my life. And going back to that excruciating ball is far worse than this. I have to follow him no matter what."Hey, I-"I was about to follow him when I saw him stopped his tracks in the middle of the alley. Suddenly the streetlights flickered and I sense a foreboding nightmare about to come. I just don't know what it is.He was turning his back on me, but I could see how he started to tremble. He grip onto his hair with both of his hands, his huge built visible over those thin white polo he was wearing, the stranger started to whisper in a low growl."Don't come out, Azrael. It's not yet time. Let me go back to hideout first."I couldn't hear what he was saying. I took a gulp and with careful steps draw myself closer to him."Let me just go back, all right? Things might get awry if you come out now. We don't want any trouble. We need to lay low for a while."I almost shrieked in horror when the lights flickered more intense than before, going on and off and on and off in a rapid manner as the stranger started to growl louder. I gasped when he suddenly fell on his knees as if he's in pain, his eyes golder, his claws longer.I'm afraid of him. I don't want to go closer-no, I can't. My knees were trembling right now, and I could hear my sharp breathing. Every fiber of my skin is sending me an ominous signal.I clenched my fists and I had to dig my nails deeper into my palms just so I could snap out of it. I turn my back from him and started to walk away with trembling knees. Any second, I feel like I'm about to fall off the ground or passed out."B-but he helped me." I stopped halfway, not knowing what to do. Contemplating whether to lend a hand or not.Even though he was nice to me I cannot ignore the fact that he's a monster. He could be dangerous anytime. He even told me to stay away and I know he mean it. But still.But still, I am a human.I have mercy and I cannot simply turn my back to someone who helped me no matter what kind he is.I bit my lower lip harder, knowing I might regret my decision, but I don't want to be a jerk in this moment right now.I found myself running closer to him, towards the flickering lights that felt terrifying, towards that growl that sounds like a warning. I tried to ignore all of it and knelt down to face him. I held onto his back while I try to take a peek on his expression. He was covering his face with his hands and I could feel his ragged breathing in my palm."Are you all right?"I tried talking to him a few couple of times again but he wasn't responding. I started panicking and even thought of calling an ambulance, but suddenly, his ragged breathing stopped.His breathing went steady. Far too still and steady. He stopped growling and the lights stopped to flicker. They all went off as soon as the stranger went calm.I was about to sigh in relief when he started to chuckle. It started low, and I thought he was crying in pain when his shoulders started to move up and down, but his laugh went louder and that's when I realized something wrong is going on."Pft, HAHAHA!"My whole body trembled when he dropped his hands and he started to laugh like a mad man. Now, he really doesn't look like the man I met a while ago. All I could see now was madness, danger, and darkness."How amusing," he grinned, his intense gold eyes staring at me. "You actually cared for a guy like him?" He asked, pointing in himself with a devilish scorn in his face.