Chapter 7

The stranger with offensive but unique scent did not answer Laken. She noticed the sweat and unwashed dog smell was now mild. Almost gone, in fact. Maybe it was because he took a dip in the water?

His dark eyes caressed her face, which made her blush. There was something about him. Her gut told her to stay away from him. In spite of it, she was somehow drawn to him. However, she decided that the best thing to do was to keep her distance so she could still remain cool.

Laken could swear this man had the same scent as that massive dog that saved her a little while ago and yesterday. But how could it be? Was he some kind of a shapeshifter?

‘Of course, that’s impossible, Laken! Why do you even entertain such a crazy idea?’ she scolded herself. There was no way it was real. Shapeshifters were just created in fantasies, in movies or in books! Nonetheless, she was never wrong when it comes to her sense of smell. But this thing was just impossible that she got confused. Even if he might just confirm her suspicions, it still would not make sense at all.

‘Still, he seems to know my past,’ a part of her insisted. How could a stranger know about it even if it was in passing or just a shallow comment? She was quite mystified.

She thus pressed him for more information, but his attractive mouth was closed like a clam.

“Maybe it’s safer for you to go home. This area is not safe. I’m going to escort you and your sister home after we eat breakfast.” He turned his back to her. “I’ll be back.”

“You really don’t have to do this. I don’t want to owe you more than I already have!”

But he did not listen. He left without a word.

She sighed, looking at his back disappear around the bend. She went into the cave, and her sister woke up about five minutes later.

“Hey, you look fresh,” Zuri commented and eyed her before sitting up, yawning and stretching.

“It’s like you really had a good night sleep, huh? You don’t seem to mind the hard ground against your back.” She smirked at her sister.

“I’m used to camping with Dad.” Her sister grinned. “You know that.”

“Really? Until now?” She gave her the water container that the stranger left behind.

“Well, not as often as before.” She washed her face and mouth. “So, where’s our savior?”

“I don’t know. He said he’ll be back,” she answered blandly.

Her sister watched her carefully. “You were rude to Bleidd, you know?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Bleidd? That’s his name?”

“Bleidd Blackwolf. He told me.” Her sister nodded and shrugged.

“So, you are friends with him,” she lightly accused.

Her sister deadpanned.

Maybe some thirty minutes later, the stranger came back with some wild apples and peaches—and some daisies and other wild flowers that he shoved into Laken’s hand without a word. The bouquet was actually pretty amazing. He looked away when she stared at him with inquiring eyes. She did not even notice the fruit trees on their way here while they were hiking. She thought that maybe he lived around here.

“You can eat these before we go,” he said, referring to the fruits.

“Where are we going?” Zuri asked innocently. Her eyes shifted from him to her.

“Home,” she answered. “He said it’s not safe here.”

“But Dad and I used to hike here. That’s why I brought you here,” her sister informed her.

Bleidd’s eyes narrowed. “I know this area. We might meet the others.”

Zuri sighed. “Well, it’s been a couple of years since I’ve been here. Maybe you’re right. I’m sorry,” she said resignedly.

With their canned goods, they ate the fruits that Bleidd brought for them. She watched him now and then, knowing that he also stole glances at her. Her sister asked him where he is really from but he refused to say.

“Is it some kind of a secret?” her sister persisted.

Laken knew that Zuri won’t stop until she got an answer.

“You can say that,” Bleidd answered with a serious face.

What was this other mystery? He already gave his name to her sister but not where he was from. It was just some kind of a polite question. Nothing else. Because of this, she was even more curious about this man. Everything about him was enigmatic—from his scent to his home.

‘Is he always like this?’

After they ate, they headed back home with the escort. He was not a big talker, she found out. On the way, she noticed it was not the one she and Zuri came from yesterday. It was totally a new trail, which seemed to be a shortcut. It was not long that she could see the familiar trees and landmark, a huge flat rock like a round table, a mile away from Mohegan’s house.

“Why don’t you come and meet my father?” Zuri invited Bleidd.

He shook his head. “No. I must go. I have something to take care of.” He caught a glimpse of Mohegan’s back. The latter was busy cleaning his massive pickup truck and had not noticed them.

“You’re welcome to come over anytime,” Zuri said to him, smilingly.

He slightly nodded, grateful for it. With one last look at Laken, he was gone behind the trees.

Zuri took her hand, and her sister’s father now straightened up to inquire why they were already back.

“We had a little… incident,” Laken explained.

“With some bad guys, Dad!” Zuri added.

“What?” He was suddenly alert. He looked far away, in the direction they were from. “What happened?” Concern wrapped his voice as he ushered the two girls inside the house, through the kitchen door.

Zuri was the one who told her father about what happened.

“Bleidd helped us get home,” Zuri said finally.

Laken noticed her stepfather’s reaction. It was like almost recognition of the mentioned name. But it faded when he looked at her. She thought she must have just imagined it. First, Bleidd seemed not to be from around here. Second, it was impossible for Mohegan to know him under any circumstances.

***

Bleidd disappeared into the woods. But he circled back to watch the family go into the house. He hid himself when Laken’s stepfather scanned the woods. He had a funny feeling about him. It seemed that he could sense someone like him. He must be careful. He already slipped. He told Zuri his name. He should have remained a stranger. But somehow, he wanted Laken to know his name—even if he might pay a price someday. But he hoped it would not come to that.

When he got back to his house, he hunted Matias down. He caught him by the neck and pushed him to the wall. Still holding him fiercely by the neck, his pack members bowed their heads. They very well knew why.

“I told you not to play!” He turned his attention back to Matias. “You put the entire pack in danger! Did you put up Makoce to come after me in Wyoming, huh? So you can have your chance of having fun? If you wish to challenge me, just say so!” He elbowed him in the face before he let the latter go. Matias massaged where it hurt, eyes blazing. The other pack members returned to the living room without a word.

Bleidd went to his room in the shelter. He took a shower and changed into some fresh clothes. He glanced down at his worn clothes. They looked so terrible that he shook his head. He shoved them in the washing machine, which was placed in the kitchen area.

All this while, he could not take Laken off his mind. Her naked body under the moonlight was embedded in his memory. At that time, he barely noticed Zuri. It was like Laken removed everything else from his sight that he was only focused on her. It was only her that he could see. But it seemed that she did not want anything to do with him—not even after he saved her life! And it was twice already.

‘Un-f*cking-believable!’

He recalled the burning car almost a couple of decades ago. After he saved the mother and daughter, he left to report the accident. There was no one who could do it but him. The place was pretty isolated. But because he was on a run, he did not go back with the police and ambulance. Once in a while, he wondered what happened to that family. Now, he knew. He found the girl with the sweet scent.

The next day, he visited his cell phone shop in the heart of the city. It was a huge shop with a part of it as a cell phone repair shop while the rest of it sold different brands and models. He was kept busy with the inventory and other stuff when a couple of ladies come in. His back was on them. His heart skipped a beat when he smelled that familiar sweet scent. Before she even spoke, he turned around to look at her, with his ledger, pad and pen in his hands.

‘What is she doing here?’