Chapter 3

Theodore had a reputation as a living Grim Reaper.

Even the loudest troublemakers in our circle would shrink away when he walked into the room.

It wasn't just fear. It was the way Theodore could crush you with a glance, the absolute dominance of his presence.

Normally, I went out of my way to avoid him.

But now, the man who struck fear into everyone was clutching the sheets, his legs curling instinctively as he struggled to endure the pain. Heat radiated from every inch of his body, his labored breath growing louder.

The contrast was overwhelming, and the terrifying but striking man lying in bed was utterly captivating.

But something was bothering me.

"You said he got hurt because of me again?"

Liam opened his mouth to explain, but Theodore cut him off sharply. "Shut up! Try saying one more word, I dare you."

Then, he softened his voice and nonchalantly said, "Leave, Isabella. I don't need you here."

Liam stepped forward fearlessly. "Mr. Theodore, stop pretending. Being stubborn won't win her heart. You may act tough, but your heart is softer than it seems. If Ms. York were ever in danger, you'd throw yourself into the fire to save her without a second thought. Do you think we're blind?!"

Liam wasn't the only bodyguard in the room who fearlessly started sharing their stories.

"Yeah! Last full moon, someone found you staring at Ms. York's photo on your phone until you couldn't think straight. You kept calling her name even in your sleep. I bet your dreams are full of her, right?"

One bodyguard snapped his fingers and said, "Oh, and remember that time, two months ago? You parked and stayed outside Ms. York's dorm all night. You thought of barging in a dozen times, but each time you forced yourself to stop. Your self-control was so damn impressive that superheroes would call you their role model!"

Another bodyguard nodded. "If we don't tell her, she'll never know. Do you really want to suffer like this forever?"

"Shut up. I can endure it," Theodore flatly said as his gaze dropped.

Oliver the doctor snapped frantically, "Endure what? Keep this up, and you won't live to see the sun tomorrow morning!"

Then, he turned to me. "My dear, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and help him."

The bodyguards by the bed lowered their heads respectfully, but I panicked.

I had no idea what to do.

"What am I supposed to do? I don't know how to help him."

As Oliver cut away the blood-soaked bandages, he replied without missing a beat, "Kiss him."

My face burned.

I stood by the bed, not knowing how to kiss that distant, untouchable man in front of everyone.

Then one bodyguard suddenly shouted, "Ms. York, do you even know how Mr. Theodore got hurt? Two days ago, a fire broke out at your school auditorium. You were trapped inside, passed out from the smoke, and almost suffocated to death, right?

"It was Mr. Theodore who saved you. Because of the mark, Mr. Theodore can sense when his mate is in danger. He ignored everyone's warnings and ran straight into the flames to find you. When he was carrying you out, a beam collapsed on him and his back caught fire. Even so, he didn't stop. He fought through the pain and used the last of his strength to get you our alive.

"Then Mr. Nathan swooped in and took all the credit. He saw Mr. Theodore carrying you out of the fire and snatched you right out of his arms instead of helping him. If Mr. Nathan cared so much, why didn't he go in to save you himself?"

What?!

I couldn't believe it. That was how Theodore got hurt?

When I woke up after the fire, Nathan was the one sitting at my bedside, so I thought he was the one who saved me.

Too much had happened tonight, so much that I didn't even have time to feel shy or overthink it.

None of that mattered now. Saving him came first.

Without thinking, I leaned down toward Theodore. My heart pounded in my ears as I pressed my lips firmly against his.

"Don't," Theodore growled.

His voice was cold and distant, but his fingers dug deeper into the sheets. He swallowed hard, his eyes bloodshot from the effort of trying to restrain himself.

The sight of that beautiful man on the bed was enough to make anyone sin.

But his tone grew colder. "Isabella, do you even know what you're doing? Normally, you'd act like you'd run the moment you see me. Don't do something you don't want to do just because you're grateful. And ignore what they say. It won't change anything. I don't feel a thing from your kiss."

Then, Oliver suddenly shouted excitedly.