Chapter 3

I was working late into the night this time. As soon as I turned into an alley, a drunk man staggered into my path.

"Hey… Hey, young lady… Why don't you have a drink with me?" He reached out and grabbed my wrist. His fingers were so sticky that it was disgusting.

I immediately darted backward and held my phone tightly. "Don't touch me! I already called the cops!"

"Cops? Who are you trying to scare?" The drunkard let out a cold laugh and grabbed my collar with his other hand. I squeezed my eyes shut, but the groping I was expecting never came.

A dark figure dropped in front of me with a heavy thud, carrying a familiar scent.

It was Ethan.

His hood slipped down onto his shoulders and his wolf ears stood straight up. His dark brown eyes locked on the drunk like he was prey. "Let go."

The man froze for a second, then roared at him. "Who the hell are you?! Get lost!"

He shoved Ethan's shoulders.

Ethan did not budge, and instead his nails extended with a clack. Those nails were reflecting a pale gray light, as he let out a low growl. "Just try and touch her again."

The drunk man's hand froze in midair and his face turned white as he was crushed by Ethan's primal presence. His eyes fixed on Ethan's wolf ears, and he felt his knees go weak. He immediately spun around and bolted, yelling, "Monster!"

Only my heavy panting could still be heard in the alley.

Ethan turned to me right away, his hands closing around my arms. I could hear his voice getting tight. "Did he touch you? Did you get hurt anywhere?"

I shook my head, still rattled. "What are you doing here?"

The tips of his ears drooped a little and his fingers brushed the red marks on my wrist. "I follow you every day and only leave after I see you go into your office. I was afraid something would happen because you're working so late tonight, so I came to look for you."

I could feel warmth blooming in my heart. I had just opened my mouth when he suddenly crouched down and looked at my ankle. "Did you twist your ankle? You hesitated when you were dodging him."

"A little. It doesn't hu..." Before I could even finish, he had already slipped off my high heels. His fingertips held gently along my ankle carefully. "Does it hurt here?"

"A… A little," I said.

He did not answer and took out a small cloth pouch from his pocket. He poured out some crushed herbs into his palm and pressed them over my ankle. Then, he tore off a strip from his shirt and wrapped it up properly. "Herbs from the pack. It will quickly bring the swelling down."

Watching him lower his head, I suddenly asked, "You follow me every day. How did I never notice?"

He looked up. The tips of his ears were red. "I was afraid you would think I was annoying. But I can't let anything happen to you. You're my... Master. You're also the person I have to protect."

I couldn't say anything except to reach out and touch one of his ears. It was soft and warm.

He stiffened for a moment, but he did not pull away. His voice lowered. "I'll take you to work and pick you up from now on. I won't let you experience this again."

After that night, Ethan and I became even closer.

He stopped sleeping on the couch. Instead, he slept on the floor next to my bed, sometimes with his tail brushing against my hand. I got used to his body temperature and his quiet company. I even felt that this rented apartment only felt like home when he was there.

One night, I could not help ruffling his hair as I asked with a smile, "Ethan, do you like me a lot?"

He looked up at me with his bright eyes and nodded. "Yes."