Chapter 4

~ RORY ~

•Two week later•

That was how I low-keyly became Kaelin’s handbag.

Kaelin and I never stayed in a particular place for too long. The highest number of days we've stayed in a particular place was a week and it's all thanks to his beat down army green Jeep.

I spare him a glance as he steers the Jeep’s steering through the forest, my eyes on the brown pages of a random book I'd picked in the boot which I'd placed on my lap.

The wheel meets a bump, jerking me forwards but I didn't shift my gaze away from his side profile.

Can't we just stay in the forest and start a family or something?

Tired would be an understatement.

Kaelin is not just my saviour. He's my lighthouse, the only man I'd come to love in the vast expanse of the death zone which became my… our unlikely sanctuary.

The jeep comes to an stop and Kaelin pushes the door open.

“Get down and go take a bath.” He orders.

I watch him round the car to the booth before placing my bare feet on the floor.

“Are you leaving again?” I ask.

“None of your concern.”

I sigh.

There's another flowing stream some meters away.

I gather my dress in my fist as I walk to the stream before stripping naked and dipping my body into the cold water. I didn't try to scrub, I just stand there, eyes fixed on the sky which is slowly brightening up.

The two weeks weren't an easy feat. And sometimes, I always think I'd gotten younger… mentally. I don't even want to think anymore, trying to think gives me extreme migraine.

And even after two weeks, I never knew nothing about Kaelin except for his name and except for the fact that he always leaves our little camp and comes back wounded most times, turning me into a makeshift nurse.

I never told him anything about me except my name and the fact that my father was dead. He never asked but I wanted to tell him everything. It's so hard trying to shoulder everything. And deep inside, I knew this is just me wanting someone to pity me and have a share of my miserability.

“Aurora.” Kaelin's voice suddenly pierces the air. “Are you done yet?” He asks.

“No.” I call out, hurriedly scrubbing my body before stepping out, water dripping down my skin.

“Be fast. Remember you still need to get the veggies. That's the only way you can make yourself useful.”

“Coming.” I call out again as I hurriedly put on my cloth.

He's right. That's the only way I can prove my usefulness. At this point, I'm more than indebted to Kaelin.

He feeds me, clothes me, keeps me alive, without asking for anything in return. He's my saviour.

I walk towards the Jeep and place my hand on the hot bonnet. “Can we move now. I should be able to see some at the front.” I suggest.

He nods as he shut the boot. “Get in.”

I nod timidly before sitting in the car. Then, the car starts moving.

Suddenly, a loud growl pierces the air and Kaelin drives the car to a screeching halt.

I know that sound.

It's a wolf.

The growl pierces the air again and he turns to me. “Stay here.”

It's an order.

My eyes widen in horror as he steps out of the car after grabbing a black box he always has on him. Then, he's running towards the direction of the growl.

I want to shout, want to call after him and tell him that he couldn't survive a wolf, that he should come back and let's make a run for it but my voice seems to be stuck in my throat until I see him disappear, the forest swallowing his form.

I'm alone. Again.

Kaelin may not come back this time.

But I chose to trust him.

Time drags painfully slow.

And with it, my will to live dwindles. I'm losing it, slowly but definitely.

I don't know how much time had passed but the sun is at the center of the sky now and Kaelin is not back yet.

Should I drive the jeep back towards the direction of the pack?

But I would be dead before then.

We are already more than two weeks away from the pack.

Forward?

That's not really an option either. The moon realm was rumoured to be located there and it's surronded by haunting tales, the ones mothers warns their kids about.

I'm going to die.

However, my heart thumps in my chest when I see a figure staggering out of the forest in the distance.

I push back into my seat, scared.

But when the figure steps closer, my eyes prickles with tears and I hurriedly push the door open to sprint towards Kaelin.

He's covered in blood.

I hold his arm. “Are you okay?” I ask with urgency as I lead him towards the Jeep.

His other hand was covering his neck which was dripping with blood.

“Get the first aid box.” He orders and I sprint to the jeep, about to slip into my role of a makeshift nurse.

When he put his palm away to allow me apply his grounded medicinal leaves, my brows raise in worry.

There's a huge bite mark. Clearly from a wolf.

It's not healing. Kaelin is human.

He's either going to die or…