STRANGE FEELING FOR A STRANGER?

CHAPTER 2: STRANGE FEELING FOR A STRANGER?

LIANA'S POV. 

'What the hell is going on?' I asked myself as my anxiety was over the roof. 

'How did I end up back at this scene? I've lived it. The emotions attached to this scene are real. Or am I experiencing some sort of déjà vu?' I pondered. 

My heart pounded as I looked at Carl. Memories of the life I lived with Carl flooded my head. Painful memories. 

Then, I remembered something even more vital and recent.

'Oh my God! I - I died!' My eyes widened. I placed my hand on the back of my head. I could've sworn that I felt my skull crack open. There was no blood on my hand. 

I looked at my hand, totally baffled and dumbfounded. 

"It's not proper to keep a gentleman on his knees for too long. Is it now?" Carl chuckled.

I looked at him, them at the ring. The ring should've been a token of love, but rather, it was bondage. 

Saying yes meant I'd suffer and end up dead eventually. And saying no to Carl had negative consequences. 

I remember how I agreed to his proposal without hesitation. I didn't think twice. Not this time. 

"Friggin say yes already!" 

The pressure mounted. But I couldn't let myself make the mistake of even blurting my approval. 

Overwhelmed by emotions, coupled with the unwillingness to answer, I ran, pushing through the crowd that gathered around. 

"Where is she going?" 

"She probably can't contain her joy right now. How adorable." 

Folks threw comments as I made haste. I couldn't care less. I just had to get the hell out of there. 

I left the conference hall we were in at the Orion. Without giving much thought, I dashed into the closest door I could lay my eyes on. It turned out that it was another conference hall filled with folks who were dressed strangely, differently.

They all wore masks of various designs, but they were dressed corporately. Both the men and women looked elegant and sophisticated. 

The ambience of the atmosphere was chic, intolerant of a person of my state. I knew instantly I didn't belong in their midst, but I couldn't go either.

Seeing that no one paid attention to me, quickly, I picked a random mask I found on a table close by and rushed to another table and sat down. My heart still raced as the thoughts in my head ran wild like fireworks. 

"Care for a drink, ma'am?" An attendant asked holding a tray with a few cups.

Without hesitation, I grabbed a glass and chugged it down with a gulp. I grabbed another glass and chugged it the same way I did the first. As I tried to get another, I found that the tray was empty.

"I uh- I could go get more, if you want."

"No. That won't be necessary. Thank you," I replied quickly. He nodded and walked away. 

I sighed deeply as I tried to pull myself together. Looking around, I couldn't tell who was who. I could sense that everyone there seemed to be folks of repute, making me feel oddly comfortable as I was no one of importance - Just an orphan who grew up with her nana.

Just then, a couple of hefty men, also masked, approached me at the table. I gulped, fearing I was made, since I didn't belong there. 

"He's waiting for you," one of them declared.

"Wh- Who's waiting?" I stuttered. The men didn't repeat themselves. They just stared at me blankly. 

Scared, I got up and followed them out. We got to the elevator and went up to the third floor. The third floor of the Orion and upwards was usually reserved for people of repute and strong financial standing. 

I could only wonder who this person was.

We exited the elevator and walked to Suite 5. Two men stood guard at the door. The men who led me nodded at the others, then one of them opened the door and gestured in.

I hesitated for a bit, scared of what awaited me behind those doors. 

"He doesn't like being kept waiting," one of the men who led me said. I gulped and walked into the suite. As the door was shut behind me, I honestly wished at that instant that I had refused to follow them. 

The suite was beautiful as expected. But that wasn't my concern at the moment. 

A man sat on a luxurious reclining chair, looking out into the city below through the glass wall. He had in his hand a glass cup with a drink in it. 

"You kept me waiting. Not having cold feet, are you?" he asked, not sparing me a glance. His voice was calm and deep.

He exuded a terrifying aura that caught my breath. I had never felt this way for anyone before. I was quavering unable to give him a reply.

He gently turned and looked at me, then he got up and walked toward me. My feet were stuck to the ground. I froze. 

His eyes flashed gold. They adorned his stern but handsome face. His dark neck-length hair sat beautifully on his chiseled face, with his mild beard tracing his jawline. 

He towered over me with his huge frame, standing at six feet and five inches tall. His well-defined biceps protruded through the navy blue dress shirt he tucked into his black suit pants. 

He looked intently at me for a bit. I looked down, unable to look him in the eye. I wondered who he was. I had never seen him before. But it was obvious that he was a werewolf. And most likely a powerful one. 

He walked away to the table and poured himself a glass of wine, and poured another. He walked back and handed me the glass. 

"Thank you," I managed to say as I received it from him. 

"As agreed, this arrangement is temporal. Our goals are aligned. Once we both get what we want, this is annulled," he said.

"Uh... Sure. Of course," I smiled nervously. 

"To a fruitful partnership," he raised his glass. I raised mine to the toast, then we gulped our drinks. 

"I uh- I better get going since we're done here. I wouldn't want them wondering where I wandered off to," I said, then I turned to leave. 

I barely took a step when I felt a firm grip on my hand refraining me from moving. I turned and looked at this cold but ruggedly handsome stranger. 

"Where do you think you're going? We aren't done here."

"I- I don't understand," I said as my heart began racing even faster. 

He pulled me closer and held me by the waist with his left hand. I could feel his warm breath grazing my cheek as his eyes peered into mine. His gaze was predatory. 

With his other hand, he tucked my hair behind my ear reaching from behind, then he took hold of the back of my neck. He was gentle. 

My body trembled. My heart raced. I was strangely gripped by something I wasn't meant to feel for a stranger. I tried to cast off those depraved thoughts, but they lingered. 

This handsome stranger leaned forward, tilting his head to the left. He softly grazed his lips against mine. My legs lost strength as I felt some sort of electricity jolting throughout my body. 

I didn't realize when I grabbed him by the waist with one hand. 

I felt his breath as he traced his way to the sweet spot of my neck. I closed my eyes at this point, surrendering.