Chapter 4

RISSA'S POV

Bright golden rays of sunlight that seeped through the cracks in my wooden shack, rested on my face.

The sun was up. It was morning already. I opened my eyes, and the morning sunlight blinded me momentarily making me to shield my face with my palms.

I must have slept in today. I usually wake up much earlier than this. Even before the sun comes up. Maybe it's because I slept late while thinking about my encounter with the strange man that was caught in my trap yesterday.

He was indeed very strange. Why did he run away when I offered him to spend the night here? Talk about weird. Well I guess he's off my case now. Maybe he found his way home or something. I pondered as I stood up to prepare for the activities for the day.

I missed my stake out yesterday because of him. He totally disrupted all the plans I had for the day yesterday. The more I thought of it, the more it made  my blood boil. Especially since he didn't even care to show some appreciation before storming off.

Well, at least he's gone now and I can focus on others things. 

I slipped on a pair of black skinny jeans and a green flower patterned blouse, then I put on my hoodie to protect me from the cold. I lowered and reached under my bed and grabbed my good pair of sneakers I usually wear when sneaking into the packs. 

I grabbed my squirrel gun and hung it over my shoulder. It was the one thing that was very essential to my survival out there. There are lots of wild animals out there that could attack me, and I have to be ready to defend myself if that happens.

Also, there are other dangerous rogues out there that might want to rob, rape or eat me. The forest is not a very friendly place, especially rogue territories. It is survival of the fittest around here. There was no law and order in the wild, so literally anything could happen.

After putting on my sneakers, I opened the door and headed out. I looked up and noticed a figure in the distance.

I grumbled.

It was the strange man from yesterday. What was he still doing here? I thought he left already. Unfortunately, I was wrong. There he was, sitting on a log and staring into the forest.

Should I ignore him and go my way? Well, I couldn't. He was on my property.

Well... actually... nobody owns anything in these forests, but still, this was my space. I built this shack with my mum and no one was going to invade my territory.

"Hey!!!" I called out.

"Hey, mister." I walked up to his position to make sure he heard me. I stood beside him calling his attention but he still didn't respond.

Rude much?

"Hey, Sir. You're on my property." I said, tapping on his shoulder.

To be honest, I have no idea where the boldness to confront a man nearly twice my size came from.

He looked up at me unamused, with a stern frown plastered across his face. I stepped back a little to what seemed to me like a safe distance.

It was my property, but it didn't mean I couldn't get killed on it. I had to be smart, to avoid my tombstone reading, 'she was killed while defending her property.'

I was scared, but still annoyed. Couldn't he at least respond to me? His silence was getting quite annoying. 

"Um, Mister... I think you should leave. You've overstayed your welcome." I added.

Strange man: "..."

He looked up at me again and then lowered his head. His silence was annoying. But as he looked up at me in those few seconds, his silence said a thousand words.

I could see agony and uneasiness in his eyes. He didn't leave much of an expression, but his eyes were pleading. His facial expression was cold and empty.

Two things came to mind my mind. He was either helpness and lost. Or, he was a psychopathic maniac who was just sizing me up before he killed me.

I couldn't stay and wait for number 2 to happen so I thought to leave that place as soon as possible. I would go about my schedule for the day, and hopefully when I return, he would have been long gone.

Fortunately, what I had on my schedule was something that may take a whole day or two.

For some months now I've been secretly sneaking into different packs around, to try and find my mother. I would wear a nice dress and sneak into the pack villages trying my best to mingle with the residents to avoid being spotted as a rogue. If that were to happen, I would be arrested and imprisoned immediately. Or even worse, I may be executed. The packs have strict rules about letting rogues into their towns. Thanks to the new alpha. 

So far, I've not really had any luck finding her. My guts tell me she's in one of their prisons. If that was the case, then rescuing her would be very difficult. But I'm not about to give up soon.

My life feels incomplete without my mum. She disappeared three years ago, some weeks to my eighteenth birthday. She was my role model. She was fierce, determined and strong. Ever since my dad died and we left the city, my life lost direction. We left the city not having any other family members there that would accommodate us, so I had to stop My mum started home-schooling me since then. She's the center of my existence right now. And her being dead is not an option for me. I have to find her.

The lunar dusk pack is only pack I haven't infiltrated yet. Their border security is just too tight. But still I have to try. The plan was to go there today and try to sneak in without being spotted. Provided this jerk doesn't screw up my plans again.

I took a few steps forward, stopping right in front of him. "I want you out of this premises by the time I get back!" I blurted, carrying my heart in my hands in fear of what his reaction would be like. 

Strange man: "..." 

I grunted as my mind flooded with contempt. With my mind boiling with rage, I turned around abruptly to walk away, oblivious to the large tree branch hanging in front of me at face level. 

I bumped into it with so much force, I landed on the floor after the collision. The pain shot through my entire body at an incredible speed. Stars were hovering over my head as I landed to the floor.

I must look so stupid right now. I could imagine the smirk forming by the corner of his lips as I fell.

"Are you okay?" I heard a voice echoing from behind me. It was deep, polished and smooth. Like honey slowly mixing in caramel.

Then I felt a shadow fall over me. I looked up and my eyes caught an inverted face looking down at me. He had stood up to come and help me.

As I gazed into his eyes from the floor where I lay, squealing and wincing in pain, I realized that that was the first time I heard his voice. It was calm and more comforting than I thought.

He extended his arms towards me. I think he wanted me to grab his hand so he could pull me up, but my hands were too busy massaging my throbbing forehead so I hesitated. Apparently, the stars above my head were still hovering around. I think I might have a concussion.

In the blink of an eye, I saw myself defying gravity and rising above the ground. I opened my eyes and realized that 'strange man' here had picked me up from the ground bridal style pressed against his rock-hard chest.

Then he started moving. He carried me to the shack and placed me on the bed and turned around to leave.

"Thank you!" I said to him. He turned around and gave me a nod. I expected him to return my smile, but his face bore no emotions still.

He turned to leave again and I called out to him. "Wait... don't go."

He just helped me out so might not be as dangerous as I thought — I hope.

"Why don't you have a seat?" I offered him. 

He hesitated for a while and then eventually sat down on the chair next to the bed. Him helping me increased my curiosity about him.

"What's your name?" I asked softly.

He didn't respond. He just looked away. How much weirder can he get?

I shrugged and grabbed a small mirror on the table near my bed. I examined my bruised forehead through the mirror and it was a bit swollen.

I guess I'd have to cancel my plans today again. My head hurts like hell.

The sun had come up and the room was getting hot, so I sat up and took off my hoodie and then my blouse, leaving me with only my bra on, to help with the heat. 

Suddenly, he raised his head and immediately he looked at me, he yelled. "No!!!" Then he sprang up from his chair and stormed out of the room.

I know I'm not the goddess of beauty or anything, but he didn't have to be an ass running off like that immediately I took off my clothes.

What exactly is wrong with that guy. I've had enough of his weird behavior.

I shrugged and grabbed a towel and soaked in water then I placed it on my forehead since I didn't have any ice. I looked out the window and to check if I'll see him outside. He wasn't there, so I lied back down on my bed and dozed off, hoping that this was the end to all the awkwardness.