saved by stranger

Elena

I couldn't take my eyes off the man standing in the doorway. For a few seconds, I completely forgot about the old man behind me, forgot about the drug making my head feel heavy, and even forgot to breathe properly. The stranger stood there with rainwater dripping from the edges of his black coat, his dark hair slightly damp, and an expression so cold that the entire room seemed to become quieter around him. I had never seen anyone who carried themselves like that. He didn't need to shout or threaten anyone. The way he stood was enough to make me feel that he was someone people didn't dare to challenge.

"Step away from her," he repeated.

The old man stared at him before letting out a nervous laugh.

"Who the hell are you?" he asked.

"This is a private suite, and you just destroyed my door," the old man added.

The stranger didn't even glance at the broken door. His eyes remained fixed on the old man, and something about his silence made the man's confidence disappear little by little.

"I won't repeat myself," he said, anger was visible in his tone.

The old man shoulder his jacket and tried to look fearless before he said.

"You have no idea who you're dealing with. I paid for this girl, and whatever happens inside this room is none of your business."

My heart dropped when he said those words. I looked at the stranger, expecting him to leave after hearing that. Instead, his expression became colder.

"Paid for her?" he asked.

"Yes," The old said and man nodded arrogantly.

The stranger finally looked at me. His silver eyes softened for the briefest moment when he saw the tears on my face before becoming hard again.

"Did you agree to this?" he asked me, his voice softening.

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. My throat felt painfully tight, and the room kept spinning around me. I shook my head instead.

"No," I finally whispered. The stranger looked back at the old man.

"Then you didn't buy anything."

"Her father accepted the money," the old man said as he scoffed.

"I don't care."

"You should," the old man snapped.

"I don't," the stranger shrugged.

The answer came so simply that the old man seemed stunned.

I watched as the stranger walked toward him. There was something frightening about the way he moved. He wasn't rushing. He wasn't angry in the way ordinary people became angry. He looked completely in control, and somehow that was much more terrifying than shouting. The old man took a step backward.

"Listen," he said, raising his hands.

"We can settle this like gentlemen," he said. The stranger stopped in front of him.

"You had your chance."

The next thing I saw was the old man being grabbed by the front of his shirt and thrown against the wall.

I gasped. The sound of his body hitting the wall echoed through the suite.

"Please..." I whispered, though I wasn't sure whether I was speaking to the stranger or to the world itself.

The old man groaned and tried to push himself away from the wall.

"You'll regret this," he said. The stranger leaned slightly closer.

"No," the stranger replied, his voice was terrifyingly calm.

"You will," the old man stutterr before he released him.

The old man stumbled forward and immediately reached for his phone.

"You don't know who I know," the old man tried to warn him but failed.

The stranger looked at him without any visible concern.

"Call whoever you want," he looked at the old man challenging him. The old man hesitated.

Something in those words made him understand that his threats meant nothing. He picked up his briefcase and hurried toward the broken doorway. Before leaving, he stopped and looked back.

"This isn't finished," the old man said looking at the stranger before he looked at me and smiled, a crawling sensation run under my skin looking at him.

The stranger didn't answer. He simply watched him leave. When the old man disappeared into the hallway, the stranger finally turned toward me.

I suddenly felt embarrassed. My hair was probably a mess. My makeup was ruined from crying, and I was standing there in a dress I had never wanted while barely being able to keep myself upright.

He took a step toward me. I instinctively stepped backward. He immediately stopped.

"It's alright," he said. I swallowed.

"Who are you?" finally i asked. He studied me for a moment.

"Someone who happened to be in the wrong place at the right time." I almost laughed, but the sound died in my throat.

"You don't look like someone who just happens to be anywhere."

For the first time, something resembling amusement appeared in his eyes.

"Is that supposed to be a compliment?" he asked.

"I don't know," i replied. I wiped my cheeks with the back of my hand.

"I don't know anything right now," i said shaking my head as the thought of betrayal flashed before my eyes. He looked at me carefully.

"Are you feeling dizzy?" he asked for a sounding concern.

"Yes," i said honestly as my head was spinning.

"Can you walk?" he asked, looking at me with concern.

"I think so," i said.

I tried taking a step. My knees immediately weakened. He caught me before I could fall. I froze.

His arm was around my waist, holding me firmly enough to keep me standing but not tightly enough to make me uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

"You don't have to apologize." His voice was quieter now. He studied me for a few seconds before speaking again.

"You've been through enough tonight."

Something about the way he said those words made my eyes burn again. Nobody had said that to me. Not even my father. I looked up at him.

"Why did you help me?" i finally asked. he could have walked away easily because that old man looked like he had a lot of money and influence. He seemed surprised by the question.

"Because you needed help," he replied after a beat.

"People don't usually do things without wanting something," i said what was on my mind. i couldn't afford to trust a stranger the way i am doing right now after what my own father did. He remained silent for several seconds.

"Perhaps you haven't met enough decent people," he said breaking the silence. I looked away. Maybe he was right. Or maybe I was simply desperate enough to believe him.

He helped me sit on the sofa before walking toward the table. He picked up my phone and placed it beside me.

"Call someone you trust," he spoke as he took a step back. I stared at the phone.

"I don't have anyone," my voice came out as a whisper. He turned toward me.

"Your father?" he said carefully. I laughed bitterly.

"He sold me."

The words left my mouth before I could stop them. His expression changed.

"I didn't mean to... before i could say anything he cute off.

"You don't have to explain."

He walked back toward me and crouched in front of the sofa so we were at eye level.

"Elena." I stared at him.

"You don't have to be afraid of me," he added.

Hearing my name from his lips made something strange flutter inside my chest.

"You know my name?" i asked in confusion. He nodded before pointing toward my handbag.

I followed his gaze and noticed the small identification card sticking out of the side pocket.

"Oh." I looked down, suddenly embarrassed.

"Right."

"I'll have a doctor come here," he said when i didn't say anything.

"No." He stopped. I quickly shook my head.

"Please don't call anyone," i begged.

"You've been drugged," he tried to reason with me.

"I know."

"You need medical attention," he spoke again as he stared at me with confusion.

"I can't go to a hospital."

"Why?" I looked at him helplessly.

"Because if anyone asks questions, they'll find my father," i explained.

"And that's a problem?" he asked staring down at me.

"My father will disappear," I answered as his expression hardened.

"He should," he said calmly. I looked at him.

"What?"

He stared at me for a moment before saying, "A man who sells his daughter doesn't deserve to know where she is."

My eyes filled with tears again. I turned my face away because i knew he was right.

"I don't know what I'm going to do."

For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then I felt his hand gently touch my shoulder.

"You'll figure it out," his words made me look up at him.

"How do you know?"

"Because you're still standing," he answered. A small smile appeared on my lips despite everything.

"Actually, I'm sitting," i corrected him. He stared at me for a second. Then, unexpectedly, he smiled. It was brief, barely there. But it changed his entire face. And for some reason, I couldn't stop looking at him.

"You're right," he said. "You're sitting." I smiled weakly.

"Thank you," i said, his expression became serious again.

"For what?"

"For coming," i said and looked into his eye. He didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he looked at me as though he was trying to understand something he couldn't put into words.

Then he said quietly, "I don't think I could have walked away."

My heart skipped. I didn't know why those words affected me so much. Maybe because I had spent my entire life believing that people always walked away when things became difficult.

Yet this stranger had walked into a room where he had nothing to gain. And stayed.

I closed my eyes for a moment as another wave of dizziness washed over me.

The last thing I remember before everything went dark was the feeling of his hand supporting the back of my head. And his voice whispering my name.

"Elena."

I didn't know who he was. I didn't know why he had saved me.

And I certainly didn't know that the mysterious man standing beside me was the most powerful Lycan in the world. All I knew was that, for the first time that night...

I felt safe.