Chapter 1 Amalia Valley

Cali couldn't see what was ahead of her. The heavy rain is obscuring her vision. She could see nothing but the dark and damp trees close and the curving road, which was becoming increasingly muddy and slippery. She should have verified the weather prediction before entering this valley. She should also have fully charged her phone.

Should have been. She is now chilly, soaked, and completely lost. The wooden signpost with the charming owl on top has vanished. During her random trek, she hasn't met a single soul. The day is becoming darker by the minute with the heavy rain and dark clouds.

She is afraid to return since she is unsure which path leads to the valley's entrance. She's taken so many diversions that she needs to track them.

She barely recalls that the last signpost suggests a log cabin for hikers along the road she is currently on. She needs to find it quickly. She is trembling as a result of the loss of temperature.

What a silly and reckless woman she is! She had gone to the valley on a whim. She only wanted to spend a few minutes exploring this strange land. Sophie would be distraught if she returned to the hotel and couldn't find her.

"Damn," she says as she pounds her feet. That was a terrible move. She loses her footing on the slick road and collapses on all fours. She tries to look at her hand because it hurts so much. Great, she sighs internally. Her right index finger has been slashed by a sharp stone, and she can see a trickle of blood seeping with the fainting light. The filth on her face no longer seems to bother her.

When she finally gets up and looks up, she notices an orange light in the distance! It must come from the log cabin, and it has to have people.

She gathers all her remaining energy and moves carefully but hopeful towards the light.

She could see the shape of a wooden cabin as she approached the light. She is overjoyed to see another human!

The cabin's door is open. Cali noticed a tall man with broad shoulders peering out the window, his hands in his pockets and his back to the door. Even though Cali couldn't see his face, the man appears to be in command of the universe simply by standing still.

Cali becomes acutely aware of the mud on her face and clothes. She is not a pleasant sight.

"Hello," Cali says anxiously as she stands at the door, nibbling her bottom lip.

The man turns his face devastatingly beautiful, a look that would make many ladies weak in the knees. Also, Cali. His dark hair is slicked back, still damp, with a few locks thrown across his brow, giving him a carefree and immensely attractive appearance. His blue eyes are so blue, such a deep blue, that you could get lost in them. His high-bridged nose, strong jawline, and delicate lips intrigue Cali.

"Are you alright?" The man's question jolts Cali out of her reverie.

"Uhhh, I'm alright," Cali stutters, embarrassed by her showy stare. He must receive a lot of it.

"There is a basin over there," the man points out to Cali. His lifeless, frigid blue eyes.

"Uhhh?" Cali takes a few seconds to understand what he's saying. Cali flushes and feels self-conscious about her unkempt appearance in front of this astonishingly attractive man. Messy is an understatement for how she now appears.

Cali enters the cabin and rushes to the basin. She rinses the mud from her face and palms, carefully cleans the cut, and is relieved to see that it has stopped bleeding, but she stares hopelessly at the muck on her hooded sweatshirt. She decides to let things go because there is no way to fix it.

After she finishes the cleaning, she takes a deep breath and turns to face the man. "I don't think I've introduced myself. I'm Cali. Are you also caught in the rain?"

"Obviously," the man responds in a grating tone, as though he dislikes talking and prefers to be alone. He doesn't even raise his head. He's now seated on the bench, both elbows resting on his lengthy legs. He's in a reflective mood. Cali noticed black clouds hovering over his face. Cali couldn't resist the impulse to remove the frown from his face, even if it made her feel more uneasy than before. She is perplexed as to what is happening to her. She never lost her cool in front of men. And she had never been so preoccupied with a man she met for the first time.

Cali walks to the window and glances outside, trying to get the thoughts from her head because clearly, this man doesn't want to talk to her. It is now entirely dark. The rain hasn't stopped and is picking more speed thanks to a storm. The rain is pelting the windowpane and making a lot of noise. Cali thinks, "That'll cover the awkward silence." When is she going to be able to leave? Sophia must be insane; she has most likely gone missing.

"You're bleeding," Cali exclaims in response to the man's abrupt remark.

"Oh, nothing but a small cut," Cali turns around, looks at her bleeding thumb, then looks at the man.

Their gazes lock. Cali senses lightning coursing through her body. Her entire body is tingling. She is lost in the man's beautiful blue eyes, now exhibiting concern and possibly surprise. But what surprised you? These feelings fade soon.

"You should take care of it. Do you have a Band-Aid?" The man asks.

"Oh, I forgot to bring an emergency kit. I just went for a random walk and ended up getting lost. Stupid me." Cali sighs.

The man takes a big stride and collects his rucksack, a professional hiker's rucksack, without saying anything. He pulls out a Band-Aid and hands it to Cali.

"Thanks," Cali says with a smile. Her stomach churns when she sees the man's expression on her.

His piercing gaze also causes her to stumble. She tries to stick the Band-Aid to the injury on her index finger, but it falls to the ground. She groans to her clumsiness.

"I think I'd better help you," the man says as he rises from the bench and moves to Cali.

"I know I can do it. I'm just not very good at using my left hand." Cali tries to justify her clumsiness.

"Only two bandages are left, and you just dropped one." Cali's face flushes.

He is now closing the space between them. They're so close that he towers over her, and she can hear his breath and feel his heat. Cali's heart begins to pound frantically.