Chapter 4 Four

Layla wasn't sure when she had fallen asleep, but the sky was bright when she opened her eyes again. What was more surprising was that she was currently lying in a small cave.

The walls of the cave were brown and rough. Marks made from sharp repetitive clawing could be found on several endings of the wall as if something or rather someone had been wrestling with the cave.

Underneath her was a pile of hay, smoothened to form a bed from consistent lying or rolling around on. Layla rubbed her eyelids tiredly as she wondered how she had ended up in this place.

Suddenly, she remembered everything that had happened last night. How she had escaped into the forest and how she met a werewolf whom she was watching over before she slept off.

Did he bring her here ?- Layla thought as she sat up.

Luckily, she didn't have to think for long before her eyes caught sight of a figure approaching the cave. It was the man from last night.

A loosely fitted black brais (trouser/ undergarment in medieval times) hunged on his waist now but he had no shirt on.

With all the blood gone, Layla could see his well defined muscles and abs with the attractive v-line that disappeared into the fabric around his waist. On his right hand was two roasted fishes on a stick.

He was looking straight at her as he moved towards the cave, causing Layla's heart to jump in her chest. She adjusted her gown, dusting the dirt off it as she tried to distract herself from the view.

Layla was still trying to distract herself by straightening her hair when the man sat down before her. His figure casting some kind of shadow over the bright light streaming in through the opening of the cave.

She was forced to look up now, her eyes slowly moving from his folded up legs to his chest before finally focusing on his golden colored eyes.

As she focused her gaze on his eyes, Layla realized how rare it was to find anyone with such bright shades. It had a little mixture of brown in its golden pigment making it look so unique.

Just then, she remembered she had seen a pair of eyes so sharp and distinct like his in the past and she was filled with excitement. But the excitement was quick to disappear just as it had came. The boy she remembered had died a long time ago. This man was definitely not him.

Clearing his throat, the man broke the trance, running his left hand through his wolf cut brown hair.

"Breakfast" he said, handing out one of the fishes to her. His voice sounded deeper than they did the last time she heard him speak. It was probably his early morning voice.

Layla hesitated for a while before taking the stick from him. She wasn't sure how he had managed to find fish or the fire to roast them, but she figured he has probably been here long enough to know how to get these things.

"Thank you" Layla muttered before reluctantly taking a bite for she was starving. To her surprise, it was very good and well cooked.

The man took a bite from his fish, chewing quietly as he watched Layla eat her food quickly.

It had been eight years since he had been to Valguardia. Eight years since he last saw her, but he could still recognize her. Her soft brown curls, supple fair skin and plump lips. He had carried these memories with him all along, especially the ever determined look in her emerald green eyes.

It didn't hurt him much that she couldn't recognize him, a lot about his physical appearance had changed since then. He had dyed his black hair brown and had trained hard to change his body physique.

There was no way she would remember him when he looked nothing like the ten year old boy she nursed to health.

He couldn't help but wonder what she was doing in the forest and why she was being chased but he figured it was best not to ask her now.

The other thing that bothered him was that he had found out she was his mate. He never thought he had one, and even if he did, he couldn't believe it was the princess of Valguardia. He wondered if she could also feel it too, and if she was only trying to ignore the feeling.

Layla could tell he was watching her as she ate and this made her feel so uncomfortable. It was awkward enough that they were both eating together even though they were strangers and now he wouldn't stop staring.

Does he want me to say something?- Layla thought as she swallowed.

There was a lot of questions going through her mind and she wasn't sure how to ask about them but she figured it was best to say something to break the awkward silence.

"Why were you coming after me last night ?" she asked, holding his gaze.

The man was surprised that she thought he was also after her. He frowned, looking away before replying.

"I wasn't after you. I was...trying to protect you" he spoke, taking a huge bite from his food again.

"Trying to protect me ?" Layla repeated his statement, wearing a look of confusing.

"From the men that were after you" he said, his eyes back on Layla's face. He squinted his brows when he saw a smudge of dirt left on her face.

Had he missed a spot earlier?- he had thought.

She was quick to realize that it was probably why the man was covered in blood when they met earlier. Could that mean he killed them all ?

But why try to protect her ?

Layla was still lost in her thoughts when she felt him leaning into her. Before she could react, he licked off the dirt lingering on her face.

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