Her heart was racing like crazy, thud-thud-thud, drowning out the sound of leaves crunching under her boots and the heavy breaths coming from her lungs. At 5'4", she felt small in the huge forest, her long, wavy golden-brown hair flying everywhere as she ran. Her golden-brown eyes were wide with fear, and the deep dimples in her cheeks disappeared under a mix of panic and determination.
Twigs scratched her delicate face, leaving thin trails of blood on her pale skin. Roots were tangling around her ankles, and each breath felt like a stab in her chest. She wasn't just running anymore—she was fighting to stay alive, pushing her tired body to keep going when it wanted to give up.
Behind her, men's voices cut through the trees—loud laughter and sharp shouts in a language she didn't get. She didn't need to know what they were saying; she had said no. That single word could cost her everything or give her a shot to escape.
Finally, her legs gave out in a last, desperate attempt. She crashed into a solid wall of muscle and bounced back, air rushing out of her lungs. The ground felt like it was vanishing beneath her.
A man stood there like he owned the forest. He was 6'3", broad-shouldered, built like a tank, and dressed head to toe in black tactical gear. His black-brown hair was a bit messy from the wind, and his steel-blue eyes were cold and hard to read. A rifle rested casually on his back like it was no big deal. He didn't even flinch when she slammed into him.
She froze, shaking, her golden-brown eyes locked on his intense stare. For a moment, she wondered if she'd just swapped one monster for an even worse one.
Then he moved—not toward her, but around her, positioning himself like a wall between her and the shouts echoing through the trees.
Shoulders squared. One arm raised slowly, palm out. Silent. Final.
The forest went dead quiet. The men stopped suddenly. Their smug grins disappeared. They turned and vanished like smoke.
He watched them leave, then turned his hard gaze back to her.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low and deep, calm almost to the point of boredom.
She nodded, her chest heaving, strands of golden-brown hair sticking to her sweaty face. "Ben iyiyim… Nerede olduğumu bilmiyorum," she whispered, her voice shaky.
He didn't blink. "Amerika'dasın. Evden çok uzakta."
Her eyes widened. "How do you—"
"Stop." He cut her off, already turning. "Move. Now."
"Excuse me?" She stood her ground, chin up, even though her knees wobbled a bit. "I don't even know you."
He let out a dry laugh, short and totally without humor. "Yeah? I don't care who you are. Just walk."
"I didn't have a choice but to bump into you!"
He stopped in his tracks and turned around. In just a couple of strides, he was right in front of her.
Before she could react, he grabbed her by the shoulders, spun her around, and shoved her back against the nearest pine tree. The bark dug into her spine. One huge hand held both of her wrists behind her back, while his other arm caged her head against the trunk. Six-foot-three of muscle loomed over her five-foot-four frame, making it tough to breathe.
"Listen up," he growled in her ear, his voice rough. "You get one warning. Ask me another dumb question or make one more smart remark, and I'll zip-tie you to the next tree and keep going. Want to make it through the night? Keep. Your. Mouth. Shut. And. Follow."
Her heart was racing in her chest. She twisted once—pointless. His grip was like steel. The smell of pine sap, gun oil, and something darker surrounded her.
He held her there long enough for her to feel the threat sink in. Then he let go so suddenly that she stumbled forward.
She caught herself, rubbing her wrists, her golden-brown eyes flashing with anger. "What an arrogant jerk…" she muttered quietly.
He definitely heard her. Of course, he did.
"What was that?" He didn't turn around, just kept walking.
"Nothing," she shot back.
"Say it louder."
"I said you're an arrogant jerk!"
He let out a cold laugh. "Good. At least you're not totally spineless." He nodded forward. "Keep up, or I'll leave you for the bears. Your choice."
She glared at the back of his head, watching how his black-brown hair caught the broken sunlight. Furious. Worn out. And—she couldn't believe it—following him.
They walked in tense silence for maybe three minutes before she couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Why are you helping me?" she asked.
He didn't slow down. "I'm not."
"Then why—"
"Shut up."
"No! You speak fluent Turkish. You scared off those guys without saying a word. Who are you?"
He stopped so fast that she almost collided with him.
He turned slowly and stepped right into her space, making her tilt her head back to look up at him.
"You want answers?" His voice dropped to a low growl. "Here's the deal: I don't owe you anything. Not my name. Not my story. Not an explanation. You're alive because I decided to spare you from those animals. That's the only trade here. So either keep your mouth shut and keep moving, or I'll drop you off at the next trailhead. Got it?"
She swallowed hard, trying to keep her emotions in check. Anger, fear, and something hotter churned in her chest. "Got it," she replied.
"Good girl." The words dripped with sarcasm, almost cruel. He turned and started walking again. "Just try to keep up this time. I'm not carrying you."
She gritted her teeth and pushed her tired legs forward. "I didn't ask you to carry me."
"Didn't say you did. Just letting you know I won't."
"Wow. Such a gentleman."
"Never said I was." He glanced back at her, his steel-blue eyes shining. "And if you're waiting for a thank-you or a hug, sweetheart, you're going to be disappointed."
"I'd rather hug a porcupine."
A hint of a smirk flashed across his face, but disappeared quickly. "Smartest thing you've said since you bumped into me."
She opened her mouth to respond, "I—"
"Quiet," he cut in sharply, tilting his head as if he heard something. His hand moved toward his rifle. "We're not out of the woods yet. One more word, and I'll tie you to a tree myself. Test me."
She bit her lip and stayed silent for once.
But her golden-brown eyes never left his back, full of questions, defiance, and a risky spark of curiosity.
He moved like he owned the forest.
And for now… she followed.