Chapter 13
The evening felt normal.
Too normal.
Jay walked through the garden.
Soft wind.
Faint lights.
For a moment…
She almost forgot everything.
Almost.
Her fingers brushed against a flower.
A small, quiet smile.
Then—
A sound.
Behind her.
She froze.
Footsteps.
Not guards.
Not familiar.
Wrong.
Her heart started racing.
"Who's there…?"
She asked softly.
No answer.
But the footsteps came closer.
Faster.
Jay stepped back.
Fear crawling in instantly.
"Hello?"
Still nothing.
And then—
A hand grabbed her arm.
Hard.
Jay gasped.
"Let go!"
A man stood behind her.
Rough.
Desperate.
"You should've stayed hidden."
He muttered.
Her breath shook violently.
"Leave me!"
She struggled.
But his grip tightened.
"You're the reason everything went wrong."
Her heart dropped.
Enemy.
Again.
"Keifer—!"
She screamed instinctively.
The man covered her mouth.
"Too late."
Tears filled her eyes.
Fear.
Real.
Raw.
Her body trembled uncontrollably.
"Don't fight…"
He whispered.
"It'll hurt less."
And that's when—
A voice cut through the air.
Cold.
Deadly.
"Take your hand off her."
Everything stopped.
The man stiffened.
Jay's eyes widened.
Because she knew that voice.
And for the first time—
She felt relief.
Keifer stood a few steps away.
Calm.
Still.
But his eyes…
Were terrifying.
"You shouldn't be here."
The man said nervously.
"And you shouldn't be alive."
A pause.
The grip on Jay loosened slightly.
Just enough.
She pulled away instantly.
Ran.
Straight to him.
Without thinking.
Her hands clutched his shirt tightly.
Her body pressing against him.
Shaking.
"Keifer…"
Her voice broke.
And that…
That was it.
Something snapped inside him.
Not loudly.
Not visibly.
But completely.
His hand moved instinctively.
Holding her close.
Protective.
Firm.
"You touched her."
He said quietly.
Too quietly.
The man stepped back.
"It's not what you think—"
"Wrong answer."
The next moment—
Everything turned fast.
Jay held onto him tightly.
Eyes shut.
She didn't want to see.
Didn't want to hear.
But she knew—
He was there.
He was handling it.
And that was enough.
Her breathing slowly steadied.
Her grip loosened just a little.
Because for the first time…
In the middle of danger…
She felt safe.
Not scared.
Not alone.
Safe.
With him.
Moments later—
Silence returned.
Heavy.
Still.
Jay slowly opened her eyes.
Her fingers still clutching his shirt.
Her body still close to his.
She looked up at him.
His face…
Calm again.
But his eyes…
Still burning.
"Are you hurt?"
He asked.
His voice…
Different.
Softer.
Jay shook her head slowly.
"I…"
Her voice trembled.
"I got scared…"
A pause.
Then—
"I know."
His hand tightened slightly around her.
Not hurting.
Just… there.
Reassuring.
Jay looked at him.
Really looked this time.
And something inside her…
Shifted completely.
Because now she understood—
He wasn't just the man she feared.
He was also the one…
She ran to.
Without thinking.
Without hesitation.
And that truth—
Changed everything.
End of Chapter 13