Chapter 49: Chapter 49

"Let's go." he motioned Bobby to his side. Bobby wagged his tail cheerfully, then lifted him up like a child. Ethan pinched Bobby's nose and then looked at me, his eyes gleaming when it was hit by the sunlight. He seems so luminous and a devil-may-care man in front of me. He smiled and then offered his hands to me.

"Let's keep ahead, my love," he said in a soothing tone, making my heart beat so quickly and loud. I gulped the tension forming in my throat when the wind blew softly on us. I raised my hand, slowly reaching out for his hands that I knew he would never let go of me once I clasped on.

However, I stopped mid-air, contemplating whether to take his hands. Memories of how my life was before I met Ethan resurfaced in my head. It plays so swiftly I can't catch up with the others. I bit my lip, then closed my eyes shaking my head. I wanted to slap myself because why was I having second doubts about all of these?

Then they stopped. The memories stopped playing as if someone had paused them. I realized something, what's the difference between my life before and after Ethan. Now I understand why my life was so unpainted and tedious. It's all because I had no one beside me that would help me find my purpose. I had no family, friends, or anyone who would help me overcome this state of anxiety about reality.

Life was callous to me until I met Nathan. A spark ignited, but it never lit. It was as if a candle was brought out. It glowed but was frittered away by intense wind.

Then came alone Ethan. There was no light up ahead. Everything was dark when I first met him. You were imprisoned inside a massive cage with manacles on your feet and arms. It was suffocating, lonely, and destructive. It's like a warzone between you and your heart.

I had the chance to escape because he released me. The manacles were unattached, letting them fall to the ground. I had hope of becoming a free person. I finally had the freedom to choose whatever I wanted. However, all of those ambitions crashed when I looked back and saw him going in the opposite direction. His head hung low, looking so hopeless and devastated.

I shouldn't mind because it was his life. He could do whatever he wanted, but I saw what stopped me from going in my direction. Something flickered in him. It was small, but it was fighting to be seen. It was his light. It's resurfacing. It was not just any ordinary light you could quickly see in other people. It was an extraordinary consistency ray that the most genuine person is holding. He was that natural person.

Ethan wasn't really a bad guy, nor a wicked person who wanted to destroy everything. He was a lost boy, finding his direction in a lost area. It wasn't his fault. It's his family's fault for masking him as a malicious person. He was abused and tortured. He suffered for so many years, and after all that misery he had experienced, I can still see the changes he wants to pursue.

I was glad I didn't give up on him and left his side because I wouldn't see this other character of him if I did.

He was waiting for me. His eyes somehow looked worried, afraid I might not take his hands. I chuckled, then yanked him towards me. He seemed so surprised when I did. Bobby barked, then stuck out his tongue, kissing me. I rested my head on Ethan's chest, listening to his uproarious heartbeat.

"I love you, Ethan," I whispered, enough for him to hear my voice. When I looked up at his face, I was shocked to see him blushing furiously. He bit his lip and then looked away harshly on the other side. His eyes were covered with his bangs.

"Don't fucking say those words," he said sternly. His eyebrows were furrowed. My heart sank because of what he said. I looked down at the ground.

"Y-you don't want me to say it?" I asked. My voice cracked a little, but I restrained it. I was about to let go of his hands when he captured them again and then locked his fingers on my chin, making me look at his blazing eyes.

"Fuck, you know how I hate to see you crying. Of course, I want to hear you saying it, but not here, please. I got a massive boner."

When I looked down at his crotch, I saw it was peaking, wanting to release the beast.

"Wow," I said before he hugged me and guided us throughout the forest. I looked at him only to see him still bright as red as a tomato. He peeked so embarrassedly while walking, holding my hand. I just smiled to myself.

Even though we were running away from the world against us, we didn't leave each other's side. As long as our records are still clean and don't have concrete evidence against us that we were the ones they are looking for, we can still walk free from this world.

"HEY! Watch it!"

"My watermelon!"

"Hello, Sir! Do you want a free taste?"

Ethan didn't even bother looking at the lady who offered her drink to him. I was so thirsty and tired when he arrived in another city. Yes, we just walked all the way through here. I looked at Bobby, who was sleeping in Ethan's arms. I felt so sorry for him because he held everything from our bags to Bobby.

I snatched the other bag from him, and he looked furiously at me. He looked torn out.

"What are you doing? I was carrying that." he protested and was about to grab it from me when I blocked him.

"You're carrying too many bags. Let me help you with this one." I argued, then rolled my eyes. He was about to prime in when I looked at him with menacing eyes, threatening him with one look. He parted his lips and was about to say something when he sighed in defeat, letting me with what I wanted.

I looked around the city. The place was crowded, and I wasn't familiar with this area. I was always in my apartment before, and I rarely went out.

I heard Ethan snarl beside me, making me glance at him. My eyes widen in horror to see his fangs are showing. I slapped his chest.

"What are you doing? Hide that!" I ordered him.

He didn't listen to me. He was looking at something. When I followed his gaze, only to see a group of guys was gaping at us. Primarily to me. For some unknown reason, I was uncomfortable in my spot. I turned my attention away from them, then wrapped my hands tightly around Ethan's arms. My chest is squishing in his side.

"Let's just ignore them," I whispered to him, then turned around in the opposite direction. Ethan grumbled something under his breath, but his shoulders relaxed. When we were about to go away, someone whistled.

"Hey! Nice ass 'ya got there."

I gasped in shock, looking behind me only to see the group of men who were pointing and laughing at me. The other people who heard them looked in my way, then snickered. I was uncomfortable, and I didn't know what to do. My cheeks reddened in embarrassment. This is unacceptable behavior of men.

"How dare they-" but I was cut off when Ethan suddenly strolled through their way. He dropped our things on the ground, but he didn't let go of Bobby, growling, ready to attack and defend him from the group.

Oh no, he can't go berserk here. We just moved here. I ran up to him, about to stop him, when it was too late. He was already towering over the group of men who had stopped giggling. They simultaneously looked at Ethan, who was clenching his hands.

"Did you just catcall on my wife?" Ethan's voice becomes low and treacherous all of a sudden. But the group wasn't threatening him/ In fact, they looked at each other, eyes were baffled, then burst out laughing.

"So what we called her? We're just complimenting her. Right, fellows?"

"Yeah, dude. Chill!" they did the high five and convinced each other nothing was wrong with it.

However, Ethan wasn't convinced. His jaw moved then he took a step forward. His eyes are eyeing each and one of them. The guys stopped talking when they noticed how dead serious Ethan was. Before he could do something, I pulled his arms and then motioned him we should go.

"Ethan, honey, let's go. These pricks aren't worth our time. Bobby needs to eat. We're hungry. Right, baby?" I looked at Bobby, but he didn't look back at me because he was barking at these jerks. The guy in front who was close to Bobby's face snarled back at him, making Bobby shriek in fear, then back away. His head is low.

"Who you calling pricks, eh?" the man with no brows took a step forward to my spot. His eyes are scanning me from head to foot. I gulped, scared, but Ethan blocked him immediately. He let out a low growl, but an animalistic sound stunned the men this time.

"I said, don't touch her!" he roared outrageously. The men back away, but the leader, I assumed, wasn't frightened at all. His eyes were gleaming when he was staring at Ethan.

"Oh, yeah? What are you going to do about it if I do this?"

The man reached inside his pocket, and something gleamed. under it. Everything happened so fast. Before I could comprehend what was happening, the man attacked me with his pocket knife. Everything slowed down as I watched before me. I was paralyzed in my spot, and he almost slashed my face in half when a hand grabbed the sharp of the knife, stopping it from scoring my face.

"Yo, what the fuck, man?" they were left dumbfounded. Ethan didn't flinch or look scared, but soon blood flowed from his palm. The guys gasped in shock. The man holding the pocket knife withdraws it and then looks at Ethan with confusion as if he has grown five heads.

"Are you for real, man?!"

Ethan didn't leave his eyes on them. Instead, he took a step forward. His eyes are dark as if it has a hole sucking you in, and once you are put inside it, you can't escape its rage. Ethan took the pocket knife, cut through his palm, and then swished it out quickly without breaking a sweat. I heard wheeze and shocks coming from the audience, whom I didn't realize were watching the commotion.

"I told you," Ethan lowered his head, leveling his face on them. His face doesn't show any emotions, but his eyes tell otherwise.

"Do not lay a finger on my wife." He showed their fangs, which made them shriek, then ran away in pure horror when they saw Ethan's wolf eyes and teeth. He watched them sprint, pushing just to get away from Ethan.

I unconsciously looked around and saw almost everyone stopped in their tracks and saw the whole scene. I have no idea if they saw Ethan's eyes and fangs. I prayed they didn't.

"Ethan, let's go." I pulled his shoulders, and he followed me. He changed his eyes and then covered his fangs. I can feel the stares from the civilians following us. I keep my head on the path, not minding their judgemental looks. Ethan picked up our things and then continued on our journey.

"Here is the key to your room." the landlord gave us the key, which I accepted. I gestured for Ethan to step aside so we could go upstairs. He looked down at the bag where he had put Bobby. I was glad he could fit inside the bag. Ethan can afford a luxurious condo. However, that's unnecessary because we need to sort out our money. Both of us don't have a job.

"Here's your room card and room number."

"Thank you." I smiled at the landlord. She somehow resembles Mrs. Johnson. I wonder how she was? I somehow wanted to pay her a visit when we sorted out this mess.

I step to the side so the other guests will have their turn. We walked towards the stairs, heading to our designated room. Ethan was in front of me, and while I was trailing him. I watched my steps closely when I saw a girl running downstairs, not looking at her steps because she was busy minding herself on her phone.

"Oh yeah, totally! That would be so-hey!"

Since Ethan was looking at his feet, watching his steps, they bumped at each other. The girl was fuming mad when she turned off her phone, ending whoever she was calling. She pointed her long nails at Ethan.

"Watch where you are going. You creature-!" she stopped, and her lips parted when Ethan looked up and stared at her.

Ethan didn't say anything. He looks at her from head to toe while raising a brow. The girl was too stunned to speak. I know that look, and I am familiar with that expression.

"Ah...hi." her voice squeals in so much appreciation, as if she saw a goddess sent from above. I looked at Ethan, who just nodded his head, which wasn't the response I was expecting. Then he continued going upstairs.

"Ah, hey! Wait! What's your name?" she stopped Ethan, holding on to his arms.

Ethan glanced back at her, then his eyes gazed down at her breast that was almost poking at him.

"Ajax," he said, then turned his attention to the staircase.

The woman was left daydreaming. I can also see the birds chirping above her head as if she's in paradise and thinking of her future with Ethan.

I followed quickly Ethan, who stopped in front of our room. He used the land lord's key and then stepped inside. He opened the bag where Bobby was, then he sprang him free, and he abruptly ran across the room, looking so happy.

"Are you hungry?" he asked, and I nodded my head.

"What do you want to eat?"

I didn't answer him. Instead, I went to the couch of our new apartment and then scrolled through my phone, completely ignoring him.

I have a feeling I will not enjoy my stay here.