His Last Choice

Chapter 2

His Last Choice

As I screamed as the rogue lunged at me then my eyes locked onto a figure that suddenly emerged from the shadows. Time seemed to stretch as I witnessed Leon transform from his human form into a formidable wolf that appeared as if summoned from the depths of night.

Instinctively, I recoiled as he faced off against the rogue, but I couldn’t look away from the intense confrontation unfolding before me. Fear coursed through my veins, rendering me nearly immobile, my weight pressing down against the ground beneath me.

Leon and the rogue stood nearly identical in size, igniting a flicker of realization—I had never seen Leon’s wolf form before. His fur was a striking grayish-blue, interwoven with flecks of black, and his eyes glimmered like twin sapphires beneath the silvery moonlight that illuminated the surrounding thicket.

My eyes widened as I witnessed Leon effortlessly take down the rogue with a few swift moves. Once he ensured that the enemy was incapable, he turned his piercing gaze towards me. He approached with a grace that seemed almost otherworldly, his glowing eyes mesmerizing. At that moment, nothing I had ever seen could compare to the mystery of his presence.

It felt surreal, like a dream I feared would dissolve when I blinked. He stepped closer, his focus unwavering, scanning my entire being. Then he shifted to my other side, maintaining that same intense gaze. After a heartbeat, he halted and seemed to take me in fully.

As I locked eyes with him, my heart began to pound, each beat growing stronger and more insistent. The feeling was confusing; a part of me trembled with fear, yet I felt an irresistible pull, a deep-seated desire to remain rooted at that moment.

I’m not certain if this is what they refer to as the mate bond experienced upon finding one’s true soulmate, but I can’t shake the feeling. Despite the fear coursing through me, an irresistible urge compels me to pull him closer. Is it possible that he feels the same way?

He leaned in, bringing his face near mine, and the deep, soft growl of his breath echoed in my ears. He appeared to be a gentle creature, yet he was drawn to seduction; he effortlessly commanded my hand to move without a single word spoken. I yearned to touch him, to feel the warmth and texture of his thick fur against my palm. Just as my hand was about to meet his wolf, a sudden rustle grabbed both of our attention, interrupting the moment.

One of his men revealed his presence.

"We have to keep moving. "We are in rogue territory, so more will come if we don't hurry," the man said.

Before I realized it, Leon was back to his human form. He let out a heavy breath and then looked at me for a moment.

"Get up," he commanded before walking away.

"Let me help you," said the man who left with me. He grabbed my arm and helped me back to my feet.

"Can you walk?" he asked, in a low voice, looking at me with concern.

"Y-yes, I can."

He nodded and then held out his hand to guide me forward.

We started our long walk back to our destination, Leon's land. After a few hours of walking, I noticed a bloodstain on his arm. It had been dark last night, so I hadn’t seen it then. I wondered if he had gotten injured while fighting the rogue.

But what could I do? I don't think I could dare to approach him and ask. My feet are so sore that I don't have the strength to attend to others.

But after a couple of minutes, he suddenly stopped walking, prompting me to look up at him.

"We're far from the rogues' area. "Let's rest here for a few hours before continuing our journey," he said as he walked towards a large tree. The others began to set up camp while I searched for a place to sit, my feet feeling swollen from the long trek.

I found a spot under the big tree where I could keep an eye on Leon. I settled down and took off my brown leather boots.

As I suspected, my feet were blistered, but I thought I could still keep up with the group. I let my feet rest in the cool morning air.

I sat there quietly for a few minutes, but I couldn’t help but glance at Leon, who seemed to have fallen asleep. The bloodstain on his arm weighed on my mind, and I found it hard to relax until I knew the condition of his wound.

But what can I do? I whispered to myself, my voice barely audible. I glanced down at my feet and hands, then ran my fingers through my tangled hair.

We had been walking for hours, and my clothes were stained and soiled from the chaos of the previous night. I felt a sense of despair wash over me; I looked like a complete wreck.

As I took in my disheveled appearance, I noticed the man who had guided me last night approaching with purpose.

"I brought you something to drink," he said, offering me a bamboo tumbler with a hint of kindness in his eyes.

"Thank you," I replied, managing a small smile despite my situation.

"How are your legs holding up? "Can you still walk? "We have quite a journey ahead of us," he prompted, glancing intently at my legs. I instinctively pulled them up slightly to shield them beneath my dress.

"They hurt a bit, but I can still make it," I answered, determination creeping into my voice.

"That’s good to hear."

"There’s a river just behind those big trees. "You can wash up there if you wish, but make sure you’re not seen," he advised, his tone turning slightly urgent, a smirk playing on his lips before he turned to rejoin his companions.

My gaze followed the man as he walked away, intrigued by his casual approach to our conversation. But then, it didn’t matter; he didn’t seem threatening at all. The only thing on my mind was the promise of a bath. I longed to feel the cool, refreshing water on my skin. The thought of having it now makes me smile up to ears.

With a smile, I rose from the cozy embrace of my spot under the tree and made my way towards the river he had pointed out.

In no time, I reached the river, a hidden gem ensconced among the towering trees. Its secluded location kept it shielded from the harsh sunlight, creating a tranquil, subdued ambiance. Yet, despite the shadows, the water sparkled invitingly, beckoning me closer. I dashed toward it, captivated by its clarity, and when I looked down, I was met with my reflection staring back at me, perfectly mirrored in the pristine surface.

In the peaceful surroundings, accompanied only by the chirping of birds, I took off my clothes and slowly descended into the river. As my feet touched the stones below, I moved gently to become familiar with the terrain. The water was cold, and when I fully submerged my body, all my fatigue and pain vanished.

I dove under and floated on the surface, embracing the cold water around me. With my eyes closed, I allowed myself to savor the soothing comfort that enveloped me.

“Ugh.”

When I opened my eyes, a piercing beam of sunlight filtered through the leaves, momentarily blinding me. I instinctively raised my hand to shield my eyes.

“I think it’s time to head back,” I murmured. That’s when I realized I wasn’t alone in the river.

“Huh—” My breath caught in my throat when my gaze landed on him.

“Leon”

One of his knees grazed the ground, while the other was bent, supporting his elbow as he held my clothes. He watched me intently, as if he had been observing me in the water for some time.

“My clothes,” I whispered, glancing down at the garments in his grasp. Panic set in as I remembered my lack of coverage, and I instinctively hugged myself, desperate to hide from him what I knew he had already seen.

He looked away, letting out a soft breath before standing up. Then, he turned back to face me.

“Come,” he said, extending one hand to me.

For some reason, I couldn’t explain. I didn’t hesitate. Something unseen drew me closer, and as I approached, I grasped his outstretched hand.

He effortlessly lifted me out of the water, and I stood there in front of him, dripping and exposed, feeling the vulnerability of the moment. He stepped closer, gently draping the hole in my dress over me, and walked behind me to tie the laces. As he worked, my heart raced, echoing the wild pounding I had felt the night before. An electric tension filled the air, as if something significant was about to happen.

I felt his fingers lightly brush against my neck as he wrung the remaining water from my hair.

“You shouldn’t be wandering around alone like this. "Next time, just let me know so I can join you,” he said, his calm voice contrasting with the quiet intensity of the river.

“Hm—I will keep that in mind,” I replied softly.

“Let’s go back,” he said, starting to walk away. Recognizing the opportunity might slip away, I quickly grabbed his arm to halt him before we got too far from the river.

He turned to me, his eyes filled with curiosity.

“Do you have a wound there?” I asked, pointing to the bloodstain on his clothing.

He pulled his arm back, a hint of defensiveness in his posture.

“It’s just a small scratch—nothing serious,” he said, about to turn away.

“Even so,” I insisted, stepping closer. “Let me treat that scratch.”

“It won’t take long,” I assured him, determined not to let him refuse.

We stopped under a tree by the river, and he let me treat a wound he described as a mere scratch. In reality, though, it was deep, which was why it was bleeding so much.

I tore a piece of cloth from the hem of my dress and wet it to clean his wound. I was able to gather some medicinal herbs nearby and applied them carefully.

"This is just temporary; you need to get it treated immediately when we arrive," I advised him while bandaging the injury. Once I finished, I helped him put his clothes back on, acting as if nothing had happened.

"There, it's done. Wasn't that just a quick moment?"

I said, but then I froze when our eyes met.

I had been so focused on his wound that I couldn’t bring myself to look him in the face. I moved back slightly and avoided his gaze when a sudden, overwhelming feeling enveloped me.

"Why is he looking at me like this?"

I glanced back at him, but he remained still, his expression unchanged. His eyes were sharp looking at me. His thick, black eyebrows matched his hair. In that brief moment, I took in every angle of his face. Even as a child, he had always considered very handsome.

He was quiet but occasionally exhibited a certain arrogance that I found quite attractive.

Yet, I had never experienced these feelings towards him before. My heart raced as I stared, and the more I felt this strange attraction, the more I got used to it.

"Do we feel the same way?"

I gasped for air through my slightly open mouth when he grabbed me by both arms, pressing me into his body.

"Shall I claim you now?"