I slapped his arm when he mentioned the dirty proposal again, but he just chuckled. “There’s nothing funny about this, Jim!” I scolded him.
“I’m sorry. Anyway, there’s a house nearby. I built it back then but I never visited the place since the incident. Hopefully, it’s still in good condition,” he said.
When he started walking toward the house he mentioned, I followed him, and we walked not too far before we saw the safe house. Since Jim was wealthy, I imagined the rest house to be decent with at least a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom.

As we entered, I could smell the dust. Then, Jim walked around to check the house. Thankfully, it had water, but it was dirty and not suitable for drinking. The generator wasn’t working as well. Obviously, the place had been neglected for a long time.
Then, Jim started cleaning because he mentioned about staying the night in the cottage. I wanted to help but he didn’t let me. He said I should reserve my energy, and afterward, he was sweating and trying to catch his breath.
He was so tired, but then I realized that I could share with him my energy, so I walked closer to him and touched his forehead. That way, I was able to give him some of my energy.
Then, he fell asleep.
As the clock was ticking, I realized we needed food to eat. I knew I could purify the water but it wouldn’t be enough. We needed food for the night, and since we were in the middle of nowhere, hunting for food was the only way.
Hunting was a regular activity with Dad and Mom, so I wasn’t that ignorant when it came to hunting, however, with the absence of a hunting weapon, I had to improvise, or I could use my powers. But then, it would be risky, since using my powers so much could lead the enemies to my location.

I went outside and scanned the forest. I couldn’t sense the presence of another being so I thought it was safe to go hunting. With my agility and speed, it was easy for me to roam around the forest.
Then, I felt my eyes changed into a deeper shade of purple, and I could sense the running deer in the forest. My senses were heightened and it was easier to spot their hiding places.
With the brute strength of my arms, I managed to catch the deer’s neck. Cracked it and turned it into a lifeless piece of meat. Jimuel probably had no idea that the forest he detested a lot had so much to offer.
I didn’t only find deer, but hers as well. There were wild vegetables and mushrooms. Then, I hurried back to the cottage. Jimuel was asleep so I went to the kitchen and prepared the meat and the vegetables.

While starting the fire, I could hear my stomach rumbling. I was also starving. From the nearby river, I got a pitcher of water and boiled it to purify the water. In no time at all, the meat stew was ready, and the kitchen was filled with a delicious aroma.
“What are you doing, Isabella?”
“Cooking,” I replied when he came to the kitchen while rubbing his eyes. “Sit down, Jim. This is almost done,” I told him, and he looked at me in disbelief that I was able to cook something from scratch.
Afterward, I took a bowl and filled it with the meat stew. I served it to him, and he was drooling just by looking at it, or he was just starving. I watched him taste the meat stew and then he started eating with gusto.
“Can I have an additional serving?” he asked.
“Sure,” I agreed. “Just keep on eating, I will check outside if they were able to follow us here.”
“Stay, Isabella. It’s dangerous,” he cautioned me. “This place might be in ruins but it is safe here.”
Since I didn’t want to argue with him, I decided to stay. After eating, we decided to take a rest to replenish our strength, and the next time I opened my eyes, it was early in the morning.
When I checked on him, he was still asleep. So I tiptoed toward the door and went outside. I remembered the river where I got the water, so I was on my way there to wash my face.
However, the cold water was inviting, and before I knew it, I started stripping off my clothes went to the water, and started enjoying my bath in the river. I had fun until I sensed someone watching me from a distance.
I stopped moving and looked around, and then my eyes widened when I saw Jimuel walking toward the river, and then he stopped at the spot where I left my clothes. My eyes widened in panic. Then, I was embarrassed that he knew I was naked under the water.
"You okay? You suddenly look like a blank space. Is there something wrong?" he asked me.
I wave my hands saying no. "Nope, do not think about it. I am only thinking about how we can add our supply. We need wood, fruits, and meat to survive at least ten days."
"Ten days? Why ten when are heading back to the city now?”
“Really, Jim?”
“Yes. So come out of the water so that we can leave,” he told me.
“Go away first,” I told him because how could he expect me to come out of the water when I was naked?
As he went that way, I sighed with relief. Slowly, I walked toward my clothes and started putting them on. Then, another sigh escaped from my lips. After getting dressed, I walked toward the cottage, but instead of Jimuel, I saw someone else standing outside the door.
“Luke!” I shouted for his name before running toward him. “Where’s Jim?”
“I sent him away, Isabella.”
“How did you find me here?”
“Don’t ask me how. I have been following your scent since the night you disappeared from the mansion. Do you know how worried your parents are? What happened? I thought you were taken by rogues, Isabella. I had no idea you just went to see your lover and lived with him in this good-for-nothing place!”
As he assumed that I was just with Jim all this time to have a good time with my lover, I never tried to correct him. I just let him think whatever he wanted to because I couldn’t tell him that I was really abducted and tortured by Jimuel.
“Did you do something to Jimuel?” I asked out of concern.
“Why? Will you be sad if ever I hurt him?” he responded with a question.
“You wouldn’t dare hurt a human, Luke!”
“Oh really? After the trouble, I went through just to find you? What were you thinking, Isabella? Why did you act like a brainless teenager who had no qualms about making us worried?”
“What about Mom and Dad? Are they worried?” I asked but he took a long time to respond.”
“I didn’t tell them you’re missing, Isabella. For several days, I have been covering for your absence, and you owed me a lot for this trouble!”
“I’m sorry,” I apologized because what else could I say?
“I never imagined you could be this stupid, dear. Staying in this cottage with no food to eat? What for, Isabella? Was the sex so great that you don’t mind being hungry all the time?”
As he hurled insults toward me, I chose to be silent. Then, he led me toward a motorbike that was parked not too far from the cottage. I frowned at him because how could he expect me to ride it in the first place?
“If you want to stay in a cottage, then let’s go to my cottage. At least there, there are food and you don’t have to go hunting for food,” he said.
“How did you know?”
“Jimuel told me after I beat his ass,” Luke replied.
“You didn’t!”
“Why the hell not? I am in charge here and that man deserved a beating for taking you away without my permission!”
As much as I wanted not to ride on his motorbike, I had no choice. Then, as he sped away, I discovered it was fun. I wanted to ask him something about Jim but Luke seemed like he was pissed about something.
His rest house was in the countryside, but it felt like I was just back in the pack because we were in the countryside. His place was so different from Jim’s place. It was clean and it was well-organized. Most of all, the pantry was filled with stocks and I didn’t have to worry about food.
He prepared a cup of coffee and offered it to me along with some cookies, and then we sat down in the balcony while having coffee. Suddenly, it rained. It was heavy like there was a storm.
"Looks like it is raining cats and dogs now," he said as we are listening to the heavy rain outside.
Then, he surprised me when he went outside and got wet in the rain. Because I was worried, I followed him, and in the process, I also got wet. He scowled at me for following him, but what could I do?
We were both soaking wet. Then, all of a sudden, Luke took off his shirt, and he was topless in front of me. He crossed his arms as if he was trying to make himself warm.
I had no idea what was going on inside my mind, but I didn’t want him to freeze to death, so I gathered all my courage and went to him. Without hesitation, I attached myself to him.
"I am just doing this to keep us warm. I hope you will not see this in a very wrong way."
He shrugged his shoulder. Looks like he didn’t care at all. Afterward, he showed me to a room I could use and I was surprised to see a lot of clothes to my liking. He told me to get dressed and get ready for dinner.
I thought he ordered a takeout but it turned out there was a caretaker in his resthouse and she did the cooking. For the first time after several days, I was able to fill my stomach with good food.
“You are horny, Isabella,” he suddenly claimed and my eyes widened when he read my body language.