Author’s POV

  Aric shut the door behind him and stood there for a while, his back against the wall as he tried to steady his breathing. He hadn’t felt this kind of anger in a long time, a deep, protective fury that surged through his veins. When Annabelle looked up at him with those chocote eyes full of tears, something in him snapped. He had been observing Annabelle’s behavior since he first saw her stiffen at the wedding that day. Though she tried her best to appear rexed, he noticed the subtle signs of her unease. Her every movement carried an added caution, a tentative quality that hadn’t been there before. She jumped at the slightest sounds, her eyes darting around the room as if she expected something to appear.

  Or someone.

  Aric’s heart ached for her. He saw how she tried to mask her fear with forced smiles and hollow ughter, but the cracks were evident to him. The way she flinched at sudden noises, the tension in her shoulders, the haunted look in her eyes when she thought no one was watching, all pointed to a deeper torment that she couldn’t escape. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside him. He had to do something. He couldn’t stand by and watch her suffer in silence any longer. The thought of someone following her, causing her such distress, ignited a protective instinct that he couldn’t ignore. Aric’s mind raced with possibilities, each one more disturbing than the st. Whoever it was, they had to be dealt with swiftly and decisively. He couldn’t let this person continue to torment the woman he loved. His jaw set in determination, he let out a deep breath and steeled his expression, preparing himself for whatever he might find.

  Let’s go.

  The moonlight cast long shadows across the yard, and Aric’s eyes adjusted to the dim light. He scanned the perimeter, his senses on high alert. The only sounds were the rustling of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl, but he knew better than to trust the apparent tranquillity. His instincts told him that someone was out there, hiding, watching. He crept along the side of the house, each step measured and deliberate. His heart pounded in his chest, but his mind remained focused. As he rounded the corner, he caught sight of a figure lurking near the edge of the tree line. The figure’s movements were furtive, their attention fixed on the cottage.

  They seemed to have something in their hands, but Aric couldn’t focus on the minute details when fiery rage was burning through him. He stepped forward, but in his anger, he had forgotten to keep silent. A branch under him cracked, and the figure in the distance looked up and saw him. The moonlight glinted over their face, illuminating a man’s face in the distance, and Aric’s heart nearly stopped.

  Hohat’s not...she said that he’s never done anything bad..so why..

  The man quickly dropped whatever was in his hands and took off running into the woods that surrounded their home. The suddenness of his flight momentarily stunned Aric. Recovering from his shock, Aric soon chased after him, his boots pounding against the earth. His thoughts were in a flurry, his brain struggling to comprehend what he had just seen. The man’s figure darted through the trees, a dark silhouette moving swiftly and erratically. Aric’s heart raced as he pushed himself harder, determined not to lose sight of the man. The cold night air stung his lungs, but the adrenaline coursing through his veins kept him moving.

  As he ran, fragments of the scene pyed over and over in his mind. The glint of something wooden in the man’s hand, the brief, panicked look in his eyes before he fled, it all pointed to one terrifying conclusion. This man was dangerous, and he had been too close to Annabelle for comfort. Branches scratched at Aric’s face and arms as he tore through the underbrush, but he barely felt the pain. His focus was solely on the figure ahead, his mind a swirl of anger and protective instinct. How dare this person invade their peace, their sanctuary? The thought of Annabelle living in fear because of this shadowy presence fueled his resolve.

  The chase continued, the gap between them narrowing. Aric could see the stalker’s movements growing more frantic, his breath visible in the cold air. The man stumbled over a root, nearly falling, and Aric took advantage of the moment, closing in on him.

  “Stop!” Aric shouted, his voice ringing out in the stillness of the night. The man gnced back, his eyes wide with fear, but he didn’t slow down. Aric pushed himself even harder, every muscle in his body burning with the effort.

  Finally, with a burst of speed, Aric lunged forward, tackling the man to the ground. They rolled in the dirt, the stalker struggling desperately to break free. Aric pinned him down, his grip ironcd.

  “Why are you here?” Aric demanded, his voice low and dangerous. “Why are you tormenting Annabelle?”

  The man’s eyes darted around, panic written all over his face. He mumbled incoherently, but Aric tightened his hold, shaking him slightly. “Answer me!” he growled.

  The man’s resistance weakened, and he finally stammered out, “I- I just wanted to see her... I needed to see her...”

  Aric’s anger fred at the man’s pathetic confession. “You’ve been terrorising her!” he spat. “How.. how could you?!”

  The man whimpered, his resolve crumbling under Aric’s fierce gaze. “I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to...”

  Aric’s grip tightened further, his eyes bzing with righteous fury. “Pathetic. Does she mean nothing to you?!”

  He threw the man to the ground and fell back, his heart pounding in his chest. He hadn’t been seeing things. The man in front of him was just who he thought he was. Aric couldn’t wrap his head around this. Of anyone else who had known Annabelle, of anyone in her family, he should’ve been the one to always protect her. Not torment her. The realisation hit Aric like a punch to the gut. The familiar face before him was twisted with fear and guilt, a stark contrast to the trust and care that should have been there. Betrayal and confusion warred within him, each emotion trying to take precedence.

  “Why?” Aric demanded, his voice shaking with a mix of rage and bewilderment. “Why would you do this to her?”

  The man on the ground looked up at him, his eyes wide with panic. He stammered, struggling to find words, but the guilt was written all over his face. “I- I didn’t mean to... I just... I couldn’t help myself.”

  Aric’s anger fred even hotter. “You couldn’t help yourself? You’ve been stalking her, tormenting her, making her live in constant fear. How could you?”

  The man’s eyes darted around, avoiding Aric’s piercing gaze. He seemed to shrink into himself, the weight of his actions pressing down on him. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, though the words felt hollow in the face of the damage he had caused.

  “You should have protected her,” Aric continued, his voice raw with emotion. “You were supposed to be her shield, not her tormentor.”

  The man began to cry, his shoulders shaking with the force of his sobs. Aric watched him, a deep sense of betrayal mingling with his anger. He had trusted this person and believed in their role in Annabelle’s life. The reality of the situation was a bitter pill to swallow. Aric took a step back, his mind racing with thoughts of Annabelle. He needed to get back to her, to ensure her safety and comfort her through this revetion. But first, he had to make sure this threat was neutralized. But before he could get one word out, the man lunged at him with something metallic glinting in his hand.

  Aric stumbled out of the way but not before sharp metal pierced his shoulder. The pain was immediate and intense, the cut deep and blood flowing down his arm like a torrent. He gritted his teeth, his mind reeling from the sudden attack. The man took one st look at Aric, his eyes filled with a mix of fear and determination, before sprinting away.

  He’s headed for the town’s square! Does he think he can lose himself in the crowd? It’s too te for that. I can find him anywhere.

  Aric thought, a surge of adrenaline pushing him to act despite the throbbing pain in his shoulder. Aric clutched his shoulder, feeling the warm, sticky blood seep through his fingers. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay focused. He couldn’t let the man get away, not after everything that had happened. Annabelle’s safety depended on it. With a determined grimace, Aric pushed himself forward, his vision blurring slightly from the pain. Each step was a struggle, but his resolve kept him moving. He followed the man’s path, his eyes locked on the dark figure weaving through the narrow streets.

  The town’s square was bustling with activity, the te-night market still in full swing. Vendors called out their wares, and people milled about, unaware of the silent chase happening among them. Aric’s quarry slipped into the crowd, but Aric was determined not to lose him. Ignoring the pain, Aric quickened his pace, his eyes scanning the throng of people. He caught glimpses of the man as he ducked and weaved, trying to disappear among the townsfolk. Aric’s breath came in short, sharp bursts, each one sending a fresh wave of agony through his shoulder.

  He pushed through the crowd, his focus razor-sharp. The world around him seemed to blur, the noise and chaos fading into the background as he honed in on his target. The man gnced over his shoulder, his expression one of panic as he realised Aric was still on his tail. Summoning every ounce of strength, Aric closed the distance, his steps fueled by sheer determination. The man’s movements grew more frantic, his desperation clear. Aric knew he had to end this now, before the situation spiralled further out of control. The man had run into a small alleyway, not far from where Aric and Annabelle were living.

  This good-for-nothing was trying to get back to Annabelle. This-

  With a final burst of speed, Aric lunged forward, his hand closing around the man’s arm. The man yelped, trying to break free, but Aric’s grip was unyielding. He pulled the man back, spinning him around to face him.

  “You’re not going anywhere,” Aric growled, his voice low and filled with menace. The man’s eyes widened in fear, his escape attempt thwarted.

  Blood continued to drip from Aric’s shoulder, but he ignored the pain, focusing solely on the man before him. He had to make sure this was the end of the threat to Annabelle, no matter the cost to himself. But before he could do anything about this man, he received a hit straight to his shoulder. Aric’s vision blurred, and he could taste the metallic tang of blood in his mouth. His knees buckled, unable to support his weight as the agony overwhelmed him. He crumpled to the ground, the cold, hard surface unforgiving against his skin. Gasping for breath, he struggled to maintain consciousness, each heartbeat sending fresh waves of pain through his body.

  “Fuck”

  He had to get up. The man was going to get away. He was trying to get to Annabelle, and there was no way that Aric would ever allow that. His wife will never see his face again. Never. It took all of his willpower, his strength, to push himself off the ground. His nails dug into the ground with the sheer effort it took to raise himself up.

  The man had been standing there, watching as Aric colpsed. He assumed that the worst of it was over and was wondering what to do with the body. His eyes widened as he saw Aric getting up slowly. No. With no other thought in his mind, he took off running towards the ball of light in the distance.

  Annabelle’s house. She must be....

  Aric wasted no time as he steadied himself, forcing his battered body upright. Pain throbbed through his shoulder, sharp and relentless, each pulse a reminder of the wound he carried. But pain was nothing compared to the urgency cwing at his chest. He shoved it aside, teeth clenched, driven by the need to pursue the fleeing figure. His breath tore from his lungs in quick, ragged bursts as he plunged into the woods, the night air thick with smoke and the acrid scent of burning timber. Branches shed against his arms, thorns tore at his sides, leaving thin trails of blood across his skin. He ignored the sting, his focus narrowed to a single point, the man ahead, the one who had stolen everything. His boots pounded against the earth, each step a drumbeat of desperation, until the trees broke apart and he stumbled into the clearing.

  And there it was. His house. Or what had been his house.

  Aric froze, his chest heaving, his eyes wide as he watched fmes engulf the pce he had called home. The fire roared like a living beast, devouring wood and stone, painting the night sky in violent shades of red and orange. Sparks leapt upward, carried by the wind, while smoke billowed thick and bck, choking the air. His heart hammered against his ribs, disbelief crashing over him in waves.

  “My love…”

  The words slipped from his lips, trembling, broken, as the inferno consumed everything. He would have rushed forward without hesitation, would have thrown himself into the fire to reach her, but the man was suddenly upon him, seizing his colr and dragging him down with brutal force.

  “You don’t get to save her. You don’t ever get to have her.”

  The venom in those words ignited something primal in Aric. Rage surged through him, hot and blinding. The two men collided in a savage struggle, their bodies crashing against the earth, their breaths ragged, their movements desperate. The csh echoed through the clearing, a brutal rhythm of fists, snarls, and the scrape of boots against dirt.

  Aric’s face twisted with determination, his eyes burning with fury as he fought to break free. In the chaos, his hand struck the man’s belt, and the bde, the same bde that had already cut him, slipped loose. It cttered to the ground, slick with blood, gleaming in the firelight. Instinct surged through him. Aric snatched it up, the cold steel biting into his palm, blood smearing across his skin like a brand. The man staggered back, suddenly unarmed, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and defiance. The air between them thickened, heavy with tension, every second stretching into eternity. Aric raised the knife, the edge hovering a breath away from the man’s throat, his rage demanding release. His muscles trembled, his breath came in harsh gasps, and for a moment it seemed inevitable that the bde would fall, the fight would end in blood.

  But then, soft, fragile, almost drowned by the roar of the fmes, he heard it. A voice.

  “Help…”

  It was faint, but it was hers. The sound pierced through the haze of fury, cutting deeper than any wound. Aric’s grip faltered, his focus wavered, and for a heartbeat, the fire, the enemy, the pain, all of it blurred. His heart lurched, torn between vengeance and salvation, between the man before him and the voice calling from the fmes.