I blinked my eyes, too shocked since Kenneth admitted it. Was it all about that? Sex? "But—"

"Look, Helena, what happened between us is nice, but it's time to end it."

I caught Kenneth's hand and shook my head. "No! We can fix it! Please give me more chances." I was to shocked to hear what he said. How could he say that?

"Helena, do you want to sleep with me?" Kenneth asked.

I couldn't say anything. After a while, I shook my head. "I-I can't." I stammered

"Can't or won't?"

"I …."

"Then there's no other way than to end this. Goodbye, Helena."

Kenneth walked away, but I grabbed his hand. "Please, don't do this to me, to us."

"There is no us anymore. I only had fun with you."

"You lie!" I gripped his hand and didn't want to let it go because if I did, he would no longer be mine.

"No, I don't!"

"Ken! Why are you so mean to me?" My tears were flowing down my cheeks. "I love you …."

"I'm sorry, babe, but I don't."

Kenneth pulled his hand harder, but I gripped it, and when he used full strength to pull his hand while I pulled in the opposite direction, my body was suddenly thrown to the barrier fence. Unfortunately, the barrier had a gap there. My body went straight through the opening, fell over the bridge, and went directly to the Moon River below.

I was gasping and moving my hands to get some air. "Help! I can't swim! Ken, help me!"

Kenneth screamed, "Oh, no! Helena! I can't swim either! What can I do?"

***

~ Ethan ~

I saw a woman drown, and the guy on the bridge only saw that and did nothing. He said he couldn't swim. Though he couldn't swim, at least he should do something to save her. What a coward!

I removed my shirt immediately, threw it to the floor, then jumped straight to the Moon River. Then I swam right through the woman, swept away already by the current. Since the water flow was strong, her body was almost drowning. Fortunately, the Moon River's water was clean, so I could see her better. I swam faster and finally caught her on time. Unfortunately, she drank a lot of water and couldn't breathe.

"I got you!" I said, then swam to the riverside and pulled her body. She was unconscious, and her face was pale. I patted her chest. "Breathe!"

Since she didn't react, I patted her back too. There was no movement at all, so I did CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) to save her. First, I placed my hands interlocked on her chest, then pressed her chest. Later, I opened her mouth and breathed into it. I smelled her fragrance.

The wolf inside me screamed loudly in my mind, "Mate!"

I should have recognized her as my mate faster if I weren't worried about her safety. Also, the river's water wrapped her body, and the smell covered it well.

"Come on! Breathe! I won't let you die like this, mate."

She remained on the ground, unmoving. So, I continued doing CPR. When I opened her mouth again and breathed into her mouth, she weakly opened her eyes. Finally, she choked, letting out some swallowed water.

"Finally!" I closed my eyes and shook my head as I immediately felt something different when I stared at Helena's face. My heartbeat was so fast since I knew it was the first time I had met my mate. A jolt in my heart was new. I had never felt it before.

When the woman opened her eyes, she coughed a few times. Then she stared at me, blushing to see my sturdy body with six-pack abs in front of her. Later, she widened her eyes and reached out her hand. "Thank you for saving me."

I could hear her heartbeat racing, and she couldn't look away. She wondered why she felt so different about me, the man she had just met. Her mind also said I might be his future spouse.

"Don't think about that!" I said.

She gasped, too shocked with my tone. "What do you mean? Don't think about what?"

I sighed as I realized how harsh my tone was. "Never mind. Forget it. What's your name?"

"Helena Starr. What's your name?"

"Ethan Cross."

"Ethan," Helena repeated my name. "Suitable name for a strong man like you."

"Thank you." I raised my hand, wanting to stroke Helena's hair, but I stopped midway. "Are you alright now?"

"I'm okay." But when Helena stood, she winced. "Aw!"

"What's wrong?"

"My feet and waist are in pain. I hit the barrier fence before falling into the river." Helena lowered her stare and endured the pain. "Don't worry. I'll call my mother, and she'll pick me up."

I scooped Helena into my arms as if I only carried a lightweight thing. She was too skinny. "No need. Let me tend to you first. My place isn't too far from here."

Helena stared at me, and I couldn't help but smile because I could read her mind. Helena liked me and thought I was such a handsome guy. Yet she hid other thoughts about me.

"What?"

"Nothing." Helena blushed and sighed.

Though Helena wasn't a short woman at approximately 5'7", my 6'3" height made her tiny in my arms. When I reread her mind, she thought how nice my body was and wanted to touch me. I took a deep breath. "Stop it!"

Helena raised her head to meet my hot stares. "Did I say something?"

"No, but your eyes said what's inside your head." I sighed. I could read Helena's mind since I was her mate and a werewolf. We could read our mates and connected with each other's mind.

"Oh? What was I thinking back then?"

I sighed and shook my head. "Are you sure you want me to say it out loud?"

"You don't have to say it aloud, but you can whisper it in my ear."

So, I did what she asked. I whispered in her ear, "You want me, don't you?"

She gasped because of my direct statement. "What?!"

~ Helena ~

"Admit it." Ethan's smile showed on his lips. "Do you realize you're like an open book? Your eyes tell everything inside your head."

"B-but …."

"You like my body and want to touch it. No need to be shy." A statement, not a question.

"Are you a mind reader?" I worried he could read my mind. But, oh, what did I think before? Did he know I admired his handsome face and fantastic body? I blushed again. It would be embarrassing if he knew that.

He stared at me, then tried to avoid answering my question. "It's so obvious. You want me."

Again, a statement, not a question. It was another bold one, like the previous statement. I was speechless. What could I say? What Ethan said was the truth after all. Yet I was too shy to admit it. "Ethan?"

"Repeat it."

"Ethan?" I repeated his name. "Why?"

Ethan smiled. "Nothing. I love hearing you say my name. It sounds so good to hear it from your mouth."

"Oh! You're teasing me!" I pouted. "You're mean. You know I'm in a weak state, but you take advantage of my situation and tease me."

"Helena Starr."

I stopped when he mentioned my full name. "Yes?"

"Your name is appropriate since your blue eyes shine brightly like stars."

It was unexpected, so I bent my head and blushed again. "Oh, thank you." If he kept saying sweet things like that, how could I survive? My heart, oh, my heart, I was in danger!

"Your hair is beautiful too, long and soft." Then he whispered, "I can imagine your hair is unraveled on my pillow, then curled on my fingers. It will be like golden silk." He bent forward to kiss my hair. "Sweet fragrance. Rose?"

"Yes …." I was sure my cheeks, ears, and neck were now red. My heartbeat was racing. Ethan's boldness in saying seductive words provoked me more than I could think possible. I could imagine what he said, and suddenly, my curiosity increased. What did it feel like to lay beside him?

Then Ethan held my body with an arm. He raised his hand to my lips, touched my lips slowly, and stared at the lips. "Such delicate and beautiful lips, like a tender pink rose." His voice was hoarse. Then he touched my lips with his thumb. "Waiting to be touched and kissed."

As if he couldn't hold himself, his face was closer and captured my lips with his. Finally, he kissed me tenderly, and I closed my eyes.

"Such sweet lips. I can taste them until the day I die," he murmured.

"Don't talk about death."

"Why not?"

"Since we just met. We have a lot of days in front of us."

Then Ethan's stare was suddenly cold as if a bucket of icy water were thrown at his head. "No, we don't. After you recover, we won't meet again."

I gasped upon hearing those words. I thought Ethan had accepted me, considering how he praised my hair and lips, touched my lips, and then kissed me. My lips were trembling, and I bit my lower lip so I wouldn't cry. "B-but why?"

"Don't ask about it." Ethan sighed. He looked away and kept walking away from me.

I couldn't help myself not to cry. I shed tears because of the hurt I felt in my heart. I had put my hope high, only to be dropped again. When I sniffed, Ethan glanced at me.

"Hey, don't cry. I'm sorry, okay?"

"Why are you so mean to me?" I sobbed. "You praised me, then kissed me. You gave me hope, and then you smashed it again. I thought you had realized there was something between us."

"Stop it!" Ethan said abruptly. "You don't know what you said."

I shook my head. "What?! I only tell you what I feel inside."

"Don't! You don't know that you'll get hurt because of that!"

I gaped and stared at Ethan. "What did you say?"

"Forget it!"

"No, I can't forget it. You said that I'd get hurt. Why?"

Ethan growled. "Don't force me to do a harsh thing to you."

"Like what? You have done it anyway."

"What do you mean?" he frowned while staring at me.

"You made me have a high hope, then crushed it instantly. What else can you do to hurt me?"

Ethan groaned. "You don't know what you're dealing with. I'm trying to protect you!"

"From what?!"

"I can't tell you!"

I let out a sigh and shook my head again. It didn't make sense. "You're only trying to toy with me. Just like my ex." I looked down and wanted to weep again.

"Your ex? The scumbag who only looked when you drowned?"

I nodded.

"It's good you broke up with him. You'll be better without him." Ethan stared at me with a tender look. Later, he smiled and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. Ethan looked so handsome when smiling like that. Well, he was handsome, smiling or not. "You'll find a better man."

"Kenneth was my first love, my first boyfriend. I thought he loved me." I snuggled my head on Ethan's shoulder and neck then sighed again. "I have found him, a man I want, yet he doesn't want me," I whispered, wishing he would understand he was the one I meant.

Ethan said nothing, yet his breath was faster. After a while, we finally arrived at his villa. He carried me inside.

"Oh, it's yours?"

"Yes."

"It's beautiful."

Ethan nodded. "Thank you." He brought me to a room and laid me on the bed. "I'll pick a bandage and balm for your feet and waist first."

I lay down on the bed alone while thinking about the situation. Then I wept again. It hurt that Kenneth broke up with me after cheating on me. Then meeting Ethan, I felt something strong with him, but he also rejected me. It was like pouring acid on my open wound.

Ethan entered the room and saw me cry. "Hey, do your feet and waist hurt badly? Don't worry. I'll tend to them."

I sobbed. "It hurts, but here—" I placed my hand on my chest "—it hurts more."

~ Ethan ~

I sighed. It hurt me to hear Helena sobbing. So I pulled Helena into my lap and hugged her. "Poor girl. You don't need such a wimp beside you. Trust me! You'll be better without him." I patted her back. "You're such a beautiful girl. Any man will be lucky to have you."

Helena then stared at me while still crying. "Including you?"

"Not me."

Then she sobbed again. "Even my savior rejected me."

"It's just …."

"What?" She glanced at me again.

"Forget it! You'll be better without me either. Trust me!"

"No! You saved me. Then you talked sweetly with me. Then, you finally wanted to help me tend my wound." She smiled in the middle of her tears. "You're a good man. But you don't want me."

"It's not true!"

"Really?" She widened her eyes. "So you want me. But then, why do you push me away?"

"I wish I could explain it to you."

"Try me. I'll listen."

I scratched my head. It was so frustrating in this situation. "I wish I could have you. There's nothing I want rather than to have my mate beside me."

"Mate? What do you mean?"

I shook my head. "Forget it."

"Mate? What do you mean by mate?" Helena stared at me with her big blue eyes. "I don't understand why you repeatedly send on and off signals. Is it because you don't like me? Is it because I'm too skinny for your liking?"

"No, you're perfect."

She blushed and smiled a little. But then, she frowned. "But you don't want me. Tell me why? At least, I need to know. If it's something I can change—"

I interjected immediately, "I have told you. In my eyes, you're perfect."

"Then why?"

"Oh, for goodness sake, leave it, Helena! Okay?"

"No, it's not okay! How can I be okay when anyone rejects me?" Helena sobbed again. "No, not anyone but you. I feel it. I feel something I can't explain inside. But now, it hurts so much!"

"Gosh!" I pulled her into my embrace. Then I stroked her hair. "I wish it didn't have to be this way. I wish it could be different." I sighed. "There's nothing I want more than meeting my mate and spending the rest of my life with her."

Helena sniffed; her eyes showed a deep confusion. "Mate? What do you mean?"

I sighed, refusing to reply her questions. "But I can't, and I can't tell you why. It's better this way for you. If you know more, you'll be hurt more." Then I kissed her hair. "The last thing I want is to hurt you."

"You have already hurt me. The question is, why don't you tell me the reason?"

I took a deep breath. "We can go on and on and on, but I'll not tell you anyway." Then I took Helena's feet. "Let me give balm to your feet and your waist. After that, you should rest."

She was finally quiet and let me take care of her. She winced when I touched her feet. "Does it hurt badly?"

"Yes."

"Don't worry. I'll be more gentle."

I placed some balm on Helena's feet and started rubbing a little.

"Argh!"

"Hold the pain. You'll feel better later."

I touched the feet and rubbed them again. "At least, no bone fractures. It may be only sprained muscles. You'll be alright after resting for a few hours." Then I massaged Helena's feet more.

Helena bit her lower lip.

After a while, I glanced at her. "Open your dress."

"Why?" She blushed.

"Because I need to give the balm to your waist. Also, your dress is wet. It will make you ill to keep wearing it."

"Oh, I thought—"

"Trust me, having you for myself is crossing my mind too. But I'm not a barbarian like that. You are hurt right now. So, if I want to take you for myself, it must be when you are healthy."

Helena's face, ears, and neck were all red. "You're teasing me."

"No, I'm not. I'm merely stating the fact."

Helena sighed. She peeled her wet bolero and placed it on the table next to the bed. Helena tried to reach her zip on the back, but then, she let out a frustrated voice.

"Helena? What's wrong?"

Helena sighed. She turned her body, so her back faced me now. "Could you help me with the zip? My arms feel weak. It's difficult for me to open it."

I lowered the zip slowly. I gulped when I looked at how glowing and soft Helena's white skin on my hands. It was a huge temptation to have her, so I took a deep breath to calm myself. But unfortunately, it was a big mistake. Her sweet rose fragrance immediately filled my nose, and the wolf inside me wanted to grab and have Helena instantly.

With all the remaining self-control I had, I clenched my teeth. Then, finally, I finished opening the zip completely. "Done! Undress now. You can wrap yourself with a blanket while I dry your clothes."

Helena undressed and turned her back so I could only look at her bare body from behind. I took her dress, walked outside the room, and gave the dress to my maid.

Afterward, I returned to my room. Helena had already covered herself with the blanket. Then I approached her and touched her waist.

She squealed. "Aw!"

"Does it hurt so bad?"

"Yes." She grimaced and bit her lower lip.

"Poor girl." Then I peeled the blanket, caressed Helena's waist, and kissed it tenderly.

"E-Ethan, what are you doing?"

"Easing your pain."

"It's ticklish when you kiss my waist."

"Ah, you're sensitive on your waist. I see." I grinned. This piece of information was important.

"What?"

"Nothing." I smiled. Then I started rubbing the balm on Helena's waist. After finishing with the back waist, I said, "Turn your body."

"Uh, can you just reach my waist from behind?"

"I need to check if there are any bruises."

Helena gulped, then she turned her body with a crimson face. I glanced at her body and took a deep breath. Helena looked like an angel—a tempting angel. Her body, though skinny, was in good shape. I gulped again since I wanted to feel her body.

"You're flawless." My voice was hoarse. "You're perfect. Do you realize that?"

Helena's face was getting redder. "But it's useless if you don't want me either," she muttered and didn't want to look at my eyes.