The Life I Didn't Know I Wanted (Under Editing)

Chapter 2

The scarred man hit the ground with a bone-crunching thud, but Xander didn't stop. His massive frame loomed over the limp body, fists pounding down with brutal, relentless force. The sound of flesh meeting flesh was sickening, each strike punctuated by guttural growls that barely sounded human.

"She's mine!" Xander roared, his voice raw with fury. Blood sprayed from the scarred man's face, his features unrecognizable under the assault.

I couldn't look away. My breaths came in short gasps, my body trembling as I clutched at my wounded thigh. Blood seeped through my fingers, warm and sticky, pooling beneath me. Pain lanced up my leg with every movement, but fear kept me rooted in place. I couldn't outrun him. I couldn't escape.

"Enough!" a voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding.

Two figures emerged from the trees, their steps deliberate but wary. The first man was sandy-haired, his face drawn with tension, while the second, darker and more imposing, exuded an air of quiet authority. Both of them froze at the sight in front of them.

"Xander!" the sandy-haired man called, his voice rising above the growls. "Stop! He's dead!"

Xander didn't falter. His fists continued to land with brutal precision, the lifeless body beneath him convulsing under the force. His shoulders heaved with every blow, his growls deepening.

"Xander, he's already dead!" the darker man barked, stepping forward cautiously. "You've done enough! She's bleeding out!"

The words hit like a slap. Xander froze mid-strike, his fists hovering over the man's broken body. Slowly, he turned, his coal-black eyes locking onto mine. His chest rose and fell with labored breaths, blood dripping from his knuckles. The rage on his face flickered, replaced by something sharper. Fear.

"She's bleeding," Xander muttered, his voice low and strained. His gaze dropped to my thigh, where my hands were pressed against the wound. His lips curled back into a snarl, and he shot a glare at the scarred man's remains as if the sight enraged him all over again. "He hurt her."

"Xander." The darker man stepped closer, his tone steady but firm. "She's human. You're scaring her. Let us handle this."

"No!" Xander's growl echoed through the clearing, primal and unrelenting. He moved to block the two men, his stance wide and protective. "No one else touches her. She's mine!"

"You're not helping her by doing this," the sandy-haired man said, his voice softening. "She's terrified of you."

"She's dying!" Xander snapped, his black eyes blazing. "I won't let her die."

"She won't," the darker man said, his tone clipped. "But only if you calm the hell down. Right now, you're not helping anyone."

Xander's breathing slowed, his gaze flickering between me and the two men. His fists unclenched, though his posture remained rigid. "She needs me," he said finally, his voice trembling. He turned back to me, his expression a mixture of desperation and something almost... tender.

I flinched when his eyes met mine. "Don't touch me," I rasped, shaking my head weakly. My body trembled as panic clawed at me. "Please. Just don't."

Xander knelt, his massive frame bringing him closer. "You're bleeding," he said, his voice quieter now, though the edge of possessiveness remained. "I need to stop it."

I scooted back, but my strength was failing fast. "No!" I gasped, my voice cracking. "Stay away from me!"

His jaw tightened, and his black eyes flickered with a storm of emotion. "You're scared of me," he murmured, almost to himself. "I'm not going to hurt you. I would never hurt you."

His hand reached out, hesitating in midair as if unsure whether to close the distance. I wanted to slap it away, to scream at him to leave me alone—but my body betrayed me. My vision swam, the blood loss and pain making it harder to stay upright.

"Please," he whispered, his voice breaking. "Let me help."

When his fingers finally brushed against my arm, I recoiled, but something strange happened. The moment his hand made contact, my trembling stopped. The fear gripping my chest eased, replaced by a calm that didn't feel like my own. My breathing slowed, unnatural but steady. My body seemed to relax into his touch, even as my mind screamed at me to resist.

"What... what are you doing to me?" I choked out, tears slipping down my cheeks. My fear hadn't left—I still wanted to run, to scream, to fight—but I couldn't. My body refused to listen.

"I'm not doing anything," Xander murmured, his voice low and pained. His hand moved to my back, supporting me gently as he shifted closer. "You're safe now."

"No," I whimpered, though the word sounded weak even to my ears. My head lolled against his chest, the warmth of his body enveloping me. The scent of earth and pine filled my senses, grounding me in a way that didn't make sense.

The adrenaline that had kept me going finally drained away, leaving me weak and disoriented. The pain in my leg flared again, a searing reminder of my injury. My breaths came slower now, my eyelids heavy.

"Stay with me," Xander said, his voice urgent. "Don't—don't leave me."

His arms tightened around me, and I managed to whisper one last broken word before the darkness pulled me under.

"Why...?"