Hidden Beast

38. The Close Call

Ruby

He blinked confused at me, like he didn't understood why I asked. Was it so weird that I wanted to know if it actually was something likeable about me?

"Well you're...intelligent, strong, beautiful, independent..." he began, like he actually thought about what he liked with me. Was that really true?

I stared at him in awe as he continued listing up things he thought about me, mostly synonymous but still compliments. Did he really think this about me?

"You're of high rank and...its not impossible but you know what I mean...it's impressive to be in your position as a young woman" he said deep in thoughts, he didn't even notice me as I shuffled closer.

Unable to stop myself I pressed closer and he snapped out of his dreamlike trance and when he realized what he had said he blushed and looked down at his hands.

"Jasper?" I breathed against his face. We where so close now, why couldn't he just look at me?

"Do...do you really think all those things about me?" I asked him, I needed to know. I wanted to know what he really thought.

He gulped as I waited for him to talk, I wouldn't let him out if this one. "O-Of course...why wouldn't I? I-It's true" he said, his cheeks making the color of deep red.

Happiness flooded trough me and I couldn't keep away the smile, somehow hearing that from him made me extremely happy.

My eyes almost started to tear up, all my life I had had to listen to people telling me how I couldn't do this and that because I'm a girl or because I'm young.

I had heard I was a monster and didn't deserve to live as I did or even be alive, I had never heard things like this from anyone other than my father and the foggy memories of my mother.

Parents always said that but why would Jasper say that? It clearly embarrassed him, what would he win by tricking me? Could it really be true he really thought so?

"Ruby?" Jasper asked, concern filling his voice. I shook my head as I returned to reality, I must have gotten caught up in my thoughts.

"Yes Jasper?" I said, he gulped nervously and that's when I noticed we where still very close to each other. Our noses was practically touching.

"Umm...." he mumbled and gulped again. His eyes almost crossed as I was too close and I nearly giggled at how he looked.

"What is it you want Jasper?" I said teasingly. He immediately blushed as I had wanted and that combined with the eyes made him look funny and a bright smile tugged at my lips.

"Whatever you want Jasper...tell me" I said suggestively and gave him a michevious smile.

He didn't seem to notice he leaned closer but I didn't have him the time to pull back as I closed the distance between us and pressed my lips against his soft ones.

He just sat completely limp and surprised but then he relaxed against me and wrapped an arm around my waist to pull me closer.

His tongue plunged into my mouth as he let it explore and my mind swirled as I was dizzy by the feeling of him.

I almost giggled at his forwardness when he acted like a little kid exploring a completely new area, maybe this was new area to him?

The thought made my toes curl but I was still laughing to myself when his other hand began playing with my hair, I would never have guessed a shy guy like him would be like this and it was funny to see a new side of him.

Suddenly I got an uneasy feeling like I was being watched and then I didn't mean the wolves rolling around in the grass before us but I felt a human presence.

Frowning into the kiss I began to think of the watches and guards that patrolled this part of the forest at this time, no one.

Not at this time in this part. No one should be here so why did I felt like we weren't alone anymore.

The feeling was soon forgotten when Jasper pushed a little to much and made me fall onto my back into the green grass.

He fell on top of me and pulled back some seconds to give us both time to breath. I laughed a little and he joined in bit then I got impatient with desire and pulled him back to me again.

A twig snapping in the woods made me stiffen and this time he pulled away from me with a frown.

Something was in the woods but I couldn't see it. My dizzy mind couldn't really clear any thoughts so what I did was follow my instincts and push Jasper behind me and place myself between him and the unknown threat in the woods.

I feel the beast inside me pushing forward so I would be able to see into the dark forest and distinct the threat, I wanted to protect Jasper but then real thoughts began to push through and I pushed my beast back inside and tried to contain my instinct to shift.

Not with Jasper too close, he could get hurt and maybe we weren't even threatened.

Jasper

I had no idea what was going on. The first second we was making out and I was drowning in bliss and the next Ruby stiffened and began acting weird.

Like a predator protecting it's prey against another predator. Or an animal mother protecting it's vulnerable offspring.

But that was animal instinct, not human so why did she act like that? She looked exactly like Kaden when he protected Sheila and the cub.

She was crouched low and held a firm hand onto my chest as she held me protectively behind her.

She stared into the dark forest on something I didn't see, could she even see it? It was daytime but the forests canopy was too thick to let any light trough.

I saw her clenching her fists and she was shaking, Her whole body was vibrating like she would soon explode or something.

Just as I was about to ask her what was wrong when nothing had happened she shoot up to her feet and ran to the forest.

She disappeared into the dark, I could only see the outer treeline as the trees stood so close to each other here, untouched.

After some seconds she returned and passed me without saying a word. Confused I hurried after her, the wolves that had noticed something was wrong followed in my footsteps.

"Ruby? What happened? What's wrong? Where are we going?" I asked her confused as I wanted to nlknow what was happening.

She whirled around to me and I almost crashed in to her rich meant that I stopped really close to her.

"Something was watching us, someone was there" she said and my blood ran cold.

What if someone thought I was using her to get help in the competition? I would get disqualified and father would kill me but worst of all, I would be send home and that meant no more Ruby.

From the beginning I hated this place and wanted nothing more than to leave but know with Ruby here I never wanted to leave, that wouldn't be possible but I still wanted as much time with her as I could.

We stepped into the castle and she quickly called a guard name to get his attention.

When he reached us Ruby quickly changed into her Captain role "Take Sir. Hamill to his room. I have things to do and I don't want to be disturbed by abyone" she said hurriedly and he nodded.

I noticed that something was off with her tone but he didn't seem to notice. She had already left when I figured out what had been wrong, she had sounded...worried.

When the guard gestured me to follow him I fell into step behind with the wolves hot on my tail as I pondered about what had happened in such a short time.

What had happened? Why had Ruby reacted so weird? Who or what had been in the forest? What would happen now?

I knew one thing, I was going to find out the answers to my questions.