I panted, trying to keep my eyes shut and relax. My breathing was finally catching a normal pace. I felt warmth despite how I was in wet clothes a while back. It felt so warm, as if I was wrapped in my own body heat with nothing wet on me. My brows creased before my eyes flew wide open. 

This did not feel right. There was a gentle breeze that touched my skin and… and… a hand around me!

I looked down and I was half-naked, only my burgundy underwear and slightly different shade bra. A muscular arm wrapped around my abdomen, veins bulging around the perfect cuts over the forearm. I scampered out of the hold and turned back to see Fang was lying there without his shirt, though his pant stayed on. “W-W-What are you doing?” I could feel my cheeks heating up as I covered myself, despite the few pieces of clothing still saving my dignity. 

Fang smirked before he raised his head while supporting it with his hand, elbow across the ground, “Did you never read about heat transfer?” 

“I am a werewolf,” I grunted, “I am perfectly capable of keeping myself warm.” 

Fang hummed before rolling onto his back, letting one of his arms rest under his head while the other over his chiselled abs. He let his eyes shut while breathing softly, his taut chest rising and falling in a rhythm. “You could have said that to yourself when you desperately clung to me for warmth,” Fang spoke nonchalantly. 

I squinted at him and point my finger, “That doesn’t give you the right to take off my clothes.” 

“Geez, little one, I was doing survival SOS,” Fang said before getting up, “Now it isn’t like I took advantage of the situation, did I?” He did not look his usual self but I wasn’t going to take this behaviour for the world. It was as good as taking advantage. “Now, if you are going to still accuse me of it,” Fang continued, “then I might as well be blamed for something I did.” A wicked smile twisted across his lips. Fang took a slow step towards me. 

“S-Stay away!” I screamed. It was then I observed Fang had kept the clothes right where we were asleep. I dodged him and dashed for my clothes.

Fang did not do anything to stop me, just turned to look at me. 

First things first, I wore my joggers, which Fang had brought for me yesterday. I had not got to change them today since Fang had brought me here on his own whim. I quickly grabbed the turtle neck skin fit top, which had shrunken in size and no matter how hard I tried to, it was really tough to get through my head because of the wetness. While I struggled, I felt Fang lift it from both sides and remove it. 

“Wear this,” He handed his black shirt for me to wear. I glared at him before snatching it out of his hold and putting it on.

This was really unacceptable, but for some reason, the uncontrolled pull which I felt before for Fang subsided. It was still there, but I felt it was easier to make the right choice. I buttoned the shirt and it almost looked like a one-piece on me. I still pulled up the joggers I had worn yesterday. Pulling the two ends of the shirt and tied them so it did not hang from my shoulders. Fang’s pecks glistened with the tiny water droplets which slid down his skin. 

“Let’s go,” I said while picking up my top, which had refused to fit a while back, and walked past Fang. 

Fang turned to look at my retreating form and cleared his throat. I did not pay attention to his little attention-seeking behaviour. In a few seconds, he caught up to me,”So, are you going to tell me what happened in there?” 

“I don’t know,” I replied.

“What does that mean?” Fang asked before he stopped, making me stop and turn to him. 

I looked back at the cave entrance and then back at him, “I…” No matter what I wanted to tell him, my brain could not fit the pieces. I sighed, “I don’t know Fang, there were so many voices. Let’s forget about it.” I started to walk again when Fang held my elbow and pulled me to stand in front of him again. He bent his neck more to look better at me. 

“If you tell me, then only I can understand,” Fang said, “Or maybe help you understand.”

I clicked my tongue in a mild irritation at myself, “Can’t you read my mind?”

Fang chuckled, “Last I remembered, you did not like me being inside you.” I narrowed my eyes at him and the smile on his face broadened, “On a second thought,” He took a step closer to me before lifting my chin so our eyes met, “I can assure you that’s one thing you will like the most.” 

“Really?” I exclaimed, “well too sad for me. I won’t be able to do it with you.”

Fang’s eyes went wide before he let go of my chin, the smile on his face still flattering as ever. “You have got quite bold,” he hummed.

I rolled my eyes, “So things are easier to be accepted as they are.” Fang raised one of his brows in question. I knew there were a lot of things that went through his mind but I clarified, “I cannot change the fact that you are my soulmate. We are naturally attracted to each other. Neither can I change the fact that you are an obnoxious pervert who is good at taking people in a pinch.” Fang’s lips twisted further with every word I uttered. I looked him in his black eyes before saying, “But here is the thing that also doesn’t change what I am going to do with my life.” 

Fang chuckled, throwing his head back. He had a hearty laugh before he stopped to pinch my cheek lightly, “Little one, you have grown up well. But that also does not change the fact that what I want is what I am going to get.” 

I shrugged, “You try for yourself and I… well I don’t even have to try.” 

“Hm, true,” Fang replied before he started walking and I matched my footsteps with his. Things looked easier after having accepted me and my reality, no matter bad or good. To be honest with myself, if things had been different, I wouldn’t have minded to actually take a chance with Fang despite his obnoxious colours. “Just for your kind information,” Fang said while still looking around, “I can still read your mind even though the thing that happened a while back is a dead end in your head.” 

“Dead end?” my brows furrowed, “I thought you could read anything in the memory.” 

Fang hummed, “I can, but it seems that part of your mind has a lock.” 

I chuckled at his ridiculousness. He looked at me seriously his face straight and untouched sharp features showing he was actually speaking the truth. My laughter slowly receded before I cleared my throat, “So like you need the key to the lock or something?” 

“You can just let me know. I don’t have enough time to hypnotise you into sleep and then invade your mind,” Fang suddenly pulled my wrist, taking me close to the stone wall of the pit, “We climb here.” 

My eyes took in the vastness of the stone wall. Great, so diving and mountain climbing in a single day. 

“There should be another way, Fang,” I said, as I turned to look at him for answers. He simply shrugged, followed by a hum. “What do you mean, hmm,” I snapped, “Are you really saying I have to climb this slippery stone-“

“We,” Fang corrected. 

I plastered a taunting smile, “no just me, you are a monkey, I am sure you must be good at this.” 

Fang smiled at me, “Well, yeah, I have climbed up a few times. There is other way, we can wait for this groove to fill up with water and then float for probably a month more before we can-” 

“Fine, fine, I get the point,” I rolled my eyes, turning back to face the stone and mud surface. 

I took a deep breath before I started climbing and after just four steps, I was at a loss as to where I should hold on next. “Maybe you should try reaching to the rock with your right leg,” Fang said and I turned to look to my right. There was a rock, yes, but it was almost at my chest height over that my grip wasn’t that strong. 

“I am sure it is a good idea,” I said, looking around to find something else. There was nothing else. I pushed myself up to hold on to another groove on the surface. However, it was pure mud and my hand slipped, throwing me off, “Ahhh.” 

My body landed in Fang’s arms, “You are throwing yourself at me now.” 

I squirmed to get down from his hold and straighten my dress, “If you know how to climb, go ahead.” 

Fang’s face fell at that proposition, “I was looking forward to enjoying the view from behind you.” 

“Fang!” I shouted. 

He chuckled, “Worry not little one. There is a better way on the left where I had a few groves a while back when I was here.” He started to run his hand over the surface. After a few steps, he stopped and checked the stone, “Here, if you climb from here you will find grooves to hold on to.” 

I folded my arms, “Yeah go ahead, I am not going first.” 

Fang could not help but smirk at me, “Alright, don’t blame me if I fall on you.”

“Yeah, sure,” I replied, “At least I won’t be looking at things when I climb up.”