CHAPTER 4
The dreams invaded Selena’s mind again. This time, it took place at the waterfall where they were
cornered by wolfs except there were a swing hanging not too far from the waterfall and Selena was
swinging on it. White chiffon dress and long flowing hair and a heart stealing smile on her face as she
looked at the waterfall. The same man was standing behind her, pushing her swing. The same soft and
soothing flute sound came along the wind. It lasted for a long time. Then the swing stopped by a pair of
hands and the hands traveled up to cup her chin from behind and lifted her head up. A soft lip planted a
kiss on her forehead.
“Mine…” Selena chuckled with the repeated word. She stood up from the swing, walked around to him
and laid her head on his chest. As a reflex, he hugged her over her arms, one hand over the back of
her head, playing with hair strands.
“Are you going to say that every night to me? ” Selena voice was low and pitiful
“Hmm mmm” he nodded
“When are you going to show me yourself?” Selena looked up to his eye, a chocolate eye that is not
too dark or too light, somewhere like bronze. Bedazzled by the eye, she kept looking deep into it,
casting away self-awareness, submitting herself completely to it.
“When the time comes, my love…” he held her chin to kiss but Selena jerked back, biting her lower lip
with a smirk at the corner. She parted from him and walked towards the waterfall. There she looked
back to him while unzipping her dress from behind. She stripped to two piece and slowly walked into
the cold water. When she was settled, she ran a palmful of water over her face. A pair of large hand are
holding her shoulders from behind. She turned around to face him, awkwardly blushing as he leaned
forward to kiss her by the lips. The familiar warmth engulfed, blinding her. He playfully bites her lower
lips making her gasp. She could feel a smirk against her skin. It was a trick to make her open her lips.
Taking the opportunity, he surged his tongue into the now slightly ajar mouth. His tongue exploring
every inch of her mouth, making her shrug her shoulder to withhold the tickling sensation it created.
She woke up again to birds chipping but this time it was a bit late. Around 8.30 am. She recalled the
eye from the dream. Is he revealing bits and pieces of himself? Is he real and bound to show up
sometime soon? Or is it some sort of subconscious memory resurfacing to torture her? She had no
definite answer but one thing for sure, she is having her first crush with a man, from her dreams. She
covered her face with her palm and smiled to the thought.
After she got ready, she came out of the room with Jewel. They could only find Bohemian themes
dresses at the mountain foot. Selena was wearing a spaghetti strap, colorful full length dress and her
hair was loose. They were busy chatting when she looked up to see Orion leaned against wall, hint of
admiration in his chocolate eyes with a gentle smile on his lips. Wait, chocolate eyes? Selena just
noticed that Orion also has chocolate eyes. Selena’s facial expression changed to a dead pan. Her
eyes kept darting between his two eyes in doubt. Then he waved his palm in front of her face, making
her snap from daze.
“Let’s go for breakfast” her guided them further deep behind the house where an opening with thick
wooden frame led them to a vast dining hall. An elegant woman with straight silver hair sat on the
furthest end of the wooden dining table. Orion walked straight to her. She was wearing a light blue long
shapeless dress.
“Selena, I would like to meet Mrs Ruth Black, Zaden’s beloved mother”. She stood up as she stretches
her hand to shake Selena’s. She has the aura of a queen and anyone would feel small next to her.
“Nice to meet you mam, I’m Selena and this is my friend Jewel” she pointed at the thin figure next to
her
“Please, just Ruth. Zaden briefed me about you and your friends but I didn’t expect for such a dazzling
beauty. Please have a sit” she said with absolute politeness. Orion pulled a chair on her left to sit while
Selena pulled the next one beside him
“Orion, darling. Would you mind moving to the other chairs? I would like for Selena to sit here” Orion
scowled at her as he moved behind Selena and Selena moved forward with hesitation. Ruth slowly
blinked at her as encouragement, and she sat down there.
“Is he angry?” Selena whispered to Ruth
“Oh, dear. Ignore him. He is just too jealous but will completely forget it once the blueberry muffin is
served” her comment made Selena chuckle and Ruth joined her. Zaden walked from the doorway
opening into the room, heads down while scratching his eyebrow with his thumb nail. He froze for a
moment, seeing the coziness between Selena and his mother, Ruth.
“ There is my handsome prince charming” Ruth acknowledged his presence, earning a head turn from
Selena to his direction. He focused on Selena with a cold expression as he walked to sit opposite her
or to the right of Ruth. The breakfast was served, and Selena ate while shuffling in her seat as she felt
uncomfortable from Zaden’s sharp gaze.
‘Is he really looking at me or am I imagining it? Only one way to find out’
After consulting her inner voice, she looked up from her plate to see Zaden’s chocolate eyes staring
directly at her and didn’t wince even after being caught by Selena. Wait, what? Another chocolate eyes.
It must be a common eye color around here or she is just being obsessed with mid tone, bronzy
chocolate eye. She brushed it off.
Orion, Jewel and Selena walked side by side with Orion in the middle towards outside
“Orion, can you bring us to the lake, the one that anyone can go fishing for dinner?” before Orion could
answer that, Jeffry grabbed their shoulders, 1 hand on Selena and another on Orion’s shoulder,
peeping through them
“And some fishing supplies?” he said with excitement. Oliver peeped on Orion’s other shoulder,
nodding excitedly. That’s settles it, they are going fishing.
Oliver whipped his fishing rod, throwing the cord to the water. It landed quite far away, and he seems to
know what he is doing. Selena decided to cook some fish the way she knows, to dinner today, since
she felt really bad not contributing yesterday. The girls took net and went into the water, missing their
balance and falling to the water once in a while but getting back up to their feet, laughing at their failure
and helplessness as they throw their net into water. Orion and Sultan sat on the bank, observing them.
Noah decided to sit back and enjoy the view behind Oliver and Jeffry. Orion’s eye focused on Selena
more than it should, tracing every curve that is visible due to wet dress now.
“You like her, don’t you?” Sultan’s gravelly voice shook him a little as he snapped his head to him.
When he realizes he had been admiring her all this time, he scrunched his nose as he rubbed his hand
behind his neck, turning his face to the opposite side.
“You know it’s gonna be complicated, right? I mean, she is from city and probably don’t want to stay
here” Orion just nodded as he pursed his lips. Then he let out a sigh of frustration
“I can’t help it. She is exceptionally beautiful from any other girls I have dated before” Orion said. After
thinking for a while, Sultan replied
“Maybe if you get her to love you back enough, she will stay” Orion turned to him as he gave him a fist
bump. He then stood up and walked into the water to teach the girls how it’s actually done. He bent
down and held his hand ready. A fish came along and he remained as still as possible. When it was the
right time, he grabbed the fish as he wrestled to keep it contained. His muscles on his arm flexed but
he managed to catch one with bare hands.
“Now, your turn” Selena bent down in front of Orion, giving a clear view of her back. Orion’s eye quickly
darted indecently at her back. Jewel, Oliver and Jeffry caught his act too, glancing over each other with
million questions. A rather large fish came along to Selena’s feet. She grabbed it and pulled it out of the
water but she didn’t have enough grit to hold it, as the fish started slipping. Orion intervein and tried to
grab the fish but Selena was able to hug the fish to her body, the fish with all its strength still threaten to
jump out. Without realizing it, Selena was losing her balance due to the fish’s force, but Orion stretched
his arms around her and pulled her to his chest with the fish in between. Selena who was so focused
on the fish didn’t actually notice Orion’s arms around her but with this much of close proximity, Orion’s
eye darted at her lips that is smiling at the struggling fish, her squinting eyes when the fish sprinkled
some water. Selena’s friend felt awkward as they exchanged confused and rather alarmed expression.
Back at the brick house, Selena got a bath and changed into a dress and headed to the kitchen. On the
way, she came across Zaden and nodded at him with a smile.
“Hi” she motioned to the ladies at the kitchen.
“I need to cook some fish, can I know where the spices are?” they all pointed simultaneously towards a
cabinet. The fish was already cleaned and ready as Selena begin cooking. Soon, one by one, the
ladies cleared the space as their work is done. Selena carefully arranged the fish slice on to a grill pan,
turning them once in a while, fully focused on cooking. She turned away for a moment to slice lemons
when Zaden’s voice and a fish splattering came coherently, making her jump out of scare, cutting
herself in the process. Zaden quickly moved from her back to grab her hand in panic, spreading a
warmth to her hand, stirring something in her tummy. Her soft index finger is now oozing with blood.
Zaden looked around for tissue but he couldn’t find anything. He then focused back on the finger which
is dripping blood now. He bent his head slightly to grab the finger between his lips and sucked at it
hard. It hurt so much that Selena started jumping low at her spot as she wringed the other hand. Zaden
let go for a minute to observe the wound
“Hold still for a minute” he ordered making her stiff at her spot. He inspected her wound by touching it
and it started bleeding again. He quickly bends down to suck the finger. She shut tight her eye and
sucked in air, making a hollow at her throat as she placed her other hands against his chest, ready to
push him away if it gets unbearable. The sensation of his lips on her skin amplified to thousand times
when she closed her eye and practically all her senses. Soothing warmth with a slight movement of his
tongue once in a while. He seemed to be concentrated on her cut and nothing else. When he let go,
her heart whimpered at the loss of contact, and she blinked open her eye. He blew slightly on the cut
“Ok the bleeding stopped. Come” he instructed as he pulled her by her cut hand. Selena managed to
switch off stove before being dragged away.
“Sit” his voice was low and calm but then he manages to execute such dominance that Selena followed
without second thought. She climbed up a bar stool which made her taller than she is. Zaden grabbed
a first aid box under the sink and dabbed some alcohol on sponge before cleaning her cut, earning a
hiss from her. He glared at her face
“Do you always scare that easily?”
“Not always. Only when someone sneaks up to me” sensing the sarcasm in her tone, he pressed on
the cut a little bit harder, making her pull her hand away with a ‘arghhh’ and started blowing onto her
cut. He felt softened and sorry for her and grabbed her hand softly, pulled it towards him again as he
continued his treatment, applying antibiotic and wrapping it with bandage
“Now what?” he thrust his hands into his pocket before questioning her
“What?” Selena asked in confusion. He nudged his head towards the stove. Selena realized she left
the cooking in midway. She slides off the stool
“Thanks” she said as she walked back to the stove.
“Do you need any help?” the dark hair, masculine figure now in black V-neck t-shirt and light blue jeans
followed her slowly from behind, hands still thrust into pocket.
“It’s ok. The cut is not that bad” Selena switched on the stove. Zaden came to stand next to her,
earning a confused look as she scanned him from top to bottom back to top. A knife in his hand, slicing
lemons now. She chooses to keep quiet and continue with her chore.
“Have you cooked before?” Zaden asked not moving his eye from cutting board
“Occasionally” She replied simply. A moment of silence followed before Selena decide to ask a
question that has been tumbling in her for a while now
“Can I ask you something?” he nodded
“Aren’t you guys afraid of wo…” she paused and decided to use a different word “Wildlife around
here?” he frowned
“We have never been attacked before. Plus, wildlife tends to keep away from a spot that has signs of
frequent movements” he answered casually as he finished slicing lemon.
“What’s next” understanding he wanted to cut more, she pointed at a basket of asparagus by her other
side as her eyes remained on the fish. He reached to the basket, hands crossing her back as his nose
came close to her neck. He bit his lower lip at the sweet scent she is emitting. He managed to grab the
basket and return to his original position.
“Nice perfume” he said in a low and husky voice. Her eye looked up to his face and then back to the
fish
“Thanks…” and with that a conversation started rolling. Basic information exchanged. It seems like he
did study Business Management, he likes sports and not so interested in asparagus
“You should try some, you know, being open to possibilities” she said as she was pan frying asparagus
with some olive oil, garlic ginger,oregano and salt. He scrunched his face in disgust, making her let out
a low sigh.
“Sit” she pointed her spatula to the kitchen counter, as she picked up a small plate and placed a few
asparagus on it. He did as told with his arms crossed his chest. She handed him the plate as he picked
an asparagus, ate it and looked up, glaring at her. She rolled her eye and picked up a piece of fish with
cooking tongs and placed it on his plate. He broke a piece with his finger and was about to eat it, when
she stopped him
“What are you doing?” she shook her head irritatedly. She then squeezed some lemon on top of the
fish and placed a green, creamy sauce on the side of fish, took a fork, forked an asparagus and then a
small piece of fish, then slightly dipping the fish in the sauce, before bringing it near his mouth, feeding
him. He took a chewed before closing his eye and moaning softly, throwing his head up.
“Good huh?” she wiggled her eyebrow at him sarcastically with a smile. Her hands next to his thigh, on
the counter. He suddenly dropped his head, nose to nose with her
“Better then sex” he said low making her laugh.
“And that’s how, chief, you eat asparagus” she moved away from him. He continued cutting into the fish
while Selena went back to cooking
“Anyway, from what I have heard, nothing is better than sex” she said while flipping the fish. Zaden
frowned in confusion
“Wait…what? From what you HEARD?” he exaggerated the word heard. She nodded not paying
attention to him or possibly to what she is saying.
“Selena, are you a virgin?” she froze for a moment, thinking carefully her next reaction. She shrugged
“Oh my god….” He exclaimed with a laughter.
“Ofhh shut up” she threw a glare at him and proceed to boil water in a small pan. Zaden’s laughter
slowly faded. They continued conversing, while she kept placing asparagus or fried potato wedges, or
bacon on his plate. He didn’t stop her and just kept talking while eating. In a few moments, she took
something white from the boiling water, strained for a few second and placed it on his plate, seasoning
it with some salt and pepper
“What is this?” Zaden
“Poached egg” Selena. He cut into the egg and took a bite with good amount of yolk and enjoyed every
bit of it
“Can I get another one of this?” Selena obliged and made him another one. By the time he was done,
her friends came along, mentioning that the tables are all set and so did Selena with her fish. They then
carried all the trays she prepared to the buffet table before each took a plate and proceed to eat,
except for Zaden. He excused himself to check on his villagers. Selena was the last one to leave the
buffet when she was stopped by Orion and Makeala. Makeala was carrying a baby girl in her arms,
possibly 6 months or so. Selena soon learned that the baby was her own and Orion and Makeala are
siblings. When the baby became uncomfortable, she excused herself to feed her, leaving behind Orion
and Selena alone.
“So…love the fish” Selena smiled at his comment and before she could thank him, they heard Jeffry’s
voice from far. He was waving his hand, motioning Selena to come to them at an almost dark corner.
Without thinking much, Selena excused herself and walked to them
“Can you keep your distance from him, please” Jeffry whispered at her ears once she was close
enough. She rolled her eye
“What? I don’t like his vibe and the way he looks at you” the others looked at her with concern as if they
agree with him. Selena just shook her head with a smile
“Come on Selena, we don’t want our Bambi to be broken when we return” he said that out a bit loud
“Who is Bambi?” It was Zaden, standing behind Jeffry and Selena.
“Hmm… that’s Selena’s nickname back home. Ouch!!!” Jeffry just got kicked on the foot by Selena.
“Why Bambi?” Sitka joined him from god knows where
“Because she can melt any animal with her eye. She will tame them, make them do what she wants
just via her eye” Noah explained
“Any animal?” Now it was Xavier. Curious of who else was there, Selena turned her head to see the
whole ‘Zaden team’ behind her.
“I don’t see you eating, Chief” Noah asked with concern
“Hmm…I’m full. By the way, I don’t see any poached egg at the buffet. You forgot them or they finished
up too fast?” Selena and her friends exchanged a confused look
“I didn’t make any for the villagers, only two for you” Selena said. A tingle creeped up his neck, for no
reason, he felt happy that she cooked personally for him. The bacon wasn’t on the table, so she must
have cooked that for him to. A tiny smile bloomed on his lips
“That’s too bad. Zaden told us it was great, we were hoping to get a bite” Sultan finally spoke
“ I can make some in the morning, for breakfast” she answered with hesitation and they all
agreed.
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