Wild Bonds

The confrontation

Jinx shared a quick glance with Iris hearing the intruder's words just now.

They were both left confused and baffled.

" What do you mean?" Jinx shot her gaze back to face the intruder, and questioned with a deep frown. It was strange enough that he'd come knocking at their balcony, but it was even more off-putting when he started asking for help.

It left both Iris and Jinx thinking he's only acting after having been caught, and is only trying to stall for a chance to escape.

However, Jinx couldn't act too rashly either so she could only be observant and listen to him for now.

Regardless of whatever this man has to say, in any case, Jinx definitely wasn't going to buy into it if he dare try to plead to stay the night with them.

She'd definitely not hesitate to stab him. After all, there is no way she would allow that!

" Before I get to that, you need to know why and how I got here." Seeing that Jinx wasn't letting down her suspicion, the guy hurried to say. His voice was shaky and perturbed as he felt pressured to explain himself.

While he was speaking, Jinx noticed that he looked towards the walk-up staircase and the drainage pipe to indicate how he got up to their balcony. But even that required some extra-ordinary 'efforts' to climb.

' Just as I thought, he's not normal!' This was Jinx's first time encountering another werewolf in Paxton heights. And she felt that perhaps, he was also from Ravenpeak.

" I actually followed you two from the bar. Believe me, I mean no harm. I only have something to discuss with you guys. Just listen to what I have to say first, please..." The intruder begged once again, this time with his palms pressed forward as he spoke. The lightning strikes in the pattering rain that drenched them all, illuminated his face that conveyed a honest sincerity, which was also evident in his tone.

" B-but you could have come knocking at the door if you truly mean no harm?" Iris peeked from behind Jinx to voice out her suspicion. She had a deep scowl on her beautiful face at the moment. She just couldn't understand this intruder.

He made no sense!

Who the heck follows someone from their workplace just to approach them through their balcony? It sounds so bizarre!

"Heh! Nice try!" Jinx realizing that nothing this guy has said had justified the reason why he came knocking at their balcony door sneered and clenched the kitchen knife in her hands to stab the intruder,

" How am I supposed to find your room. I had to improvise!" the guy said in a hurried tone, afraid that if he didn't speak up he would lose his life.

Jinx who had stepped forward to stab at him regardless, suddenly paused hearing him. She seemed to fall in thought for a second, while still glaring at him suspiciously.

After a while, Jinx stepped back cautiously, giving the intruder the chance to escape," Leave now, and never return!"

Save for the fact that she didn't want trouble with the local police for having stabbed a burglar, Jinx could tell that he wasn't normal. And she feared that she might not be capable of fending this guy off with a mere kitchen knife. Not that Jinx wouldn't fight back if it really came down to it, but she could count her options.

For now, she'd rather not clash with this guy.

However, this guy just wouldn't listen. Instead of leaving, he pressed forward and said trying to convince Jinx," You have to understand that I can't. I need to-", but Just as the guy took a step forward while trying his best to persuade her, Jinx charged forward in a swift motion. Without hesitating, she struck the knife at him, stopping only just by his throat.

" I said, leave!" She warned, this time with clenched teeth and poised threat.

Jinx knew not to let her guard down. She's always been the cautious type after all.

And the moment the guy stepped forward, she knew just how much it could come to cost them if she were to hesitate or be indecisive, even for a second.

Jinx wouldn't entertain whatever excuse this intruder was trying to push as a narrative. It's either she showed him out, or do what she otherwise didn't want to do.

She isn't scared of a confrontation!

Iris who hid behind Jinx watching the back and forth between Jinx and this intruder seemed terrified. Her heart pounded hard as she started to envision chaos erupting on their balcony anytime now as the air grew tense every passing second.

However to her surprise...

Clasp!

The guy swiftly grabbed Jinx by her forearm, and retorted through gritted teeth in the process, " Cut me however you wish but again, I can't leave. Without your help, I'm better of dead anyway!" He dared Jinx, looking her dead straight in the eyes.

His guts and will to have Jinx cut off his throat rather than leaving caused even Jinx to be stomped for a second. Staring into his determined and lifeless eyes, Jinx got the feeling of someone who's got nothing to lose. The golden glow in his eyes seemed resolute and convicted.

He really wouldn't back down for any reason until he got just what he wanted.

However, what was more frightening was that no matter how much she tried to, Jinx was unable to free herself from his grasp. Neither could she move the knife in her arms to strike at him.

In simple words, if he wanted to harm them, he could very much do just that considering the state both Iris and Jinx were in at the moment.

" Let go, fucker. you're hurting me!" Jinx cursed through gritted teeth in pain after having struggled to break free with no success.

" I'm sorry", he apologized and quickly released his grasp on Jinx, backing up a bit afterwards. " Listen, I'm willing to give whatever it costs. You have to understand that you're my only hope right now. Just hear me out first" he stated convincingly.

Jinx having retrieved her hands from him, rubbed on it with her other hands. Her face squinted a bit from the pain but she knew to still not let her guard down. ' If he won't leave, then what other options have we got?'

" What is it you want us to help you with exactly?" Jinx asked with a stern frown, glaring madly at the intruder.

Iris who stood behind jinx hurried to her side and held her arm to convey her worry. However, Jinx gently pushed her aside indicating that she was fine and that this wasn't the time for all that.

Hearing Jinx's words, the guy seemed to relax and heaved a sigh. He nodded his head appreciatively afterwards and proceeded, " The thing is, I overheard her making a joke about Ravenpeak earlier in the bar, and so I followed you guys..." His voice was nervous and full of uncertainty as he looked at Iris, pointing out that she was the one he was talking about having overheard in the bar talking about Ravenpeak- their hometown.

Jinx didn't doubt the veracity of this guy's words, after all, Iris tends to say a lot of things when nervous or when she's had a couple of drinks.

Jinx frowned hearing this and clenched her fist even tighter. She peered a quick glance at Iris who seemed to hide her face away in guilt. However, she only shook her head and switched her gaze back to the guy, urging him to continue.

" I have to find my way there as I've always heard my mother say that my father was from that place." The guy said looking from Jinx to Iris and then back.