It was a good thing that Aspen was somehow well fed because her reflexes did not fail her this time. She was able to jump out of the trucks way in time before the damned thing hit the hunters instead.

Her fangs were bared when she landed on her one foot and one knee. Once she regained her bearings, she sprung and striked the remaining aggressors. Nakita niya peripheral vision niya na bumaba mula sa truck ang isang malaking lalaki. His long hair was tied in a messy bun behind his head. He's wearing a black shirt that fitted his muscled physique perfectly.

I think you should focus on killing these bastards instead checking that stranger out. Dami mong time ah! For all you know, he's also an enemy.

She was almost sure he's an enemy. Sino pa bang magtatangkang sagasaan siya gamit ang isang ten wheeler truck kung wala itong balak na patayin siya? She winced. She's clearly going to have her ass handed to her. Ngayon nagsisisi siya kung bakit lumabas pa siya ng kwarto nya ngayong gabi.

What the actual fck is happening  and what on earth is that smell?!

But when the stranger started to fight the hunters alongside her, her apprehension turned into slight relief. Slight. Because you know, you can never be too trusting. If there is one thing being a two hundred year old vampire thought her, it's to never fully trust someone. She only have a handful of people she knew she could rely on but never give your trust full. 'Saves you from the hassle of being betrayed.

At last, with the help of the truck-driving-stranger, they were able to eliminate the last enemy.

She was too exhausted to move a muscle from all the beatings. Napabuntong hininga siya. Puno ng dugo ang mga kamay niya at ramdam din niya ang malagkit na dugo sa pisngi niya dala marahil ng nauna niyang injury doon nang tumaob nang sasakyan niya. Almost all her wounds are now healed. Nothing serious. Thank gods. She glanced at her wrist watch and found it was half an hour before sunrise.

She needed to hurry. She tied her now blonde hair--which she was sure was now drenched in red bodily fluid--into a ponytail. She needed to look presentable just in case she bumped into anyone while hurrying to find a shelter.

Yeah, having blood on your hair, face and hands looks so presentable!

Siguro naman ay may mahahanap siyang pwede niyang pagtaguan pansamantala. Because although the sun never really bothered her before, her change of diet affected her reactions to UV light. She's significantly weaker now whenever the sun is up..

"Ah! I've never had that much fun for a long time now!" said a loud voice.

Noon lamang naalala ni Aspen ang presensya ng hinayupak na lalaking muntik sumagasa sa kanya. Nilingon niya ito. She found him sprawled in the ground and in the act of taking his mangled shirt off. Aspen stalked angrily towards the man. He was still gathering himself up from the ground when she slapped the living daylights out of him. He was too stunned to react.

"You fucking idiot! You almost got me killed out there! What the fuck do you think you're doing?!"

Hindi sumagot ang lalaki bagkus ay tinulungan  nitong muli ang sarili na bumangon mula sa sahig. Nang tuluyan itong makatayo ay saka napagtanto ni Aspen kung gaano kalaki ang lalaki. He stood almost seven feet in height and his body was built like a tank. She could tell for he was towering over her half naked. Muntik pa siyang mapaatras kung hindi niya pinigilan ang sarili. She squared her shoulders and tipped her chin just so she wouldn't look like a cowering piece of shit in front of this giant of a man.

"Is this how you thank people for saving your life?" he asked with furrowing eyebrows. He would've looked so menacing if not for his warm chocolate colored eyes that are staring at her with amusement.

She shook her heed internally. "Saving my life, my ass--" she was taken aback when he planted his two fingers against her lips to silence her. Huge fucking fingers.

"I would love to fucking kiss you right now but seeing as to how you put those bastards on their asses, I think pissing you off would be a very bad idea. Anyway, I'm Quentin. Call me Q. I'm a werewolf. Nice meeting you, bloodsucker."

Her eyes narrowed in irritation. Did he just called her a bloodsucker?! Well, technically, she is a bloodsucker. But you don't go around calling a vampire that! She was offended! Agad na pinalis niya ang mga daliri nitong nakalapat sa bibig niya. "Can you get any ruder?"

"Sino bang bigla na lang nananampal pagkatapos kong sagipin ang buhay niya?" he crossed his arms over his chest which only emphasized his pecs more. Muntik pa siyang mapalunok. "Just in case you forgot, it's you. So, sino ngayon ang bastos? Hirap sa inyong mga babae--"

She tuned out of his blabbering when suddenly, what he said just sinked in. "Did you just say you're a werewolf?"

"Uhm, yeah? Focus, sport."

"You're a fcking werewolf?" she stupidly repeated. "Seriously?"

He nodded vigurously. "I'm fcking serious."

"Fcking really?"

"Fcking really." he nodded once again, this time with matching closed eyes. And then he tilted his head to one side. "Do you really have to add 'fcking' to every word you say?"

"Totoo nga? Hindi ka...werewolf wannabe or something like that?"

He let out a boisterous laugh. Napairap naman siya. "Anong nakakatawa sa sinabi ko?"

"I'm a werewolf," he said. "Do I need to present an ID or something?"

"Why don't you have fur?"

Lalo itong natawa. If only vampires could blush. "Baka kasi hindi naman bilog ang buwan?" he looked at her as if she's stupid. Well, she honestly felt that way. "I'm the real deal. Be a good girl and maybe I can let you see me transform."

He lifted his eyebrows suggestively. Aspen's lips curled in disgust. She badly wanted to twist his neck. But if you think about it, he fits all the description of a werewolf. He does look like a werewolf. With all the rugged looks and shit. "Well, I'll be damned." she stared at him once again. "So, that explains the smell." she said loudly to herself.

"I don't smell!" he protested, sounding indignant. "That is very offensive!"

"Yeah you do." she deadpanned.

Q was about to argue but then he shrugged.

"Anyway, thank you for rescuing me. Although I have no fcking idea why--"

"Because you're pretty."

"What?" she gaped at him.

"I said you're pretty that's why I saved you."

This man is a fucking weirdo.

Aspen sighed. "And I'm sorry for slapping you. I didn't mean to act like a total bitch. And I usually don't go around slapping people, just so you know."

"Yeah right. Coz you kill them."

She rolled her eyes. Does he really have to be this talkative? "You're absolutely right. So, if you have evil plans against me, think twice because you know what I'm capable of." she warned and it earned her a huge grin from him. "Thank you again, I owe you. Pero h'wag ka muna maningil because I'm too busy as of the moment. Thanks again. I need to go."

Tinalikuran na niya ang lalaki at nagisip kung saan siya pupunta. Sinulyapan niya ang sasakyang gamit niya kanina. Malabo nang magamit pa niya ang sasakyang iyon ngayon. Maybe she needs to steal another one. Paalis na sana siya sa lugar nang bigla siyang tawagin ulit ng lalaki.

"Hey, miss!"

"What?" she called back.

"I did not get your name!"

"My name is none of your business!"

"Cmon!" he said. "Tell me your name and I'll call it quits."

She glanced back. "Are you serious?"

He put his hands on his hips and grinned. "Of course."

At first, she contemplated on telling him her real name. But after realizing what a bad idea that is, she settled with, "Zelia."

Hinimas himas ni Q ang baba nito na natatabunan ng manipis na layer ng buhok. "Hmm.. Zelia, huh?"

Aspen's eyebrows furrowed. "What?"

"I just don't take you for a Zelia."

Her back turned rigid. Hindi niya gusto kapag may mga taong nagdududa sa kanya. Doubt fuels curiosity. And usually curiosity gets someone killed. She decided to play it cool so she wouldn't look so guilty. Aspen shrugged. "Well, you know I don't seem like a lot of things, so.." she rolled one shoulder. "I have to go--"

Halos magkapanabay pa silang natigilan nang maramdaman ni Aspen ang sensasyon ng paparating na panganib. She cursed under her breath. She couldn't make a run for it. Not in this state. Masyado na siyang pagod sa pakikipaglaban, not to mention, the sun is edging the horizon.

"Come with me." mariing utos ni Q sa kanya. Napatingin siya sa truck na sinasakyan nito kanina. She had no other choice.

"DID YOU JUST TRY TO STEAL MY TRUCK?"

Aspen sheepishly bit on her lower lip. She didn't know he was such a fast runner. Akalain ba naman niyag sa bilis ng pagpapatakbo niya sa truck ay mahabol siya nito? Nagulat na lang siya nang biglang may kumalabog sa bubong ng truck at maya maya ay bumukas ang pinto ng passenger seat at kaswal itong lumulan doon na parang walang nangyari.

"Sorry."

"Sorry?! Wow!" he tossed his dark hair and tsked. "Muntik mo na akong iwan magisa! Sorry lang ang sasabihin mo? Ibang klase ka talaga! I thought we had some connection! I'm so hurt, love!"

Ramdam niya ang pagbabago ng anyo matapos marinig ang salitang iyon. Her eyes turned red and her skin turned to gray as she hissed at him. "Don't call me that!"

He raised both his hands in mock surrender. "Hey! Easy, babe!"

The funny thing is he wasn't even fazed by her transformation. Mukhang hindi ito natatakot sa kanya at sa mgakaya nitong gawin. She needed to take care of that. She doesn't care if he's a werewolf, he needed to know who's on top of the freakin food chain.

"Turn right over there." utos nito.

"What?"

"I said--"

"I heard you, idiot. Bakit ko naman susundin ang sinabi mo?"

"Because that's where I live."

"At bakit naman ako magdadrive papunta sa bahay mo?!"

"Because this is my truck." he pointed out. "And you would be safer here."

"I don't--"

"Just listen to me, bloodsucker, and you will be safe."