r they met, he picked Elsa up and dropped her

then that Elsa learned that besides being the champion in various schoo

igure at school. She hadn't known about him

he language she had always dreaded but also, no one

he bathrooms with her trying to sneak off. He narrowed his blue eyes and stopped the boy. He didn't throw a pu

sa was under Jack Folger's protection. In other words, onl

eachers, friendly with classmates, didn't smoke or drink, loved small animals, didn't litter, didn't pick flowe

et along with. He rarely got angry. During his ti

es, but each w

t was reportedly because an upperclassman threw stones at a white swan on the pond, killing it. The

breaking school rules, earned Jac

, they were nothing compared to the third time. And J

lsion. When the principal ignored him, Jack got so angry he trashed the principal's offi

day news. It made it to television, and even education officials launched an investigation. In the end, the wrongl

gry even scared the principal. On the other hand, after this incident, he became a n

idn't want to see it again. This usually well-behaved

s Elsa, everyone from the principal down to the

involved didn't see

just an angel he had to p

a better, more dutiful

for two full years, until Jack moved on to se

udent. She could now converse fluently in Italian and even German. But most of the time, she still preferred to keep to herself. Jack was right

people she knew very, very well-like fam

ba would visit

of 'reunion' she had mentioned, but it faithfully

lsa's life during holidays. He and Steve, both being top,

y could follow in the footsteps of her brother Stev

But on the way back, Steve's pager beeped loudly. He and Jack h

your way back to t

apprehensive, she didn't wa

then catch up," Jack said, his fa

ter is thirteen. If she has a problem finding her way back to the dorm, then she'll need help eating next. Come on, I'm the

ically dragged

t be so nervous. Elsa isn't a child. Unless you plan to protect her for the r

ong the emerald-green gravel path. Steve was ri

like he

nside was that she lost track of time. When she remembered she should head back to the dorm and hurried on her way, she realized it was high noon,

nd someone to ask for directions, her mood plummeted

ook at this, a

shmen! Not bad, not bad." The man appraising her had a face full of m

s give you a more detailed camp

rms like thugs, closing in on her, Elsa took a f

ve but found the boys had formed

ugh, mimicking her voice. "Hear that, boss? O

omen are alw

h. And thorns? Don't worry." The boy called 'boss' patted h

cold voice, but her heart had alread

uniors should obey seniors." He reached out to touch Elsa's chin, but she dod

. We seniors," another boy let out a sle

n't be afraid." The man's laughter didn't stop. "Once you've tasted it, you'll know how good

nywhere. My brother, student council president

r tastes like?" He suddenly reached out, grabbed her, and pulled her close. Immediately, a strong smell of smoke and sweat made her cover her n

lsa was rewarded with a pig-like squeal of pain and a brief ope

t blame me for b

g for her again, Elsa struggled an

heard Elsa's cries for help. The bike paused but didn't shut off. The man sat steadil

"Go skip your class and take your nap like you usuall

girl's screams will ruin my sleep quality. And if I don't sleep well," he casuall

Elsa a moment to get a clear lo

black leather jacket, and equally dark leather pants. In such hot weather, he

ierce aura. He was a man radiating

ted dragging her away. "To not disturb y

am again. Just as the men decide

oesn't seem to like the game you want to

tantly his five companions pulled out switchblades from thei

eyes, behind the sunglasses, watched the knives glinting ominously in the sun. Seeing the blades, a

't give them a chance to use their knives, and he himself disdained using any weapon. Even just with his legs, he managed to draw blood and elicit cries of pain and pleas for mercy

swollen and barely recognizable, he fi

aying a minute longer, they fled for their lives like mice tho

nse gratitude and emotion. She opened her mouth, but before she could even say "thank you," he

un game for him, a way to secu

From that moment on, her eyes were det

agrant, beaut

hand, only to have it

away, then gestured with her lips towards anot

t the basket of misshapen, broke

oft voice, adding the adorable smile that could always easily subdu

nly for when it's abso

y the lake eating ice cream. He regretted spoiling

hink he only liked

t out to eat, she would taste everything first, then shove all the things she'd tried or didn't like over to him to finish. Heaven knew how many admi

y formed cookies, just t

only to have his hand

em, so you can't." Elsa

aso

hed slightly, "I made the

som

ul, only felt dazzling to him. His

ncommittally, i

idn't even remember you. I've explained that guy is cold-blooded, emotionless. And you

e

once and won her heart, while leaving the scraps and dregs

oping feelings for another man, and it being his best friend-a man who, like him, wasn't human-his heart felt like it had

er with her, Elsa bit her lip, her face fallin

. I'll deal with them myself. As for the cookies for

ack, she had always been straightf

r, Jack quickly rea

doing?" she

of cookies, annoyed at himself for caring so much about her fee

ew you woul

ly, she reached up on her toes, pulled Jack

For a moment, he even thought he had turned back into that

word, "-secretly switch the two

or a basket of cookies, would I?" He cast a cold glance at the basket of broken co

, "-tell Jace that I speciall

l remember you because of these cookies. I told you, tha

rted resentfully. "He saved me," her eyes starry

someone who truly matters s

e urge to protest

es were always poetic. Jace's heartlessn

lp her pursue Jace, Jack would

mforting mantra for three whole years, from

s! A full

eth, until he had to resort to a shameless sneak attack to take out that blood-s