11. Falling in Love

Mrs. Nora's lips twitched at Jasper's reply because she was sure of what she saw about the young man.

"Even though I'm not young, I can't be wrong about you. I see yellow eyes and sharp canines, and I'm sure you're not human."

Jasper laughed at Mrs. Nora's words. "I'm not human, but I'm not a werewolf. You're mistaken, madam."

Jasper stepped over to Mrs. Nora. The woman backed away in a wary position, worried that Jasper would hurt her with sharp canines.

"What do you want? There are many people here, and you can't hurt me unless you want people to know who you are." Mrs. Nora said that with quivering lips.

Jasper looked so scary, and his dark aura couldn't be hidden. Just then, Mrs. Nora saw something in Jasper's eyes. A second later, she felt her body limp, felt something hit her head.

"You never saw anything from me. We never met!" Jasper said while whispering in Mrs. Nora's ear.

The older woman just nodded obediently with a blank look.

"Good," said Jasper. He then backed away and left Mrs. Nora alone in the garden.

Jasper returned to meet Zalina, who was waiting for him. When she saw Jasper come alone, Zalina asked where Mrs. Nora was.

"Where's Mrs. Nora?"

"She's home," Jasper replied.

"Home? But I didn't see her pass. We should have gone home together."

"You're not going home with her because you're going with me."

Jasper immediately grabbed Zalina's hand and took the woman out of the hospital.

"Where are we going? I haven't finished work yet," asked Zalina. Even though she was confused, she still followed Jasper's footsteps.

"That job doesn't suit you."

"Why?"

"You'll find out later. Now come in!" Jasper said as he opened his car door.

However, Zalina refused and pushed Jasper's hand away. "You can't push and take me for granted. I have responsibilities with my job."

"Zalina, you're not going back to that job again. Don't argue and follow my word!"

Zalina didn't like Jasper's commanding attitude, and she was about to open her mouth to reply to Jasper's words. However, Jasper quickly pushed Zalina in.

"Follow my orders, or you will die!" Jasper snapped.

"You're a rude, threatening man. Who do you think you are to order me around?"

Jasper didn't answer and just slammed the car door shut. He immediately drove the car at high speed and then left the hospital.

During the trip, Zalina looks tense. She didn't know where Jasper would take her when the car was driving away from downtown. Seeing Jasper's furious expression made Zalina afraid to ask. The man's face looked like a demon.

Finally, after almost an hour, the car stopped at a horse farm. Zalina saw a vast expanse of green meadow, very soothing to the eyes.

"Where are we?" asked Zalina.

"My horse farm. Get down quickly!" Jasper ordered, opening his car door.

"Why did he bring me here?" Zalina mumbled before getting out of the car.

An older man came up to them respectfully towards Jasper.

"Welcome, sir. You didn't say you were coming," he said.

"I'm just dropping by, and it won't be long," Jasper said.

The older man looked at Zalina and bowed his head in respect. He was surprised by the arrival of Jasper with a woman.

"Follow me!" Jasper said to Zalina.

Zalina followed Jasper behind him, following the path that led to the lake in the middle of the meadow. The beautiful scenery there could relieve Zalina's tension during the trip.

"Actually, where are we going, and tell me, what is your purpose in bringing me here?"

"We'll talk, as well as see the farm here," Jasper replied.

They stopped at a lake. Near the lake, there is an extended bench. Zalina decides to sit there while Jasper remains standing.

"Okay, now explain why you're behaving like this to me. Forbidding me from working and doing what you want."

"A few days ago, you came and asked me for help, and now I agree to your request. But you must obey and listen to what I say."

"Why did you change your mind?" asked Zalina.

"Don't you want me to help you?" Jasper even asked back.

Zalina got up and replied, "Sure, I want you to help me. I'm just surprised that you suddenly agreed."

"Don't ask me why. Just follow me if you want me to help you."

"Okay, but I need an explanation. Why did you forbid me to work with Mrs. Nora, and why did you say it was dangerous?"

The more often Zalina uses her abilities, the stronger the curse the girl will receive. However, Jasper couldn't explain that reason to Zalina, so he had to give another explanation.

"Because you'll be working as my secretary from now on. Working with Mrs. Nora only makes you look like a weird girl," Jasper replied. His voice was sharp.

Zalina averted her gaze from Jasper's gaze. "I hate it when people think of me as a weird girl."

"That's why you should stay away from Mrs. Nora. If you don't, you will become more like her over time."

Jasper walked over to Zalina and grabbed the girl's shoulders. There was no time for Zalina to be surprised when Jasper lifted her chin and studied her face.

"You must listen to my words from now on!"

Zalina was confused when she saw Jasper's face turn soft. She stared into those blue eyes, wishing she could read the thoughts behind them. Why did the man's attitude change?

Zalina pulled away from Jasper. Suddenly her heart was about to jump out of the way when seen a man as handsome as Jasper. In all her life, she had never been stared at and cared for by a man like that.

"There's nothing to talk about anymore. Let's go home! Mrs. Nora must have told my mother what happened at the hospital, and she must be waiting for me," said Zalina. She steps to leave.

Jasper immediately caught Zalina's hand, which made the girl gasp.

"You said you always wanted to hold my hand. Let's do that from now on!" said Jasper.

They then walked back down the path holding hands. Zalina started to feel a strange feeling again in her chest. She couldn't resist as Jasper gripped her hand tighter.

"Since we're here, I'd like to ride the horse. Would you like to come with me?" Jasper asked.

"No, I can't. I'm going over there to see the milking."

Jasper was ready, fully clothed, when someone came with a horse. Jasper petted and invited the horse to speak before riding it.

When Zalina was watching the milking process, Jasper came and called her.

"Zalina, come on up!"

"What? No, I'm scared." Zalina refuses.

"Nothing will happen. Just trust me. Come here quickly!" Jasper held out his hand.

However, Zalina still refused by shaking her head.

"You have to feel a lot of things in your life. Come on, and it's so much fun!"

This time Zalina looked doubtful.

"Hurry up, or I won't take you back home. I never play with my threats."

Finally, Zalina agreed and approached Jasper even though he was afraid. Jasper got down to help Zalina get on the horse's back, then he got back up and sat behind Zalina.

When the horse started to hike, Zalina was amazed because she felt the muscles in Jasper's body sticking to her body. Zalina could feel the man's breath in her ear. Zalina's heart beat faster as Jasper controlled the horse.

"How fun isn't it?" Jasper asked in Zalina's ear.

"Y-yes, very pleasant."

Zalina tensed up, and it was nice when her heart beat faster. Her body seemed to be slowly electrified due to the intimacy of their movement.

In her heart, Zalina didn't want the moment to end quickly. She began to like a strange sensation that she had never felt before.

Is this what they call falling in love? Zalina never knew what it was like to fall in love. At 24, she was too late to feel that extraordinary feeling.