I had been feeling Caius's eyes on me for days, his presence like a shadow that I couldn't shake. My friends kept warning me to stay safe, but I brushed it off, convinced I could handle it. One evening, while walking down the street, I spotted him again, lurking at a distance. My heart raced, and I quickened my pace.

As I turned a corner, I stumbled upon a group of drunk guys. They blocked my path, their intentions clear and malicious. Panic surged through me, and I shouted for help.

Suddenly, a figure in a black hoodie appeared, moving with a swift, predatory grace. Caius. He launched into action, punching the men with precision and force until they were incapacitated. Without a word, he grabbed my arm and led me to a nearby car. I struggled and shouted, but he silenced me by placing a finger to my lips.

"Shh," he murmured, his voice low and commanding.

Terrified and confused, I managed to ask,

"Why are you always following me?"

He looked at me with those intense gray eyes, and for a moment, there was a flicker of something softer.

"Because I need to protect you," he replied, his voice steady. "There are things you don't know, dangers you're not aware of. I can't let anything happen to you."

His words left me speechless, a mix of fear and bewilderment swirling inside me. What could he possibly mean? And why was he so determined to watch over me?