Arjun's POV:

My eyes tracked Amrita as she dashed down the alley, her movements sharp and quick. The two men chasing her were gaining on her, their calls loud and threatening. There was no time to waste. I had to act fast.

Without thinking, I surged forward, my legs carrying me silently through the dark alleyway. Just as she neared the corner, her body tense, ready to bolt down the next street, I seized the moment. With a swift move, I reached out, grabbing her by the arm and yanking her behind the wall, pulling her into the shadows. My hand instinctively covered her mouth before she could cry out.

Her body tensed in surprise, and her breath hitched in panic. She struggled against me, her arms flailing as she tried to break free. But I held her firm, my voice low and urgent in her ear. "No need to struggle," I whispered, my grip tight but not cruel. "We don’t want to be caught, do we?"

Her movements slowed, and I could feel her body gradually relaxing against mine as she realized who it was. The tension in her body started to melt away, and I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

We stood there, pressed against the wall in silence, hidden in the darkness. I could hear her breathing, fast and shallow, her chest rising and falling with the effort. My hand remained still on her stomach.

A slow burn was beginning, the kind that starts with a soft touch and ignites into an all-consuming fire. I wanted to pull her closer, to twist my fingers into her skin, to feel the heat of her against my entire body. But I held back, a deliberate act of self-control. This wasn't the time. I remained still, watching the two men pass by just a few feet away. Their footsteps were heavy and fast, but they didn’t seem to notice us hiding in the shadows.

When I was certain the two men had moved far enough away, I finally released her from my hold, stepping back slightly to give her some space. I turned her toward me, my eyes narrowing slightly.

“What the hell were you thinking?” I snapped, my voice low but stern. “You could have gotten caught, or worse.”

She was breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling in quick succession, but she glared at me with an intensity that made me pause for a second.

“You think I need saving, huh?” Her voice was sharp, defiant, full of the fire I had come to expect from her. "Maybe I didn’t want to hide like a coward."

My lips twitched into a smirk despite the situation. This girl—she had a way of igniting something in me that I wasn’t sure I could control. But I had to keep my focus.

“You’re lucky I was here,” I said with a shake of my head, trying to hide the annoyance that laced my words. "You won’t always have someone to save you, Amrita."

She didn’t respond immediately, instead turning her head and giving me a quick, dismissive glance before she started walking away, leaving me standing there with my thoughts. Her sudden exit left me confused, more than anything.

I watched her retreating figure, her back straight and purposeful, as she walked farther down the alley. Her stubbornness was unmatched.

And then it hit me—she had just turned her back on me after I had gone out of my way to help her. Again.

I gritted my teeth, scolding myself under my breath.

What are you even doing, Arjun? You’re lowering yourself, running after her when she clearly doesn’t give a damn.

I clenched my fists, annoyance boiling under my skin.

You’re a commander, for God’s sake. Not some knight chasing after a reckless, bratty village girl.

A bitter chuckle escaped me as I turned away, heading back toward the base. “Never again,” I muttered, forcing myself to believe it.