I could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating, as Hafiz slowly moved closer, his eyes locked on me with an intensity that made my heart race. I wanted to back away, to run, but I couldn't—my feet were rooted to the spot. The moment his fingers brushed my arm, I felt a chill run through my body, and that's when I saw him.
Ahad.
He emerged from the shadows like a storm, his eyes burning with fury. His face, usually calm and composed, was twisted in anger, and in an instant, I could feel the shift in the atmosphere. It was no longer just a confrontation. This was war.
"Don't you dare touch her,"Ahad's voice was a low growl, dripping with venom, and before I could even process what was happening, he lunged. The force with which he attacked was brutal—he wasn't just fighting; he was destroying. His fists met Hafiz with a sound that was sickening, like bone against bone. The crack of it sent shivers through me.
I watched in horror as blood sprayed, splattering across the floor and against the walls. I could see the devastation on Ahad's face as he relentlessly fought, the blood staining his clothes, his knuckles bruised and broken, but he didn't stop. He was like an animal, his need to protect me overtaking everything. His eyes never left me, even as he tore through Hafiz. His every move as if screaming one thing: I will not let anyone have her.
Hafiz fought back, but it was clear Ahad had the upper hand. There was something primal in his movements, something savage. He fought as if he had nothing left to lose, and I could see the rawness of his emotions, his desperation to keep me safe, even if it meant tearing apart anyone who came near me.
"Iman, stay back!" Ahad's voice was hoarse, almost desperate, as he shoved me behind him. I could barely breathe from the fear gnawing at my insides. The sight of him—devastated, fierce, broken—was both terrifying and strangely protective.
But it was too much. The chaos. The blood. The fear. I couldn't stand it.
I saw Hafiz stagger back, holding his side, a dark stain of blood spreading across his shirt. He glared at Ahad, his face twisted in pain and rage. "You'll regret this," he spat, his voice low and threatening, but Ahad didn't flinch.
I couldn't take it anymore. "Ahad, stop!" I cried, my voice trembling. My heart pounded in my chest as I reached out to him, but he didn't seem to hear me. His focus was entirely on Hafiz, on destroying him, on making sure I was safe.
For a split second, everything stopped—the fighting, the chaos, the blood—but the look in Ahad's eyes, wild and filled with something I couldn't place, made me freeze in place. Was he lost to this rage? Could I reach him before it was too late?
Before I could make a move, he turned to me, his breathing labored, his body covered in blood, but his eyes softened. "Don't you dare leave me, Iman."
The words hit me like a wave, crashing through the panic. And for a moment, amidst all the madness, I was reminded of something: he would always protect me. Even if it meant losing himself in the process.