Chapter 434 - Catch You Everytime.

GROWL…

The second they entered the mansion, Zoey heard a faint noise of something like a low growl. "Huh? Did you hear that?" She turned to Matthew, tilting her head to the side as she furrowed her brows.

Matthew only offered her a side glance before she traveled her eyes, scanning her surroundings cautiously. As she did so, Zoey heard another low growl which made her turn towards its source.

"What…?" Zoey whispered, taking a step forward as she instinctively moved by instinct without a thought. Fortunately, Matthew stopped her by her arm. "Huh? She looked back at him, bearing a questioning eye.

"There," Matthew slightly perked his chin towards a particular direction. Slowly, Zoey followed his gaze.

As soon as she laid her eyes on the huge black lion, her eyes widened as her entire being froze. "Holy…" Zoey held her breath, watching the majestic lion approach them. 

As Dredd walked ever so slowly, its eyes were fixated on Zoey. 'Why is he looking like me like that? What did I do?' She gulped, sensing the superiority of the huge cat.

"Dredd…" Just then, Matthew softly called out. For some reason, the black lion finally averted its piercing gaze from Zoey. He then squatted down which made the beast go directly to him.

*GROWL…* 

As he reached Matthew's standpoint, another low growl escaped Dredd's mouth. On the other hand, Zoey, who was akin to a statue, just moved her eyes in their direction. "This…" She choked, thinking of their conversation earlier this day and her memories from her previous life.

"This is your cat?" Zoey asked. However, she immediately jolted back as Dredd looked up to her and growled. "Kyaah!" Surprised, Zoey shut her eyes as she plopped down to the ground.

"Mhmm," Matthew frowned, seeing her terrified. "This is Dredd. He doesn't bite." He said, stroking the lion's dark silver mane.

'Uh…" Zoey who heard this slowly opened her eyes. Yet, as she opened them, a glint of dismay flashed across them. 'It can just rip someone apart!' Was what she wanted to say. Yet, no words were heard from her as her words clogged her throat.

"See?" To prove his point, Matthew deliberately placed his arm inside Dredd's mouth while looking at Zoey.

"Hey!" Unlike his laid back demeanor, Zoey immediately panicked at the sight of it. "Get your hands --!"

GRRR

The second she heard the long and intimidating growl of the lion, Zoey pursed her lips into a thin line without even trying to end her sentence. "I'll shut up." She said, nodding her head as she pushed herself a little further away from them.

"I thought you liked cats." Matthew glanced at her, still stroking Dredd's mane. "Dredd is one of a kind. He's just a little big but the same." He explained, casting his pet a glance which calmed down the majestic king of the jungle.

"Uh…" Zoey watched him stare at his cat lovingly, as if he was staring at his own son. 'I like pets that are cute… but…" She paused upon the piercing glare from the black cat that had the same intimidating aura like Matthew.

Dredd didn't stare for long as he closed its eyes at the constant stroke of Matthew's hand. For some reason, Zoey's fear reduced just watching the two. Although the two bore intimidating aura that repelled any intruder from wanting to come close to them, Zoey somehow sensed the gentleness mixed in them.

"His name is Dredd?" After pursing her lips, Zoey mustered her courage as she inquired.

"Mhmm," Matthew hummed a low tune, raising his head to her direction. "He seems to like you." He said, the side of his lips curled into a meek smile. 

"Huh…" Zoey's under eye twitched, not believing his last remarks. 'Well, obviously, he isn't attacking me because his owner is here.' She sassed inwardly, but not enough guts to speak up her mind.

For some reason, Dredd's piercing eyes shot at her, causing Zoey to apologize inside her head. 'Sorry your majesty. I didn't mean it.' Her subconscious mind apologized, as if she knew that Dredd could hear her thoughts.

"You're not scared anymore?" Seeing that Zoey's shoulders were relaxed, Matthew inquired.

"I was not scared…" Zoey cleared her throat. "I was just… surprised." She clarified, staring back at Dredd before shifting it to Matthew's. 

"You will get to like him in the future." In a matter-of-fact tone, Matthew affirmed as he nodded his head lightly.

"Future?" Out of habit, Zoey spoke even without realizing it. 

Upon hearing her questioning confirmation, Matthew's eyes fixated on her. "In the future." He repeated, this time, his tone stern and full of resolve. "Do you think I let you come here just to throw you away later?" His eyes narrowed, seemingly displeased at something.

"Uh…" Zoey scratched her temple by her index finger, slowly getting enthralled by his intent stare. 'How would I know? Dredd will die in…' Zoey pondered, racking her brain to remember the date Matthew told her when his cat died.

"Tsk," He clicked his tongue, annoyed that Zoey's mind was slowly wandering away again. Slowly, Matthew stood from squatting down and walked towards her. The second he reached her, he squatted down once again and leaned closer.

"What are you thinking?" He asked, seeing that Zoey was in a daze again and didn't notice him approaching.

"It's about…" The moment she snapped, Zoey turned to the direction of his voice. However, just when she did, she froze as her lips nearly touched his. 

"About?" His eyelashes fluttered ever so slowly, tilting his head to the side. 

Zoey gulped down a mouthful of saliva, clearing her throat as she collected her thoughts. "About…" Yet, she failed miserably as her words wouldn't come out from her mouth.

"Silly." Matthew smirked, a short chuckle slipped past his lips as he poked the tip of her nose lightly. "Stop spacing out and wondering for answers. Just ask me and I'll tell you; I don't plan on letting you go easily." He smirked, guessing what was distracting her which was entirely wrong.

Still, her heart skipped a beat as his remarks reached her ear. "Anyway, get up. The game will start soon." Matthew offered his hand, causing her to gaze down at it.

"Uh, right…" Zoey nodded, shaking her head as she unhesitatingly accepted his hand. As soon as she did, Matthew got up and tried to pull her gently. However, Zoey's knees were trembling, still hadn't recovered just like her mental state.

Thus, to avoid her from falling, Matthew caught her by the waist and then instinctively pulled her in his embrace. "You keep on falling, huh?" Slowly, he gazed down while Zoey gasped at her own body's reaction.

She looked up, meeting his usually cold eyes which bore such fire within them. "I don't mind. I will catch you every time." The corner of his lips smirked while she heard her heart drum, beating faster and harder inside her chest.

'Yeah… I keep falling… for you.'