A single ray of sun sneaked through the curtains to harass Selena’s face. Her once pitch-black vision is now reddened. She slowly blinked open her eyes. Another morning–only today, she is a werewolf. She sat up on Daisy’s bed, stretched her body, till her limbs are weak and loose, demotivating her to take a bath. After a forced, long hot shower and dressing up in blue jeans and a black t-shirt, she went downstairs.
At those last steps, she heard a series of doors shutting sounds that made her wonder what is happening outside. She strolled over to the front door to see Orion loading luggage and they are all dressed up casually, ready to leave. Climate took a drastic change as dark clouds gathered, about to pour down any minute now. Selena’s heartbeat shot up, accompanied by her widening eyes. Zaden’s words came around, stabbing her in the mid-chest.
‘You are to go out of here with me and you are to return here with me’
Is this where she parts with her family? She completely forgot about returning to Mountain Manuka and none of them brought up the topic after they arrived here. Will she ever wake up in her father’s hands? Will she ever play basketball with Aaron again? Her heart is throbbing with pain, worry carved her face.
Right at that moment, Zaden turned around to see her, standing frozen at the door with terror and agitation in her eye. He paced towards her and soon the other 2 noticed and followed him
‘I’m not going. I am NOT going…that’s all you have to say. What can they do, I have my father and brother. They can defend me, don’t they? Wait, how are they supposed to fight 3 werewolves? Wait, I am a werewolf, I can do that!!! Ya right, a werewolf that can’t shift at her will, pfff’
She mentally slapped her face. Zaden was already standing about 10 feet in front of her with a merely there smile and both hands were thrust into his jeans pocket while the other 2 beamings with a toothy grin, way further behind him.
“Bye, take care” the grin on the other 2 dropped spontaneously after Zaden’s word. Selena exchanged a ‘what the fuck’ look with Orion and Grandpa Kai but nonchalantly, Zaden turned around, not waiting for a response, and walked away. Orion grabbed his arm on the way.
“Zaden, what are you doing?” he questioned
“Going back home without Selena,” he said coldly
“What if Ozrain comes looking for Selena?” Orion instilling a sigh from Zaden.
“Who is Selena?” Zaden winked at Grandpa Kai and Grandpa Kai understood his plan.
“You can’t do that. This…she… I mean” Orion stuttered not knowing what he is trying to say or can say to change the course of the situation.
“I can and I just did. From this moment onwards, no one in the Mountain Manuka pack is going to mention Selena” he exerted his alpha aura, and immediately the whole pack at Mountain Manuka was mind-linked the order.
Orion felt helpless as all the energy in his body drained out in a second, replaced by the Alpha’s orders. Right at this very moment, he understood that he didn’t just like this woman, he loves her. He ran as fast as he can towards Selena and hugged her tight, wishing this moment will last for an eternity. Her heartbeat grazed against his due to the force of the hug and he tried to hold back his tears. Selena on the other hand didn’t know what to do. She wanted to stay but then it hurts so much seeing them leaving. Why is that? She is more attached to her father and brother, has known them longer, and shared with them more than anyone back in the mountain, yet it hurts. Maybe it’s just a temporary feeling.
Orion let go of Selena, didn’t look into her face, and walked away to the jeep. Grandpa Kai held her hand and placed a kiss on it
“My dear, would you do me a favor?” he asked
“Yes Grandpa” somewhere in the deep corner, she wished he would ask her to come with them– a very deep corner that is.
“Promise me you will be happy, every day…every minute…every second of your life” the next second, a string of tears fell down her cheeks. Grandpa Kai has known her for such a short time, yet he still wishes for her best, nothing against her will, just as her mother would. As if the mother earth felt her, the clouds split up and started pouring down. She gently hugged Grandpa Kai one last time.
“I hate you” Orion who had just surpassed Zaden, said through his gritted teeth, loud enough for him to hear it. Zaden’s back was facing Selena, biting his lips. Grandpa Kai followed Orion to his jeep and now Zaden is standing alone in the yard, heads hung low.
He doesn’t have the guts to look into her eye one more time although his heart and entire system begged him to. He lifted his heavy leg and took a step forward when a sweet voice stopped him.
“Wait…” Selena’s voice came from far behind. She ran to him, dismissing the rain around her, and stopped behind him, not too close thou.
“Why?” she had to ask. He remained silent, still with heads down. She took a few steps to close the gap between them and gently held his forearm, not exerting any effort to turn him around.
“Zaden…” she whispered and he turned around with red eyes and a calm face, looking down at her. His eye followed her facial features–her magnetic eyes, curly locks, her sharp nose, her eyebrows that frame her eyes perfectly, and her round rosy lips.
When will he ever see them again? When will he ever embrace her to sleep again? When will he get another chance to kiss her again? The thought ripped his heart apart. He stretched his hand, grab her neck and her waist, moved forward, and leaned to kiss her lips, head slightly tilted to the side. Aaron who was standing at the porch alarmed at a sudden urge to protect his little sister. He took a step with a balled fist when Leonardo held him back
“Wait” Leonardo hushed him
“What? He is kissing her!!!” Aaron said
“Look at her, she is not fighting him,” he said low. Aaron looked one more time, finding her hands. Selena had her hand, resting on his waist and another cupping his cheeks. Aaron’s frown dropped to relax and he withdrew his steps.
Selena was showered with million drops of cold raindrop but a single hot raindrop stood out, running down her thumb which is holding his cheeks. There was no lust in the kiss, he didn’t try to invade her mouth, he didn’t exert any dominance, just a gently nibble at her lips while he moved his head to pull her lips gently and repeat his act, again and again, and again. Selena could have pushed him away–could have rejected him but she did not. Among all the souls in Mount Manuka, he was the cruelest to her. Yet she stood there like a marble statue, taking in all his aches, craves, and yearns. Maybe it’s his dictation over her– or maybe even a little more intense good-bye–or maybe it’s her moment of weakness–she took it all in. Orion saw this from the jeep rear mirror. He gritted his teeth and gripped the steering wheel tightly till his fingertips were white. A pain stabbed his heart.
‘He ruined everything… he took her away from me and now he dares to kiss her’ he thought to himself
Zaden let go of her lips but kept coming back for a peck. His forehead is now resting on hers and his hands have moved to cupped her chin
“I’m going to miss you, baby girl…” he sniffled slightly while the rain did the perfect job of hiding his tears.
“Why?” Selena had a hard time bringing the single word out
“You don’t need Mountain Manuka or Samrat or this werewolf life” he gave her another peck.
“Everything you need is right here… I don’t want to rip you away from that. After reading Elisa Mitkoi’s manuscript, I don’t want to give you to Ozrain. He probably will kill you, just like he did to Elisa. You will be more peaceful and happy here. You have to erase these past weeks from your memory, understood? Forget us…” he gently caresses her cheeks with his thumbs and incomes another peck. Her tears flowed uncontrollably with a head shake to ‘NO’ first but after a pause, she nodded ‘YES’.
“You will come to see me right, whenever you are in the city?” Selena whispered and a sharp sob came from him as he shook his head ‘NO’
“Zaden…” she looked at his eyes which is closed now
“If I see you one more time, I won’t be able to leave… Nothing should interfere with your life, including me” he opened his eye and held her hands, brought it up to his lips, placing a kiss on its back. He took steps backward with eyes now focused on her’s and pulled along her hand as far as possible before letting go. He took a few more steps backward before turning around to his jeep. Selena dropped to her knees on the ground, she felt weak within. Leonardo and Aaron ran towards her and kneeled next to her, hugging her.
Zaden couldn’t stop his tears throughout the drive to Mountain Manuka. Thank god, Grandpa Kai wasn’t here. He needed these few hours alone. Orion on the other jeep, has all his feeling pent up because Grandpa Kai was there. His throat closed up, tears covered up. That night, Selena was in her father’s arms on the rocking chair, eyes wide awake till early morning, before she felt too tired to handle her situation and slipped to sleep.
Zaden was also awake till late at night in his room. The image of her face in the rain kept haunting him, turning into an unbearable weight. She clearly showed that she wanted to come with them, but he had to do this, for her own good. Time will cure the pain–it always does. He then decides to go to her room on the second floor, where she was imprisoned in his embrace for a whole night. He lay down on the bed which still had her scent and finally was able to get some sleep.
Orion on the other hand shifted into his wolf and ran wildly through the vast of Mountain Manuka till his paws hurt, masking the pain within him. Tears flowing out as the wind blows it away through his fur. He didn’t get to say a proper goodbye to her. He shouldn’t have left things the way he did. He went to the highest point and let a painful howl to the Moon Goddess that even the Goddess would have dripped a few drops of tears for him. It’s his habit to share his pain with the forest. Only the trees, the wind, the night creatures and this highest point of Mount Manuka knows the depth of his pains. He shares them with no one else.