Chapter 17
Darkness
***
Leila felt her heart pounding so fast like a horse was tailing her. She bit her lower lip as her fingers slightly trembled before they moved towards Hunter’s shoulders.
However, she inaudibly gasped when Hunter placed his hands on her waist. Her cheeks turned pale pink as she looked away.
“Let’s just get this done.” Hunter coldly stated.
His words were rude, and they were piercing her heart, but the electrifying sensation from the warmth of his hands was creeping into her system. It was way too much making her head go haywire that she didn’t really care about any other thing anymore.
The slow and sweet song resonated throughout the entire place.
They started swaying with the music. Leila felt like she couldn’t breathe with the distance she had with Hunter.
This was the very first time that she had seen him this close. His clenched jaw was making him more mysterious and charismatic. His cold demeanor was making her flinch, but in a weird way because it was not because of fear or anxiety, but because of pure excitement, amusement, and fascination… making her heart thump so fast inside her chest.
Leila swallowed hard as she held her breath especially when Hunter moved her closer to him. She felt like she had lost her senses and had to finally decide and think on her own. As if her heart and body unified to take this opportunity and seize the moment with Hunter.
She couldn’t believe how this happened all of a sudden.
If not, for Hector and Myrtle’s playful remarks, Hunter wouldn’t ask her for a dance. Well, it wasn’t as if she was expecting it anyway.
She didn’t want to dance with her. That was her initial plan, but how could she say ‘no’ when everyone’s eyes were already on them?
Even Baxon, who was near them and was about to go to their table, just smirked at her and raised his wine glass as if cheering her to go.
‘Damn it!’ She cursed mentally as she couldn’t stop her legs from wobbling like jelly because of apprehension.
She wanted to castigate herself for feeling this way whenever Hunter was around.
Leila swallowed hard as she gathered all her strength to take a glance at Hunter.
However, her eyes widened in surprise to catch him staring intensely at her!
Leila bit her lower lip as she couldn’t take her eyes away from him. It was as if she were again being hypnotized by his intense gaze.
Her heart began to thump so fast and hard as she felt her stomach tickle like some insects were flying crazily inside her.
“What are you staring at?” Hunter rudely inquired; his forehead creased.
She unconsciously pouted her lips, making Hunter’s forehead crease more, and looked away.
‘He is staring intensely at me, and I can’t do the same? Where the hell is the equality in that?’ She mumbled inside her head and pouted more unconsciously.
“Stop pouting. You looked like a fish.” Hunter commented nastily.
She looked at him with wide eyes and an agape mouth. She couldn’t believe that he actually said those words. She calmed herself and mentally took a deep breath.
“And you’re too stiff!” Leila mumbled under her breath, but she made sure that he could hear her words.
Hunter scoffed at her.
Her lips moved from side to side as if she were trying to stop herself from saying more. Especially that she could see his eyes turning a darker shade of blue.
“Just keep your mouth shut, and let’s just finish this dance.” Hunter seriously stated.
Leila felt her heart flutter as she decided to just enjoy that very moment with Hunter.
It was as if it were the longest time of her life as she took a swift glance at him from time to time and would look away when he caught her staring at him.
He was like a magnet to her eyes that she couldn’t take away from her sight. She wanted to look at him, be with him… and be this close.
‘Damn it…’ She mentally stated.
She mentally heaved a deep sigh as she finally confirmed that her attraction was just too much… much more than what it held… much deeper than what she felt.
‘You’re in deep trouble, Leila…’ She thought until the last melody ended.
Meanwhile, after dancing with Leila, Hector instantly took the opportunity to pester him as he went towards Hunter.
It’s a miracle that he and Myrtle were not together when they were inseparable.
“So, is there anything that you would like to tell me?” Hector playfully asked him after that awkward dance with Leila.
He must admit that he felt comfortable being close with her… which was just making her awkward and confused.
Well, it’s the same thing for him, though. And he wouldn’t want to know why. He didn’t want to care about it.
“What do you want to hear?” He said, using his bored tone.
He didn’t want to give a sh*t to what his brother wanted to think of him. He didn’t care any less about his thoughts, anyway.
His eyes drifted to the nosy woman as she smiled shyly at the group of women she was being introduced to.
He couldn’t believe that he could see this side of her. He thought she was always loud and nosy like nothing could ever make her shut up. But looking at her now, her shy attitude is just too… cute to see.
‘What the f*ck are you thinking, Hunter? Since when you see her as a ‘cute’ lady?’ A part of his mind castigated him.
He swallowed hard.
Hector suddenly let out a bark of laughter beside him.
He rolled his eyes at what his brother just wanted to play with him with.
“Believe me when I say, I am quite thankful now that your eyes are into someone instead. Maybe, this can be a reason for us to patch things up.” Hector said as he suddenly turned serious this time.
He looked at him intensely. He still couldn’t understand him fully. One time he was in his playful antics, and now…
Hunter slightly shook his head.
“And what is that supposed to mean?” Hunter inquired his forehead was now creased.
Hector let out a deep sigh.
“That I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me… for taking her away from you.” Hector seriously replied.
His lips slightly parted at his brother’s words. He looked away.
‘Could it be? But how?’ He confusedly thought.
Hector chuckled at his expression.
“I know you, Hunter. I know that you like her. But believe me when I say, I tried my best not to fall for her. But the attraction and love for our destined mate couldn’t really be fought into.” Hector stated as he looked at Myrtle.
Hunter just clenched his jaw out of embarrassment. He thought he had hidden his emotions too well. But his brother had already figured out his feelings. It was just too awkward.
“I’ve passed through that already.” He tried to say even though he knew that it wasn’t the case.
Hector chuckled at his response before he slightly shook his head like he had heard a joke from him.
“Hopefully. And I also hope that you take it easy this time. She’s a human.” Hector finally said before tapping his shoulder and leaving him standing there.
His brows furrowed, as he just couldn’t understand him now.
“Is this what marriage had made him? And why the hell aren’t we fighting now?” He murmured to himself bewildered as to why they weren’t in a hostile mode.
For the very first time after he went out of the pack, he felt like the weight in his shoulders towards hating his brother finally lifted up. And he didn’t know why or how it could suddenly be… without him knowing.
Or maybe because deep inside him, even though he tried to hate his brother for loving the same woman that he loved and for being his shadow… He just couldn’t completely hate him… For he was still his brother.
However, despite those thoughts in mind, his left brow twitched as he stared intensely at that dark part of the woods. He gritted his teeth as he walked through the depths and eerie part… it’s a good thing that the heaviness that he felt a while ago like something was looking at him is all gone now.
He wouldn’t want to risk anything.
Hunter then, went towards Hector, who was already talking sweetly with Myrtle. However, his eyes were glued to the woman, who had these sparkling dark brown eyes.
He caught her staring at him and then she instantly looked away with her cheeks turning bright red.
‘Beautiful…’ He mentally thought before shaking his head because of those unwelcome thoughts.
Meanwhile, in the depths of the woods, the man wearing a black mask threw the bottle of wine into the wall causing a loud crashing sound.
He was livid.
“Curse that, Hunter Black! We are so close to achieving our plan and- Damn it!” He furiously yelled.
Everyone winced at his infuriating expression.
“Viejo! I want the woman! Bring her to me at all costs!” His voice thundered as everyone shivered.
“Y-Yes, M-Master.”