Chapter 29
Wolf
***
‘I am a werewolf?’ It was all that was inside Leila’s mind as she requested to be alone for the time being.
She wanted time for herself. She wanted to think about it. She wanted to process everything to herself.
***
“This is the only way, Leila. I hope you understand. Hunter bite you and perform a ritual for you to become like us. The wolf you met is your inner wolf. This… This is the only way to save you.”
***
Those words kept on playing inside her head like a broken stereo.
Then, her tears fell like a waterfall descending endlessly from her eyes.
Leila bent her knees before putting her arms above her knees and buried her face in it.
She cried like there was no tomorrow. She couldn’t believe that from now on, she couldn’t get back to her old self anymore. That she had to face the fact that she was now a werewolf.
What about her mother? And Darcel? What will happen to her now?
She didn’t know.
Her mind was confused and in chaos.
She didn’t know how to deal with it but there was one thing that was making her more and more miserable.
“What now?” She murmured under her breath as she tried to stifle the sound of her sobs.
However, whatever she had to explain herself or even to think to soothe her feelings, she couldn’t deny the fact that she couldn’t get back anymore. And that was what was making her the saddest.
She bit her lower lip as she swallowed the painful sobs that wanting to escape from her mouth.
It was as if she was mourning for her old self.
Then, her forehead creased when she heard something growled. It was as if it was breaking the melancholic ambiance around her. Leila looked around but there was nothing.
Her tears suddenly stopped as if it was also felt so terrified about where the growls were coming from.
“What the heck was that?” Leila asked herself.
Fear started to creep in into her system.
“This is me…”
Her eyes widened in shocked as she flinched a bit. She got her pillows and looked around once again. But there was nothing.
“Oh, God… Please spare me… I am just crying for my heart’s content. Don’t give me some ghost around, please…” She prayed in a whisper as she closed her eyes tightly.
She was already trembling inside for she was such a scaredy-cat… Or was it a scaredy-wolf now?
‘Damn it, Leila! This is serious! Stop your crazy antics!’ A part of her castigated her, annoyed.
She swallowed the lump in her throat.
“I am not a ghost. It’s me… Silver.” The voice made her realized something.
Leila opened her eyes and looked around.
‘Where are you?’ Her mind spoke but her eyeballs almost rolled out from its sockets when a voice replied at her.
“I am inside you.” It said causing her to get up and move away from her bed.
“Damn it, Silver! What are you trying to do? Are you trying to scare me to death? Where are you, really?” She inquired with a hint of panic laced in her voice.
But she heard someone chuckle.
“I am now you, remember? You are already a werewolf, Leila. You should know that I can easily talk to you through our link.” She explained to me and it was as if it was slowly dawning on her.
That this was her reality now.
And it was making her heart clench in pain knowing that this was her life now.
“Don’t be sad…” Silver tried to comfort her but it was just making her more and more sad.
She leaned against the wall and slowly felt her legs trembling, causing her to sluggishly fall to the wooden floor.
Leila hugged herself as her tears fell once again.
This time, she had let herself cry for lost self.
Because right now, she was truly lost.
She didn’t know who she is anymore.
“You have to be strong. I know that this is not an easy thing for you to accept, Leila. But I believe that we are destined to be partners. It is the moon goddess who destined me to be your wolf.” Silver stated softly as if she was always there for her.
Then, she felt warmth inside her comforting her.
And it was enough for her to cry until she had no longer have the tears to fall.
Besides, she could still remember what her grandmother have told her.
***
“Oh, my dear, Leila, in this world change is inevitable. So, you should be prepared. There is nothing permanent in this world. So, cry to your heart’s content now but make sure to move on… Perhaps, not easily but you have to little by little. Because that’s what life is. And you have to deal with it.”
***
And those were the words that kept her mind sane and was giving her the strength to kept on going.
But for now, all that she could do was to cry.
At least… Right now, she had gained a friend.
Her inner wolf Silver.
She heard her growl inside her like she was trying to comfort her. And at that time, she knew that she was not alone and that she had someone within her already and cheering her.
***
Hunter gritted his teeth as he leaned against the wall.
He was about to talk to Leila asked her if she was now okay, but he stopped because of this. He was hearing her heartbreaking sobs.
He let out a deep sigh as he closed his eyes. He could hear her painful cries from the other side of the door. And it was as if his heart was also clenching in pain for her.
Hunter knew that it wouldn’t be easy for her to accept what happened and it was making him a bit guilty. However, he had no other choice but to do that in order to save her.
‘Perhaps, it is not the time for me to talk to her.’ He told himself and decided to just go back to his room.
But it was as if his feet have their own mind that they wouldn’t follow him.
He wanted to go back to his room because he was also feeling weak yet. But he didn’t know why he was still there and standing. He didn’t even know how long he had been there he was just listening to Leila’s cry and staring blankly on the wooden floor, with his both hands inside his pockets.
And all of a sudden, he saw a pair of shoes in front of him.
He looked at the owner only to see Myrtle in front of him. It was as if she had caught him doing something illegal. He immediately stood up straight and looked away.
“What are you doing here?” She asked him curiously.
However, he knew that she was just fishing for some information. Or that she already had the answer, but she was just confirming it.
Hunter let out a deep and inaudible sigh before facing her.
“Nothing. I will be going now.” It came out in a whisper even though he didn’t intend it to say it that way.
But he didn’t want to say another word anymore.
He swallowed the lump in his throat and went away instead. He was just hoping that Leila could be fine soon.
That is what he was just waiting and praying for.
He wanted her to be okay soon.
That she would return to her jolly self who have these crazy thoughts that no one could ever think of.
Hunter lied in his bed as he rested his arm on his forehead.
He didn’t know why he was just so affected like this.
But there was a huge part in his heart that wanted to see Leila.
“Perhaps, I can just cook something for her.” He murmured under his breath trying to think what it could be.
And even thinking of asking Henry to help him later.