Chapter 30
Accept
***
A loud knock on her door made her wipe her teary face.
But she was a bit surprised to feel that her tears were already dried. Perhaps, she had already lost track of how long she had been sitting on the wooden floor.
Leila instantly stood up and sat down on her bed lazily.
She was torn between letting whoever was inside her or not.
“Who’s that?” She asked hoping that it was someone whom she could talk to.
And she was grateful that it was Myrtle as she declared that it was her.
“Come in…” Her voice was hoarse as she said those words.
Maybe because of her crying too much. Her voice was now a bit creepy to hear. She let out a deep sigh.
She looked at the door and saw Myrtle go inside her room.
Her forehead creased as her nose suddenly crinkled.
She could smell Myrtle’s unique fragrance. However, on top of that, she could also smell a bit of Hunter and his blood.
‘What the heck is that?’ She asked herself, confused.
‘Duh? This is their house. And you are already a werewolf. You can smell him everywhere now. Isn’t that cool?’ A part of her mind replied on her behalf.
She mentally let out a deep sigh.
“How are you? Do you want something? To eat, maybe?” She kindly asked.
And all that she could do right now was to give her a forced and weak smile before shaking her head.
Myrtle let out a deep sigh and went near her.
“You want to talk?” She inquired but it was more of a statement.
And Leila thought that maybe, it would be better for her to talk about it. That it would be better for her to say what was on her mind to ask her questions, hoping that there were some answers for it.
And Myrtle, she would be grateful if she could ask her that.
Because if there was someone that she could talk with she would be the perfect one.
Myrtle sat on her bed facing her.
“There are a lot of things that’s bugging me. But…” She swallowed hard as she felt her tears starting to gather in her eyes once again.
She thought they were all gone now. She thought that there were no more tears left inside her. But that was just her wishful thinking.
Leila looked away and stared blankly at the wall.
To be honest, she was feeling a bit angry about what was happening to her. But deep inside her, she knew that if it cost her her life, she would understand why this happened.
However, she was still looking for some answer.
For her to be able to accept all of this, she would want some answer. And perhaps, now is the perfect time for her to do that.
“How? I mean… is this really necessary? For me to be… like you?” She spoke all of a sudden while Myrtle was just listening to her silently.
Then, Leila looked at her straight in the eyes.
“I mean… I am not telling that werewolves are bad but this… this situation… it is just… It is just…” Leila couldn’t even explain her own thoughts.
She didn’t want her to say her words negatively but she couldn’t explain it thoroughly.
However, it seemed like Myrtle understood her already. And that she didn’t need to explain further. She held her hands making her stop and sending comfort to her at the same time.
“I know that this is hard for you to accept, Leila.” Myrtle stated softly.
Then, she gave her a small smile.
“You are badly hurt during the attack. And we don’t have any option left. This is the least that we could do to save you.” She tried to explain to her profoundly.
And Leila knew that.
She knew that. She could understand her point. However, there was still part of her that didn’t know what to do next.
Yes.
She was already a werewolf.
And then, what?
What about her family?
What will happen to her?
There were a lot of questions popping inside her head.
And she didn’t know what to say or do next.
It was all too vague for her.
“But what now? What can I do now? My parents… How about my mother? And Darcel? What will happen to me?”
There.
She had finally said what was truly bugging in her mind as tears started to fall from her eyes.
Myrtle gently pressed her hands.
“We can guide you through the process, Leila. But you have to accept that this is the new you…” Myrtle explained carefully.
“And besides, it doesn’t mean that since you are now a werewolf, you are different. You are still you, Leila. You are still the same Leila that we know. It’s just that… You are now a bit stronger holding the ability of a werewolf.” She continued her words.
Leila swallowed the lump in her throat as she felt a bit lighter now.
“Just think of it like… This time, at least, you can easily protect yourself and your family.” She added and gave her a small smile.
She didn’t know how long they were inside her room already.
But there was something that’s for sure she felt a bit okay than a while ago.
“Are you okay now?” She asked after a short while and Leila smiled at her.
Then, she nodded her head.
“Well, I think I am better than a while ago.” She honestly replied.
Myrtle let out a deep sigh of relief.
“That’s good to hear. Everyone is very worried especially Hunter. He almost died saving you since the ritual took him a lot of strength and resolve. Well, he also went to his room after talking to his parents he is still weak and-”
Leila bit her lower lip.
“H-Hunter… H-He saved me?” She uttered as if everything just registered to her.
It was Hunter who saved her.
Guilt started to creep into her system.
Especially when Myrtle nodded her head in confirmation. Then, she stood up and went to her window.
“Yes. He is really worried. He is badly hurt, too. Perhaps I can cook something for both of you. Would you want any kind of soup later?” Myrtle inquired of her.
But her mind was already drifting towards the fact that Hunter is hurt, too because of her. She had also endangered his life and it was making her guiltier.
“Hey…” Myrtle called her as she gently tapped her shoulder, taking her attention.
“Anything would do… Perhaps, I can help you.” Leila replied since her mind was already drifting towards Hunter.
It was a better thing for her to do something else than caging herself inside her room.
“Is… Is Hunter okay now?” She couldn’t stop herself from asking after a while.
They were now walking out of her room. Maybe this was a better thing to do. For her to think rationally.
But before Myrtle could answer her, their mouths dropped wide open as they saw the main topic in their conversation, in the kitchen… cooking like he was in a war or something.
Hunter was holding the pan cover shielding himself from whatever he was cooking. While he was wielding a spatula in the air like it was some sort of a sword or something.
Myrtle shrugged her shoulders.
“Well, I think we still have to wait outside and pray that he won’t ruin the kitchen. I think he is a bit better now. I wonder who he is cooking for.” Myrtle teasingly stated before pulling her out of the kitchen silently.
Her cheeks slightly blushed as she castigated herself not to assume anything and simply let out an inaudible sigh.
‘Too bad… I still want to watch him cook…’ A part of her mind commented but it would be too obvious so, she had to follow Myrtle instead.
But she couldn’t stop herself from smiling genuinely this time.