Chapter 32
On Guard
***
Leila moved from side to side then, rolling while inside her comforter.
She couldn’t sleep that night no matter what she did. Perhaps, it was because she knew that tomorrow she would face the process that Hunter was telling her a while ago. And it was making her so anxious.
There were a lot of things that were running through her mind keeping her awake.
It was bugging her mind that she couldn’t sleep a wink.
She let out a deep sigh as she looked at the clock on her bedside table.
It was already past midnight.
She was still in the process of accepting that she was now a werewolf and now, this. She had to undergo the process to prove to herself that she could be a werewolf. She had to know how werewolves were.
“Are you okay?” Silver asked all of a sudden.
She was already lying in her bed when she couldn’t fall asleep. She let out a deep sigh and got up from her bed instead.
“I can’t sleep. The process that will happen tomorrow. It is just… It is making me so nervous.” She honestly replied.
She could hear her growl.
“You have to be strong. You have to accept me fully my strength and my power. I believe in you, Lela.” Silver stated with pure resolve.
However, that only made Leila a bit more pressured making her let out a deep sigh.
It seemed like she has to work harder for Silver, too.
And she had to make sure to surpass the process whatever it is.
“Do you know what the process is all about?” She inquired curiously.
Silver was silent which was making her forehead crease.
“I know that you are listening.” Leila uttered in pure conviction.
Silver growled.
“Every process has its own uniqueness, Leila. And I am not sure about what kind of challenge they want you to undergo. However, there is one thing that is for sure it will measure your strength and your determination. No matter what it is it wouldn’t be that easy, so you have to work hard.” Silver truthfully explained.
It was better for her to accept that.
She didn’t want any sugarcoating when it came to this kind of situation. And she appreciated Silver for doing that.
“Thank you for being so honest and supportive.” Leila said favorably.
When she met Silver, she felt like she had someone to lean on to after hearing that she is now a werewolf.
The burden inside her heart was a bit lighter because of her.
Silence filled between them.
She felt like she would love to go out and get some fresh air. The wind blowing from the window was enticing and it was making her want to feel it more.
“Going somewhere?” Silver asked inwardly.
Although there was a hint in her voice that she already knew what she was thinking of doing.
However, she decided to answer her.
“I will go out. I want some fresh air.” She responded quickly as she got up and got her jacket.
She was wearing her extra-large plain black rounded shirt and black jogging pants. There were a lot of night gowns inside the closet but she preferred wearing those kinds of clothes. It was more comfortable for her.
Silver grunted as if she didn’t want her decision to go out. But she didn’t say anything. She slowly went out of her room.
The hallway was so silent that it was turning creepier for her.
For a moment, she thought of going back to her room and forcing herself to sleep.
However, she let out an inaudible sigh and continued walking towards the main door. She wasn’t that scared for she knew that there were a lot of sentinel wolves around the mansion.
But the eeriness of the place and the silence was deafening.
“What if a ghost suddenly appears here?” Leila murmured to herself causing Silver to scoff at her.
“You are old for that, Leila… And ghosts? Really?” Silver commented on the side.
Leila bit her lower lip and let Silver’s remarks pass her ears.
She let out a deep sigh of relief when she got out of the mansion.
The cold wind touched her skin as if lulling her.
She closed her eyes but she was interrupted by an addictive smell nearing her.
“What are you doing here? You should be sleeping by now.” Hunter’s voice resonated in her ears.
And as if on cue, Silver growled inside her. She didn’t know why but she was feeling hot inside her. She swallowed hard then, she looked away.
‘What the heck is happening?’ She asked herself as she was trying to calm herself down.
Leila discreetly took a deep breath before answering.
“Uh… I… I can’t sleep.” She replied embarrassed with the unnamed emotions that she suddenly felt.
Hunter stayed beside her which was making her a bit uncomfortable and giddy at the same time. She couldn’t pinpoint why and how that happened.
She was astonished that those two contradicting thoughts could be felt at the same time.
“How did you f-find me?” She asked curiously.
Of course, she didn’t want to assume anything.
All that she wanted to do right now was to stop the fleeting awkwardness between them.
“I was on guard tonight. The sentinel wolves told me.” Hunter simply replied.
Leila let out a deep sigh.
‘See? So, I shouldn’t assume anything.’ She mentally stated.
Silver growled inside her.
“Congratulations, then…’ Silver commented on the side.
She almost rolled her eyes because of her.
Silence filled the air causing Leila to feel the tension building inside her.
“Stop being anxious for tomorrow.” Hunter said all of a sudden causing her to look at him.
She was gawking at him unable to utter a word.
“I know you can do it.” He added causing her lips to slightly part apart.
Her heart was beating loudly inside her chest. Then, she blinked her eyes as if she was trying to figure out whether she heard her wrong or not.
Then, he gave her a small smile making her heart pound inside her go wildly.
She let out a loud curse inside her head.
And she moved her face towards him causing Hunter’s forehead crease.
“W-What are you doing?” Hunter stammered as she was looking at him weirdly.
Then, Leila swallowed hard.
“Are you really Hunter? Why are you being kind?” She inquired innocently.
Hunter grunted and looked away while she couldn’t stop her eyes from widening.
“A-Are you blushing?” Leila blurted out recklessly making Hunter stood up straightly.
Leila bit her lower lip as she tried to stop herself from smiling widely.
“Stop spouting nonsense.” Hunter said defensively.
Then, he stared at her blankly. However, her smile never left her lips causing Hunter to groan in frustration. Then, he shook his head.
“Whatever… Go back to your room now. It is not safe to stay outside at this hour.” Hunter said seriously as he held my hand and pulled me towards the entrance of the mansion.
She almost felt like she was going to faint when she felt his hand on her. It was as if she was being electrocuted when he simply just held her hand and nothing else.
Her cheeks instantly blushed at that simple gesture that he did for her.
Leila let out a deep sigh before facing him.
“Fine… I will go ahead… But don’t exhaust yourself, either.” She stated before smiling widely at him and waving her goodbye before walking away from Hunter.
It was as if she was walking into clouds as she got back to her room.
She felt so happy and at ease even when she was already lying to her bed.
And miraculously, she fell asleep smilingly that night.
***
Hunter let out a deep sigh as he watched Leila walking back to her room. Then, he shook his head and ran his fingers on his hair.
Leila could be really spontaneous, and her mood easily changes.
One second, she is crying like there is no tomorrow and the next second, she was already teasing him.
However, a small smile crept over his lips not until he turned his head towards the darkness of the forest.
He gritted his teeth as he walked towards the woods with ease.
Then, the winds blew revealing no one from the bushes where he felt a presence.
‘I need to make sure that Leila is fine. Especially since it seems like someone is after her.’ He mentally commented as he went back to his post.
He had to make sure that all sentinel wolves were alert and on guard.