Chapter 34
Secret
***
“What is going on?” Hunter instantly fired his grandfather that question the moment they went out of the hall.
The very moment Leila said those words a while ago he was being edgy to ask his grandfather.
“Is that even possible?” He added as his grandfather seemed to be lost in his deep thoughts.
Then, he let out a deep breath.
“Let’s not talk here.” His grandfather replied seriously causing him to swallow hard.
Hunter looked at the closed door unsure of what to do.
However, his grandfather grinned at him causing him to scoff at him a bit.
Then, he let out a deep sigh.
“Where are we going then?” He inquired trying to divert their conversation.
However, his grandfather’s mischievous grin didn’t wipe away his lips.
They walked to his study. It was the safest place. And it was a good thing that Hector or Myrtle wasn’t around. He wouldn’t want to explain anything to them right now. Besides, this was better. He could at least talk to his grandfather and ask him right there and then.
“What’s going on? That is impossible, right?” Hunter asked for the second time the very moment the door of his grandfather’s study room was closed.
Elder Howard remained silent as he sat on his wooden chair.
Perhaps, he was also not sure of what to say. However, his next words made him fall into his deep reverie.
“It is not usual but it is not also impossible.” Elder Howard replied in almost a whisper.
Then, his eyes slightly widened in shock.
“W-What…” It was laced with uncertainty and wasn’t sure whether to believe it or not.
However, knowing his grandfather he knew that he wouldn’t say nonsensical things like that. Besides, this is an important matter.
How the heck could this happen to Leila?
She is special?
It came out to be a question rather than a statement.
How come?
“But we must be discreet about it.” Elder Howard stated seriously causing him to stare at him seriously.
His eyes were like hawk watching like a predator that is ready to strike if he wouldn’t want his answer to be like.
“Of course. I won’t tell anyone.” He said using his most serious tone of voice.
Then, he let out a deep sigh.
Silence filled between them as he tried to think whether everything that was happening now was the truth or not.
“By the way…” Hunter said all of a sudden.
His grandfather stared at him curiously.
Then, he swallowed the lump in his throat and looked away.
For a second, he wanted to swallow the words that he wanted to say.
But would he?
He clenched his jaw and looked at him seriously.
“I volunteer to guard the hall until her challenge is done.” Hunter said darkly.
However, his grandfather seemed to be too amused at his words. He leaned against his chair and rested his elbows on the armrest. He almost groaned in frustration.
It seemed like he was teasing him silently.
“Okay.” He said smilingly.
But he was a bit pissed off from the way he looked at him.
“Don’t put any other color for this. And don’t let Hector know about this.” Hunter told his grandfather warningly.
But the latter simply let out a bark of laughter at him.
He let out a deep sigh and clenched his jaw.
Damn it!
“Okay…” Elder Howard smilingly stated while nodding his head in agreement.
But he knew him better.
He was certainly teasing him.
Damn it!
“Stop smirking! I am serious.” He said seriously.
But the old man cleared his throat and tried to maintain a straight face even if he was already failing miserably.
“I am serious, really, grandpa.” Hunter stated and pursed his lips together to prove a point.
Elder Howard let out a deep sigh.
“Yeah. And I am serious, too. You know…” Elder Howard replied while a smug smirk was visibly written on his lips.
However, Hunter knew that the more that he would ask him to stop he wouldn’t.
His grandfather is naughty and stubborn that way.
He let out a deep sigh.
“Don’t worry too much about her. I know that she would surpass this. You… You need to be stronger to protect her. You know that the enemies are still on the loose.” Those were his grandfather’s final words before he went out of his study room.
He let out a deep sigh as he walked back to the hall where Leila was.
His mind was somewhere else.
He couldn’t believe that this was happening and that Leila, the woman, who entered his life without notice could end up being like this.
Everything happened when he met her.
Hunter let out a deep sigh as he stared at the night sky. The wind was blowing coldly and it was as if it was also gusting off the thoughts that kept on running in his mind. Then, he continued walking.
Just a few more meters away he could already hear Leila’s screams.
He walked quickly and stopped right in front of the huge door.
He swallowed hard as he closed his hands into balled fist before it could even reach for the doorknob.
Hunter knew that this was the challenge that Leila had to face.
But he didn’t know why he was feeling so emotional towards her.
He let out a deep breath as he tried to calm himself while listening to her painful scream from the other side of the wall.
“Ahhh!”
Her voice was already strained and in pain but all that he could do right now was to close his eyes firmly as he clenched his jaw.
Worry started to creep into his system as he tried so hard to bear the sound of her painful cry.
He didn’t know how long he stayed that way.
The hall was a bit distant from the community. This is built for challenges like this. This could also be a discipline hall for those members of the pack that were sinned.
Then, his forehead creased when a few minutes more…
Silence filled that air.
His forehead creased as he stood up straight and looked at the closed door.
Then, a loud growling sound resonated into thin air.
His lips parted apart as he stared at it with his eyes wide.
“H-How…” He knew what might be happening but still, he couldn’t believe it.
‘Is that really from h-her? Is that Leila?’ A part of her mind inquired unsure, serious, and shocked.
However, his questions were answered when the door suddenly unlocked from the outside.
The door creaked as it slowly opened.
Then, Leila, in her human form, went out of the hall her aura was visibly felt in the air. It was shockingly strong.
And when she looked at him her dark brown eyes were shifting from lighter to darker shade.
“L-Leila…” Hunter uttered her name slowly.
He swallowed hard as she looked at him, like it was not her.
“H-Hunter…” She called his name and before he could utter more words, she slowly closed her eyes and fainted.
Hunter was quick to be able to hold her in his arms to stop her from falling into the muddy and cold ground.
“H-How… How is this possible?” He asked himself unbelieving the things that was happening right now.
Because it was truly impossible for her to be able to shift that fast.
She might really be special.
But right now, all that he needed to do was to hide this secret.
Because his grandfather’s words were right.
The enemies of their pack were still on the loose. And he didn’t want Leila’s life to be at stake. He must be discreet about this. He must do his best to hide this.