Chapter 51
Warmth
***
Leila didn’t know how long she had let herself being caged inside Hunter’s embrace. But she loved it there. In fact, she wanted to stay there forever.
Hunter took away her fears as he gave her that tight and warm hug.
She didn’t know how he appeared in her room but there was one thing that she was sure of, she was not alone this time.
Leila remembered that whenever she had a nightmare, she was always alone. She couldn’t even tell it to her own mother. She would always deal it with herself… in the middle of darkness.
But this time, she had Hunter.
And it was enough for her to doze off and felt the serenity inside his arms.
***
Hunter let out a deep sigh as he looked at Leila’s innocent face. He wiped the tears left in her cheeks making her groan a bit. He smiled.
However, it instantly faded when he realized what happened to her before he came in her room.
*** Flashback…
He and Hector needed to do something that their parents asked them to do before they left. Elder Howard reminded them about it and so, they did a surveillance of the said pack of rogues nearing their community.
It was a crucial thing to do.
And he was hoping to come back at the mansion before dinner.
However, he couldn’t believe that it was too late when the pack of rogues appear. They were just hunting and he and Hector immediately drove them away.
It was just a short and peaceful conversation.
The rogues wouldn’t want to make them their enemy.
And it seemed like they were just new in their pack that they didn’t know that the place was near the Moon Howlers Pack.
It was a good thing that it results to a peaceful talk as the hunters, who were with them made sure that the borders were still intact. That way, no one would dare cross their territory.
The sentinel wolves guarding around the area were also given some strict warnings.
“We need to be strict especially that mother and father are not here. We have to make sure that no one will cross the boundary.” Hector seriously commented.
He agreed causing them to stay there and plan to have two additional shifts for the sentinel wolves. They also posted some most trusted men around to make sure that they were all heavily guarded and were doing their tasks.
There was a given information that the Triad was making a move silently. And whatever that they were trying to do this time, no one knows.
All that they could do right now was to make sure that they have protected their territory.
“It’s already late, let’s go back.” Hector decided coldly as he looked at the moon glistening so brightly in the middle of darkness.
Then, he realized something.
“F*ck…” Hunter uttered in a whisper causing Hector to look at him, bewildered and curious.
“Let’s make it fast.” He told his brother as he was getting ready to run in a meteoric manner.
Hector was a bit dumbfounded.
And then, it smiled at him teasingly.
“Oh, looks like someone might have broken his promise, huh?” Hector commented mischievously.
He wasn’t surprised about that.
Hector, in the past, had always been like that to Myrtle.
And he would always feel so resentful towards him because he would always break Myrtle’s heart making her more and more disappointed at him.
But this time, he realized that with their duty as the next leaders of the pack, this couldn’t help. And this time, he understood Hector’s side.
However, Leila… She might not understand these kinds of things.
She was still new to the werewolf life.
And thinking about her disappointed face, that would already make him guiltier.
He ran meteorically.
Hector was behind him running with him cooly.
Hunter mentally let out a deep sigh as he concentrated himself to reach their mansion fast. Even though there was a huge possibility that Leila was already asleep.
He didn’t know whether arriving there with her still waiting was a better idea than seeing her asleep in her room.
Hunter was panting hardly as he took an abrupt stop.
His heart was beating swiftly inside his chest and he knew that it was not just because of his speedy running, but because he was nervous to see Leila.
But the mansion was already silent.
He let out a deep sigh.
“Oh, Leila…” Hector suddenly said causing him to look around.
His heartbeat instantly escalated.
However, it seemed like his older brother was just messing up with him.
“Damn you, Hector.” He stated before walking towards Leila’s room.
There he saw her sleeping soundly.
He let out a deep sigh and kissed her forehead.
She looked like an angel when she was sleeping.
Hunter couldn’t stop himself from smiling.
Then, he took a swift shower before walking back into the dining area. He knew that Leila cooked for him. He felt a pint of pain and guilt in his heart.
Perhaps, he shouldn’t promise something to her next time.
He saw a lot of his favorite dishes on the fridge which he instantly devours. He truly loved eating Leila’s dishes. She is a great cook and magnificent baker.
Hunter finished everything in the fridge.
All except the berries tart.
He ate three-fourths of it anyway. For he knew that Myrtle would give him a deadly glare if she discovered that he didn’t leave her with even a slice.
If he was to ask, he would certainly eat everything. But he didn’t want Leila to feel pressure in making a tart again because of Myrtle’s uncontrollable cravings for food.
Hunter silently went back to his room after arranging the plates.
He couldn’t sleep even though he was so exhausted. Maybe it was because he was still so full. He decided to go out for a short walk when the moment he went outside his room, he heard a sudden groaning sound near Leila’s room.
“Hmmm…”
That sounded like a fearful sound coming from Leila’s room, without thinking, he instantly went inside only to see Leila, who might be having a nightmare.
*** End of Flashback…
A few minutes later, and now she had finally fell asleep inside his arms.
Hunter couldn’t stop himself but to smile and slowly moved away.
But Leila held his hand.
“D-Don’t go…”
Hunter didn’t know whether she was faking her sleep but when he looked at her, who was breathing normally, he knew that she was already asleep.
He decided to stay and pull her closer to him.
Besides, this is also what he wanted to do anyway.
Maybe he could just give himself a short time before going back to his own room.
However, he was already swallowed by exhaustion and fell asleep beside Leila.