The window squeaked as a young female cracked it open. Her hands trembled as she peeked out apprehensively. Her jet black hair which was held up in a rough bun got stuck to the rusted window pane, startling her a bit.
She jolted backward, her hands flew up to her chest and she glanced around the musty room. She stood still, listening for movement or sounds. When she was satisfied with the eerie silence that surrounded her, she inched closer to the window.
Voices filled the air. Members of the pack were celebrating their newest victory. She inhaled deeply, the smell of alcohol and meat wafted to her nose, but she didn't salivate. Food was the furthest thing from her mind.
As she watched them from her obscure vantage point, she wished could be as carefree as they were one day. That she could dance amidst them, crack jokes, celebrate wins with them, and be treated decently. That one day she'd belong with them as they would belong with her. Yet none of them seemed to notice her as they partied.
There was no time for that now. She thought. Tonight they had crossed the line and there was no going back. A familiar pang of hurt sliced through her chest. Tears slid down her cheeks, mixing with the blood and sweat that stained her face. She wiped it off roughly.
Scanning the area tentatively, she sighed. She looked down and gulped. She was on the 3rd floor of the massive 4-story building that served as the Gemini Pack House. She shivered, hugging herself. The tank top and trousers she wore were shredded and damp. Blood oozed out from somewhere beneath her shirt and the deep gash on her forehead.
"Laura…." She heard someone call out from somewhere deep inside the house.
Without looking back, she jumped.
*********************************
Laura groaned softly, opening her eyes. The harsh glare of the sunlight made her shut them back quickly. She heard footsteps, someone was moving close to her. Her heartbeat quickened. What did they do to me? She asked herself. Her head hurt badly, it felt as if the world was spinning around her, while thousands of elephants matched in her head.
She slowly opened her eyes as her pupils adjusted to the brightness of daylight. She tried getting up but a sharp pain pierced through her stomach and forced her to stay down.
“Don’t try to get up, you’re not yet strong enough, you’ll injure yourself.” A familiar voice advised.
"You saved me. Again" She murmured, shutting her eyes in relaxation.
He chuckled. “You a funny lady, you know that?”
“How did you...?” Her voice trailed off as she sat up abruptly, neglecting the pain coursing through her.
“You look like you’re about to lose consciousness again. You should lie down to reserve your energy, you're badly injured." He replied, curtly.
"But…" She tried speaking and her head began to swoon, making her lose control of her body as she fell to the ground.
Before her head could hit the ground, he caught her and gently set her down.
"Thank you." She grumbled.
"But why.." She started to ask.
"Shhhh...You need to rest then eat" He cut her off.
The sound of his voice, so close to her, thrilled her. She groaned appreciatively, as she deeply inhaled his scent. He smelled of Cedarwood mixed with a hint of musk and spice. She never imagined that she'd appreciate such a combination, yet as she lay in his arms she savored it.
No one had made her heart flutter as he did. Nobody made her stumble on her words or leave her gobsmacked like him. He had found her and saved her again, proving to them that no matter what he said, they belonged together.
She opened her eyes and caught him staring. Clearing his throat, he let go of her and hastened as far away from her as he could bear.
She chuckled, wishing she had a smart retort to make. Nothing came to mind. Since he was there to protect her, she let herself fall asleep.
The grumbling of her stomach woke her up the next time. She sat up gingerly, feeling better. Darkness had fallen around the forest and he had already started a fire to keep them warm. She watched him feed the fire with wood and twigs, which he must have gathered when she was asleep.
"Come closer." He said to the fire. "You should be feeling a lot better."
Rather than obey or agree with him, she felt like sticking her tongue out. But she held herself and folded her arms.
"Do you have to be so stubborn?" He asked tiredly.
She remained mute.
"You must be hungry, come and eat." He tried again.
She said nothing.
"Okay fine, stay where you are. I'll just eat your share and mine." He shrugged.
"Why'd you save me?" She asked seriously.
Her heart beat in anticipation. She hoped he had changed his mind.
He ignored her. Chewing thoughtfully.
She heaved a sigh.
"I hate it when my questions go unanswered." She started bitterly.
He stopped chewing, then stared at her with seriousness.
“Why did you leave?" He asked.
Eve huffed and moved closer to the fire.
"I'm hungry." She said, ignoring his question.
He tossed her some fruits, then asked again.
"Why did you leave, when you were still recuperating? Do you enjoy playing Damsel in distress?"
Eve froze, his words cut through her like a saber. She held the tears that clouded her eyes from falling.
“I left because it was the right thing to do, stop questioning me, it doesn't matter if I left does it?” she retorted.
“Of course, it doesn't, if I didn't interfere in time, you would be dead by now, you know that?” he asked, gazing into her eyes.
Eve laughed disdainfully.
"I wouldn't be dead, just in a place worse than death." She replied, dropping her meal. She shivered unconsciously, the thought of what they'd have done to her if they captured her, made her lose her appetite.
So he still feels the same. She thought.
"I know I should be grateful that you came in time to save me but I'm not. After what you did, I feel better off dead. If you do not care about me, stop trying to save me. This act you're putting up is frustrating.” she rebuffed.
“You think I saved you because I cared?”
Obviously. she thought hopefully.
“You rejected me, didn't you? That's why I left your pack. Yet the moment I disappeared from your sight, you came running after me. You care about me just as I do, stop trying to deny your emotions.” She calmly said.
He laughed loudly, then stood up slowly with a smirk on his face.
“How stupid can you be?" He asked.
"You do not even know me. We just met a few days ago and you're talking about care. You talk a lot and make quick assumptions, about someone who has no energy and cannot take care of herself. Are you out of your mind? How many times do I have to say it for you to understand?”
His words stung her, but she put up a brave front.
“I’m saying this for the very last time, you're not mine. I also did not come running after you, you aren’t that special. Because I invited you into my pack, you are under my protection. Did you expect me to leave you there to die? I’m not heartless! What kind of leader would my pack see me as?
You are not only weak and lousy but you cannot even think straight. Why'd you think you can become my mate? Stop being delusional, it doesn't suit you.” He finished.
She wanted to scream but couldn't find her voice. She stared numbly at him. Then suddenly burst into laughter. The shredding she had just received from him hurt badly, but it was not the worst thing she suffered from. She went through much worse in her lifetime that laughed her pain away.
