Chapter Five
1078 Words
Leslie
Everywhere was eerily quiet. Maybe it was because Hudson was buried today or was it because the whole thing felt sad?
The ride back to the pack house was overtaken by silence, I still couldn't understand why Samuel insisted he wanted to ride back home with me even as his brothers vehemently kicked against it, especially Colton.
“You've been quiet throughout the burial rites or should I say throughout today?” His voice held worry.
I smiled tiredly. “You noticed?”
“It was quite obvious.” He said and flashed me a small smile.
“I see." I said and let out a sigh. I don't know what was wrong with me, I should be happy, finally Hudson was dead and in hell but I just felt indescribable emotions.
“Might I compliment how beautiful you are?” I looked at him quite shocked at his words.
“You're beautiful, really beautiful Leslie.” He said when I didn't utter a word.
My heart plummeted down to my toes. What the hell was wrong with me? Why was I feeling attracted to this man too? He merely just complimented my beauty.
His warm hand on my exposed thigh forced me to look at him. His eyes lingered on my face for a while, throughout those few moments, I couldn't breathe properly.
It felt like time stopped and I honestly hoped it won't move again. “You're burning up." He murmured.
His palm was on my forehead in no time. “You're running a fever.” He said
I tried to say I was fine but I found my lips sealed, I could only watch as he unbuckled my seat belt and brought my head down to his chest. “Just stay still, ì have a history of calming down fever.” He whispered into my ears.
I wasn't planning to move. I didn't say that though.
He stroked my hair lightly, that had been the first time someone stroked my hair since my parents died, the first time someone noticed I was burning up, the first time someone noticed I kept to myself. The first time someone hugged me in a while.
“Don't push yourself too much Les." His smile peeked out like a tiny ray of sunshine.
Les? Did he just call me fondly?
The pack house soon came to view and for once since I came to the blood moon pack, I wished I wouldn't come home so quickly. If the ride had been with Hudson, my lines of prayer would be longer than anybody that has problems because breathing the same air as Hudson in the same car made me sick and pale.
But this...this felt different. Samuel's little gesture warmed my heart. I wondered if he felt the same pull as I did.
“We are here.” He nudged me. “Are you asleep?" He asked.
I shook my head against his chest. “I'm just feeling a bit dizzy." I murmured.
Lies...
I just wanted you to carry me inside and know how it felt to be in your arms.
“Then I don't think you can walk to your room." He reasoned.
I tried to hide my smile when he lifted up from the ground. “Just close your eyes, we will be there in no time.”
Yeah. I planned on doing that, only that I hoped we wouldn't get there in time.
“Why don't I call the pack doctor to examine you, with some medications, you would be okay before tomorrow." Samuel asked just as he kicked open my door.
I shook my head in disapproval. “No. It's fine, I will be fine.” I tried assuring him but he didn't look convinced.
“I would be fine, trust me.” He didn't reply until he laid me down on my bed. “
“Are you sure about that?”
I nodded. It was a normal thing for me to feel sick anytime I thought too much about the day my parents were murdered in cold blood. It was worse anytime I dreamt of them. “Yes." I finally said.
He sat down beside me where I laid tucked under the bed spread. “I know it must be hard on you Leslie," He started saying. “But please don't stress yourself or drown yourself in thoughts.”
He turned around and faced me the same moment I sat up. “I know what it feels like to lose someone close to your heart. Trust me when I tell you I know how it hurts.”
I wrinkled my nose. Hudson wasn't close to my heart, not even a little.
“So please try to take it slow, everything will be fine.”
Would everything ever be fine and back to how it was before?
“I appreciate your kind words Samuel, I've experienced the pains of losing a loved one but unfortunately Hudson wasn't dear to my heart.”
He was confused and it showed on his handsome face but he didn't say a word. Instead he closed the little gap between us, pressed a light kiss on my forehead and left after tucking back under the bed cover.
I wanted to tell him to stay longer, I wanted to tell him to stay beside me and continue to talk to me with his calm voice, I wanted to tell him not to leave until I was asleep but I couldn't find the courage to tell him.
If for a moment I was happy that the twins decided to stay for a year as their father requested, the moment Colton entered my room after Samuel left wearing a smug smile. I hated it.
If I wasn't his father's wife, would he have come back for me? I wondered. “What are you doing here?" I asked in my best ladylike voice.
“To pay a visit to my late father's wife." He drawled. “Or do you have a problem with that?" He asked and walked fully inside the room.
“What a nice room for a gold digger." His words were equivalent to the pain of being slashed by a blade.
“What are you doing here Colton?” I asked again.
“I told you before.” The initial look he had on his face dissolved into a grim expression. “I'm here to see my late father's wife."
- Writer
