Stranger Of The Night:His Wolfless Mistress

Chapter 5

I whined a little but busted into laughter at the end, for getting carried away with my thought.

"Are you ok?" Bella asked, with a smile on her face and I nodded.

"I am fine"

"What were you thinking about?"

"N-nothing" I replied and stood up from the floor.

"You seem happy. Tell me. What were you thinking about? Is there someone you like?"

I chuckled a little and finally frowned. "Someone I like?". I scoffed. Though I wanted someone to love me and I want to love someone too but the thought of it makes me feel cranky. "Who will like a wolfless cur...". She frowned at me and I chuckled. "Ok. I get that. I am not a wolfless cursed human. But who will like a person like me?"

She sighed, picked up the list, and stood up. "Is there something you need? I am heading to the market"

I could tell she was trying to end the discussion, so I shrugged.

"Not really. But you can get me some fruit though"

She nodded and then picked up her basket.

"I will be back soon"

Bella left the cave and I decided to read a book. I picked up a book and opened a few pages when the door opened. My dad walked in, looking so worried.

"Are you ok dad?" I asked, getting worried too. He moved closer to me and sat down on the stool. "Dad?"

He stared at me. "I have to go on a journey tomorrow and might not be back before your birthday"

I stared at him. Is that the reason he looks worried?

"Are you worried you won't be able to attend my birthday party?"

He nodded. "I am so sorry love. I wish I could"

I sighed. "I never wanted to celebrate it too and I think this is an opportunity not to," I thought and then smiled at him.

"That shouldn't be a problem. How about we celebrate it when you get back?. Just the two of us?"

He stared at me. "The two of us?"

I nodded. "Yes. The two of us"

His eyes brightened up a little. "Are you sure about that?"

"Of course, I am"

He hugged me tightly. "I love you, my precious daughter"

"And I love you too, dad" I replied.

He moved away and picked up the book I was reading.

"Reading again?" He asked and I nodded.

He dropped the book and stared at me. "Val?"

"Yes, dad?"

"Is there anything you want for your birthday?"

I shrugged. "I don't want anything, dad. I just want you to go and come back safe?". He sighed. "Is something wrong?"

"No. Everything is fine"

I stared at him suspiciously. "Are you..."

"I am fine, ok?"

I sighed. I could tell something was wrong but he wasn't ready to talk to me about it. I decided to talk to Bella about it. Maybe she might know something about it or will be able to ask him.

My dad received a message for an urgent meeting and he had to return to the packhouse.

"Tell Bella to meet me at the packhouse," he told me before he left.

I waited for Bella until she returned some hours later with a basket filled with the things she had brought from the market and I stood up to help her with the basket.

"What took you so long?" I asked dropping the basket on the table.

"I meet my friend in the market. It's been a while since I last saw her and wanted to spend some time with her". She stared at me and smiled. "Did I keep you waiting?"

I shrugged. "Not really. My dad asked you to meet him in the packhouse when you return"

"He did?". I nodded. "Did he say why?"

"No. Did you know he will be traveling?"

"Yes. Did he tell you about it?"

I nodded. "Yes. He dropped by to tell me about it. Did he say where he is going?"

She stared at me. "He did not tell you?"

"No? Is there something I should know about?"

"If he doesn't tell her. I don't think I should" she whispered but I could hear her.

"You don't want to tell me?" I asked and she batted her lashes.

"You heard me?"

"I do. So you should tell me"

She sighed. "Val, I am sorry. I can't tell you. I don't think your father wants you to know about it"

"Why? Why doesn't he want me to know?"

"I can't say. I don't think you should bother about it. He would have told you if you needed to know"

"But..."

She placed her hand on my shoulder. "Val, can you not talk about this anymore? I might be tempted to tell you and your dad won't want that"

I sighed. "Is it something I should not know about?"

She nodded. "I think so"

"I won't ask about it anymore," I said and she patted my shoulder.

"I am sorry we have to cancel your birthday preparation"

"I never wanted it anyway. So I am happy it turns up this way"

She smiled. "But..."

I furrowed my brows. "But what?"

"We are still going to celebrate it. Just the two of us"

I rolled my eyes. "Is that important?"

She nodded. "Yes"

"I don't want..."

"I should go to the packhouse. Your dad will be waiting for me"

"Are you trying to change the topic?"

She smiled. "You can take the things out of the basket. I bought you some fruits"

I sighed. "Bye"

**

I opened my eyes slowly. The faint crescent moon shone like a silvery paw, giving some dimming glimmers through the partially opened windows. The wind clinked through the leaves of trees, making the branches shake in terror. I was laying on the cold floor with only my legs tied. I sat up and could feel pains all over my body. I looked around wondering where I was and how I got there. The room was empty with just a chair seated at the far end of the room. Except for the light from the moon shining in through the window, there was no other light.

"Hello? Is someone here?" I asked and received the echo of my voice as a response.

The room gave a cozy feeling but I could hear my heart beating so hard in my ears. I was beginning to have fear overshadow me.

"Hello?" I called out again. "I-is someone in here?"

My voice echoed and I sighed. I was worried someone might be in the room with me. I also wondered why only my legs were tied and not my hands too. I loosened the rope on my legs and stood up from the ground. I walked towards the window and stared outside. The wind was getting heavier and I could feel it on my face. It was obvious there would be some rain pouring soon.

"Hello" I called out. "Is there anyone out there?"

I waited for a response but none came.

"If someone was in the room with me, he or she would have shown up already," I thought. "Or maybe he was waiting for me to try to escape". I shrugged off the thought I was having. There was definitely, not anyone in the room. "I should just jump out through the window," I thought.

I tried to jump out of the window but realized the window was far from the ground and I might end up breaking my legs. I moved backward and bumped into someone or something, I guess. I turned quickly but there was no one. There was nothing in front of me either. I was worried something was wrong with the room and I could not lay my hands on what it was. I took a few steps forward and slumped to the ground. I whined in pain when I hit my elbow on a table I guess. I stretched my hand to touch a table and gasped. I was sure there was nothing in the room except for the chair at the far end. I stretched my hand again and the table was gone. It was like someone was playing a prank on me. I thought I must have been in my room and Bella is the one playing pranks on me.

I closed my eyes, hoping it was really, a prank and when I open my eyes, everything will be back to normal. I opened my eyes to meet a dark room. The moon was already covered with dark clouds cutting off the little light that had been shining through the window.

"B-Bella? That is enough. I am getting scared here" I stuttered.

I clutched my clammy hands together. How could I be stuck in a room I did not know how I got into and there was no one to answer my question? I placed my head on my lap.

"Is someone here, please? Someone should talk to me"

I could hear the sound of the rain falling and there was lightning. I heard footsteps and raised my head. A figure moved closer to me. He had a mask on.

"W-who are you?" I stuttered slightly moving backward.

I waited for his reply but instead, he moved closer to me and squatted. I could perceive his scent and it was intoxicating. Something about him seems familiar and, I felt less scared of him too. I could see his emerald green eyes staring at me and I also find myself staring at him too. I got lost staring at his face though he had a mask on his face, I couldn't help but imagine what a cute face would be under that face. I mentally slapped myself for thinking how cute he would be, despite being in a situation like this. I adjusted myself and brushed my hair backward.

I had waited for his reply but none came. Instead, he raised his hand to touch my face and I shivered. There was something about him that kept drawing me to him and wanting me to keep staring at his face. He blinked, caressing my hair.

"It's you" he muttered and I froze.

The voice. I remember the voice. He saved me in the forest. I batted my lashes. It is him right? The voice sounded the same.

"I-it's you. I remember you. You saved me" I stammered.

He widened his eyes and then stood up. "Y-you remembered me?"

I nodded and stood up. "Yes"

He turned away from me. "You are not supposed to remember me," he said and I thought he was talking to me.

"How can I forget about you when you saved me in the forest some years back"

"I wasn't talking to you!" He yelled and I flinched

He turned to face me and I moved backward. His eyes were no longer the emerald green I knew but were red as a flame of fire. He stared bloodshot at me and I shivered in fright. Why is there a sudden change?

"Have I done something wrong? Or maybe say something I wasn't supposed to say?" I thought

"I-is... D-did I do something wrong?"

I was beginning to shiver vigorously but I tried as much as I can to hide it. I could feel the strong aura around him too.

"This isn't supposed to be," he said in a low voice but I could hear him.

"D-did..."

I noticed his fingers were beginning to grow longer. He moved closer to me but I moved backward in fright.

"D-don't hurt me. P-please" I begged. He grabbed me by the neck and pulled me closer to him. "P-please"

He shoved me to the side and I fell to the ground. I watched him move closer to me and then dragged me by my neck up. He pushed me to the wall and pinned me tightly. His grip on my neck was getting stronger and I could feel his finger pierce into my tender skin and I whined. He was hurting me so badly and wasn't ready to stop. Despite all my pleas, he wouldn't stop. I could feel tears dripping down my face.

"Y-you're killing me" I whimpered.

His finger went deeper into my skin. I held his hand and stared into his eyes.

"I-l..."

"Val? Hey" I heard and I opened my eyes to see Bella smiling at me. "Happy birthday to you my darling angel," she said.

I wiped out the tears that had fallen down my face. It was just a dream. Why do I have to dream about him? What does this scary dream mean? Why was he hurting m? I had so many thoughts on my mind.

"Did you cry?" She asked and I sniffed.

"I am just happy today is my birthday" I lied.

She sat down beside me. "I am so happy too. Just a few years ago, I had hold you in my hands as a baby who had just lost her mother. I can't believe you've grown up to be a woman"

"Thanks, Bella. For taking care of me"

She shook her head in disapproval. "I should be thanking you for growing up well. Your mom will be happy over there"

I smiled. "Thanks"

Bella stood up. "I made your bath. You should take your bath and come over for breakfast. I made your favorite"

I chuckled. "I love you Bella"

"I love you too," she said, pecking me

**

My dad returned yesterday and promised he was going to take me to the pack house today as a birthday gift. It came as a surprise to me but I couldn't ask him why he suddenly made that choice. Bella wasn't against it either and that increased my suspicion. I stood outside the cave waiting patiently for him while tapping my foot on the floor.

"You might be needing this" Bella said, handing over a bag to me.

"What does it contain?"

"Some clothes. You will be at the packhouse for some days"

I furrowed my brows. "Why? I..."

"Val?" My dad called and I turned.

"You are here already"

He nodded. "Let's go"

"Is Bella not coming with us?"

"No, I am not. I have to visit my family. I will be back soon"

"Can't I go with you instead?" I asked hoping she would say yes.

Somehow, I felt it was better and safer to go with her than with my dad.

"No. You can't" she replied.

"Val, let's go. There is no time" my dad said.

I looked at him and then at Bella. I could tell something wasn't right and they were only trying their best to hide it. I wondered what it was and why they kept it away from me. I shrugged.

"Ok, dad. I will go with you"

Bella hugged me tightly like it was her goodbye to me.

"You are coming back right?" I asked, furrowing my brows and she nodded.

"I will, I promise"

I waved her goodbye and left with my dad. Just a few minutes after we left the cave, we got attacked. My dad wasn't surprised and I thought he must have known we were going to be attacked. He pulled out his swords and began to fight them. I made to pull out my sword too but he took it from me. He was able to kill every one of them.

"They will be back soon. You should run" he said but I did not budge. Run away!!!" He yelled at me, pushing me slightly. "Don't return to the cave. Don't go to the packhouse either. It's not safe there. Run far away from this place and make sure you are safe"

"I-i can't leave you. Let me fight with you"

"They can't know that you can fight. Just run away and live a better life"

"I-i can't leave you. I..."

He moved closer to me. "Val, you know I love you right?". I nodded, tears dripping down my face. "And you trust me?". I nodded. "Then go. Go now. Promise me you will be safe"

"I-i promise you. B-but you have to be safe too"

He smiled. "I will look for you when everything is fine. Now go"

I hugged him for the last time and finally ran away. I kept running as far as my legs could carry me. When I thought about Bella, I stopped running. If they could attack my dad and the pack members, she might not be safe too. I ran back to the cave to inform her of the situation but met her in the pool of her blood. My legs wobbled and I fell to the ground.

"B-Bella?. B-Bel". She moved slowly and opened her eyes. I rushed towards her. "A-are you ok?"

"V-Val. You have to go. They can't get you. R-run. Run as far as you can"

"Y-you've lost so much blood. You should stop talking. I will go get the doctor"

She held my hand and placed a book in it "I-it's too late. I-i can't make it. T-take this. I-i have written everything you need to know in there. P-promise me you will be safe"

"B-Bel...". Her hand fell to the ground and I knew immediately she was gone. "Bella" I wept bitterly.

I cried for a while and finally stood up. I needed to find my dad. I ran back to the place I left him. I had expected to meet him there but instead, I was caught by some masked men. They dragged me back to the packhouse alongside a few other pack members that had run away. My dad was surprised to see me.

"V-Val?" He cooed in fright.

For the first time, I saw fear in my dad's eyes.

"Maybe I shouldn't have returned. Maybe I should have run away as he told me" I thought.

"Val?" He called again.

"D-Dad?" I cooed. I crawled towards him. "B-Bella is dead. T-they killed her"

As I watched my dad wept in sorrow, I couldn't help but weep too. Bella was a good woman. The only one that had been taking care of my dad and me. Her death was a loss to both my dad and me.

My dad sighed."She lived a good life. I can't believe she lost her life because of me. She..."

"Bring her over here," someone said and I was dragged away from my dad. My dad tried to hold me back. "She is your daughter, right? I guess she is" the man who had asked them to bring me said.

"Don't hurt her, please" my dad said.

I could not understand what had happened between them but I could tell things won't end up well.

"Kill her" he ordered and I shivered in fright.

"Y-you can't kill her. She doesn't know anything about this. She had suffered enough. Please, let her live. I will do whatever you want" my dad begged.

"It's too late," the man said and drew out his sword.

I closed my eyes quickly, thinking I would feel the sword cut through my throat but it did not. I heard the clashing of swords and I opened my eyes, only to see my dad fighting with him. He was much more powerful than my dad but my dad won't stop, despite the pleading from the rest of the pack members.

"D-dad please stop. Dad...". The sword pierced through my dad's chest and he fell to the ground. I rushed towards him. "Dad?" I cooed, shaking him slightly.

He smiled at me. "V-Val. Take care of yourself. Y-you have to be strong and become great. I-i am sorry for all the pains I have caused you. Y-you are such a lovely girl and I won't stop loving you. I-i'm sorry you have to live this way. I-i am not..."

He gave up the ghost before he could finish his sentence and I wept. His last words meant nothing to me. All I wanted was to see him live.

"D-dad. D-dad?"

I shook him vigorously. I could feel rage surge through me and I rushed toward the one who had killed him. For a few seconds, I felt some powers inside of me and I grabbed him by his shirt. My hand began to shake and he pushed me away. I suddenly began to feel hot and dizzy.

"D-Dad!!" I whispered to no one and slumped to the ground.