Apocalypse: The Huntress Luna

Chapter 27

(Andy)

As I lay in my toiling dreams, many figures came and went, trying to speak and tell me their secrets.

My parents' faces came forth a few times and they were desperately trying to tell me something but I could never understand their babbles. Images of a black Lycan chasing what seemed to be a white-furred beast danced across my mind, throwing me off even more.

Eventually I grew weary and let the darkness swallow me whole, finally allowing myself to rest. Time flowed by in what felt like months until I felt myself drifting back down to the earthly plane.

I felt tethered to something and as I got closer, the darkness faded and warm light played over my eyelids.

A warm, delicious tingle moved through my body and for a brief moment, I felt whole.

Mmmmm, I hummed to myself, content.

It must have been out loud because a voice responded back.

"Andy?"

Forcing my eyes open, a blurry figure sat next to me, slowly getting clearer.

And there, sitting on a stool an arms length away was Magnus.

My stomach filled immediately with butterflies as he stared back at me, concerned while he held my hand in his very large one.

Staring at him, I inwardly gasped at how incredibly beautiful this man was and how I could never get tired of it.

Ebony hair roughly raked back, hazel eyes burning into my own, and my god those lips...

In my mind's eye, I reached over and pulled him in, fiercely kissing his sweet, inviting mouth. 

After all, I did promise myself I would take that kiss before all hell broke loose but I just didn’t know when I would get around to it.

My body tingled at the imaginary exchange and I had to give myself a good shake to snap back to reality.

I realised that the whole time I was just staring at him, ogling at his face while he had no idea what was really going on behind this closed door.

“Andy? Are you okay?” he said quietly as he drew closer and he almost looked shy.

“I’m sorry for staring, I...my head was a bit fuzzy” I lied sheepishly.

“Fine by me,” he smiled back as he quickly got up and grabbed a cup of water nearby. I took a peek under the sheets and It looked like I was in some clean sweats and a tee and I thank God I wasn't half naked.

He helped me up gently so that I could freshen up at the back of the room and then led me to Calli who was walking our way with Yann by her side.

Yann yelped and ran straight into my arms as I crouched down to catch him and we lay on the floor in eachothers embrace for a good thirty seconds.

Calli was worried that Yann may have hurt me but I reassured her I was okay.

“I’m fine Calli, I promise. I’m more than okay, actually. That sleep really did me good,” I smiled as we crawled back to our feet. 

It was a bit strange, to be honest. I thought I'd be tender and dizzy but my body felt completely fine.

Calli limped over and pulled me into a hug then led us all to the dining table. 

They all filled me in as I sipped a fresh mug of jasmine tea, making comments here and there and I made a mental note to talk with Calli soon as it sounded like she was leaving some things out. 

What surprised me even more was that it was Magnus who saved us because I specifically remember a giant pitch black Lycan breaking through.

But then again, I do remember him saying that he and his brothers were different from other Lycans.

Then hearing about our losses and the damage really brought about a sombre mood as I inwardly grieved and took a minute to close my eyes in prayer for their souls.

I took to this practice back in my Militia days as we couldn't afford to let grief take over us while we were beyond the Wall. Some had fallen in this battle but many have survived and my energy will be put towards moving us forward once again.

Marianne and Gus came to join us not long after with the recruits as fresh food was being brought out for the evening meal. It seemed that the sun was setting already and the day was coming to an end.

Peering outside, Magnus got up and mentioned something about a meeting with his warriors and began bidding everyone goodnight.

“Magnus, don't go just yet. Stay and have dinner with us” and Gus gestured to the steaming vegetable curries and flat breads that had landed on the table. 

“Trust me, I would if I could. But I really can't miss this meeting since I’m the one that called it” he said apologetically as he shook Gus’s hand. 

I avoided looking at Magnus until I caught Calli’s stare who was sitting on his left, opposite me.

Dammit.

(Walk him out) she mouthed. 

I shook my head shyly, trying to get her to drop it.

She c****d a brow at me and then proceeded to say something to Magnus so I hastily jumped up and walked around to their side of the table before she did her worst.

“I’ll walk you out,” I said casually, trying to act natural while I could see Calli’s devilish grin at the corner of my eye.

His mouth curled up into a sweet smile and he gestured for me to lead the way.

We walked out into the twilight in a comfortable silence till he mentioned that their meeting was at the barracks so I proceeded to walk him halfway.

A thought popped into my head as we strolled along and before I could stop myself, the words slipped out of my mouth.

“When Lycan’s shift, your clothes get torn to smithereens, right? So when you shift back, you are all obviously naked. So did you all stay in your Lycan form when the battle ended till you got back to the barracks?”

He was definitely caught by surprise by my question as he choked on a cough and took a second to clear his throat.

“Uh…*sigh*, no. We all shifted back so we could carry bodies easily.”

“Oh? Oh…” and the pieces slowly fell into place as my eyes widened.

“Wait, so you were probably… When you were carrying me, you were probably nak-”

I looked over at him and he was trying to hold back a grin while maintaining eye contact. 

“Naked? Yeah, I was. Is that okay?” he said confidently.

I immediately felt my face redden as he looked at me and thank goodness the rosy light was masking the worst of it.

My mind wandered to what that would have looked like and I quickly looked forward so he wouldn't somehow read it in my eyes.

“Mmmhmm, yup yup yup, fine by me” I let out stupidly.

"Your people also lended us some clothing not long after" he said through a laugh.

Thankfully we both just laughed it off and carried on down the path, smiling.

“So...you were the one that saved me. Saved us all actually,” I stated as we slowed down our pace.

“Yes but it was a team effort. I had my people at hand and my warriors really pulled their weight,” he shrugged, trying to brush it off.

“Yeah but they have a great leader and that’s you, Magnus. So, on behalf of everyone, thank you. Thank you for saving us. For saving me” and I stopped and turned to him. 

“Before you jumped in at the last moment, I saw Yann screaming as he watched us about to die and I had to say my goodbyes. I even looked around to see if I could find…” but I couldn’t bring myself to finish my sentence.

I really couldn’t be that bold.

Or could I?

“Find?”

“Find...you” I said softly as I looked up, slightly stunned into his face. 

We had just passed the medical school and we stood facing eachother with the setting sun lighting the side of our faces.

Magnus looked slightly confused but as a lightbulb went off in his head, I quickly opened my mouth again.

“I mean, I wanted to see if you were okay, you know, seeing as I was about to die,” I scrambled, trying but failing to cover up my confession.

I inwardly cringed and tried my best not to turn and run back to Calli so I could strangle her. It's her fault I'm here in this situation!

Magnus’s face fell slightly as he heard my words and nodded his head in agreement.

“Right, yeah I know what you mean. I actually came to find you. That’s how I ended up back at the center” he said quietly.

He took a step closer, slightly frowning as he reached for me but we were interrupted by a group of Magnus’s men who were also heading to the meeting.

I took a step back by surprise as a few eyes landed on us.

“Well I should leave you here. I gotta head back and it looks like your meeting is about to start.”

He looked annoyed by the interruption but he agreed and as I reached in for an embrace, he tried to kiss my cheek. 

Seeing as that was what he was going for, I shifted and tried to kiss his cheek while he changed it to an embrace.

Oh God, kill me now...

We laughed awkwardly and then he gently took me in his arms and held me close to his chest. My eyes immediately closed as my ear rested over his beating heart and I heard myself sigh deeply. 

I took the chance to breathe in his scent and it felt like it filled me from the inside out.

A few more people were heading in our direction so I reluctantly pulled away and bid him goodnight.

I slowly started walking away and fought the urge to look back all the while the same thought was racing through my mind, again and again.

Why didn't you just kiss him??

This was your chance to come through on that promise!

I took a few more steps but stopped as my heart began to race. Adrenaline filled my body and I knew what was coming and there was no point fighting it anymore.

“Screw it.”

I swiveled on the spot and let my feet guide me back to where we were standing. He must have heard me coming because he turned around to check.

"Hey, you're ba-" 

I didn't let him finish as my fingers reached out and grabbed his face as I pulled him down to my level and smashed my lips against his.