Chapter 5

Bleidd watched Laken slowly open her eyes. The cave was the one he discovered along the way. It was only a five-minute walk. After attacking the baddies, he turned to look at Laken and her sister, but the former passed out. Zuri was crying while looking at her sister’s blood.

Bleidd had no choice but to run away only to transform into his human self. He put some clothes on after cleaning his bloody mouth and went back, to “accidentally” find them and help them. He brought the two women in the small cave. He made fire to keep them warm, especially that they were soaked to the bones. He could practically see Zuri’s chattering teeth.

He used some big leaves to clean and dress Laken’s wound. The bullet thankfully merely grazed her shoulder. Still, she lost consciousness, perhaps because of the shock.

He looked at her face intently, and their eyes met for the very first time. With that, he felt his heart make a cartwheel, and it was beating so fast. He had never felt this way before. Not with anyone. And the one deepest in his soul said, “Mine. My mate.”

Laken winced when she moved to get away from him.

“Hey,” Zuri said, stopping her. “You should lie down. Maybe it’s better we go back home in the morning. It’s already late and maybe there are still some others who are just waiting for us to run into them.”

“Your sister’s right,” he agreed.

Laken covered her nose, looking at him strangely. “Y-you’re that…” She stopped, eyes widening.

He was confused. Zuri looked at him apologetically, trying to convince her sister to calm down. He had no idea why she acted like this—like she had seen a monster. Surely she had not seen him transform because she passed out. But how did she seem to recognize the other side of him?

‘Is it because she knows she’s my mate?’

“Laken, he carried you here after… after that incident,” Zuri told her in a hushed voice. “He even stopped your bleeding to death! We owe him. So, could you at least watch your manners?”

Bleidd watched Laken calm down, nodding slowly. But he could see in her brown eyes that she did not trust him at all.

‘And why is she keeping her nose covered?’ he wondered, curious.

“Sorry for that, Bleidd,” Zuri apologized some minutes later when Laken went back to sleep. It seemed that the older sister was exhausted and maybe because of the loss of blood. “I-I think the smoke is too strong for her,” the younger girl explained. “I don’t think it’s you. You don’t smell, do you?” She laughed but it was instantly gone. “Anyway, my sister has a problem with her nose. I don’t want to say it’s her brain, though it has in fact got to do with her brain. She’s very sensitive to odors… scents.”

He thought it was interesting and maybe a bit disturbing. What if Laken could really smell him? Maybe it was what she was about to say. Maybe she recognized his scent even though he was now in his human form.

‘Fuck! I’m doomed!’ he thought worriedly.

When the rain stopped pouring and the girls were sleeping, he went out to check on the bodies he left behind. They were covered with mud and earth. He transformed into his wolf form and dragged all three to a hollowed part of the ground. He used his paws to cover the bodies with earth.

After he cleaned up in the nearby river, he went back to the cave, guarding the two women. He fell asleep just when it was sunrise, leaning on the wall near the entrance. He woke up startled when he heard some movements inside the cave. But he relaxed when he realized it was Laken. She looked at him with penetrating gaze. She seemed to be fine now, he noted, so he was glad about that. He greeted her with a smile, but she seemed to not hear it or just ignored it.

He stood up and peered outside. The storm had passed. It would be so sunny if there were not so many trees. He was about to go out to get some water for the ladies when she called out.

“Hey!” She caught up with him. But she seemed to keep her safe distance from him.

He did not turn to look at her. But even with a few meters away from her, that disturbing scent of sweet-smelling roses brought some old familiar feeling and memories. It was almost two decades ago. His dark eyes rounded when he realized it. He could not stop himself but turn around to look at her keenly this time.

“You,” he whispered.

She took a step backward with confusion painted across her face. “W-what?”

“N-nothing.” He turned his face away from her. “I-I’ll go fetch some water.”

“Can I go with you? I want to wash off the mud.” She hurriedly took her backpack and water container.

“Okay. But your sister…?”

“She’s a late riser. I think we’ll be back before she wakes up… and she’s exhausted.” She paused. “Oh, but is the water source far?”

“No. Just a kilometer away from here, so that’s about ten-minute walk. Less if you walk fast.”

He led the way toward the river. It was on the west side of the cave. He noticed that she was still keeping that safe distance of about two meters away from him as they walked. He did not know if he would get offended or shy away because of it. If he were not a werewolf, maybe she would somehow warm up to him and maybe get friendlier. And maybe… He sighed.

“Is it still far?” she asked hesitantly.

“For someone with sensitive nose as you, your hearing is not as good, huh?” he teased.

She glared at him. But he stopped and pushed a branch away for her to see the river. She immediately looked relieved and excited to see it. She quickly moved past him. He followed her for a good meter behind. Maybe his wolf odor did offend her or something.

She looked for a huge rock and so he gave her some privacy. He sniffed the air. It was of fresh dews, earth and clean air. After a few minutes, he smelled some familiar scents and he cursed. He glanced at where Laken was. She seemed to take her time washing off the mud from her fair skin.

He ran in the direction of his pack. Makoce and the others were there. All of them were half naked, wearing only their pants.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded, gritting his teeth and almost growling.