Chereads / Of Love And War / Chapter 12 - Chapter 12

Chapter 12 - Chapter 12

Rain

I woke up to the loudest howl that I've ever heard, raising my head slowly. I looked around and outside the window, it was still dark, how long was I asleep? Suddenly another howl pierced the night silence, I got up quickly and noticed that I was naked, the table cloth was laying on the bed tangled with the bed sheets- putting on some clothes I quickly walked down the stars and outside the broken door, I bumped into a hard chest, but before I could fall a strong hand grabbed my arm and steadied me, I looked up to see Jud, he was looking down at me with a strange look- concern.

"What are you doing out late?" he let go of my arm but didn't move, I tried to look behind his shoulder to see a number of werewolves heading towards the forest, I frowned "what's going on? I heard a howl and woke up" Jud grunted and looked away as if he didn't want to meet my eyes, I started to feel uncomfortable "Jud, was that Cedric's howl? Is he okay? Did something happen?" Jud looked down and sighed, "look, nothing's wrong it's just a call for a gathering" my frown deepened "that's strange, it sounded...mournful" Jud raised his head and looked at me with a sad expression, but before I could ask another question he turned around and walked towards the forest, I called for him to wait up, but he didn't, so I followed him and the other wolves.

After a long walk we reached a lake, I recognized it was the lake I swam in earlier when I was with ...Jacks, right Jacks! Maybe this is a gathering to discuss what Jacks' punishment will be tomorrow, I searched for a spot in the dark and stood there waiting for the announcement, after a huge number of werewolves were gathered- I spotted Cedric in his human form, he stood on a high rock naked with all his glory- I tried my best to keep my eyes up on his face, I frowned, his face was sad- eyes glossing with what seemed to be tears- why was he crying?

Cedric's voice boomed "everyone, listen up- I gathered you here right now because I have something urgent to share with you all.." he trailed off for a minute, his head hung down then he raised it again "after searching for my brother and your beta- Zevrus, we found out he was captured by the R.A.Ws '' everyone growled and I felt my heart clench, I grasped my chest while I kept listening to Cedric "Zevrus was captured and sent to the labs, he is....dead" , with the last word I felt my heart clench harder this time and all the air left my lungs, I gasped hard like a bird struck by lightning- and I fell to my knees, Cedric suddenly froze and looked at my direction, I felt the color fall from my face, I still had my fist on my chest, I couldn't breathe- Zevrus is dead? DEAD? Because I left him, because of me, he's dead!

I felt a hand squeezing my shoulder, I looked up from the ground to meet Cedric's eyes ''breathe, Rain? Listen to me, breathe- how the fuck did she get here? Who the hell brought her along?!" Jud emerged from behind the crowd, everyone was standing in a circle around Cedric and me, Jud stepped closer and told Cedric that I followed him, Cedric stood up and grabbed Jud by the collar of his shirt- I couldn't watch any longer, I had to get some air, I felt like choking so I found the strength to stand up, then I turned around and dashed away from everyone, everything, I wanted to be alone- I ran until my legs couldn't run anymore. Stopping somewhere alone, I plopped to the ground and started to sob and cry like I've never cried before- I couldn't understand why my heart feels so broken over a guy that I barely knew, but I felt shocked by conscious- maybe I shouldn't have listened to Cedric and left, maybe I should've fought harder for Zevrus, I was careless and let go simply because I felt like I owned Zevrus nothing- but the guy's life depended on me, literally.

I stood up and started calling his name hoping that he would hear me and come to me "Zevrus! Zevrus! I'm so sorry! I'm here, please come back, please! Zevrus!"

I heard a twig snap and whirled around thinking it would be Zevrus but it wasn't, I was a bear , a grizzly was a few meters away from me, I should be scared, but I wasn't- it's like I didn't care anymore, let him come to me, I opened my arms and raised my chin "come get me" the bear reared on its hind legs and roared at me then it went back on four and charged towards me, I kept my arm wide open and closed my eyes, but when the ground thundered underneath me, I opened my eyes again to find the bear getting closer I took two steps back and lost my footing, the next thing I was falling from a height, I shrieked and closed my eyes bracing myself for the fall on the hard ground, but instead I fell into deep water. Water filled my ears and I floated underneath the surface. I opened my eyes slowly and observed the darkness underneath me while the moonlight shone on the surface. My lungs burned and cried for air but I didn't comply, I wanted this peaceful silence to last a bit longer.

Soon black dots started to appear in my vision, strange, I don't recognize that kind of fish- my thought was cut when a head of me the water surface broke and a figure started to swim towards me, did that bear honestly jump after me to eat me, I smiled to myself, stupid bear. But then the figure came closer and two icy blue eyes appeared in front of me, before I could register, I was held and lifted above the water surface, I gasped and coughed- I heard a voice "breathe, breathe" I closed my eyes and kept breathing until my breath steadied, then I was grabbed and dragged through the water until I felt the ground underneath me "Rain? Rain! Open your eyes!" I opened my eyes slowly and saw the familiar blue eyes hovering over me, for some reason I saw them hazel for a second "Zevrus" I whispered, but the hazel eyes were gone again- a hand snaked behind my head and seated me up- my vision started to clear bit by bit- the blue eyes were staring at me, his hair was draping wet and pushed back, his nose, his mouth- still I wanted him to be Zevrus "Zevrus?" the guy shook his head, "Rain, it's me, Darious" I blinked a few more times and my vision cleared finally , "Darious, what happened? What are you doing here?", he sighed with relief and sat next to me "well, you called the wrong name but I heard you and showed up anyway" he chuckled, that smile of his warmed my heart, tears started to fall down my cheeks again, I couldn't control them - Darious turned serious "Rain? Why are you crying? What happened?" I looked at him, how do I say it? The only word that came out of my mouth was "Zevrus". Darious looked confused at the beginning but then his face showed realization and he said "oh" and looked away, I could see his jaw set and unset while he nodded and closed his eyes, "you knew?" came out my question with a squeak, Darious nodded again and kept his eyes closed, I wasn't mad at him, he did try to tell me before Jacks interrupted- so Jacks knew too and still he tried to. at that memory I started to cry harder and sob, Darious' eyes turned to me in panic "Rain, hey hey it's going to be okay, shhhh don't cry, I hate it when a girl cries, please don't cry", but I couldn't stop , I found myself leaning into him, and he stiffened, I wrapped my arms around his torso and cried on his shoulder, slowly he adjusted his position so that I was sitting between his legs and hugged me, squeezing me tighter while I sobbed with my head on his chest and my nose at the crook of his neck.