I giggled as hot air blew onto my face, it was ticklish in a way I couldn't understand. I shook my head, pushing at the air to go away, but I only felt someone nudge me by my shoulder.
Peeling my weak eyes open, I was greeted with a large wolf standing over me. A normal person would scream their lungs out, but I didn't. For reasons I couldn't understand, the wolf's beautiful strange gold and amethyst eyes were warm and friendly, assuring me that I was safe with him. I wondered how a wolf could have amethyst eyes, those orbs were familiar.
It's Kale, you dumb idiot.
Oh! Now I remember!
It all came running back to me, everything that happened last night. I connected the dots, Kale's wolf was the one who howled, the howl that pulled out of the grotto. I strangely had strong affection for the wolf, more than I liked the human in him.
Because he's nicer, duh.
Shut up, Lona.
Good morning to you too. Isn't his wolf big and so strong?
Yummilicious.
That's not a w…
Shhh…
Kale's wolf puffed air into my face. I giggled again and raised my hands, touching his cheeks and rubbing them gently.
''Good morning my rock,' he tilted his head confusedly. 'You're my rock because you are the strong pillar that keeps me standing. I know you will never hurt me, even though you're a big bad wolf. Unlike the ugly being in you, you are much more lovable and admirable,'
he stared at me incredulously, obviously stunned by my words. I could tell it was the first time someone was preferring his wolf to his human. His wolf must have been the scary violent one, so hearing me prefer him was unbelievable.
Well, it's true… Lona agreed… I feel much safer with him than Kale.
'Can I stand up? I'm getting dizzy,' he shook his head. Somehow, I understood what he meant.
"Hold on to my face, I'll pull you up."
I held his cheeks tighter, he lifted me delicately and made me stand on my feet.
''Thank you, I'll love to know your name, I'm sure Kale mentioned it once.
" What was it again?' He stepped back and crouched, wagging his tail.
''Starts with K, right?' He nodded.
I closed my eyes, trying to remember the name Kale called.
Killian… Lona chirped.
I snapped my eyes open with a grin. 'Killian?' He yelped with joy. I laughed and ruffled his hair.
''Such thick fur you have, very beautiful.'
Killian's coat was gold, thick golden fur with a little silver tint. His wolf was beautiful.
Yes, fall for the wolf and not the human.
Can you cut the sarcasm off?
Can you be reasonable and love both? You can't divide them.
Yes, I can.
No, you can't and will never.
Do you prefer I love the jerk that insults us? The jerk that killed mother!
The jerk who is the same person as his wolf… She added… Don't fool yourself, they are the same.
'Ignoring the voice in my head,' I said out loud.
''When are we going home? I need to get back to work,' Killian jerked his head towards something. It was a basket.
'Is that food?' He nodded.
'Okay, let's see if I can eat, no?' He nodded. I walked to the basket and knelt.
I opened the basket as he watched me intensely. Smiling at his worried face, I brought out the covered plates and dropped them on the ground. I opened the three plates and sneered. 'I don't eat meat, only fish,' he whimpered and lowered his head.
"Try it," was what I got from his expression. I pouted.
'This is bacon, I don't eat meat,' I whined. He whimpered again.
'Is this bacon and cabbage?' He nodded. 'Do you want me to eat it?' He nodded.
" If I puke, I'll blame you,' he yelped with joy, knowing I agreed. With a thumping heart, I started eating, first picking out the onions and dropping them on the ground.
'I don't eat onions, I can only eat it when blended.' I ate the carrots and turnips, pushing the bacon aside.
He huffed when he noticed me doing that. I had no choice but to try it, scrunching my nose as the meat met my tongue in a formal introduction.
Oooooh! Meat! Where have you been all my life!… Lona shrieked. I rolled my eyes… Admit it, it doesn't taste bad at all.
True.
Kale's wolf seemed to smile as he watched me eat, wagging his tail continuously. When I was done with the bacon and cabbage, he forced me to finish the ham sandwich and then bacon and eggs. I was so full I couldn't stand up again. When I ate the other time, I only ate a little and threw the rest away. But with Killian looking at me, I felt like eating more.
'I can't walk,' I lamented. He laughed, at least that was what I assume the sound he made was.
''How am I suppose to bathe now?'
"Just rest a bit," I rest my back on the wall, moaning tiredly from how much I ate.
Never in my life had I eaten so much food. After ten minutes of resting, I could move again. Killian carried me on his back and out of the waterfall where he insisted I wash up while he watched. After convincing him for minutes, he agreed to turn his back to me. I took off my clothes and got into the cold water, enjoying the brisk morning breeze and the pallid blue sky. I caught him spying but I only laughed it off.
When I was done bathing, I wore the dress I had on yesterday, it was almost dried. I stubbornly wore his coat over it, there was no way I was letting it go.
'There, I'm ready to follow you hunt,' he tilted his head.
''You don't expect me to let you bring food for me and I won't bring for you, I am going to hunt for you with this knife I found in your bag…'
He growled warningly, baring his teeth at me.
'Calm down, I'm not going to cut myself with it, relax,' he snarled.
'Killian, I just want to hunt for you, I won't do anything stupid, I promise,' he stared at me sceptically.
I rolled my eyes and waved it.
'Trust me?' He huffed and puffed before relaxing.
'Good, then wait here and no arguments or following, okay?' He whimpered and laid on the grass.
'Good rock.' Feeling proud of myself, I whirled around and walked towards the forest. I could feel his agitation and fear pricking at my conscience.
He's afraid, what do I do?… I asked Lona.
Assure him through your emotions, he'll feel it.
I did what she said, passing as much assurance as I could into my emotions so he would feel it. He slowly relaxed but not completely. I knew that the moment he sensed I was in trouble, he would come running to my rescue. He didn't need to, I wasn't the best in my village for nothing.
★★★ Kale ★★★
I sighed, I was tired of being in wolf form. By the time she would return, all the wolves would be able to perceive me on her. That would be strange, annoying, a reason to raise curiosity and suspicion…
A reason not to care.
Of course, you won't care, she likes you. To her, I'm the big bad wolf and you the mighty sweet hero.
The irony of the situation.
" Of your situation, don't include me.
" Oh hero, your mate has been gone for an hour, hasn't she run away?… I asked sardonically.
She won't, she loves me.
Right… I drawled… She will never… I stopped when I sensed her coming.
" You were saying?
Shut up… Killian laughed. I was furious, jealous of myself, sad. He was getting all the attention but I wasn't, that was cruel.
Your fault.
Shut up.
Vanessa walked in dragging a leopard behind her. I was shocked. How did she catch a leopard all by herself? With just a knife!
This girl is so strong… Killian chirped proudly… Yours almost died after a simple whipping when She survived hell. I'm so proud of She's my m… I stopped, realising what I was about to say.
You're what?… He taunted.
'I caught breakfast Rocky, hope you like it.' She said excitedly, panting with excitement.
Killian stood up and walked to her, he nudge her side and rubbed his snout against her. She sighed with contentment. I rolled my eyes jealously, how easy she melted to his touch when she would throw a tantrum if it was me.
Again, your fault.
I am going to make her hate you too. She can't hate just me, we are in this together.
Never.
We'll see about that.
Vanessa went off to explore while my arrogant wolf ate, she didn't want to witness him feeding. When he was done savouring the taste of his mate's kill, he drank from the waterfall and soaked himself to clean his precious fur. The one thing Killian values more than Rick and even me was his fur. He always loved his fur to glow; standout. We were the only gold wolf as far as we knew and he wanted to remain the best.
So conceited. We set off to find Vanessa after his fur dried off, she already cleaned herself by a pond and was feeding the swans with…
" Where did she get that from?
"How's it your business?
"What did I do now? I didn't say anything wrong. This servant of yours is Delilah, the evil Jezebel.
" Don't insult her!..
"I will! Since she came along, all we have done with each other is fight, fight, fight and fight! We never disagreed this much before, she's separating us.
" You're separating us! I didn't argue with you when you decided to get a choice mate! I didn't protest when you made decisions. For the first time, I want something, you are fighting me over what the moon goddess gave to us! What is wrong with you Kale!… My wolf was angry, furious, if he could kill me, he would.
" I don't know, maybe what is wrong with me is that this human is the daughter of the thing that killed our parents, our kind, our unborn baby sister!.
" Her father, not her. She saved Riley and Rick. If not for her, there wouldn't be them now and we wouldn't have found the island of the things.
" She watched you kill her entire family, isn't that enough torture?!
" What else do you want from her?! You killed her family and people after she saved yours…
" Okay, we killed her family and people after she saved ours, left her to die under tortures and torments, she almost died and all done by her mate.
" Do you think it's easy for the both of us?! What else do you want from her?!
'Killian!' Vanessa shouted anxiously.
''What's wrong?
" Why are you angry? You are freaking me out,' Killian growled and shook his head.
When he gets furious, it takes a lot to calm him down.
You better get away from here before you hurt her.
Listening to my scornful advice, Killian turned and dashed out of the oasis, running far away from her, the oasis and the packhouse. I sent a message to Becca to get her back.