Layla's POV
"I-I think we should leave. This placed is supposed to be off limits for someone like us." I said to him in whisper tone, feeling the goosebumps on my spine when he appeared wary of the surrounding.
"Change here while I survey around. There's something I need to see."
"What? Don't leave me out here." I frantically held on his wet shirt.
Hunter looked at my hand on his clothes then to my eyes. A smirk then manifested on his lips. "I didn't know you're a scaredy cat, pumpkin."
"I-I'm not scared...a-alright. I am scared. Of this place and for a huge reason. Didn't you read about this place?" I asked.
"I did. Most of them are true but those aren't enough to scare me." he said and gently pried my hand off him. "Now, unless you want me to watch you change clothes, be my guest."
"N-no!! It's not what I meant. You know what? Go. Shoo."
Hunter only smiled at that, leaned on me and planted a lingering kiss on my lips "be right back, pumpkin."
And then he took off.
I cast a glance to the waters which glimmered on the faint moonlight. The lake looked ominous with century old ficus genus trees surrounding it. The legends about it rang loud on my senses now and I couldn't help myself but heightened my senses. If shit will go down the place, I'm going to mae a run for it.
Drowning in a lake isn't really charming thing to happen after I barely got away from those berserkers.
When the place seemed to be free from anything that would endanger me, I hastily dropped the towel on the hammock, picked up the folded shirt and jeans just below my feet. I slid on those effortlessly, darting my head around in case someone is snooping on my naked ass. It could be anyone or even Hunter. I doubt the last one. He's too principled to snoop around me when he could just sit there and watched me against my will.
I discarded my used and torn clothes to the side and studied the stillness of the water. I wondered what am I supposed to do there while Hunter was somewhere. The place really tick me into thinking something horrifying.
I only heard about the place in lectures and in the books. There was no one who dip into the water and lived to tell stories about it.
Hunter probably left me there to die. I don't know. Maybe I should leave..or not? He said he'll be back soon. But how soon.
A rustle on the bushes disturbed my entrancement and I saw Hunter emerging from there.
"I'm back." He declared with a grin.
"Where have you been? It's high time that we should leave."
"Agree. Let's go. Leave the things out here."
"We're not supposed to loiter around here. Escpecially out here. In this particular area. The spirits will hunt us."
"Don't worry too much about it. Come on up, pumpkin." Hunter entwined his fingers to mine and placed his hand on the small of my back.
"B-but..." I protested, having my eyes on the hammock where my wet clothes rested.
"if you're that worried, fine. I'll take care of it." Hunter said, raised his one hand midair and muttered something in the language I can't understand.
In a blink of an eye, the hammock along with the things over it, disappeared.
I literally gaped at Hunter after what I have witnessed. "What on earth are you?"
"I'll answer all of your questions later but for now, let's head out the forest." Hunter only said.
I didn't have much choice but to suit myself into those wondering questions. No werewolf that I know of could either conjure a metal weapon at will or mumble strange words and make things disappear.
"Can you shift now?"
"I think so."
"Alright. We're making a run for it." he said and on cue we both transformed into our respective wolf form. His beautiful silver fur made me jealous for a second there.
"Let's go."
We then padded away from the place towards the exit of the forest.
It didn't take us long enough to reach the clearing. I saw there were a total of five unfamiliar men waiting in there. The two of them nodded towards my direction, as if we already formed a camaraderie after such hunt with the berserkers.
"Rahla shall take you back in your place."
"You're going somewhere?" I asked Hunter when he intended to leave in haste.
"Yes."
"At this hour?"
"We'll talk when I return, Lala. " Hunter turned to the guy named Rahla. "I'll leave her to you."
"I shall take care of her."
Just that and Hunter went off again and this time, he was with the other he-wolves. The clearing was only filled with me and the guy who obviously shows youthfulness on his aura.
"We should head back and not delay your return. A friend of yours is waiting for you." Rahla said.
"Where is he going?" I asked and decided to follow the guy in wolf form.
"It's not my duty to disclose our Alpha's business to you." Rahla said and went into a full run which forced me to keep up with him. This boy is fast, I give him that.
It was a chilling morning and the event in the forest became a distant memories for me. The run towards my place became an invigorating exercise for me. The water really did strange on all my injuries that I can't even recall I was in agony of them awhile ago. Hunter was more than what he was showing to me. He intrigued me so much that I can't wait for his return and ask him of so many mind boggling questions.
In a distant, I saw a woman standing at the door of my apartment and recognized who was it.
There was a relief on Maia's face after she saw me coming.
"I thought I would wait all night for you." Maia said as Rahla and I both stopped before her.
"There. Like I told you, she's fine." Rahla said as he transformed into human form like me. His upper body was rid of shirt . Thank goodness that he had his trouser's intact.
"Yeah, I can see that." Maia's snapped at the guy who only gave her a wolfish grin.
"See ya later, ladies." Rahla winked at Maia who only grimaced at his flirting.