JULY
I WOKE UP to the cold feeling at my feet. I tried to open my eyes and immediately returned to closing them because of the excessive light that greeted me.
Wolf? Where are we?
I reached out to my wolf, but she only answered me with a growl. I opened my eyes again, slowly. I know my eyes are still adjusting to the sunlight. At first, it was all blurry, but when my eyes adjusted, I could see clearly where I was.
I was on the shore. The cold feeling I felt at my feet earlier was due to the seawater. I looked around. I was on an island, and there was a huge forest behind me.
Then the memories of why I'm here came back to my thoughts. The attempted kidnapping, the fight in the chopper, the explosion of the chopper, Natalia and I jumping in the chopper, and the debris hitting my head caused me to lose consciousness. I looked around as I touched my aching head again. That's why I feel weak. I have a wound on the side of my head. But that's not what I'm concerned about.
"Natalia?" My eyes traveled all over the beach. As far as my eyes could see, including the wide sea, I tried looking for her. "Natalia!" I shouted, causing me to wince because my head hurt even more.
But where is she? I can't just stop here. I promised to protect her, no matter what.
I slowly stood up. I'm slowing down because I'm really weak. Where is that woman? Did she survive? What happened to her? I was mentally cursed. This is all my fault. I did not protect her. What if she drowned? What if the shark ate her and mutilated her body? How about us? How about me? She can't die! I can't lose her!
"Natalia!" I shouted again as I walked along the beach like a drunk, still holding on to the side of my head where I was injured. "Wolf, wake up! We need to find her," I managed to say.
My vision started to be blurry again, but I didn't stop walking, just in case, I could find the brat. Fuck! Just when I need my wolf, she disappears. Of course, she is also affected because we are only in one body. When one body is weak, it's the same with the other.
"Natalia!" I shouted again.
I just got an answer from the waves and other creatures on that island. It's scorching hot! I am very thirsty too. I need fresh water. I know my wolf craves the same.
I need to be steady. I need to look for that brat. No, I can't lose her. I can't afford to lose her. Yes, I can't. I love her. I love her so much that she can't be gone from my life.
I tugged at my hair because of the frustration and the pain from the wound was causing a severe headache. Natalia can't be dead. I had just imprinted on her in the chopper. Yes, everyone, I already imprinted on her when we were in the chopper when I kissed her. She's now mine. So she can't be dead! She's my luna, for god's sake!
"You can't be dead, Nat," I said to myself, not aware that tears were pooling on my face.
Damn it! Just when I found my Luna, was that when the gods were taking me away from me? Why is that? Wolf god! Please bring Natalia back to me. What will happen to me without my luna?
"Nataliaaa!" I shouted.
I was hoping that she could hear me that way. I was on my knees on the beach while still shouting her name, but my headache became severe. I am also losing strength. I'm fainting. Everything began to blur.
"Aaaahhhh!!!" was my last cry, and I was slowly swallowed up by the darkness.
~*~
I WOKE UP again feeling pretty okay, but my head was still a bit sore. I didn't have a problem waking up because the intense sunlight was gone and I could feel the heat that enveloped me to protect me from the cold of the night. Yes, it was night, and there was a bonfire in the distance that served as light and warmth in the cold darkness. I was lying on a layer of leaves.
But wait... who made the bonfire? And suddenly, my stomach growled as I smelled what was being cooked by whoever had saved me.
"Thank god, you're awake," a familiar voice said to me, who was now in front of me on her knees looking at me.
"Natalia!" I woke up immediately and gave her a big hug. Oh god, thank you, and she is alive. Suddenly, she was surprised by what I said, and for a moment she was like a stump that hardened there, but later on, she responded with a hug. "Thank god, you're alive," I said, and let go of the hug, as I cupped her cheeks with my hands.
I stared at her for a long time. A variety of emotions can be reflected in her green orbs. How I love her eyes. Even though it was dark in that part, her beautiful eyes were engraved in my whole mind, so I memorized them very well.
She smiled, still with that expression in her eyes that I couldn't read. But I like what I'm seeing. Anyway, I'm satisfied with what's happening. With that in mind, I hugged her tightly again and murmured my thanks to the gods for bringing her back to me.
We were like that for a moment, till she broke the hug and asked me to eat. I just nodded, and she stood up and walked to the bonfire to get the food. That's the smell that makes my always hungry stomach famished. I just watched her while walking and noticed that the hem of her dress was torn.
"What happened to your dress?" I am sure my eyebrows arched as I looked at the hem of her dress, even though she was sitting next to me again with the barbeque meat, and I didn't know where she got it.
"Why?" she asked and looked at the hem of what I was looking at. "Ah, this one?" She touched the hem of the dress.
I nodded. I was suddenly nervous. I was thinking that maybe something bad happened to her. I really can't forgive myself. And whoever hurt her should hide now in a place where I can't see them, because when I find them I will sew them to their bones.
"Feel your head," she answered me. I was surprised by her answer, but I still did what she said.
I touched my head and I felt a cloth wrapped around it.
"Is this your dress?" I asked in shock. She nodded and handed me a barbeque stick. "Thank you," I said, amazed.
I don't know if I would be amazed. With her prompt treatment of my wound, with the bonfire, or with our food today. But overall, in everything she did, I was amazed.
"You're most welcome," she said with a smile. I was also infected by her smile and ate the food she gave me. "Oh, how about you? What?" I was embarrassed. I ate right away, and then I didn't even ask if she had eaten.
"No. I'm done. I ate the other one earlier when you were still sleeping," she replied.
I nodded and continued eating. I was really hungry, so I quickly devoured the food. After that, she handed me a leaf, which was crumpled like a vessel, and it was full of liquid. It was water. I was surprised again at Natalia's initiatives. Seriously, you won't go hungry if she is with you in the jungle. We just sat quietly while watching the bonfire after I ate.
"Ahm, Miss Nat?" I broke into the silence.
"Call me Nat or Natalia. After all, we are the only ones here and you saved my life, so you have the liberty to call me by my first name," she said with a smile.
'Can I call you mine?' Tss. Stop that, wolf!
My wolf is awake. I guess she has energy now, huh. Back to Natalia, I feel ashamed of what she said. Did I really save her? Because in this case, it seems like she's my hero. Because if it wasn't for her, I would probably be dead by now.
"No. Thank you because if it weren't for your treatment and care of me, I would probably be dead by now," I sincerely said, looking at her.
Natalia was looking straight at the fire. And for a moment, I saw how her face changed into that expression. Somewhat like guiltiness? I don't know. I can't really read her now.
"You also helped me against those who tried to kidnap me, didn't you?" She said, still looking straight but wearing a shallow smile. "So let's say we are even." Then she looked at my side, and I was given the chance to look at her beautiful face again.
Her beauty was further enhanced that night with the help of the light coming from the bonfire. I wanted to kiss her at that moment, but I restrained myself because I knew it was inappropriate. It's not our time yet.