"Try this first, it is a delicacy of our town." Yuki stared at the woman as she set the unfamiliar food before her. Treyton had introduced her as Zora, his brother's wife. Yuki looked around the table and tried to recall the identity of the people she was introduced to not too long ago.
Aside Yuki there were only seven people present at the large dining table. At the head of the table was Amir who turned out to be the town's leader. On his right sat Treyton and on his left his partner. Yuki sat beside Zora, and Jacek was sitting next to Yuki. On the other side of the table were; Beckett, Treyton's cousin and best friend, Hayes, Amir's assistant and finally, Cyberia, Hayes's wife. They rest of the family and people were sent off to their own homes.
Jacek took Yuki's steak from her when he saw her struggling to cut it. He cut it into piece and set it again before her.
"Are you two mates…oww," Beckett dropped his fork and groaned. He rubbed his throbbing thigh and turned to look at Treyton only to meet his deadly glare. He gulped and turned away to continue eating.
Jacek and Yuki turned slowly to look at each in confusion. They had similar thoughts; the people of Gouna were a bit peculiar.
Jacek's eyes unconsciously fell on Yuki's behind. She had her hand on the back of her waist, rubbing it slowly. She had been at it for a while. His brow raised. Jacek brought his mouth close to Yuki and whispered to her, "What is wrong? Are you hurt?"
Yuki gazed at Jacek with a puzzled expression. In his attempt to clear her confusion, Jacek shot a glance at the back of her waist and raised a brow.
The gesture immediately drew Yuki's attention to her action. She quickly withdrew her hand and returned her brother's gaze. "It feels weird there," she whispered back before her eyes darted towards the town leader.
As if sensing her eyes on him, Amir returned Yuki's gaze. His eyes closed in a slow, sluggish blink, a warm smile playing on his lips. Yuki flinched, then turned away quickly when realized she was caught staring. Her action caused Amir's smile to brighten in amusement.
Ever since he appeared before her, Yuki could not shake of the strange connection she felt towards Amir. It was similar to the connection she used to feel with her mother when she was younger. "Do you feel uncomfortable, Yuki?" Zora's soft voice and touch on her shoulder intercepted Yuki's thoughts.
Yuki looked at the beautiful brunette and shook her head. It was only after looking at Zora did Yuki realize everyone was looking at her.
"Which human wouldn't be uncomfortable on a table surround by wolves," Beckett blunted out before anyone could stop him.
Hayes smacked the back of Beckett's head in vexation without any restraint. Meanwhile, Treyton, Zora and Cyberia shot Beckett a piercing gaze, they all looked as if they desired to have been the person who hit Beckett instead. Amir shut his eyes and shook his head with a frustrated look, a hint of regret lingering on his sickly face.
"Do you not like Gouna, Yuki?" Amir questioned as if to draw Yuki's attention to himself. Yuki tore her eyes from Beckett and the others to look at him as soon as he spoke.
"No…sorry, I was just thinking of something else. I love your town, really," Yuki was quick to defend herself when she realized she was the subject of everyone's attention again. She innocently looked at Jacek for support.
"Please take no offense, my sister is a bundle of nerves. She is far from displeased with this town; I can assure you."
Everyone seemed visibly relieved when they heard Jacek's words, all except Beckett, who rubbed the back of his head painfully.
"You two are very good siblings I see," Cyberia commented with a smile while looking between the brother and sister.
"What? They are siblings! I thought they were mates…" Beckett exclaimed when he heard Cyberia's utterance. His pain seemingly vanished as his surprise of the information clouded his thought.
"Goddess! Can you reminded again who let this idiot stay behind? Treyton, please do something!" Cyberia yelled, slamming both her hands on the dining table in anger. Three seconds later, the table came crumbling down.
Jacek and Yuki gaped at the situation in shock. Jacek looked at the mess on the floor, the person who cause the mess and finally, and the man who was married to the person who caused the mess. Admiration and pity replaced his shocked expression as he looked at Hayes.
Amir pinched the spot between his brows and sighed loudly. Zora had her head lowered with a squeezed face. Hayes had his hand between his laps with blank look while looking at Cyberia who was biting her lower lip with a face filled with regret.
Cyberia turned sharply to look at the person who had stirred her to begin with, her amber eyes would have set Beckett ablaze if they could.
Beckett swallowed hard and looked away from Cyberia only to meet Treyton's irked face staring at him. Treyton rose and walked away without a word. Beckett's mouth had no more liquid for him to swallow, thus, he swallowed dryly then rose up and followed Treyton.
"This… I am so ashamed to face you two right now. Forgive this mess, Yuki, Treyton. I will prepare another meal for you," Zora tried to appease her guests.
"It is fine. I think we ate enough," Jacek spoke politely. He noticed how frustrated the town leader and his wife looked and felt bad.
"I am so sorry, you two. I think the table was too old" Cyberia sounded apologetic.
'Too old my foot, have you seen your arms?' Jacek thought while looking at Cyberia's muscular arms from the corner of his eyes.
Hayes and Cyberia saw themselves off after helping Zora clean the mess. It was a few minutes pass four by then.
Amir had to retire to be bed early because, no sooner than when Hayes and his wife left, did he start to cough terribly. He did not look very well when he asked the siblings to excuse and pardon him for being unable to stay longer with them.
"Come with me, I will show you to your rooms," Zora warmly told the duo and took the lead. The two followed Zora without question. She led the siblings to the second floor of the mansion and gave Jacek a room. "Come, Yuki, your room is over there" Zora pointed to the other side of the corridor.
"Wait. Why so far? We don't mind sharing a room," Jacek did not look pleased with the arrangements. He disliked that Yuki was going to be too far from him, especially then, when they were in an unfamiliar place.
"This side is occupied mostly by men and that side for women, I don't suppose you want your sister to be in a place where men are supposed to reside."
Jacek pondered over Zora's argument briefly. The things he imagined were not pleasant. "Yuki?"
"I will be fine, Jacek. You worry too much. Go on now, see you in the morning," Yuki said firmly and beckoned for her brother to enter the room. She then followed Zora away towards the female area that Zora spoke of.
"Should I help you settle in?" Zora offered when they reached the room Yuki would use.
"Do not bother, please, I will be fine," Yuki said politely, entered the room and shut the door behind her.
…
Much later into the night, Yuki laid in bed with eyes wide open. She was tired, very tired, but she could not bring herself to sleep. Yuki had taken her bathe already and had changed into a chemise. She did not apply her tan cream because she was going to sleep and also because she was alone. The bed was softer and more luxurious than her own back in Echt. Thus, nothing was preventing her from sleeping except her own state of mind.
She had a lot of thought inside her petite head. All the things that she found peculiar but had not time to think about after entering Gouna started playing in a cinematic manner inside her mind.
The people of Gouna were strange. They looked at her strangely. They treated her strangely. They spoke to her strangely. Was that what Treyton wanted to talk about earlier in the vehicle? Also, Treyton was more reserved ever since he got home. What was that about?
When her attempt to push all the thoughts away and try to sleep was fruitless, Yuki rose from the bed and walked to the large window of the room.
Immediately the window was opened, a strong breeze surged into the room. Yuki stood with both hands on the window's frame. She inhaled and exhaled the serene air that surrounded her as her silky hair swayed rhythmically to the silent tune of Gouna's breeze. Yuki's eyes were shut the entire time.
She found her thoughts clearing as time passed. After a while she slowly opened her eyes to appreciate the beauty of the world that sat before her eyes. Looking at it at night, Yuki came to adore the mix of nature and modernity of the town.
Without any motivation, Yuki looked down at the bushes below her window. Her eyes held an unexpected guest. Lurking in the darkness were a pair of glowing eyes staring straight at her. Yuki was unfazed. She stared back at the eyes with equal intensity. She could not fully make out what creature it was that stood there. A fox, perhaps?
As if to correct her erroneous guess, the moon briefly shed some light onto the bushes. Yuki's eyes widened at the sight of the ginormous wolf that stood before her. When were wolves ever that large? Yuki was both impressed and taken aback. The creature did not look away even once.
Yuki stood there, unhidden behind a mask or a tan. She always felt insecure without her mask or tan, did the monstrous creature view her vulnerable because of her appearance? Perhaps it looked on to her as a vulnerable prey.
Yuki chuckle, "Pity," she muttered under her breath while still staring at the wolf. She never saw herself a prey. She never thought herself to be weak. If anything, she viewed her an invincible entity, but that meant she was not human, right?