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Home / Werewolf / Awakening - Eve Of Eden / Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

All Chapters of Awakening - Eve Of Eden: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

128 Chapters

31

“I need to do this…for her, for me…. For my parents. She left because of me. She won’t let anyone else find her, and I know I can. It’ll prove to me that I am capable of standing on my own two feet even without being a wolf. It shows them all that a witch and a healer can achieve what the rest of you can’t. I need to do this for myself. For my sister….. I need her home so I can breathe. So I can feel whole again. She’s half of me, Toya…. I need her even though I said I didn’t.”“I guess blood loss also ruins brains…. You have lost it. You are delirious, and I can see why your dad has sent me to babysit your crazy ass.” Toya shrugs off my gentle hand on her arm, used to plead, but instead turns on me fiercely. “You have no idea what’s out there for a girl with no wolf. Even with your abi

32

My breath suspends in frozen clouds around me with every step I take, hugging my cape closer and tighter to try and conceal me in the shadows of the path I’ve taken and weighted down with what food I could stuff into the bag I carry. I didn't know how to prepare for a long walk into the wilderness, especially since I didn't even know how long I would be gone, so I tried my best to be practical. Food, fire supplies, a knife, and water. I wore layers of clothing instead of packing them to make carrying easier, and I am using my cape as both a shield in case I come across a patrol guard at this hour and for camouflage. Its dark, shapeless form blends with the surroundings. If I crouch down in this light, I look like a giant boulder and have been lucky so far not to pass anyone since I snuck out.I cast a sleep spell on Toya that should last until noon, and I know she’s going to be pissed when she wakes up and immediately tells my parents. I expect it. I know it&rsquo

33

Yawning, balling a fist in my mouth while still moving forward at a slower pace, I really want to sit down and sleep. I've walked all night, past dawn, and in the bright morning, I have seen all manner of wildlife unfurling to begin the day. It’s mid-morning, and I think I have covered several miles, maybe more than ten, but I have no idea. I just kept putting one foot in front of the other, always checking for signs of Eve. Always touching passing trees in hopes of finding some sign, but either the spell remains intact to cover her, or I'm truly lost, and she's never been here.A crack in the undergrowth behind me startles me only mildly. I have heard many of them in the last hours, each one scaring me half to death, and every time, some long-legged animal would hop out and run from me with wide eyes. So much nature out here, in the untouched, has helped calm some of my fears about venturing alone.I’m beyond tired, but I can’t stop yet. Not here in

34

Then I see it.Along the very edge on the other side of the bright clearing ahead. Peeking out among the forest, I dodge between trees to see my destination.An unmistakable line of devotional objects and ritual tokens, interlaced with flowers and food offerings. Carefully lined straight so it never encroaches on the space behind, and I guess this is what they were talking about. Whatever evil dwells on the other side that pushes the pack here to lay down offerings is a far better foe to worry about right now than the three wolves looking to end me.Hex? A gohz’aan…I don’t know what they are, but if there is only one of them, it’s a far better numbers game than three hunting wolves.I don’t stop. I don’t breathe. I put my all into running as hard as I can, with not much speed left in me. Tripping, stumbling, and making it onto the clearing, and a hit of sudden, brighter light that makes my eyes water.“She

35

The silence becomes deafening, and I realize that since he appeared, all sound and wildlife have vanished. Not even the wind dares to disturb his presence, and it's eerily still as though death has arrived. He says nothing, still unmoving like stone, and so close to me I can’t turn away or even fathom escape. Pinning me down with a black form and faceless darkness while simultaneously halting the three in their place. His aura is overwhelming even just standing here, and I can barely breathe or swallow as though his presence is strangling all life out of me. I can taste so much raw pulsating energy and power around him. “We’ll go… She’s yours…. We didn’t mean to cause harm, Hex…I mean …ahh, Kae…Kae…Kaelin. We’re sorry.” The hesitation and stutte

36

“What?” My brain really did just take a dive off the stupid board.“Get out of my forest before I stop being so patient.” He sounds crueler, colder, and some sense does manage to break through the hormonal surge and remind me he's feared for a reason, and maybe I just caught him on a really, really good day.Wake up, Eden.“Right…that way….um…. straight…. Ughhh, that way. I’m sorry I came into your forest.” I sound like an illiterate child who doesn’t know how to talk and point randomly over my head, in the general direction he previously gestured. Waving my arm like a toddler who has not yet mastered coordination.“Right.” He repeats, eyes still locked on mine in a strangely intense way, like he's challenging me to battle, and I cave and look away. If only he weren’t equal parts scary and hot.How is he so hot?It’s a strange combo to be both

37

This forest is as unwelcoming as its host. Trudging on for over two hours in this endless space, I cannot ignore the sheer lack of anything living besides plants and foliage. It’s like, all the animals are hiding or just absent. The familiar rustles, cracks, and scurrying noises of the last day are missing. Bugs and insects that were slowing my pace and bothering my face, also absent. I haven't yet reached an obvious border to leave Kaelin's forest, so I have no idea how far this stretches, and the sheer oppressive air and lack of light make me think this is still his. It’s weird, though, as the forest floor shows signs of wildlife, yet the constant dark cloud of his energy flanks me at every step. I have no idea if the whole place is like this all day long and the creatures scurry out at night, or if his bad mood h

38

“Once again, if you had bothered to show me the way, then I would be gone and not almost killing myself! So this is your fault for being such an ignorant asshat and unwilling to show some empathy to a wolfless girl who is clearly lost.” I snap back, equally riled, and face up to him, inching closer on tiptoes so we almost graze noses. Matched heavy breathing, matched fiery energy and glare, and locked eyes like he’s my sworn enemy. All fear forgotten, all lustful twinges dead because he makes me madder than anyone I have ever met in my life. Madder than even Eve can make me, and she's had a lifetime of knowing how to push my buttons.We stand that way, sharing air, sharing space, so close we are almost touching, and neither says a word. Just pulsing anger and equal stubbornness in facing the other down. His left eye twitches slightly, as does the corner of his mouth, as though he's curbing some internal dialogue, and it infuriates me further. I shove him bac

39

Maybe Eve never left at all. Perhaps he likes games and followed her too before doing something to her. Putting her somewhere. Perhaps he’s a sick demonic who likes to mess with people, like they say they do.“What are you going to do to me?” I blurt it out like a dumb child, so sure he has an ulterior motive for bringing me here, and stiffen up when he chuckles under his breath, kneeling to tend to the dwindling fire. If it weren’t for his presence, this house would be welcoming and warm. Even the fire can’t dull his dark, cold atmosphere that’s always around him.Herbs, dry and hanging in bunches, along the mantle. Food is wrapped and stored in one corner of a quaint kitchen counter and a rustic brick stove. A cast-iron kettle nestling comfortably. It’s a storybook dwelling and real home comforts, yet an actual devil resides within.“As fun as it would be to see you stand there all night trembling and on guard ag

40

He’s not as considerate in bright light while leading the way through the forest. His pace is too fast, and he’s been mostly silent since I awoke. Last night, he barely looked my way, handed me a meal of stewed meat and bread, and left until it was pitch black outside and the fire was almost gone. Surprisingly good: stewed meat, hearty with root vegetables and gravy. He gave me the bed, a blanket, another tea, and left me once he piled the fire high again.God knows what was in the brew, but I don’t remember anything until he woke me with a shake past dawn and half-dragged me out of bed to eat and get moving.His impatience is deafening. His manner is colder than before, and I can feel it pulsing between us that he truly wants me gone and is looking for the fastest route to make it happen. I overstayed my welcome, and despite trying to talk to him several times while walking, he seems to be keeping an obvious distance between us so we can't speak.

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