AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hey! Thanks for coming. But I’m fine, honestly. Glad to go home.”
Elara nods briefly, conscious his house is empty. She can’t shake a sense of guilt, even if she isn't sure that she's the one who’s responsible for this. He’s still covered in the scratches, although the bandages are smaller and prove that he’s at least healing. She suppresses a frown as another thought rises in her mind. What if it wasn’t her? If Denzel’s right and there's a wolf out there that’s gone rogue, was Laith one of its victims? Are weird things going to happen around him, too?
Kira picks up the backpack sitting on the bed. “I’ll carry this for you,” she tells Laith.
“Oh, you don’t need to do that,” he says quickly. “I keep telling you, the scratches aren’t as bad as they look.”
Kira lifts her chin. “I want to.”
Laith stills as he stares back. “Oh. Um. Sure, then.”
“I knew you’d make the right decision,” Kira says with a cheeky grin.
And yet, as she looks away, a slow flush creeps up her cheeks.
Elara has to stop her eyes from widening. She’s never seen confident, out-going Kira blush.
Unless…she has a crush on Laith!
So much makes sense now. The odd glare. Not looking happy to find Elara here. She winces internally. Does Kira know Laith asked her out?
Her mind whirls as she stands back, watching Kira and Jordyn chat with Laith as they wait for him to be released so that they can walk out with him. Laith is human, and Denzel said that most humans don’t survive transformation. And yet, here he is…slipping glances at Kira like he’s noticing something about her for the first time.
The full moon already passed a few days ago, so Elara knows that at least for now, Laith is safe. But that doesn’t mean strange things might not happen. Or that his memories might come back. The only way to know for sure if he’s been turned is to keep an eye on him until the next full moon, which is almost a full month. Elara’s gut clenches. That person can’t be her. She can’t give Laith the wrong idea by being his new shadow. And with everything that’s been going on lately and the fact that she has no idea what’s going on in her own life at the moment, she’s most definitely the wrong person.
Kira’s laughter rings out in the small hospital room, not an unfamiliar sound, but there’s something different about it. It’s a little more…girlish than usual. It’s all Elara needs to give her an idea.
Maybe it’s time for Kira and Laith to spend a little time together…
The only problem is that she isn't quite sure how she's going to get Kira to watch him without letting her in on everything that has been happening. Elara can barely believe it herself, and she isn't ready to drag her friends into what she’s struggling to understand. So she has to come up with something, some reason or excuse that Kira should watch Laith without letting her know what’s going on.
Elara pulls Kira to the side. She keeps her voice down, but knows that with as loud and crowded as the hospital is, there's no way that Laith will be able to hear them talking.
“I've got a favor to ask,” Elara starts.
Kira glances over her shoulder as if even being away from Laith this long isn’t something she wants, then turns back to Elara. “Sure. Shoot.”
Elara almost hugs her, there and then. Her unquestioning support is touching. And just what she needs right now. "I’m thinking you should hang around with Laith for a bit, keep an eye on him,” she asks quickly, hoping this sounds plausible. “I know how hard it's been for me, and you guys have been so helpful with my recovery. I'm worried about him."
Kira nods, looking thoughtful. “He’s definitely the sensitive kind.”
Elara smiles, trying not to make it look too knowing. “He really is. And your upbeat energy is just the thing he needs.”
Kira grins, then winks. “So true.”
She spins around, her dark hair whirling like a skirt, and walks back to Laith. She leans in and says something to him, making him laugh. Elara leans against the doorjamb, glad at least something’s working out. She notes that even Jordyn’s taken a step back, pretending to check her smartwatch, yet shooting quick glances their way.
Hopefully she and Elara are watching new love blossom.
Elara’s phone chimes and she quickly pulls it out of her back pocket, instinctively tilting it so that no one else could see the name on the screen. She's surprised that Denzel is calling her already, but then again, it makes sense. He’s clearly worried about everything that's going on, so he’d want to get her training started as soon as possible. Elara hesitates for a second, then says her goodbyes to Laith and her friends, telling them shehas some errands to run. Not a lie, although they have no idea exactly what errands those are.
She’s off to talk to a werewolf. And alpha of a pack.
About training to harness the magic within her.
Because she’s one of them.
Shaking her head at the impossible turn her life has taken, Elara heads to the location Denzel texted her. She finds herself almost looking forward to it. She finally has someone she can talk to about all of this stuff, about being a wolf and all the strange things that have been going on around her.
