A Mysterious She-wolf

Kavi's POV [Layla's POV]

It's been a week. Kathir had been looking for the clues to how the rainfall suddenly happened and also for the traces of any moon dust near their residence. But like magic, nothing was there. I visited there yesterday and couldn't find anything useful either. The last week were filled with the visits to vampire covens all over the earth to make a protective shield for them. I can't make that entirely for the earth as it might affect humans to Moon's contact. But now vampires were shadowed and under my protection. I loved to visit places and to see the harmony and love shared among people.

I skipped the fortnight meeting with second-level heads as I organized an “Essential gathering’ for all the people and announced the incident to them. I asked them to be cautious and discussed other issues inside the realm. I have been roaming all the week and attending continuous brainstorm with my second level people along with Kathir and Aadhira to the ways to increase the efficiency level overall. I need to meditate very sooner. Despite every time I warn myself to not think of Maayan, he flashed before me whenever I notice some beautiful things. I didn't visit him. There is no need to.

I decided to skip the next brainstorm and went to the pond outside the castle that carries the first gift that luscious wizard had given me. I submerged inside the pond and took the lotus position floating with my half body immersed in water. I closed my eyes and established my connection to the universe. I felt myself taking my spiritual form and I felt at peace. I floated in the peace and the knots within me untied one by one. I got fully rejuvenated and enjoyed the peace around me.

I opened my eyes and realized I have been lost in meditation for three days. It wasn't an abnormal thing but this is not a good time.

I walked out of the room and went to find Aadhira. She might be in her office. I walked there and just when I was close to the room, Kathir stormed out and halted in front of me.

"Goddess! I'm sorry. I didn't see you coming.”

He bowed and looked at me.

"That's okay, Kathir. Did you get any other clues? Someone might have been there to oversee the plan. We need that one to expose the truth.”

He didn't reply but lowered his gaze in shame.

"Fine. Leave that issue and concentrate on your regular duties, Kathir.”

I ordered him and dismissed him with a smile. The guard opened the door for me and I entered her office.

"Goddess!"

She greeted me with a bow and smiled widely.

"How's everything going, Aadhira?"

"Everything goes perfectly, Goddess. I need your consent to allocate some of the punishment to the new type of sins committed in the earth. Would you be able to see that now, Goddess?"

I sighed out as I never liked to read the list of new sins. I nodded my head and we proceeded to the work.

loo

A month had passed. Things have settled down and there was no sign from Chandran to make any trouble and past two meetings with them had gone well. It's been a while since our creator joined our meeting. Maybe she was busy with other galaxies. After the daily meeting with Aadhira and Kathir, I will go to the lotus pond outside the castle and spend time there. I framed his painting and put it in my bedroom. I couldn't stop myself from sharing my happiness to Aadhira about Maayan's gift. . 1 will look at the painting before meditation and the first thing after I finish meditation. I can't control my mind bringing those beautiful memories of the man I love.

I secretly appointed one of the best guards to have an eye on Maayan and to help him whenever necessary but not to disclose any information about Maayan's personal life unless it is very important. Hope the man is doing his duty with the new ability of invisibility. He would contact me weekly to let me know that everything is fine. And those times were the real test to my self-control as I wanted to question him how Maayan is doing.

I wanted to meet him in flesh and blood. I want to enjoy his fruity breath fanning my face and the feel of being close to his warm body. What would he be doing? What should I do if he had already forgotten me? Maybe I could visit him once. It's not a sin to visit a person who claims you as a friend right? I will also get a chance to forget him if I directly see him with his fiancé or maybe his wife. I didn't spy on him for the past one and half month. So I don't have any idea about what's going on in his life.

I teleported to the place where the guard was, without giving time for my brain to create a second thought. The guard bowed his head and looked at me with wonder.

"Where is he?"

I questioned him looking around to find the sight of the person my soul was longing to see.

"There, Goddess."

He pointed out near a tree. I saw his back and my heart started racing with anticipation. His hair was waving in the morning breeze and he was simply throwing small stones from his hand on the water running in front of him. I nodded at the guard and walked towards him. I want to climb on his lap and do so many things but I can't.

How would he react?

What would he do?

Am I looking good?

I shut off the voice alarming in my brain and walked closer to him changing to a normal cloth on the way. But sudden anxious hit me hard and I transformed into the child form in which I met him first. Maybe this way I could get a kiss like he did the first time. The mischievous thought lightened my nerves and I approached him cautiously. But just like last time, he sensed my presence and turned around swiftly with wide eyes. He looked at my eyes and narrowed his eyes.

"Quit playing, Layla. Change to your usual form.”

He scolded with a deep breath and with so much confidence in my identity. I gulped the lump in my throat and changed myself back to my form wondering how the heck he found my identity. He drank in my appearance from top to bottom and licked his lips. I could tell his beautiful cherry eyes had darkened a few shades. My heart warmed at the knowledge of my effect on him. His eyes hardened with a distant look suddenly and he looked away devoid of the excitement and relief expressed from his body just a few minutes back.

"So why are you here?"

His voice came out in an uninterested tone. I know he was faking his anger but I don't know why.

"I came here to meet someone."

I sat next to him and studied his fine features. How can be someone so perfect? But he does! The two dots near his eyebrow reminded how he found me in the middle of nowhere and that leads to a wonderful week.

"Oh! So did you meet the person?”

His voice came out in a little disappointment.

"Hmm... I just saw him lost in his thoughts and looking handsome making me want to..."

Before I could finish the sentence, he cut me off.

"Fine! I don't want any details about him."

His face was red and his nose was flaring. His behaviour was clearly hinting about what's going on in his mind.

"Okay, if you say so. I thought he would again give me a black lotus. But it seems he wasn't in a good mood. Maybe I should leave and let him continue his thinking."

I spoke with a sad tone dramatically and dusted my hand like I was about to stand up. But my words had a faster effect.

"Are you telling that that you had come to meet me?"

He asked with a hint of surprise in his tone.

"Yes. Who else do you think I know here?"

I asked sarcastically.

"Who knows? You might have been here to meet a quiver of snakes.”

He replied with equal sarcasm. He rubbed the spot on his forehead where he got bitten that day. I glared at him playfully. We sat there in silence for a few seconds staring at each other.

"Who are you, Layla?"

He asked suddenly. I didn't reply. He had seen me transforming in front of his face.

"I went back to the mountain. But I couldn't see any trace of you there.”

My breath hitched as I never expected he would search for me. So that's why he behaved like that before.

"Why did you... search for me, Maayan?"

He closed his eyes when I said his name. Then he looked at me pointedly.

"You never answer my questions. How could you expect me to answer?"

I remained silent again. I want to know what is in his mind first. I can't put the pressure of my identity for making a favourable decision.

"For God sake speak up, Layla"

His raised voice made me flinch. I felt the guard approaching us. I telepathically ordered him to go away. It's his instinct. My people never like someone disrespecting me. But Maayan was just frustrated; he wasn't disrespecting me.

"What are you going to do with my identity, Maayan? You marked me as your friend. Don't we have enough understanding to be “just friends?"

I spoke calmly. He sucked in a deep breath and about to open his mouth but stopped when he turned around and looked at the young woman looking at us with a frown.

"What do you want?"

He asked her without any emotion. I didn't even hear her coming.

"Your mother asked me to bring you back. I will tell her you are busy. You carry on."

She looked at me the whole time while speaking and walked back with a nod at Maayan. The fear and confusion in her eyes made it clear who she could be.

"She is the one!"

Before I could realize, I already muttered those words. He searched my face and nodded his head. I sucked in a sharp breath.

"Oh! She is so beautiful.”

I said with a forced smile.

I should leave before my emotions break down. He stared at me with a desperate look. I can't make him decide his life's path. I could see the love in his eyes for me. But if he chooses her over me, I will leave him for good. I shouldn't have come here in the first place. I was being a distraction for him.

"I forgot that I have an important thing to do. I have to go. Goodbye, Maayan. I won't distract you anymore. You should go. She must be worrying.”

I stood up urgently and turned around but only to be pulled back against his warm body. He hugged me tightly and I felt the same frustration and pain returning to me like the day he left me in the mountain forest. I can't do injustice for the human woman. She would have a great dream about a life with Maayan. I can't start life by destroying a human's dream.

"Layla..."

He started but I cut him off covering his mouth. I can't help but I pecked his lips softly taking that as the last memory of him and started running towards the forest. I stopped behind a tree and teleported to the farthest place from the earth and blended with the darkness like I did once.

I should forget him. I should let him go!

Joo

*Three months passed

I was meditating. The feel of having connected with celestial always calmed me. My heart never stopped thinking about him. I used to the pain and loved to live the way. I smile because it has an impact on my people. My frustrating week after meeting Maayan had made my people restless. I quit teasing Moon and Sun. I still do visit earth but the opposite side of the residence of Maayan. I spend more time with my people. And life was almost back to normal, but with a slight feeling of loss in the corner of my heart.

I roamed in the peaceful surrounding. Suddenly I felt something rushing towards me from behind. I turned around calmly and found a huge crimson ball coming in my direction. I never experienced something like this in my lifetime while meditating. I was waiting for it to come closer. But it approached with great speed and blasted against my spiritual form. Then like magic, the ball blasted into beautiful butterflies tickling my spiritual form flew away from me. My breath hitched when I felt something familiar in my heart. A slight murmur echoed in my ear.

'l want to meet you, Layla'

I stilled for a few minutes on hearing his voice after what I feel like an eternity to me.

But how did he do that?

And why did he want to meet me?

I don't know whether I can walk away from him this time without bringing him along with me. But a part of me was very excited to see him again. From the second I saw him, my mind and heart drew a line among them and each was battling for the feeling I have for him. The excitement washed through my nerves and I instantly got up from meditation in the rush. I felt alive again from just hearing his voice. My heart was beating fast as a lot of unanswered questions piled my brain. I was in the state of stun not knowing what to do but my brain was urging me to do something.

Maybe he just wanted to see how I am doing?

Or he just got something to ask me about those herbs... No-no...

What should I do if he wants me to attend his wedding? He clearly knew my attraction to him. Still... Damn! Stop over-thinking!

I closed my eyes and teleported to the bank of the river where we have met twice. I couldn't spot my guard anywhere near. I walked in rush looking around desperately for him. A pair of arm suddenly circled my waist and I was pulled into a tree hollow. I let out a small yelp which made my captivator to cover my mouth.

"Hey cupcake, it's me. Shhhh..."

His low amused voice and his spicy scent quenched my senses. I rested my body on his hard body leisurely and saw a few old humans went past the place we are hiding. My body and soul felt refreshed at his presence. And my heart was racing as he didn’t remove his hands from me. His warmth was soaking on my skin and making me feel contented. He noticed I was silently leaning on him and I felt him bend near my ear. His breath tickled me and I ground my teeth in anticipation. "It seems like you got my message and rushed here immediately!"

He whispered in a low tone while I saw a few people walking across us once again.

His cocky attitude always gets my knees weak and this is no exception. As he was still covering my mouth I nodded my head. He inched his face closer and rubbed the side of my ear and neck with his beardy face inhaling deeply. I felt my nerves getting chilled and I raised my hands to hold on to his. He removed his hands and turned me around and kept his hands around my waist tightly as if it would stop me from going away. The darkness allowed me to see his beautiful eyes that carry enormous adoration for me. I licked my lips and hugged him burying my face on his chest. Man! What is he doing to me?

Suddenly the thought of why we parted hit me hard like a meteorite. I pulled away shaking my head for forgetting everything and losing control. I stepped back but he pulled me again into his grip. "What are you doing? Don't you have a woman who is waiting for you?"

I whisper yelled at him. He might not know, but I could clearly see him smirking in the darkness and a smile broke on his face.

"No one is waiting for me!"

I put some distance between us as the conversation was going somewhere and his closeness only makes my brain blunt. He sighed and took my hands in his.

"What does that mean? You only said that day..."

My voice raised without my conscious but he cut me off in a very effective way by placing his lips on mine. My instinct took over and I pulled his hair moving his head to get better access to the kiss. But he pulled away much to my dislike. He brought us out of the hollow and looked at my face which held confusion and worry.

"Have patience, cupcake. We are in the place where we met first and the last thing I want to do is to hear your complaints. For your question, I cancelled the wedding. No one had ever done something like this in our tribe as we respect elders. But I made it clear that my heart and soul belongs to someone else.”

He looked into my eyes and pecked my forehead softly. I could hear my heartbeat thumping against my rib.

Was this really happening? The happiness my heart feeling was nothing like I experienced before. He was breaking the rules for me. He wants to be with me; even not knowing about me completely. But what about that woman? I looked at him to question the same.

"After spotting me with you, she no longer wanted to marry me. She will marry my younger brother. And she is okay with that..."

He answered me before I could question him and he continued.

"... I couldn't stop thinking about you. Initially, I thought I could get back to normal life like you said. But every passing minute made my heart ache with yearning. It was you everywhere and in everything. I made my decision on the fourth day and was thinking about a way to contact you. I went back to the mountain but couldn't see any trace of you. Then the next day you came here to meet me. I was so happy that you had come to me. I was confused, Layla. I don't know how I could tell the tribe I was going to break the promise my father made before 24 years. And it's very rare to bring a woman from outside to the tribe as a daughter in law. I wanted to clear that with you and that's why I asked about you. But you saw her and left me. As days passed, I tried to behave normally with her but I could never be close with a woman when all I want is you.

When the tribe gathered to talk about my wedding arrangements last week, I told them I was in love with a woman and I can't oblige the wedding. My father is a man of his words. My father had agreed to take that woman as his family's daughter in law. And he asked my brother for his consent and he agreed and he got consent from the woman. They will get married next week. And I was given a time limit to bring you to the tribe before his marriage. I have no means to contact you, Layla. But I remembered you doing meditation. So I cast a spell to contact your soul and it took me a week to finally communicate with you. Despite the days had passed, I know you will come for me and I waited here. My father didn't speak to me after I announced to the tribe people. But he will understand me eventually on seeing us living happily with our babies.”

A part of me was extremely happy about how he had announced his love for me in front of his people and his plans for our life. But I can't give a normal life to him. I won't grow old with him. And I don't want him to leave me any sooner. I want to live with him for eternity. But would he be ready for the immortality? How can I ask him to leave everything behind to be with me? It was too much. I couldn't leave my duty to come and live with him pretending to be a normal human. One way or other I would be needed there and it would bring a huge difference to the solar system if I wasn't there.

"Layla... Your silence makes me fear the worst. Tell me what you are thinking. Please.”

His worried tone broke my chain of thoughts and his face was apparently displaying the fear of losing me and his grip on my hands had tightened.

"Maayan... This is time to let you know who I am... You know I am not a normal human. If you had thought I was also a person born with the blessing, in one way you are correct... But I am not a human."

I paused to look at him but he pressed my hand and inched closer to me.

"I don't care who you are. My heart beats for you and my love for you won't change upon your identity. I love you, Layla".

He kissed my lips making my eyes tear up with so much love he showering me. I pulled away but a drop of tear hit the ground and a sprout had emerged and it blossomed into a purple rose. He noticed that and looked at me questioningly.

"I love you too, Maayan. But I can't fulfil the normal life you are dreaming for us. Because...

I am Goddess of the darkness.”

[To be continued...]