SWNOVELS Chapter 91
Chapter 91 The ride to the lake was slow and I could not help but feel the tension in the air, in the small cabin space of the car with just me and Callahan. I had blurted out my fascination with him quite stupidly, unabashedly, if I might add, and I could not even blame having done that under the influence of alcohol. If he simply played with my emotions and left me broken, it would leave me with nowhere to go I fidgeted with my fingers as Callahan drove the car in silence: The drive was short, but it felt like an eternity before we reached there. I could see the way he was clutching the steering wheel and the way he was looking outside, the veins in his throat almost popping out. Had I freaked him out? Definitely not. He was the King of werewolves, for Goddess’ sake. How could someone like me unnerve him? I tried to focus on the scenery outside. Just like last time, it was dark and I could faintly see the varying shades of green when the car's light shone on them. Callahan drove the car gently, and I leaned on the window, trying to calm my jittery nerves. I had to focus on awakening my wolf. For better or worse, now Callahan would witness either my success or my failure to do
1 I had to ignore my fascination with him and focus on how to shift. I would not have the courage to meet his eyes if I failed yet again. My gaze inadvertently traveled to the sky above. The night was getting darker, and the moon was hidden behind the trees and a few clouds. There was a light dusting of the stars in the sky, just like my dress, I thought with a smile. In the next few minutes, we reached the lake. Callahan turned the ignition off and finally turned to look at me. His golden eyes were a stark contrast to the dark shade all around me. Those eyes looked even more enticing in the serene atmosphere around us. “Step out. Let us find a spot where you are completely in the moonlight” I nodded and gathered the folds of my dress before stepping out. The first thing I noticed was the slightly cold wind that caressed my skin. It was a gentle cool breeze, probably due to the lake nearby. Callahan had his back turned at me as he was surveying the area, and I tore my gaze away from the broad torso and the ripped muscles that were hidden underneath the fabric of his shirt. “There,” He said, pointing to a small clearing just a few feet away from us. My gaze traveled to the spot and indeed, the moonlight was falling directly on the land, on the soft blades of grass that twinkled with water drops shining like diamonds. Without saying a word, I began walking towards the spot, careful not to trip and make a fool of myself. Callahan led the way, and I felt his hand brush mine when we walked and I did my best to ignore the sensation of his touch. I stepped into the clearing and stood directly under the spot, gathering the folds of my dress.
* Callahan looked up at the sky and then at me and nodded to himself. “Looks good to me” I too looked up at the moon and then at myself, wondering what would happen. Would I immediately feel a tingling sensation and grow fur? Or would I roll in the mud like earlier? My hand kept brushing the dress and adjusting the folds. When I looked up a bit again, I saw Callahan staring at me intently. “D-don’t look at me like that,” I managed to utter. But he did not look away. “Like what?" He asked. "You are making me nervous,” I added, biting my lower lip He raised an eyebrow. “You asked me to be here and look at you.” I rolled my eyes. “Not literally” He frowned and shook his head, but turned his attention somewhere else. “Well then, I'll go check the car. She is making some odd noises. Meanwhile, you soak in the moonlight, I guess” “Okay,” I said in a small voice. I was relieved that he was around but not staring down at me like a teacher anticipating their student to perform well in an exam. I looked up at the brightly shining moon and clasped my hands together, “O dear Goddess of Moon. I am not sure what prayer one offers to you to wish for something. But I hope you are hearing my pleas and can see me now. I pray to you to grant me my wish, of making me whole. A werewolf is incomplete without their wolf. Please complete me and allow me access to the power that makes us your creatures.” I opened my eyes and saw that Callahan had thrown the car's hood open and was checking something. So I quietly added, “Also, help me free him of the curse. He is your child, too. He is a little stubborn but not a bad guy” I didn't know what else to add, so I kept staring at the moon with my hands clasped in a prayer and trying to focus if I could feel something, anything. When my neck began to hurt after looking up for a while, my gaze automatically drifted to Callahan. He had his sleeves rolled and was working on something. I could only stare at that handsome man, wondering what secrets he was hiding. Callahan was not very old to have lived a long life and suffered at the hands of fate. He was barcly a few years older than me and quite young to be a king in the first place. The way his hands moved told me he knew what he was doing. He could repair cars, fight bad guys, dance, train a late bloomer like me, and rule a Kingdom. Was there something he couldn't do? "Done gawking at me” He asked without turning to look at me. His words brought me back to reality, and I abruptly looked away. “I wasn't gawking” He wiped his hands on a cloth and began walking towards me. "Anything yet?” He asked, ignoring my earlier answer. “No,” I said, lowering my head. Doubt began to creep up my heart, but he replied, “It has barely been ten minutes and you are already giving up?” I clutched at the dress’ folds to hide my nervousness. “Relax. Sometimes it takes time. It is a natural process.” I nodded without looking up, and he slowly reached for my hand, that was playing with the folds. I tried not to gasp at the sudden touch as he took a step closer and replied, “Stop distracting yourself with the dress or anything else. Empty your mind” I looked up at him as he stepped into the spot with me. We both were standing in the clearing as if the moon was shining a spotlight just on us. It felt surreal to be with him as the moonlight shone on him, giving him a faint white hue like an angel's aura. “Easy for you to say,” I said in an effort to not show just how gorgeous he looked. Callahan added sternly, “Sure, that slit of your dress is distracting. But close your eyes and try to call to your wolf. Did you do that?” I-mentally slapped myself. I didn't even think of doing that. Immediately, I closed my eyes and tried to do what he suggested. My hands were clasped in his and I felt reassured that I would be okay, that I was safe. “Hey, this is me, Zenovia. I know you are struggling to come out. And I am dying to meet you. I know you are in there somewhere, Please come forward.” I spoke in my head, and at first, I did not feel anything. And then there was the faintest sound, as low as a distant hum. It was so faint that it felt as if I had imagined it. My eyes flew open, and I blurted out excitedly, “I... felt something”