14

It's true, I love it. Still. I sway and lower my head.

I feel his gaze fixed on me.

In truth, it is that I cannot.

I can't stop my studies, leave my friends, my family, change my environment. Everything keeps me here. Nothing keeps me with him.

- "You will often come here, if you come with me.", he reassures me.

- "And the wolf from earlier, what are you doing with it?!", I spit.

I feel that he grimaces, I hit the nail on the head.

- "There is nothing with her.", he says that without emotion and that frustrates me.

-"Liar, it's your Luna. You see, you don't need me that much.", I laugh.

- "Yes, you know very well that you need me like I need you. Don't tell me that you haven't missed me for the past few months. I don't feel anything for this wolf, but I know that I feel something for you.", her soft voice slowly persuades me. But I reply:

"Why was it Luna? Why didn't you ever let me know?"

- "I was going through a difficult time. I felt that you were not ready to become Luna, I did not want to force you and despite everything, I needed a Luna. But she will be relieved of her duties if you come with me.

I haven't contacted you this whole time because there was too much chance of the hybrids spying on our conversations. I'm sorry Lou, sincerely sorry for everything."

I don't answer anything and don't move when he approaches, I feel his hot breath on my head and I let myself go against his wolf chest. He licks my head, I feel good.

-"Lu!?"

I turn my head at the same time as Etienne, it's Elsa.

"Elsa! Are you okay?"

As she is in human form, she answers me aloud, bordering on shouting:

- "Yes, but you? What are you doing? It's the wolf from earlier!"

- "I know Elsa, but... she's also... my soul mate.", I'm desperate, nothing is going as planned.

-"Your soul mate? It's impossible, nobody finds his soul mate! You stay, huh Lou? You stay with me?"

I step away from my Alpha and hide behind a bush before transforming into a human, I dress and go out.

Étienne and Elsa stare at each other, I feel that they are discussing in thought. Elsa sees me first and turns to me as I approach her, I know she has cut off communication with Etienne. Étienne looks at us, he will follow the conversation.

-"Elsa, she's my soul mate.", I beg her. Yet she replies in the same tone:

-"Lou, he's the Alpha of Europe. He won't devote a minute of his time to you, he's far too busy, and we're at war."

I hear Étienne growling behind me.

-"But Elsa, I need him. Instead of blaming me, help me!"

- "What do you want me to tell you, except that you are my best friend.", she looks sad.

I approach her and hug her, she hugs me back. I tell him with a voice filled with emotion:

-"I love you Elsa, you will always be my best friend."

I give her a kiss on the cheek and she smiles shyly before saying:

- "I understood Lou, you will leave with him no matter what, so join him, don't fight. If he's really your soul mate, then you can't do without him. If you leave, I won't I will never forget you, I will come to see you, and you will remain my best friend."

I stare at her with wide eyes, I'm bewildered. I answer him:

- "If I leave, it's certainly not right away!".

I shoot a pointed look at Etienne, who is still in his wolf form.

Elsa looks at me for a moment longer before saying:

- "Well, I'll leave you then...". She smiled at me again before turning into a wolf. She rushes into the forest and I follow her with my gaze until she disappears.

I hear Étienne's voice in my head:

- "Lou, follow me, we have things to clarify quietly."

His voice is final, I take off my clothes behind the bush earlier and I change into a wolf.

We go into the forest and we run for a while before stopping under the thick branches of the trees. Étienne turns to me and looks at me, I sense through his wolfish eyes that he is furious.

- "Why don't you leave with me right away?!", he is indeed furious, his hairs on his back are on end. I take a step back.

-"I won't go with you right away because I'm just not ready!", I can't hold back my words.

I resume in a less harsh voice:

-"Étienne, at least try to understand me. You have been absent from my life for many months. I have to relearn to trust you, to know you."

He gazes at me for a long time before answering me in a voice filled with compassion:

- "Okay, I agree to give you some time, but I won't wait forever, I have a continent to manage.

But know that I love you, that I love you more than anything."

I don't answer, I don't know if I love him too. I know there will always be something because we are soul mates, I think in no time I will forgive him.

I reflect and ask the question that torments my mind:

- "If I come with you, I can continue my studies, huh?"

He looks at me, softens and answers me borderline laughing:

-"Promised!"

I'm happy but I'm not used to forgiving easily. If one day I leave, I think it will be more because I have to. I cannot be separated from my soul mate, the proof: the last few months have been a nightmare and there, in his presence, I am fulfilled.

I blow:

-"I'll think about what we said. Now he makes me go. Goodbye...?"

My "goodbye" sounds like a question, the black wolf tilts his head to the side and approves:

-"Goodbye."

He turns on his heels first and I follow him with my eyes until he disappears. I soon do the same, except that I'm not going home. I'm going to Elsa's.