5: Left

Chapter 5

Left

***

Leila was dumbfounded, but she tried to stand up with her trembling knees. She had no idea why, but she followed the massive wolf that actually… rescued her!

She couldn’t believe that there’s a meek wolf like that – not to mention that it was so huge and bulky. She had seen them on television, and they were predators – mostly wild and fierce.

Leila ignored the bruises that were throbbing in some parts of her body. All she could think about was following the massive wolf and finding out who owned it.

She wanted it!

She wanted one for herself!

Well, that might serve as her best friend while living here in the village.

Her mind was clouded with the gratitude towards the wolf that saved her. She couldn’t believe that during that hard, awful, and hopeless time – she could find someone unexpectedly.

She was panting inaudibly – breathing in her mouth as she tried to keep up with the wolf, which was slowly walking like it had nowhere to go.

The owl cooed, and it echoed in the entire forest. It intensified the eeriness of the place – making the hair at the back of her neck stand up. She had been following the huge wolf for about five minutes now, and her heart almost dropped when it took a short glance at where she was standing. She instantly hid in the huge tree in front of her.

Leila blew an inaudible sigh into her mouth. She was almost caught by the wolf!

It might change its mind and eat her! It would dig its bared canines into her flesh, and blood would splatter everywhere and-

‘Oh, great! What a morbid imagination, you have there, Leila!’ She murmured to herself and slightly shook her head. She was already being carried away by her own thoughts.

But then, the wolf stopped, and she almost dropped her jaw when she saw it enter the backdoor of… Hunter’s Mansion?!

“Oh, my gosh!” She whispered under her breath as her hands flew in front of her mouth.

“Did he own the wolf? How did that happen? Wait… I need to talk to him…” She added and was about to go near the mansion when she suddenly fell down.

She took a swift glance at herself. She was full of bruises – not to mention the blood that was falling into her knees. She might also be so filthy because of the mud and dirt after her struggle.

How could she face Hunter now?

She tried to touch her bruises, but they were so bad. It was throbbing in pain – the reason why she fell down.

Her tears fell from her cheeks unconsciously. She felt like she had been transported back to what had happened earlier. Fear started to consume her entire being.

And amidst the massive fear that was engulfing her – was the thought of fury stirring in her blood. She just couldn’t believe that her stepfather would do something as low as this!

If not for the wolf that saved her… she didn’t know what would happen to her in the hands of Donovan.

She didn’t know how she managed to go back to her house. Her mind was drifting with too many thoughts.

Above all, she felt so alone… scared… and violated.

However, after she tended to herself, she decided to go home to her mother’s house. If Donovan could do something immoral like that to her, there’s no reason for him not to do something worse to her mother and to Darcel.

A lone tear escaped from her eye, and she instantly wiped it away. Her hands were trembling as she clenched them tightly in her lap.

The travel time she had to take seemed to be so fast because of the thoughts that were lingering inside her head. Her mind became more chaotic after she reached her mother’s house.

The sun had almost risen, and she hadn’t even taken any food since last night. She couldn’t feel the hunger – only her clenching heart, which was slowly drowning in pain.

What if her stepfather was in the house?

Can she really say everything to her mother?

What will happen to Darcel once he finds out that his father tried to abuse her?

No.

She couldn’t say anything like that… but she must!

But how?

Her thoughts abruptly stopped when she saw her mother crying on their patio. Her eyes widened as she instantly ran towards her.

“Mom, what happened?!” She worriedly inquired – ignoring her things dropped on the ground.

Her mother’s face was shocked upon looking at her. She might not expect her to go home now.

“L-Leila…”

She hugged her mother while sobbing in her shoulders.

“What happened?” She inquired, as she had gotten her some water.

Her mother swallowed hard.

Darcel was still inside his room sleeping, while her wicked stepfather was nowhere to be found around the house. And she was grateful that he wasn’t around.

“It’s… It’s D-Donovan… he already left us…” Her mother whispered lowly, but enough for her to hear.

She was speechless. She knew that deep inside her, that was what she had been waiting for. Her vicious stepfather didn’t deserve her mother but all that she could thank him for was having Darcel.

“He left a note and left. I already s-see this coming. He changed, and he is becoming hotheaded these past few days. But…” Her mother sobbed as she explained those things.

Leila didn’t want to see her mother like this. Maybe, it was a good idea that she went home. She mentally heaved a deep sigh.

“But… he has left all of his debts to me…” She problematically stated.

Her forehead creased at that.

How dare he do that?!

And how the heck did that happen?

However, Leila wasn’t surprised anymore. Her stepfather could be this merciless if he wanted to be.

She gritted her teeth.

“And they will be here in the house later. Donovan signed some papers that he agreed to pay his debts through the sale of this house.” Her mother wept as she said those words.

Her blood boiled at that.

That’s not possible. This house was named after her mother. This held a lot of memories for all of them, and she wouldn’t allow that to happen.

Her mother seemed so problematic and in deep sorrow, as she might be thinking the same thing as hers.

“Don’t worry, Mom. We will think of something.” She assured her.

“But how?” Her mother cried.

However, before she could even say another word, a luxurious car suddenly stopped in front of their house, and a familiar man stepped out of the front car seat.

Her mouth dropped open when he moved towards the backseat door and opened it for someone.

Leila held her breath as she saw who stepped out of the opulent car.

Her heart raced as her stomach churned inside.

She always laughed at her best friend’s stories about her boyfriends and crushes. She always scoffed at her whenever she told her about how her world stopped whenever her crushes walked towards her. She always rolled her eyes at her whenever she told her how her heart warmed and how fast it beat at mere eye contact and interaction with that particular man.

But she couldn’t scoff, roll her eyes, or ignore the fast beating of her heart.

For at that very moment, her best friend was right.

Everything seemed blurry, and her own world stopped. Her eyes were glued to the man who was dashingly walking towards them – wearing his midnight blue suit and tie. His dark brown hair was neatly done, and his stubble was all shaved now.

He was gorgeous the very first time that she laid her eyes on him, but now, he was even hotter and more strikingly handsome in her eyes.

But what’s more intriguing is how her heart beat suddenly turns wild at the mere eye contact that they have. It was like there’s something in between them that suddenly arose, and she couldn’t pinpoint how or what.

“Hunter Black…” She uttered unbelievably as he stopped in front of them.