Finding a space behind a pickup truck, Leo parked the car at the curb in front of my aunt's house and cut the car engine off.
He then turned and looked at the house and said, "You don't have to be scared of anything. You can tell me, and I will protect you from it." He gazed back at me. "But I can only do this if you trust me." He set his hand on mine and gave a slight squeeze.
"I have been a little distracted with something."
"And that's okay. Just don't shut me out. Communication is the key here; just remember that."
'How have you blended me into your life with a smile, Leo? Even after how I have treated you so poorly.'
"You seem distressed. Maybe this will help you." Leo removed a box from the glove compartment and opened it. It contained a gold chain with a triple stone pendant, and beautiful gold plated cryptic design hanging at the bottom.
"It is a moonstone, a stone known for the new beginnings. This stone is for inner strength. It soothes and stabilizes emotions, providing calmness. Wear this at all times. Okay?" Leo explained and stretched his hands to put it on me.
"It's beautiful." I took it with admiration.
"Oh my god, I just accepted a gift from you without hesitation. You must be thinking that I'm greedy for gifts." I blurted out. Leo chuckled at my expression.
"No. Just the opposite. Accepting it, made me very happy." Leo expressed.
"Thank you, and I love it." I leaned and placed a kiss on his cheek.
"So, there's absolutely no chance of us getting together on weekends?" He asked.
I felt my chest tightening at his question. He had just finished his speech about the trust, and here I was about to lie to his face. Anything I would say has to be a lie to cover up the truth, and I don't want to lie to Leo. I'm so going to get tortured in hell for this, not to mention brutally.
"No," I said, apologetically, not willing to talk any more. Hoping a simple response wouldn't raise any more questions concerning what I do on weekends. But one day, I'll make my last day out of that dreaded place and be with Leo, only if he accepts me.
"That's okay. I get to see you five days a week at school. I shouldn't be complaining. I can spare you for just two days out of a week. I can do that." He reassured himself. The look in his eyes was not only sympathetic but also understanding. I turned to him, amazed at how considerate and patient he could be.
"Why are you so nice to me, Leo. I don't deserve you."
"Don't be so negative. Everything happens for a reason, Aries. I believe so."
I couldn't take it anymore. Leo deserves to know the truth about me. I can't keep him in the dark forever.
~My dreams were about to be shattered. From the start, they're only bound to break, as they are made of glass, and now I can't protect them—any longer.~
"Actually, Leo, Sunday, would you come to this club at nine?"
~xXx~
A Glimpse On Leo's P.O.V.
At the packhouse, Leo asked his Beta Jedrek to take a few pictures of his wolf, Leon. Jedrek gave him a quizzical look and started asking many questions. Leo trusted Jedrek by heart; after all, he was his beta.
"Aries thinks I have a pet, named Leon, and she insisted on seeing his picture..." Leo explained. That made Jedrek laugh and couldn't stop teasing Leo.
"Shut up and be serious!" Leo scowled, but Jedrek continued to laugh, making him growl.
After selecting the best shot of Leon, Leo was finding it hard to edit the picture, as Leon—his wolf was as tall as the plum tree in the background.
~*~
When midnight fell, Leo strongly felt the angst coming from Aries' mind, body, and heart. Without a second thought, he leaped out of his bed, shifted into his wolf form, and ran into the woods. Leon swung through the wind at dangerous speed to get to Aries. She was his life, his love, his mate, and she was in trouble. He was experiencing Aries' physical agony, like stabbing sharp pains in his chest.
At this point, Leo didn't care if this is how Aries would find out about Leon today. He was more than ready to reveal the beast—as a 'He.'
Leon sensed Aries nearby in the woods. ‘She's here in the woods?’ He frowned at that—'What is she doing here in the woods—at this hour?' Leo spoke to Leon.
‘Let's find out?’ Leon replied and followed her scent. Leon sniffed the air surrounding her to make sure no one else was around her or she was hurt or bleeding. Once confirmed, Leon enthusiastically—with no intention to scare her, jumped in front of Aries.
O, but he did scare her. Her eyes went wide, filled with fear. She didn't know that he was Leo.
Leon smelled different scents from afar. A pack of wolves, three at least, were coming toward Aries. He snarled viciously and opened his mouth showing his teeth in a predatory way and lunged toward her. That's when Aries thought she was going to be killed by this beast and went into a major shock and fainted.
Three wolves—hackles raised, barking, and growling—came to an instant halt when they saw Leon.
He took a protective stance, over Aries's unconscious body. With him hovering over her, she was now safe. It not only secured her from all sides but also kept her warm because of Leon's body emanating heat.
"What are you doing here, Carl?" Leo mind link with Carl.
"I was following the human. And she smelled delicious." Carl sniffed the air and hummed with pleasure.
"Did you follow her as well? Maybe we can share her." Carl spoke suggestively and took a step toward the human.
"Back off, Carl." Leon made an aggressive growl with bared teeth and drew his claws out. "That's my mate you're talking about."
"Oh!"
