Chapter 14 The Jealous Bad Wolf; 🐺
Elly's face had frozen. Eva, knowing that Elly's father was dead, was watching them curiously. The fear on the woman's face was real. She didn't look well.
Elly said, "They've treated dad, mom, let's go home."
When Eva noticed the woman's condition, she said, "It would be good if I went home by myself." Normally she had come down to town with Elly and would have returned in her car. But right now, she wasn't what was important.
"Okay, I'll drop you off," Joe said.
Elly wanted to object. "No, we'll drop Eva off first then go to our own home."
"You need to get your mother home quickly. I'll take care of Eva," Joe said.
Joe was right. "No problem Elly, I'll go back with Joe. Thank you," she said.
"Are you sure?" Elly asked, holding her hands.
"I'm sure, we'll go right away. After all, how big is the town," Eva said.
Elly hugged her. "Okay but call me when you get home, will you?"
"Okay, agreed," she said and headed toward Joe's jeep. Joe opened the door for Eva in a gentlemanly manner.
Then he got in the vehicle himself and looked at Eva. "You should fasten your seatbelt," he said.
Eva was still in a daze. "I'm sorry, it slipped my mind," she said.
Seeing her exhausted state, Joe reached for the seatbelt and slowly fastened it. Eva suddenly looked carefully at the man's face right at the tip of her nose. Joe's face had that sly, roguish smile again.
"Thank you," Eva murmured.
Joe slowly pulled himself back and started the vehicle.
Eva was so tired that she barely had the strength to keep her eyes open. She began watching outside. Snow had slowly started falling in town again. But despite this weakness, Eva's insides felt warm. Because having just helped that child made her happy. Maybe these powers weren't so bad after all.
Joe asked her curiously, "How long have you been aware of your powers?"
Eva looked at him. "Very recently. The day your sister came to meet with me, they first appeared. For a week now, little by little, some days, some hours, I see small effects. Usually in my hands, in my palms, or in my eyes. Or in my mind."
Joe nodded slightly. "How do you feel about it? I mean, how do these powers make you feel?"
Eva looked into the distance. She hadn't decided yet because she didn't know how they would make her feel.
"Good," she said. Because today she had saved that child.
Joe seemed happy to hear this, there was a relieved expression on his face. What exactly is this man's problem? Eva wondered.
Soon they arrived at her house. After going down the dirt road, Joe stopped the vehicle. He opened Eva's door.
Eva murmured, "Thank you, that wasn't necessary."
Just as she stepped out of the vehicle, she weakened again and fell toward Joe's arms.
Joe looked at the woman in his arms and laughed. "It was necessary, look at your state." Then he tried to wipe the smile off his face. "I can't enter your house. Are you sure you'll be okay in there? If you want, you can stay in the car for a bit. I'll heat it up for you," he said.
Eva said with a mocking attitude, "Thank you, I prefer my home."
At that moment, she was startled by the shiver she felt from behind, from her neck. It was a bad feeling. A feeling like wanting to tear someone apart. But why am I feeling this? she thought.
Soon Kael's gaze appeared before her eyes, those amber-colored eyes. A clenched jaw and throbbing veined temples.
When she opened her eyes, she immediately looked around but couldn't see anyone. Not seeing him didn't mean he wasn't here. She had now become able to sense this.
She pushed Joe away in panic. "Stay back, stay back right now, you need to leave," she said.
Joe was surprised but recognized the fear in her eyes. "He's here, isn't he?" he said.
"I don't know, I just feel that he wants to tear you apart," Eva said.
Joe's lips curved in a sly smile. "Exactly the kind of move to expect from him," he said.
Eva said frantically, "I'm going inside, please leave here right now, go quickly."
He understood the worry on her face. And Joe did as she said. As Eva headed toward the porch, Joe started his car and drove away.
Eva watched Joe's jeep drive away and took a deep breath. She thought she had escaped the danger. But then his voice began to echo in her mind.
Kael said, "I can catch him in two seconds. He touched you! Give me a reason not to tear him apart here right now."
Eva had shivered. She looked toward the depths of the forest but couldn't see anyone. She began murmuring desperately. "No, no. Why would you tear a person apart?"
"He's not a person. He's bad blood and he touched what's mine!" Kael growled. His animal instincts were prevailing.
"Whatever he is, I don't care. You're not tearing anyone apart. Did you hear me? Don't you dare!" she said, pointing her finger toward the forest and waving her finger at the empty forest.
But she could hear Kael's heartbeat. Kael's heart was beating very fast like a bomb about to explode. She realized he couldn't calm himself down.
"No, no, you need to be calm. Where are you? Where are you? Show yourself to me," she said.
Kael called out with a deep growl. "You're afraid of me, little one. I don't want you to see me."
Eva became defiant. "No, I'm not afraid anymore. Please. You need to calm down. Show yourself," she said.
But his heartbeat was getting faster and faster. Then she felt him moving. She shouted in fear.
"Kael! You said you were a breath away from me! Now I want you by my side! Come to me!"
And suddenly from within the forest, with his massive paws and body, in his reddish-brown wolf form, he slowly approached. He came right in front of her. His eyes were amber-colored, glowing. His teeth were bared, his heart beating fast.
Eva swallowed and gathered her courage, raising her hand and reaching toward him. And Kael, the big bad wolf, lowered his head, allowing her to touch him.
The moment Eva touched him, she felt his heartbeat calming. She was looking at him this closely for the first time. In his wolf form. He was a perfect being. Mystical, powerful, and mesmerizing. Two words involuntarily fell from her lips. "You're so beautiful."
The wolf raised his eyes and looked at her. And completely collapsed to the ground. In his eyes was the fear of loss like a small child, like a child with no one!
Eva slowly approached him and began stroking his fur. Kael's heartbeat had now returned to its normal rhythm.
Something inside her was changing. It was as if all her resistance, all her fear was slowly melting away. This bond... this cursed bond... maybe it wasn't cursed at all.
Maybe this was her destiny.
And maybe... it was time to stop fighting it.