Chapter 19

Amelia took a deep breath as she filled her lungs with the crisp air that lingered through the atmosphere in the serene environment. There she was, sitting on an advanced carriage next to the human that’d called it a car after the hectic day at the pawnshop. It was parked in front of the Lakes’ residence.

“Have you ever ridden a car?” Lake jerked his head; his hands were folded underneath his head.

Amelia knew he’d only asked out of courtesy, and she was willing to play along. “No,” she replied, moving the wisps of hair above her face, “I ride horses.”

Lake grinned at her amusedly, “sounds fun. I’ve never ridden one.”

“It is fun,” she asserted, recalling the tender moments she’s had with her horse, Tarzan.

“You know what’s more fun and most likely faster than a horse?” Lake said, his eyes savoring her features, “a motorcycle. My friend owns one; I can take you on a ride one day.”

Amelia gave an appreciative nod. Whatever a motorcycle was, she was thrilled about its existence already.

“I particularly love the feeling of freedom whenever I’m on my horse.”

Lake raised a brow, “Freedom you say?”

She rummaged through her thoughts, trying to avoid bringing up her country, “my mother…my mother—let’s just say she’s overprotective,” she sighed, satisfied with her response.

“Reminds me of my mother,” he said plainly.

She’d noticed the sour relationship between lake and Veronica. Maybe all mothers were like that, but she couldn’t help but wonder what had happened between them to bring such a cold aura.

“I wouldn’t say for sure,” Amelia chuckled, “my mother…my mother can be quite unbearable at times.”

Lake joined the laugh, “what a way to place it.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I still love her so awfully much despite our differences,” her eyes sparkled. “But my mother hasn’t realized we have different paths and purposes in life.”

Lake gazed at her in awe, his eyes searching for more answers—craving to hear more from her, “you’re a smart young woman,” he said enthusiastically. “I feel there’s so much to learn from you.”

For a moment, there was utter silence, and all Amelia could feel was a churning feeling from her wolf. Its variant attitude was starting to get on her nerves; she’d noticed it particularly when she was with the human.

“What’s your story?” She broke the long escalating silence, and Lake raised a brow, amused at her choice of words.

“What makes you Gilbert Lake,” she tried to hold in the stirs of laughter but failed.

Lake took his heels and placed his hand at the back of his head. The sun shone on his face, and he withdrew, limping into his car before appearing in her front again.

“You want some sunscreen?” He stretched his hand, and wavered. Then he smiled and perched it on her palm, “it prevents sunburn. You can apply it on your face and body,” he said.

Little did he know she could adapt to any temperature. Like a dutiful puppy, she opened the container, her nostrils receiving the wave of fresh fragrance.

“Or you want me to apply for you?” Lake asked slyly, and Amelia felt her cheeks flame up.

Was he perhaps…flirting? It was something Harry could say.

“Thank you,” she declined shyly. “Back to our discussion.”

Lake froze, confirming he’d only brought in the sunscreen to divert her attention.

“Amelia…” he muttered, and her heart jerked just at the sound of it. “My story…”

She could feel the bleakness in his voice, the sound of yet another damaged person.

She limped to his front, placing her hands on the side of his cheeks, and jerking her head up to gaze deep into his eyes, “it’s okay to let it all out.”

She tiptoed to balance her position, and Lake wobbled a little; she glanced around, meeting with the source. A woman was on the street, and she was glancing at them. She’d noticed his discomfort whenever people from his neighborhood passed by him.

It reminded her of her country. Even the humans were judgmental.

“What’s your story, Lake?”” She questioned again, “you can’t keep running from it.”

He tightened his eyes, and…his next words pierced her heart, she could feel his pain and weakness. “I’m not the man you think I am, Amelia.”

She shook her head, “You’re exactly who I think you are—one of the best men I’ve ever encountered.” She revealed genuinely, even though she’d only met a few.

For a moment, there was silence. Suddenly, he gazed down, as though he was about to reveal something. Then he shut his mouth again. But Amelia…Amelia was patient, she waited till he was ready to speak.

“You can’t…you wouldn’t,” he paused, “I was the reason my father passed away. I am the reason Lucy was deprived of the love of a father,” his voice was low, and his jaw clenched.

She could feel the self-blame, the rage he was trying to conceal, the rage that was burning on the inside of him.

“I convinced him to take me out one winter night. And—father was cold, but he did it just to please me anyway,” he words tumbled into silence as his body began to shake, “but there was something in the woods…”

Just the mere mention of the woods triggered a rapid heartbeat, as though she knew was coming next, but she shut her mind from the possibility.

“My father—my father saved me, but I…I couldn’t return the bravery. This creature…the giant dog. I saw it murder my father,” he revealed coldly. Amelia froze on the spot. She knew he was fighting an internal war—fighting the urge to cry.

“Do you know the worst part?” He said, “everyone blamed me,” he paused, “I was only a kid.”

It was something traumatizing for a child to have witnessed.

“And when I described this giant dog, they all said I was crazy…I think I am crazy,” he sniggered and cocked his head, his eyes lost and hopeless, “maybe it was something I created to relieve my guilt.”

“I believe you,” Amelia scurried to his front, and echoed, “I believe you, Lake. And it’s okay to cry and let it all out,” she said.

Suddenly, Lake lurched forward, gazed at her with his shattered eyes, and then placed his head on her shoulder. She patted his back tenderly as tears streamed down her cheeks.

She understood everything. He wasn’t crazy, and it was no giant dog.

Her kind had murdered his father, and Amelia couldn’t help but wonder who the vile creatures really were. The humans, or…just them.