CHAPTER 29

Iliana paced to and fro bring her finger. Alexander, unconscious, was laid on her bed with his wounds treated with an antiseptic and bandages, although the claw marks were already closing up thanks to his werewolf healing abilities. Iliana thought back at what will happen two weeks to come, rather, what has happened now.

“Is this supposed to happen? It’s the same as what happened. But it doesn’t make sense. His appearance and injuries are the same but I never got a text to meet him nor did I meet his brothers looking for him.” Iliana ran her hands through her hair frantically. “Two weeks ago, Alexander left but told me he would return. I thought he was good to return later that night but…I don’t understand. It is the same but different.”

Alexander moaned, he was awake. Iliana rushed to the bedside. She looked at Alexander as he slowly pulled his eyelids apart.

“Rachel?” Alexander’s voice shakily sounded

“Alexander.” Rachel knelt beside the bed. “You’re awake.”

Alexander tried sitting up but the pain had not yet faded away.

“I-I…”

Alexander placed his hand on Iliana’s; he felt her vibrate. “Thank you.” He said as he peeled off the bandages. All the wounds had already healed, though, the scars were visible. Alexander sat upright on the bed.

“Alexander, what happened?” Iliana asked.

“I…” Alexander kept quiet. “How long did you wait for me?”

“It doesn’t matter. You’re safe, that’s what matters.”

“I appreciate your concern, however, I must know.”

Iliana hesitated. “Two weeks.”

“…I see.” Alexander realized that he had fallen victim to this secret dangerous power. He figured Iliana would know why he asked the question but what moved him the most was the memory of Iliana tearing his shirt to check for a scar…two weeks ago. “It wasn’t a dream after all.”

Iliana was quiet with her head down. “I apologize for not properly warning you about this. I—”

Alexander placed his hand on Iliana’s head “Thank you.” He expressed his gratitude to Iliana. Iliana on the other hand was confused as to why he was thanking her.

“What happened?” She asked as Alexander put his hand down.

“After I visited Mrs. Dubois –the lady from before– I went to Highs and Lows. I went to see the owner of the bar. Mr. Dubois was poisoned by Christopher. He was given the blood. Christopher confessed that he was doing it because Rajesh told him to.”

“It was really Rajesh, huh?”

“What I couldn’t understand is why– why Rajesh would do this. Why Christopher agreed to do it. What is Rajesh’s plan?” Alexander wondered.

“How’s Mrs. Dubois?” Iliana asked “She was quite devastated two weeks ago.”

“She’s fine. I made sure of it.”

Iliana did not clearly understand what he had just said but she expressed her gladness with a little smile. Iliana still had many questions to ask Alexander, she did not want to bother him with her queries. Alexander noticed how unfinished his information to her was and how her eye kept meeting his.

“I was stuck in time.”

“…oh.”

Alexander nodded “That is why I am here. I was supposed to return two weeks ago but I came two weeks later.”

“That’s okay. I’ve been stuck too.”

“However, I believe I was in the middle of a fight while it happened.”

Iliana’s eyes lit up. “Who did you fight?”

“Pedro– The security guard you saw when you first came into this town.”

Iliana’s thought was on a tick “The old man?”

“No. The other one. He has gone on a rampage more that once and I was the one who stopped him up until…last night–two weeks ago.”

“I see.” Iliana’s memory ran back to when Samuel said something about the guard. Iliana also had a guess that the guard may have been Samuel’s and Stuart’s attacker when they tried to leave.

“This time, it was different; he was different. When he recovered, he was unconscious. I’ll have to go talk to him.” Alexander said as he got out of the bed. It was not obvious the pain had gone. Iliana also stood on her feet. She stood on her feet few centimeters away from a shirtless Alexander. She could not get her eyes off his perfect contours and newly scarred skin. It was an irresistible for Iliana.

“Let me give you a shirt.” Iliana found something to pull her away from the structure before her. She ransack her wardrobe and pulled out a red plaid shirt. It looked like an oversize fit for her but a perfect fit for Alexander. “Here…”

Alexander collected the shirt and put it on. It had a fresh smell that he liked. “Thank you, Rachel.” Alexander’s words of gratitude made Iliana feel warm inside. No one has ever expressed this much to her. She felt good.

“Come with me to see the guard. I wouldn’t want you to wait for me again.”

Iliana was in a way flattered for reasons she found absurd. “I have to get ready first.”

“I’ll be waiting outside.” Alexander said as he walked outside shutting the door behind me.

He took a deep breath and remembered the attack that happened. If word goes out that he was beaten it will be embarrassing to him. Alexander could think of no reason as to why the guard would attack him except Rajesh. Rajesh, however, can not control him. Alexander looked for reasons to blame Rajesh for it but none of them was valid. There was no one he could think of.

Iliana walked out of the door. “I’m ready.” Iliana said as she stepped out. Alexander stretched out his hand; Iliana understood the gesture and fixed hers into his.

They walked towards the exit of the town, to the security house. They arrived but only found the older worker.

“Where’s Pedro?” Alexander asked.

“Pedro? Ah, young boy passed away two weeks ago. I heard the news yesterday. It hurt me that I’m alone now.”

Alexander and Iliana were beyond shocked. “What?!”