Chapter 40

Chapter 40
TREE TALK

The air had turned cold a few days ago. Adam and Laila had to sleep together on the bed to share their body heat. They still kept a low profile in the cave and Laila avoided running off too far from the perimeter Adam had drawn out. The situation only gave rise to a closeness between them. Laila tried to avoid the feelings that developed in her heart towards Adam because it would be a sin to Elena if she allowed her feelings for Adam to gain ground in her heart.
Killing the feeling was also not a minor thing to do, given the fact that they slept on the same bed every night and Adam was practically the only person with her every moment.
It was getting dark and Laila knew Adam would soon return from the creek where he now went every day to get more fish. She didn't want to be around when he returned. She had been on heat period ever since the dream she had of Elena. Her core was threatening to collapse on itself.
Her wolf was threatening to be let out and she couldn't wait for him to get back even she wanted to — which she didn't.
She ran out of the cave and straight to the fields. As she was running, her transformation started. Her spinal cord shifted, curving into her wolf's form. Her lips cracked and restructured themselves. She had done it so much that she no longer felt pains as she changed. It was like a numb little prick that her body had gotten accustomed to.
She ran the rest of the way in her wolf form. Howling and growling at the taste of freedom. Since the threat, she rarely went far off the cave. But today, she didn't care, she has to bet it all out. She ran for an hour straight, circling the perimeter. Despite the heat and tension in her body, she still paid very close attention to her safety.
After she had her fill of the moment, she collapsed unto a tree trunk and changed back to get human form. Her core still needed something in it but she felt much better and in full control of herself.
She looked on at the sky and wondered what lay beyond. What would be the next phase? She couldn't keep hiding away in this cave and field forever. At some point, she would have to come out and either get killed or stay free forever amongst her people. She no longer feared what she was. she embraced it. The goddess knew why she chose her to bear this cross if being the only female wolf in centuries. Adam had explained to her already what the council had been telling the rest of the people and that was why they wanted to arrest her. But in truth, the council were cruel people. They were the main reason why she was in this dilemma
They took everything away from her.
They took her father. They took her entire family away. And then when she ran off, thinking she could create a better world for herself. A world where she didn't have to remember what she was. A world where she could pretend to be a human, they destroyed it too.
They too Elena from her. and now half the people she knew thought she had killed Elena herself.
A tear dropped from her left eye and she quickly wiped it. She would not rest until she made the council pay for all the crimes they had committed toward her and towards the rest of the werewolf community in the city of fangs.
Laila sat still in sadness and watched the clouds change. It was fully dark now and the stars were starting to seep into the sky. She knew Adam would start getting worried and maybe even come out here but she was tired. She felt weak and all she wanted was to read under the sky till it was time to kill the council members.
A twig snapped by her left and she stayed still, allowing her wolf senses to lead her actions. She picked up the scent of a wolf, a different wolf, not Adam but a familiar one altogether. It was Logan.
"Sitting out here all alone could be dangerous, " he said throwing her a large t-shirt.
She was naked from her change but she didn't bother to try and cover herself up. She had been so immersed in her thoughts that she didn't think of it.
As the t-shirt landed on her, she felt a shiver all of a sudden and gratefully pulled on the shirt.
"Hey, Logan," she greeted as she finished covering herself up. She sat up straight, resting her back on the tree trunk.
"Hey, Laila," Logan responded. "Can I join you?" He asked motioning to the small space by her side.
"Yeah, sure," she shrugged, shifting a bit to create space for him.
"You've been out here for a while. I know it's none of my business but I could tell something is wrong." Logan pulled his knees up to his chest and rested his arms on them. He watched as Laila, pulled a stray hair from her face behind her ears. She was contemplating whether to tell him or not.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," he said, seeing the hesitation In her eyes.
He didn't blame her. He would do the same if he were in her position. A few weeks ago, Logan had apprehended her and her friend. He tied her up in some basement and left her in blindfolds. Now, he was here trying to be her friend, he couldn't blame her for the cold treatment. But he needed company. He had been in the tree for most of the time and he had no one to talk to aside from himself. Seeing another person he could share his mind with was a relief.
"I am not probably supposed to say this but, can I talk to you?" He asked her.
"Yeah, sure," she responded, again, she pulled another stray hair behind her ears.
"I haven't heard from any of my pack members for days now..." He trailed. These issues had been bothering him the whole time and he had no one to talk to. Laila seemed like an angel in that field and he was grateful she was giving listening.
"The last time, they went back to town trying to find more information about you but things turned around differently. I am so worried right now. I don't know what's going to happen." Logan eased out his worries one after the other and Laila just kept quiet, listening to him.
She didn't hate him like he thought she did. She wasn't even suspicious of him. All she felt for him was a pity. She was so used to losing people that she felt nothing anymore. The young man had probably not lost anyone before, that was why It was affecting this much.
"I know I am supposed to be your enemy but I have no one else to talk with. I don't know if I should go back or keep staying here or I don't know?" Logan muttered.
Laila stared at him. Her eyes twinkled in the dark.
"You are not my enemy Logan."  She said and Logan looked back at her with surprise
Technically speaking, she wasn't his enemy. She had never actually been. The enemy he knew he had was the council. They killed his friend. They killed Max.
"And if your alpha wanted you to stay here with me, then you should stay. Aren't you told to follow the last command till death?" She asked with a sly smile.
Logan smiled too, getting her message. Suddenly, he felt very comfortable around her. she wasn't looking like the scary and evil lady of destruction, Dearkson was making her seem like.
"Have you heard from your alpha?" She questioned, watching his features. Logan looked tired and worried. He was one of those soldiers that loved their job more than their own lives. He wouldn't leave his post till he is told. He looked like he wanted to be with the rest of his pack members but the job he was currently doing could not permit him.
"That is what makes me worry more. I haven't heard from him in days now." Logan explained.
"What about the rest of your members, didn't you ask them where he is? Maybe he left instruction for you with them," she said kindly.
"They said he was coming to join me. He left town and was coming to me, but I haven't heard from him ever since. I tried calling him and his cellphone was out of service." Logan explained worry lacing his deep voice.
"Didn't anyone else go with him? You could try that person's contact." Laila suggested to him.
"He left in a hurry. The council was after him. Being the kind of leader he is, I know he wouldn't want to risk anyone's life," Logan said dreamily as if envisioning Damon already.
The answer got to Laila. The council was after him? Laila didn't understand that part. The council had been the one to send Damon after her. Why should they now go after him too?
"Why is the council after him?" Laila growled. Whenever she heard anything related to the council, she always got very angry with the way they ignore people and treated people like they were slaves made to worship and serve them.



Logan felt fear crawl into him at the intensity of her voice and only an Alpha could have such an effect on him. He was choked.
"So it was true!" He whispered
"What are you talking about?" Laila asked him, her nerves calming themselves.
"You are the Queen wolf indeed. I felt your powers.." Logan said falling in awe of Laila.
Laila rolled her eyes and waved her hands in the air. "Listen, forget about that, tell me why the council is after your Alpha?"
"Oh," Logan said, remembering where they were in their conversation. "The council framed him up for the death of one of their members, Jonathan Martin — the only trustworthy member of the council."
Laila remembered Jonathan Martin. On the day of her trial after they killed her father. They had wanted to kill her too but he had helped her. He bought her enough time to prepare for her escape.
Logan noticed how quiet Laila had become and questioned it. "Did you know him? I know you left the city if fangs a long time ago but did you..." Logan trailed off.
"I knew him," she simply responded. She released a sigh, looking up at the dark sky. "He was a good man. He helped me escape my judgment. I live today thanks to him. May his wolf rest in peace."
She picked up sand from the ground beneath her. She raised her hand to the air and opened it, letting the sand trickle back down to the ground again.
"We all came from the sands and one day every one of us will return to the sands..." She whispered offering her last respect to Jonathan Martin. "...and as the sand settles, so shall the men who took you to return to the sands in horrific scenarios." She finished, wiping her hands against one another.