CHAPTER 59

CHAPTER 59
MARISSA'S POV


I woke up early, eager to start training with Sarah. I dressed in my training clothes, slipped on my sneakers, and quietly left the house, not wanting to wake Raul. He needed his rest after the stress of the previous day.



As I approached the training grounds, I spotted Sarah waiting. She looked nervous, playing with her hands.



"Good morning, Sarah," I called out, waving. Her face brightened when she saw me, and she moved closer.



"Good morning, Luna Marissa," She greeted, bowing respectfully.



"Are you ready for today's session?" I asked, smiling warmly at her.



"Yes, Luna," She nodded, her energy matching mine.



We began the session, starting with some basic drills. I focused on her form and techniques, ensuring she understood the fundamentals. As we trained, other pack members arrived at the training grounds, each greeting me as they passed. It felt good to be acknowledged and respected.



Suddenly, I noticed Sarah losing focus. Her eyes kept drifting towards one corner of the field. I followed her gaze and saw a group of girls giggling and pointing at her.



"Focus!" I ordered my voice firm. Sarah jerked a little, startled. “I'm sorry,” She mumbled, her gaze down.



"Losing focus will not allow you to improve," I added, softening my tone slightly. She nodded and resumed her practice, trying to concentrate.



I walked over to the group of girls, and they immediately stopped giggling, their expressions turning serious.




"Is there a problem here?" I asked, my voice calm but authoritative.
One of the girls, a tall brunette, stepped forward. "No, Luna Marissa, we were just... talking," she stammered.



"Talking, or distracting someone who's trying to improve herself?" I replied, raising an eyebrow.



They looked at each other, clearly embarrassed. "We're sorry, Luna," Another among them said, looking down.



"Everyone here is trying to become stronger and better. If you want to giggle and gossip, this is not the place for it," I said firmly. "Now, get to your own training."



The girls nodded and quickly dispersed, heading to their respective training areas. I returned to Sarah, who had been watching the exchange with wide eyes.



"Thank you, Luna, for defending me," She said quietly.



"I just did what was right, Sarah, and I want you to learn to stand up for yourself and focus on your training, Sarah. You are a fast learner and you're doing well," I encouraged her. "Don't let anyone distract you.”




She nodded and we continued our session, and I could see her putting in more effort, her confidence slowly building. As the morning wore on, more pack members joined us, and soon the training grounds were bustling with activity.



I turned to Sarah, who was sweating profusely and looked very exhausted.


“I think we should stop here for today, we both are exhausted,” I muttered and she quickly nodded in agreement.



“I’ll see you tomorrow, Sarah. Make sure to practice more, and if I see an improvement, I’ll teach you new skills,” I said, watching her face light up with excitement.



“Really, Luna?” she asked, her eyes wide with hope.



I nodded, chuckling at her enthusiasm. She practically jumped on me, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug. I patted her back, feeling her genuine gratitude.



“Thank you so much,” she mumbled into my shoulder.



I hummed in reply, still rubbing her back gently. After a moment, she pulled away and waved goodbye, her steps almost bouncing with joy.



I sighed loudly, feeling a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction. The training session had been productive, but it had taken a lot out of me. I walked back home, my mind already wandering to the comfort of a cool glass of water. I headed straight to the kitchen, poured myself a glass, and gulped it down, feeling the refreshing liquid soothe my parched throat.



I looked around the house for any sign of Raul but saw none. Thinking he might still be asleep, I made my way to his room. I knocked gently, waiting for a response. When none came, I twisted the door knob and stepped inside, my eyes taking in the neat and organized space.




It was my first time inside his room, and I couldn’t help but appreciate how clean and well-kept it was. My gaze fell on the bed, where Raul was still sleeping soundly. I walked closer, sitting beside him and studying his peaceful expression. Subconsciously, my hand reached out to touch his face, tracing the lines of his eyes, nose, and then his lips.




“Why don’t you just kiss it? Seems like you badly want to,” He suddenly said, his eyes snapping open. I jerked back, ready to run in shame, but he caught my arm, pulling me onto his chest.



I buried my head in his chest, my breath hitching from embarrassment. He laughed loudly, the sound vibrating through his chest as he wrapped his arms around me.



“You’re impossible,” I muttered into his chest, feeling the warmth of his laughter.



“And you’re adorable,” He replied, his hand stroking my hair. “What’s got you so flustered?”



“I was just... making sure you were okay,” I said, my voice muffled by his shirt.



“Well, I’m more than okay now,” He said, lifting my chin so I could look into his eyes. “Thank you for checking on me,” He thanked me, pecking my lips.



I smiled, feeling my cheeks heat up. “I'm glad you got your rest after the stress of yesterday,” I said and he hummed, stroking my hair.




“I’m glad I did,” He said softly, his thumb brushing against my cheek. “But you look exhausted too. How was training with Sarah?” He asked. I had told him yesterday about my meeting with Sarah and how I promised her to help her train.




“It went well,” I replied, feeling a surge of pride. “She’s improving, and she’s so eager to learn. She kind of reminds me a little about myself.”




“That’s great to hear,” Raul said, his eyes sparkling with approval. “You’re doing an amazing job, Marissa.”



“Alright now, enough of the cuddling, I need to freshen up for the day,” I muttered, trying to free myself from his hold.




“Five minutes please. Just five more minutes,” He pleaded, his arms wrapped around me like a vice.



“Alright, five more minutes,” I agreed, letting myself relax in his embrace. The warmth of his body and the steady beat of his heart were comforting, making it hard to think about leaving.



After five minutes, though, he still refused to let me go. “Raul, I need to freshen up,” I said, trying to wriggle out of his grip.



“Just a bit longer,” he murmured, nuzzling his face into my hair. I chuckled softly at his behavior but kept a serious face.



“You promised,” I reminded him, finally managing to free myself. I practically ran out of his arms, hearing his chuckles behind me. I didn’t stop until I reached my room.



As I swung the door open, the sight that greeted me made me freeze. My breath caught in my throat, and a scream tore its way out before I could stop it.



In an instant, Raul was at my side, his face etched with worry. “What is it?” He asked, his eyes searching mine for an answer.



I pointed a trembling finger towards the table in my room. There, placed ominously, was a doll covered in blood, with a knife stuck in its chest. My picture was attached to it, twisted into a grotesque smile.