Episode 17

I rest my hand on the sink, still thinking about this breakfast...

A whirlwind of feelings was going through my mind...

And I simply don't know what to do...

I can't...

What if I simply leave here? Leave this village and everything behind?...

It would be selfish and I would just be running away from the problem...

Am I really that weak and cowardly?

"You're just afraid of putting others at risk...."

It's better if I go talk to Anne...

It doesn't take long and I'm knocking on her door.

"Hi Ayla! Come in," she says, making room for me. "Is everything okay?" she asks with a worried expression.

I think it should have been obvious...

"Sorry to come so early... It's just that I... needed to talk to someone..." I say gracelessly.

"Of course! Come with me... I'm making a dress, and we can talk while we work," she says, and I nod.

We enter her sewing room.

There's a mannequin bust with some floral fabric pinned to it.

"Wow... that's beautiful..." I say admiringly.

"Do you like it?" she asks, and I nod. "It's still a long way from being finished, but I think it's going to be very beautiful... I'm making it for the Spring Festival."

"Spring Festival?"

"Uh-huh... every year we have a small festival... actually, more than one to be exact. Since the village is very big, it's divided into several points in the village so that people don't have to travel too far... There's a kind of fair in the center, where there'll be some food and drink stalls... We do it every year to welcome the season..."

"That sounds really nice...."

"It is. You'll see... I'm sure you'll like it... But now, tell me, what did you want to talk about?" she says, going over to the mannequin and adjusting the fabrics.

I look at the papers on the table.

"Adrian talked to me..."

"Really?" she turns around in surprise. "Did he finally apologize?"

"Uh-huh... For everything... I don't know, it was... kind of weird..."

"What do you mean weird?"

"Well... He was different... more... gentle, I guess... and sincere... He didn't seem like himself... Then he made us coffee and started saying weird things...."

"Like what?"

"Oh... He kept saying that he appreciated this new beginning... and that he would strive to make things easier for me, and that I have a delicious scent," I say, and Anne starts to laugh a little, shocked.

"He really said that?"

"Uh-huh... and then he got all embarrassed, saying he didn't mean to say that, but that my scent wasn't bad, and then he shut up."

"That part was definitely Dark. He must have told Adrian to say that, and he must have just repeated it without realizing... He must have been really nervous."

"You think so?"

"I'm sure of it... Adrian may be an Alpha, full of responsibilities and courageous, but his only knowledge is leadership and war strategies. He's terrible with matters of the heart... He's a coward in that sense... In that sense, you're very much alike."

"Hey, I'm not a coward," I murmur.

"I didn't say you were, quite the opposite. You're the bravest human I've ever met..." Then she stops fiddling with the fabric and turns to me. "But just like you, he's also lost people he loved, so he's afraid of getting too attached... The only people he really opens up to are Zade and me... To the rest of the village, he's just Adrian Hayes, the serious and imposing Alpha ruler..."

I look away from her, back to the paper in front of me...

"I... I'm afraid of putting everyone in danger...." I murmur. "I don't want to lose everything again...."

Anne comes up to me and puts her hand on my shoulder.

"And you won't," she says. "You're home now, Ayla... this is your place, where you belong. Allow yourself to live and be happy here... As for being human... there are solutions for that..."

Even with her comforting words, I feel the pressure of the weight on my shoulders, like an anchor. I know I can't risk it, I can't let myself get more involved than I already am, but at the same time, I feel increasingly isolated in my own skin.

"I can't... It's not that simple..."

"It's not that simple, or do you prefer to complicate things out of fear?" she says softly.

Anne looks at me with understanding in her green eyes, her words echoing in my mind as I struggle with my own fears and uncertainties.

"I know it's not easy, Ayla. But fear cannot be the only guide for our choices. Sometimes, it takes courage to allow yourself to be happy, even when the world around us seems uncertain," she says softly.

I look away, caught in an internal struggle between allowing myself to be happy and continuing to hide.

"How about we start with something simple? How about you and Adrian have dinner with us this week? It would be an opportunity to get to know each other better, to share your stories, and maybe find some comfort in each other," she suggests, her voice filled with hope.

I look at her, seeing the kindness and compassion in her eyes, and I feel a little more welcomed by the offer.

"That... That sounds good...", I murmur, feeling a little lighter.

"I'll let Zade and Adrian know... Now tell me... what's your specialty in the kitchen?" she asks with a gentle smile.

...****************...

Anne and I were in the kitchen. Anna asked me to make the main course and she would make the sides. Since Kyle was home at this time, she had to keep a closer eye on him, and I accepted with the greatest pleasure...

While she and I were talking in the kitchen, I hear the door open and recognize Adrian's voice, and somehow my heart skips a beat...

Get ahold of yourself...

"Everything okay?" Anne asks, bringing my attention back to her. I notice she has a slight mischievous smile, as if she knows something.

"Yes... everything's fine...." I murmur and turn my attention back to the pots.

A mixture of anxiety and anticipation settles in my chest, and I try to control my feelings while I continue to focus on the tasks at hand.

Then, as soon as it's ready, we take everything to the table.

As soon as Adrian enters the dining room, our eyes meet and a shiver runs down my spine.

I try to keep a calm and controlled expression, but inside, I'm on fire with the hope that maybe, just maybe, tonight could change something...

I sit down in the chair and Adrian sits next to me, while Anne and Zade take the seats opposite us.

We fill our plates and soon we are all eating.

"Wow... this is really good, Anne," Adrian says.

"Actually, the compliment should go to Ayla, tonight I just supervised," she says with a knowing smile, making my cheeks flush.

I feel a little embarrassed by the sudden attention, but at the same time, a comforting warmth spreads through me knowing that my contribution was recognized.

"It's delicious, Ayla. Actually, everything you cook is amazing," Adrian looks at me with a sincere smile.

"Thank you..." I say with a shy smile.

As we eat dinner, I notice the knowing looks between Anne and Zade, and I have a feeling they're up to something...

"So, Ayla, what did you like to do in your free time when you lived in the forest?" Anne asks, her friendly smile encouraging me to share more about myself.

I feel a little uncomfortable with the attention, but at the same time grateful for the opportunity to share a little more about who I am.

"Well, what I had plenty of was free time... But I would read... I like to read and hunt, except in the winter," I say with a slight laugh.

"That's great! You like to read too, don't you, Adrian?" Zade says.

"Yes, I do too...." Adrian turns to me. "We have a library here in the village, if you'd like to go there and look for a book, or I can get some for you."

"Really? I'd love that...." I say.

"And besides hunting and reading, do you have any other hobbies or passions?" Adrian asks, his curious tone demonstrating his genuine interest.

"Actually, I really enjoy stargazing at night. I've always been fascinated by the night sky and the constellations... my father had a book with the names of the constellations and taught me how to find them... It was very useful when we went on night hunts...", I share, feeling comfortable sharing this part of myself with Adrian.

"That's interesting. I also appreciate the beauty of the starry sky. Have you ever seen a meteor shower?" he asks, and I nod.

"Yes! It's simply incredible..." I say, feeling my smile widen.

As the conversation continues, I allow myself to relax a little more in their company, enjoying the opportunity to get to know Adrian better and share a little more about myself.

As dinner comes to an end, Adrian and I say goodbye to Anne and Zade, ready to head home.

As we walk, silence falls between us. Adrian walks beside me, his hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket, while the soft rustling of leaves around us is the only sound that breaks the silence of the night.

The cold night air envelops our bodies, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere around us.

"Have you ever used a telescope before?" he asks, his tone casual and curious.

The question takes me by surprise, and I turn to look at him.

"No, I've never had the opportunity..." I reply.

A playful smile dances on Adrian's lips as he listens to my answer.

"Well, then you're about to have an amazing experience," he comments, his enthusiasm evident in his voice.

When we reach the garden of Adrian's house, he begins to set up the telescope, while I watch him with curiosity, fascinated by the process.

"How did you get this?" I ask curiously.

Adrian smiles as he continues adjusting the pieces of the telescope.

"I built it from scratch," he replies, his proud tone conveying his satisfaction with his accomplishment. "I've always been interested in astronomy, and I decided to build my own telescope so I could explore the sky...."

"That's amazing," I comment, genuinely impressed. "It must have been a rewarding experience."

Adrian nods, his smile widening.

"Definitely. There's something special about building something with your own hands..."

"Yes.... I remember when I made my first bow... I was so happy... of course it broke on the first shot...." I say, making him chuckle. "But it was still cool."

As he finishes setting up the telescope, I feel a wave of excitement wash over me.

"There..." he says and gestures for me to come closer. "You look through here, and adjust the focus here," he says, explaining how to use it. "Then, just point it at the star or constellation you want to see and look through the eyepiece."

I follow his instructions carefully, adjusting the telescope while observing the stars above us.

When I finally manage to focus on a star, my eyes light up with wonder.

"Wow," I murmur, amazed by the magnified view of the star through the telescope.

"It's incredible, isn't it?" he says, and I can tell by his voice that he's smiling....

As we continue to explore the starry sky, I begin to identify the constellations, and I find myself getting more and more excited.

Suddenly, I spot a shooting star streaking across the night sky.

"Look, a shooting star!" I exclaim, pointing to the celestial phenomenon.

"Make a wish," he suggests...

At that moment, I remember my father...

Whenever we saw shooting stars, he would tell me to make a wish....

And I always made the same wish....

To find my place...

And now, faced with that possibility, I feel like I've never been so scared as I am now....

"So, what did you wish for?" he asks.

"If I tell you, it won't come true," I say with a slight smile.

As we continue to explore the starry sky, my eyes settle on a bright star, or perhaps a distant planet. Excitedly, I point in the direction of the celestial object and get Adrian's attention.

"Look, over there! It's a planet," I say, my eyes shining with discovery.

Adrian looks through the telescope and confirms my observation, his gaze following the direction I indicated.

"Yes, you're right. It's Jupiter...", he replies, his tone of voice conveying his admiration for the sight.

As Adrian continues to observe the planet through the telescope, I remain by his side, my excitement still palpable in the air.

When Adrian finally looks up at me, I realize how unexpectedly close our faces are.

At that moment, a feeling of warmth spreads throughout my body, and I find myself lost in Adrian's eyes. His gaze conveys a mixture of surprise and gentleness.

Adrian seems as mesmerized as I am, his eyes capturing the starlight as we stand there.

Finally, a slight smile plays on Adrian's lips.

"I think we found more than just stars tonight," he comments, his voice soft.

I feel my cheeks flush and then I look away, pulling back.

The feeling of warmth that envelops me is accompanied by a wave of fear and doubt that threatens to flood my thoughts....

Under the soft glow of the stars, I know that tonight is just the beginning of a journey yet to come, and that, in time, I will find the courage to face my fears and open my heart to the unknown.....

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