Warning: this chapter may contain explicit scenes.

Chapter 43: Connection

Third Person's POV

The villagers were frantic after Nari came back from the forest crying and covered in wounds. She told them she lost Eleanor in the forest, the staff sent by the apothecary to their village.

The villagers immediately prepared their lamps, flashlights and rain coats, ready to search the entire mountain. The forest was pitch black, the rain pouring in shower as they made their way in groups inside the forest.

But before they could go further, someone stepped out of the forest, black trench coat, hair damp, and a woman in his arms. It was the alpha of Van Zanth and in his arms was Eleanor, drenched and unconscious.

"Alpha..."

The villagers didn't know what to do. It was the only moment most of them laid eyes on the alpha. Even the village leader was stunned, who only saw the alpha once in town in a meeting of the leaders after the transition.

"Ms. Eleanor..."

It was Nari who broke the silence from the group of villagers. She dipped her head in a bow in front of the alpha, tears in her eyes, seeing the lady she looked up to, unconscious in the alpha's arms.

"Where is her cabin?"

It took a moment before Nari responded to the alpha. She calmed herself before leading the alpha to the second floor of the clinic, in Eleanor's quarter.

The rest of the villagers were left confused, questioning. In the dark with nothing but the lights from the lamps and flashlights in their hands, they've never seen such thing.

Did the alpha came all the way to their village just to save Eleanor, the staff from the apothecary?

In the living quarter, Nari helped the unconscious Eleanor dried up and change clothes, while the alpha was downstairs in the clinic, searching for medicines.

It was the first time Nari saw the alpha... and in a such strange circumstances. The alpha was drenched in rain, worried, and nothing else in mind but Eleanor.

Nari stared at the unconscious woman in bed, slowly realizing she wasn't an ordinary staff in the apothecary.

Eleanor's POV

I woke up, my head remained hazy. The sky was still dark outside. I wonder what time it is. Sinubukan kong umupo mula sa kama. Napadaing ako nang maramdaman ang sakit na tila gumuguhit sa aking likod. I stared around the familiar small room. I was back in my room in the village.

Umalis ako sa kama at sinubukang tumayo. Pain shoot through my body. My fall must have been bad. I've never felt this searing pain in a while. I walked to the door with my hand on the wall, supporting my balance and was about to reach the knob when I lost my footing.

A pair of arms caught me just in time. My face hit his broad chest as he held me in his arms. I stared up, my mind a bit cloudy, my senses confused. His face stared down at me, his eyes a flickering gold in the dark.

Zackary?

"You shouldn't be leaving the bed."

I stared up at his face, the corners of his jaw, the slope of his nose. It came rushing to me like a river, the scenes at the forest... the thunderstorm, him finding me.

I bit my lower lip, wincing in pain. Out of nowhere, Zackary lifted me to his arms and took several steps and placed me back to the bed. Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili na tumitig sa kanya. He's really here... in front of me.

He had a bottle of medicine with him, the same bottle I made in the clinic days ago to relieve pain. He asked me to sit with my back facing him. When I was too confused to comply, he held both of my arms and placed me in the position.

I drew a sharp breath when he tugged my shirt up from the back, checking my bruises from the fall. His warm hand brushed my skin, skimming my bare back. I crumpled the sheet in front of me with my fingers, feeling the pressure of his hand, the rough of his palm.

"Still painful?" he asked, voice low, hoarse, as though he was feeling the same electrifying feeling of his hand on my skin.

I nodded, trying to face him, to tell him I could do it on my own. Pero hindi siya sumagot at nagpatuloy sa kanyang ginagawa, massaging my back, gently stroking the bruises, making me lose my breath, unable to stay still.

Zackary... why are you here? Zackary... why can you make me feel this way?

But I didn't asked, didn't voice my thoughts out, afraid to face the answer.

You shouldn't be here, Zackary.

I woke up the next morning, with the dreary sky sending minimal light in the small room through the window. The sky remained cloudy, the forest smelt of rain.

The pain from my back had slightly faded, though I couldn't help but still wince with every movement. The pain was far worse last night. At least I didn't have to go back to town.

Sitting on the bed, I stared at the now empty room. He must have already left the village. Was he really here the entire night? Was he really the one holding me in his arms last night? Soothing my pain, whispering on my ears? I was no longer sure if it was only a dream.

I had my coat with me when I went downstairs to the clinic. The door was slightly ajar, causing me to hear the villagers outside. They seemed to be out early in the morning, talking in serious discussion. Did something happen?

I walked passed the door into the open and was caught off-guard when I saw Zackary with them, talking with them. He was hard to miss, considering he was the tallest among them, his broad shoulder and well-toned body against his black shirt. He looked so much like a leader... someone even the older villagers respected.

"Ms. Eleanor."

Nari approached me by the door, bowing lightly. "Mabuti gising na kayo. Sorry talaga sa mga nangyari, Ms. Eleanor. Hindi ko dapat kayo iniwan..."

Nari kept apologizing, even though I told her it was okay. It was an accident, the thunderstorm wasn't expected. It was no one's fault we were caught in it.

The villagers turned to our direction, including Zackary who was currently talking to the village leader. Some of the villagers approached me, asking me if I was feeling better. I told them the same thing, but my gaze remained on Zackary.

I turned back inside the clinic, placing my hand instinctively on my chest. I shook my head, trying to pull myself back into my reality. I thought these emotions were gone... but they were here again, knocking me breathless.

I expected Zackary to leave the village by morning, but he didn't. I wondered what he was still doing here. But I had no strength to approach him and ask.

Nari was with me the entire morning in the clinic. The village leader told me not to work today but I had reports to finish and Nari promised to help me with it. Despite the cuts on his arms and legs from sliding down the boulder, I was glad she was okay after what happened yesterday.

"You must have been worried last night," I told her.

Tumango-tango siya habang nagsusulat sa log book. "Sobra, Ms. Eleanor," she stated. "Matapos kong mag-slide pababa sa ilog, hindi na ako nakaakyat pabalik sa lakas ng ulan. Noong humina ito, pagbalik ko wala na kayo doon, tanging mga gamit nalang natin ang natira. Tinatawag ko kayo pero walang sumasagot. Natakot ako na may nangyaring masama sa inyo kaya tumakbo ako pabalik sa village para humingi ng tulong."

"I think I lost consciousness when I fell on the riverbank..."

"Mabuti nalang nandoon ang alpha," muling sabi ni Nari. "Nabigla talaga kami noong nakita namin siyang buhat ka habang naglalakad palabas sa kagubatan." Nari stared at me, a huge smile on her flushed face.

"Sorry Ms. Eleanor, alam kong maling kiligin sa ganoong sitwasyon, pero ang romantic lang kasi. It was like the alpha came all the way here just for you."

Umiling ako, erasing the thought in her head. "He was just probably on his way here or maybe he was in the nearby villages when he heard what happened."

Bumakas ang pagtataka sa mukha ni Nari. "Pero paano niya malalaman, Ms. Eleanor? Wala siyang nakausap mula sa village bago ka niya nahanap."

Natigilan ako sa kanyang sinabi. Maging ako ay napaisip bago ibinaling ang atensyon ko sa ibang bagay. It must be... it must be some strange coincidence.

By lunch time, Zackary was still in the village. But except for last night where he treat my injuries, he didn't approach me the entire morning. It was as though he was still keeping my request from him to stay away while watching me from a distance.

The village leader invited me for lunch at his house. Pinaalam niya na doon din magtatanghalian ang alpha. Nang malaman ko ito, agad akong tumanggi.

"May mga kailangan pa po akong gawin," sagot ko. "Sa clinic na po ako magtatanghalian."

Nang makaalis ang village leader, marahan kong sinara ang pinto, sumandal dito at huminga nang malalim. I couldn't make another mistake. I couldn't cross the line again with Zackary.

Bumalik ako sa desk at nagpatuloy sa aking ginagawang report, hanggang sa muli kong naramdaman ang sakit sa aking likuran. It was still here... I thought it had faded. Muli akong tumayo at naghanap ng maaaring gamot dito.

Buong maghapon na makulimlim ang langit. Bandang hapon, tuluyang bumagsak ang malakas na ulan. Nari mentioned that the village leader warned them of an upcoming storm.

Paalis na si Nari sa clinic nang bigla akong magtanong. Noong una pinigilan ko ang aking sarili, hesitant to mention him. Until I couldn't help it.

"Umalis na ba ang alpha ang village?"

Bigla siyang napaisip habang nagsusuot ng coat. "Hindi ko sigurado, Ms. Eleanor," sinabi niya. "May mga orders na dumating kanina dito at kinausap siya. I think something came up in town. Baka nakaalis na siya."

Oh. I tried to smile. "Okay... I just wanted to know."

"Mag-ingat ka dito, Ms. Eleanor. Mukhang malakas 'tong bagyo. Isara niyong mabuti ang mga shutters ng bintana para hindi sila mabasag," paalala niya bago umalis.

"See you tomorrow, Ms. Eleanor."

Once she left, I closed the door and check on the windows. Muling bumalik sa isipan ko si Zackary. Nakaalis na siya... I wasn't even able to say goodbye or thank him. I could no longer understand myself... this push and pull of emotions was draining me.

The heavy rain outside muted any other noise in the village. The window shutters rattled against the wind, the leaves and branches of trees swooshing in different directions.

Kanina pa nawalan ng kuryente sa village and the only light I had was candle lamps. I was too anxious to even have dinner. Pakiramdam ko ano mang oras masisira ang mga binata sa cabin.

At ten in the evening, the rain had no signs of fading. Nakaupo ako sa kama habang pinapakiramdaman ang buong paligid. A loud bang from the outside almost made me jump. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko sa kaba. Some tree must have fallen to the ground. I hope this storm wouldn't hurt anyone in the village.

Makalipas ng ilang minuto, muli akong nabigla dahil sa ingay. It was the sound of shutters hitting the wall of the cabin. Mukhang bumigay nang tuluyan ang lock nito.

Napatayo ako sa malamig na sahig saka sinuot ang house slippers. The sound was coming from the clinic below. Ang mga gamit sa ibaba, maaari silang mabasa o masira.

I went downstairs with the lamp. Ngunit pagbukas ko ng pintuan sa clinic... agad namatay ang liwanag nito dahil sa malakas na hangin na pumapasok mula sa bintana. The continuous gust of strong wind was creating havoc inside the clinic, breaking everything, specially the medicines.

Hinarangan ko ang mga mata ko at pinuntahan ang nakabukas na bintana. Rain water sprayed all over my face like tiny needles. Pilit kong inabot ang shutters ng bintana para isara ito as my night gown was slowly being drenched by the rain.

Nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang magawa ko itong isara at agad na ni-lock ang bintana. The sound of rain outside was instantly muted. Tumalikod ako at muling pinagmasdan ang clinic. Even in pitch dark, I could make out the mess. Ang basang sahig, ang mga nahulog na gamit mula sa shelves.

Isang kakaibang ingay ang muli kong narinig. The sound of glass shattering. I faced back the large window at the same moment a big blow of wind came crushing against it, shattering the entire glass in front of me.

It was all so sudden, so quick. The door being slammed open, someone pulling my arm and hugging me from behind, completely covering me from the loud sharp sound of the window breaking, debris of glass flying towards us.

Tulala ako ng ilang segundo. Muling pumasok ang ulan sa loob ng clinic... sunod-sunod ang malalim kong paghinga. I stared down, at the shattered pieces glistening on the floor. Then at Zackary... with his arms around me, with his heavy breathing.

Wala akong naiintindihan sa nangyayari. Tila nabingi ako sa lakas ng ingay. Tulala ako nang bigla niya akong buhatin, arms on my back, and the other one on the weight at the back of my knee at dinala ako sa kwarto sa pangalawang palapag.

"Stay here."

Nang tumalikod si Zackary, napansin ko ang kanyang suot mula sa liwanag ng kandilang iniwan ko sa mesa. His white shirt was filled with patches of blood. Pero... hindi lang ito mula sa nabasag na salamin ng bintana.

I raised my hand, wanting to hold his arm, to pull him back. Bago siya tuluyang makalabas ng kwarto, tumayo ako at hinila ang kanyang kamay.

"Zack... you're injured..."

"It's fine, Eleanor."

"Where are you going?"

"I need to cover the window to prevent further damage in the clinic."

I sat back on the bed, completely letting him go. Akala ko nakaalis na siya... akala ko wala na siya sa village. I waited in the room. I waited for an entire hour but he didn't came back to let me know if everything was fine.

The noise from downstairs was gone. The rain remained muted outside. Nakaalis na ba siya? Okay lang ba siya? I clasped my chest, suddenly hurting. Why do I have to worry about him? Why do I have to fear him being hurt?

Tumayo ako at muling sinindi ang lampara. Kinuha ko ito at muling bumalik sa ibaba. I opened the door to the clinic. There was no longer wind or trashing items. The broken glass on the floor was swept at a corner and the window was boarded from the outside by planks of woods.

Halos mabitawan ko ang lamp nang makita ko si Zackary sa sulok ng clinic. He was sitting on the floor, back against the wall and several bloody bandages on the damp floor as though he was trying to treat himself.

Agad ko siyang pinuntahan. "Zack..."

I dropped my knees on the floor next to him. I know his wounds wasn't from the village. They were too deep, like scratches. He had his eyes closed, but for a moment he opened them to glance at me.

"Where have you been, Zack? I thought you had left... Nari said they were orders..."

"At the border," he breathed. "Some rough encounters."

Border. The closest border in the villages were several miles away. Sinubukan kong maghanap ng mga gamit para linisan ang kanyang sugat.

"You should have went straight to town, Zack... to the hospital or the apothecary. Why do you have to come back here? You're deeply injured."

"I had to go back here..." he mumbled, closing his eyes again and resting the back of his head against the wall. "You're not completely healed yet."

Tuluyan akong natigilan sa kanyang sinabi. Tinitigan ko siya, ang alpha... na sugatan sa aking harapan. "I don't understand..." I mumbled, voice shaking. "Zack... you must not care for me. It could ruin you. Zack... I don't want you to get hurt."

Inabot ng kanyang palad ang aking mukha at pinahid ang luha na hindi ko inaasahan na dumaosdos sa aking pisngi. "Eleanor... I could no longer stay away..."

Umiling ako, lumuluha. Pero pilit ko itong pinahid at nag-focus sa kanyang mga sugat. With the only light from the lamp I brought with me, I remained beside him, knees on the damp floor, trying to treat the injured alpha.

Hinawakan ko ang kanyang damit, hesitating, before completely removing it over his head. Tila ako ang nasasaktan sa nakikitang sugat sa kanyang katawan. Large scratches on his chest and several cuts on the packs of his abs.

Malalim pareho ang aming paghinga, tila parehong nararamdaman ang sakit, ang pagkalito. "Tell me what to do, Eleanor," Zackary breathed. "Because I could no longer stay away from you."

I bit my lips, refusing to answer.

"I know we've made a promise. I don't want to keep you hurting. But I go insane whenever I feel your pain, whenever you're in fear, in danger..."

Pinagmasdan ko ang kanyang mukha na nakatitig sa'kin.

"I know you can also feel this... please tell me, Eleanor... and I would do everything to protect this."

It means he could also feel it... the connection, the pull I always felt whenever I get close to him. I averted my gaze away, dropping the medicines on the floor.

But it can't be...

Umupo nang maayos si Zackary at humarap sa'kin. With his hand on my wrist, he pulled me close. I could see it in his eyes... flickering gold... our breathing picking up pace.

"We can no longer fool ourselves, Eleanor."

Staring at his eyes, all the images of him came flashing to my head... Zackary, the alpha, the leader, everyone in town looked up him, respected him.

With eyes confused and hands trembling, I shook my head. "I... you can't... you have someone... someone great and respected and people would be happy to see with you..."

Zackary gently reached for the side of my face, pulling me close to his. He rested out foreheads together, our face inches from each other, lips almost touching.

I shook my head with tears in my eyes. "I'm no one, Zack..."

"You're everything, Eleanor... and I'm in love with you, deeply. So please... whatever this connection is... let me protect this. Let me protect you."

With the heavy rain outside, with the winds rattling everything in sight, Zackary reached for my lower lip, caressing it with his thumb. I drew sharp breath, cold lips quivering. Gently, he pulled my lips open and I welcomed his mouth. In the freezing clinic, his kiss was warm like fire.

He pulled me close, sitting me to his lap while both of us were on the damp floor. Sensations flooded me, with his hands on both side of my hips, he trailed kisses on my jaw, down to my neck. My breaths came in whimpers, arching my body closer to his.

I was being drown in a sea of fire, as though this foreign feeling could only be settle if I could be close to him. I know it was wrong... But just like him, I couldn't stay away.

"Zack..."

His lips kept lowering down, to my aching skin. I had to clasped on his shoulders as he nose grazed my shoulder, pressing his lips on my collarbone. I couldn't stay still on his lap, I kept moving, pressing on something solid below me, trying to reach something.

"Zack..."

"Sshh..."

His lips reached mine once again, muffling a sound I didn't realize was coming from me. I dug my fingers on his skin, clasping my entire body on his, my hands around his neck as a sudden wave of immense pleasure knocked me.

Zackary held onto me as I lost all my strength. I dug my face on his shoulder, suddenly ashamed. I didn't know such feeling was possible... such overwhelming bliss was possible.

"Are you okay?"

Zackary brushed away the hair on my face, but I remained on his shoulder, unable to face him. Despite the situation, I could feel him smiling.

"It's okay, Eleanor. I took you too far, I'm sorry."

He let me rest on his shoulder, while we remained on the cold floor of the clinic.

"Zack..." I raised my head, staring at his eyes. "Aren't you scared? Because I am... I'm scared of wanting you... because you're not someone I could be with..."

Like a feather, his lips settled on mine, giving me a lingering soft kiss.

"I could fight for both of us, Eleanor. I'd make sure you'd see your worth through my eyes. And when you do... you would know why I chose you."

***