"How are you?"

Yes, those ordinary words made my cheeks flush like hell's red. This felt so weird—he felt weird. The fact that we're speaking casually, checking up on each other, and even calling, made it seem like an 11:11 wish.

A dream come true.

I was a few meters away from the crowd, careful and too shy to let them hear what he was saying. Somehow, the trees swayed to a gentle rhythm and the birds were singing lullabies of love and harmony. The sun was almost setting but it shined with a beautiful iridescent glow. Everything was in tune with my melting heart.

Wait, oh Goddess, what do I say?

I heard him move and the distant voice of Bain telling him to come back to the house. "Yzav? Are you still there?"

My eyes widened in panic as I struggle to bring out the words I wanted to say. "I—"

"Look, I have to go. They found something that might lead us to one of these bastards' camps. I just want you to know that I'm doing fine, and that I heard you're training with the trackers. Be careful and I'll see you soon." My mouth was still hanging open in shock and the words he uttered were still registering in my mind. I didn't even get to say anything besides 'I' and the call has already been ended.

Bella laughed at my expense and I shushed her with annoyance. I locked the phone and proceeded to go back to the falls where the trackers were still merrily hanging out. Some even went back to the water and leisurely swam. I gave back the phone to the kind man who came with it a while ago and thanked him.

Their laughter reverberated around the area as they played tag while in the water. One of them asked me if I wanted to join, but I was to immersed with my thoughts that I denied the offer with a smile and sat on nearby rock.

I wonder what Storm and the others found there in New Hampshire; Bain sounded frantic and tense that I worried for everyone's safety. This 'zombie' situation was getting really creepy and serious and I should really ask my father what he knows about the situation. I keep forgetting to do so because I swear to the Goddess, my ability to be distracted is just so ingeniously commendable.

"You are very deep in thought, Luna." I jumped at Velichor's voice suddenly disrupting my thoughts and I looked around with a confused brow, noticing that there were no people around anymore.

"They already went out to get dried up, if you were asking. I just waited for you. Can't let the Luna be alone at these troubling times, can we?" He winked and I let out a small giggle, muttering a small 'thank you' while he helped me get up.

While walking back towards the packhouse, I took the chance to study Velichor—he was an awfully handsome man whom I guess was in his late 30s with chocolate skin and dimples. I noticed he had dimples from when he talked a while ago. His eyes were obsidian black which changes to a dark hue of brown whenever hit by sunlight. He had a ripped physique. Like really toned muscles. Just how much can he carry in one go? I—

Goddess, stop checking him out, Yzav! This is making me really uncomfortable what the hell.

I'm not checking him out, Bella!

We finally reached the training grounds where I saw Khal was still sparring with a dying Axel. "How long do you guys train here?" I suddenly asked and Velichor turned his head to face me. I suddenly blushed and turned to stare somewhere else, remembering what Bella previously.

"Hmm, it depends. They can go all day and tire themselves out, but when it's dinner time, it's dinner time. Li—I mean, the cooks, have made us get used with stopping at around six to six thirty so we can still have time to freshen up before dinner." The sudden pause with 'Li' made me wonder what he could've said. Why didn't he continue?

I am really starting to get annoyed with people keeping shit from us. I agreed with what Bella said and let out a deep sigh. I think I'll have to dig this pack's secrets myself.

I went to my—our—bedroom to take a much needed shower from the exhausting day I had. Yes, Storm decided I should move in with him in his room, but we never got to try to play the role of a couple because he had to immediately set out to Repus. This is yet another nerve-wracking but thrilling moment for me when he finally comes home.

Turning to the alarm clock on the bedside table, I saw that it was already 6:40 pm and hastened to finish getting ready. This would be the first time where I get to dine with the pack without Storm which completely made me freak out when I started to realize that fact.

I hesitantly turned the doorknob. Wish me luck, Bella.

Bella snorted and with a confident tone, she voiced out, "We don't need luck. We are luck."

• •

Turns out, the dinner went by like a breeze. Everyone was friendly and the dining room was filled with loads of rambunctious chatter. There was a group of teens who were gossiping about one of the popular boys, whose name I heard was 'Zail', pronounced as za-eel, breaking up with his girlfriend because she became so obsessive.

Another group nearer to me excitedly talked about Netflix buying the rights to the Chronicles of Narnia books and planning to make it into a series.

"I hope the food is up to your liking, Luna?" Suzie smiled and I noticed most of the people around me stopped their conversations to hear what I was going to say. Even the babies stopped crying, what the heck. Was it really that important to them to know my food preferences?

I stared at the half consumed slice of Oreo cheesecake on my plate. We were already done with the main course and halfway through dessert. My eyes shook with anxiety as all ears and attention were on me.

With an exaggerated smile, I faced Suzie and said, "It was delicious. All compliments to the cooks." I felt the atmosphere drop in relief and even heard someone say 'Thank the Moon Goddess", which made me chuckle lightheartedly.

"Thank the Moon Goddess indeed, Sapha." Everyone laughed and Sapha, one of the cooks, blushed and retreated further down in her seat.

A few minutes later and dinner was finally done. People dispersed and went on to do other things, while I tried to help clear the table. That was a failed attempt since they shooed me away and told me to go call the Alpha or something with matching winks. Ha ha.

I didn't do that though. What if they were busy raiding a zombie camp or was in a serious meeting with the others to plan their next move? So with that in mind, I resorted to the beautiful library.

Going in, I was surprised to find that no one inhabited the library after dinner; people must've had more important stuff to do. I ran to the comfy-looking sofa and plopped down on it. After deciding that I was comfortable enough, I jumped up and ran around the massive library.

Was I having sugar rush? Who knows.

Carelessly bumping into a table, my body lost balance and landed harshly on the floor with a loud thud. Wincing at the pain my butt had to endure with the crash, I slowly got up with the help of the damned table and limped towards the stairs.

I remember hiding something in the second floor, but forgot what it was and where it was hidden. Once the pain resided a bit, I started going up until I got to the top.

"Where do I start? This library's so massive," I groaned. My body kept turning on different sides, indecisive as to where it wanted to go. Giving up, I started to sit on the floor and try to replay the events that happened that day.

"Okay, so I went here to relax, then started to find some potential books to read. Got bored and decided to go up, started at the right...bottom..ah!" I opened my eyes and gazed at the left shelf. Crawling towards the ladder, I started to get up and drag it to the end.

I climbed up and when I reached the topmost shelf, I started to push back some books to feel if something was behind it. I can't just drop them to the floor; that would create too much noise and I was trying to be as quiet as I can.

I hope no one goes in.

Suddenly, the book I was currently pushing back was stuck and knew I found the spot. My hand trembled in anticipation while removing the book and placing it on the empty space between the top of the books and the shelf.

Grabbing what looked like a silver metallic box and putting back the book, I slowly went down the ladder and went to a desolate area to open it.

May my heart
be the softest place you fall,
May this love
be the wildest place you run.

Butterflies Rising

"Well, doesn't this look familiar," I chided to myself. My breath stalled as I began to unclasp the lock, and exhaled loudly when I finally removed the lock. I could hear my heart pounding erratically, almost wanting to explode out of my chest. I froze and hesitated in opening it.

Whatever lies beyond this might be something life-changing or—

Yzavel, stop overthinking and open the damned box!

Geez, Bella. Let me have a moment here. I could feel her anxiousness rolling off in waves which made me hurry to open the box.

What greeted me was a photo of a gorgeous woman with beautiful bronze skin and long, luscious, black hair. She was wearing a cute bralette with a skirt that matches its design, and holding a bouquet of orange roses with her right arm. Head tilted up, she had her eyes closed with a contagious and awfully mesmerizing smile.

She looked so serene and elegant. Like that day was the best thing that ever happened to her. Undeniably beautiful.

I took out the photo and what I saw completely paralyzed me.

09/06/15

To my most wonderful mate,

Thank you for this wonderful day. You made me the happiest girl in the world. My soul will always be connected with yours.

I love you forever, Storm.

Your  flower,
Lila

• • •

I know 😭 I kept you waiting and I broke my promise of updating more often. Why is it so hard to get in the mood to write huhu.

I finally revealed a trump card once again hehe. And this is sooo late, but thank you for 4k reads!

See you next chap!