Chapter 19: Breathe.Willow.Breathe


    Done with the run, it felt good to be out in the cool air. Violet was ecstatic that we both didn''t notice we


    had been gone for hours, not until the first ray of dawn shown at the endless starry night. Sunset is


    beautiful but sunrise is magical. It denotes hope, a new day to live and start over again.


    I watched the first moment of sunrise before I decided to go back. On my way to my room, I passed the


    alpha''s office and saw a lighting from the slightly open door. Strange. Is he up this early?


    Taking a sneak peek at the door, I saw Xyrus reading some papers on his desk. His hair was still wet


    like he just got out of the shower moments ago. The air has the fresh scent of a water bath and it''s


    rxing.


    He smelled really good. He was wearing a dirty white cotton shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows.


    He was holding a pen, brows knitted together, and appeared to be thinking hard. I can''t deny the fact


    that he is so... so... gorgeous.


    "I don''t mind you staring but would you like toe in? " His lips twitched in a smile though he''s not


    taking his eyes off the folder in his hand.


    I quickly stood up straight and mulled over between actuallying in or running to my room and act


    as nothing happened.


    "Willow." He called.


    Deciding thetter fits best, I walked sneakily going to my room''s direction when the sound of a door


    opening wide echoed the hallway followed by footsteps. That made my steps faster.


    "Willow, wait up."


    Thankfully, I reached my room and about to turn the knob. That''s the moment he caught up with me.


    "What is this, ying hide and seek?" Heughed heartily and boy wasn''t hisugh masculine and


    deep.


    I let go of the knob and took a deep breath before turning to him. Carter''s words traitourously reying


    in my mind making me feel unease.


    "Xyrus..." I looked into his eyes and my words caught up in my throat.


    ''The way Xyrus looks at you'' were Carter''s words. And for the first time, I noticed how warm and


    intense his gaze held mine giving me the feeling of security like nothing could harm me. Something


    changed between us but I can''t figure it out yet.


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Willow..." He spoked. That made me broke out of my trance. Cheeks heated up for getting caught


    staring at him like that.


    "I should uh sleep." I pointed at the door.


    His brows knitted together, taking one step forward. "It''s 4 a.m. Where did you go, princess?"


    I unconsciously took a step behind but my back collided with the door. He inched closer and ced his


    hand right beside my head. He moved closer, our bodies almost touching. The smell of raindrops and


    the cool breeze after the rain wafted my senses. I like his scent. It''s addictive.


    He was looking intensely from my eyes down to every part of my face. It''s as if he was etching it on his


    mind. I felt his other hand gently caressed my cheek.


    By this time, my heart was thumping. I was frozen to the spot. His face slowly moving closer and closer


    and I closed my eyes.


    I scrunched my eyebrows when nothing came. And then I heard his voice whispered in my ear.


    "Breathe Willow...breathe."


    I didn''t know I was holding it, I took a long breath and did a few more until my breathing became normal


    again.


    Xyrus stood in front of me and hands in his pockets. He was smiling. I suddenly felt embarrassed.


    "Ahm, I uh...should go inside...yes...I think." I stuttered. I didn''t wait for his reply as I turned the knob


    and hurriedly came in.


    "Take a good rest princess." I heard him called.


    The much-needed and much-wanted sleep finally came over me and I felt my eyelids dropped,


    weing sweet sugar dreams.


    ***


    "Rise and Shine!" A cheery voice sangced with too much enthusiasm followed by a swishing sound


    of a blinding light that sure is capable of burning a vampire alive, and the noise of scraping ss


    window against metal.


    The cool air whipped against my face reminding me of the winter seasoning. Traces of Autumn


    now started to disappear to amodate the next season. I sat half awake, half-amused at my best


    friend''s antsy behavior behind her wide smile standing beside a now open window.


    "Geez, I swear if you wake me up once again I''m gonna kill you! ''Twas bing a habit of yours


    lately," I said annoyed while rubbing the sleep off my eyes. I bend my neck sideways and did some arm


    stretching to fully awaken myself when my eyesnded on the clock above my nightstand. It was way


    past 9 in the morning. Arrrrrrrrrh! So early! Bye-bye sweet sleep, we will meet again soon I promise.


    I stretched my arms wide and dly fell back on bed closing my eyes. "Spill it out, Tash."


    "Err what?" She asked innocently. Her arms tucked behind her, a habit of hers which means trouble.


    "What did you do this time?" I asked, not buying her lies.


    "Err, that obvious huh? Uhm I uhh may or may not stole Gabb''s babies?" She gave a nervous smile.


    Now that''s interesting.


    "I didn''t know you''re jealous now with his babies." I decided to tease her a bit, waiting for her sure


    response.


    "Of course, not!" There she goes being all defensive. "He purposely shoved me during the training this


    morning. I was humiliated. I hate him!" She ranted and mumbled something like '' butt still hurts ''.


    "You didn''t dare." Iughed, unbelieving at her so-called revenge.


    Everyone knows how much Gabbiel loves his arnis sticks weapon that Tash and I named them out of


    fun, ''his babies''. I swear he loves his babies more than his sister.


    "And where do I fit in this picture Tash?"


    Tash sure could make a scene, I''ll give her that. Thest time someone made her pissed, let''s just say


    the guy had to walk limping.


    "Don''t leave my side! Take me with you anywhere you go. Pleassssse. He''ll gonna kill me if he finds


    out I took them!"


    I hummed in response.


    "Willow, you gotta help me! I''m serious here." Tash pleaded. She sat beside me on the bed,  thumb


    between her teeth. She looked unstable in a funny way, mumbling to herself.


    "Shouldn''t you have thought of it before getting his babies? Ye know how much he loves ''em."


    She red like I was the one at fault between us. Hands-on her hips, she huffed. "Things happened


    already missy. Will you help me or not?"


    I kept silent for a moment faking thinking hard, prolonging her agony as she impatiently waits for my


    decision. Her re wavering and slowly recing worry. This is fun.


    "Just this one-time Tash but you''re buying me an ice cream," I said.


    "Yay!" She hugged me and hurriedly went to the door. "Wait. I''m getting my treasure box, he might use


    it as leverage."


    Tash''s treasure box is a cute wooden box full of her prize possessions like jewelry and makeup. She


    used to say if the worldes to an end, her treasure box will be the one thing she would save.


    "I''ll be back." She whispered.


    Tash poked her headfirst out the door looking left and right then disappeared.