Gael had been keeping his distance from Lise and every time he saw her in discomfort with his presence, he would back away, though it took everything in him to stay away from her.
But for this moment, he wanted to be as close as possible with her…
"Can I?" Gael took a step closer, but he stopped when Lise has not yet given him the permission.
"Okay," Lise finally replied in her soft voice. She pushed herself up into sitting position and leaned her body against the headboard of the bed.
"Thank you," Gael said, he walked over and took a glass of water to be given to Lise before he sat down beside the woman that he loved, leaning agains the headboard.
"Thank you," Lise said softly and drank the water gratefully, she just realized now that her throat was very sore and the water was very refreshing.
"I need to go tonight," Gael started, he didn't know how to begin this, but no matter how he wanted to beautify his words, the truth was always hard. "I need to find Chaos with Knox tonight."
He had mentioned about this before, but had never really talked about this. However, Gael was sure that Anne had told Lise everything, since her next question sounded a little bit bitter.
"For how long?" she asked, staring at the empty glass in her hand.
"I don't know," Gael replied truthfully.
"So, you will leave me?" Lise bit her bottom lip, but she still refused to see Gael in the eyes. "You will leave me and our baby?"
This was the first time for Lise to mention their child as 'our baby'. It gave a feeling that Gael was part of it, it bound them together and there was nothing could break that bond. They shared the same thing, a precious thing.
"Are you sad?" Gael tilted his head and stared deeply at Lise's face. He wanted to see her. He loved her and there was nothing could say otherwise. "I thought you don't want me to be close to you."
Lise finally raised her head and looked at Gael, their eyes met and he could feel how much he loved her. "I want you to be close to me."
Lise's answer was out of his expectation, Gael would never dare to think about that at all. He was stunned.
"What…?" Gael laughed nervously. "I think I heard it wrong."
"You heard me Gael." Lise put away the empty glass in her hand and then took both of Gael's hand. "I don't love you."
"I know," Gael said, trying to hide his disappointment, what he was thinking? He should expect that, right?
"But, I don't want you to go." It was a complicated feeling for Lise. She wanted him to stay, even though the feeling that she felt for him was not love, but then it was no longer hatred. She couldn't name this feeling for him…
Gael smiled and then cupped her face between his hands, as he leaned over and kissed her forehead. "I love you, Lise." He kissed her nose and then her cheeks. "I said this not for you to feel the same way like me, but so you will know it."
====================
Finally when the night fell, the member of the Silver River pack arrived at the Shadow Moon pack.
There, on the border of their territory, their alpha and his beta welcomed them with opened arms, he looked kind, with a big smile on his lips, as he spoke cheerfully at Anthony.
He was slightly shorter and bigger than Blue's uncle with blonde hair that was cut into a militarian style.
However, for unknown reason, Blue didn't like him. There was something in his eyes that made her felt warry.
Immediately, they got off of the car and were escorted to their pack house.
This pack apparently had not yet suffered from the attack of human, as there were no trace of battle or even a look of grievence on their expression.
They had not yet experienced the brute forced of The Hound.
"Where is your niece?" the Alpha of the Shadow Moon pack talked to Anthony, as he looked around to find the little girl that he had mentioned before.
Once this group marched toward the pack house, as they walked past many houses along the way, on their left and right side of the road.
"Zuri, come here," Anthony called for Blue, as he stretched out his arms toward the girl.
Obediently, Blue came to her uncle and stood beside him, as she held his hand tightly, she didn't look at the alpha because she didn't like him.
"Hey, Zuri, you have a beautiful name." The alpha crouched down in front of her, so they were on the same eye level. "I am Alpha Xerxes." He stretched out his hand, asking for a handshake.
Blue raised her head and looked at her uncle. Anthony nodded to assure her that it was fine.
"Thank you Alpha Xerxes for receiving us," Blue mumbled and shook his hand, but she still didn't want to see him in the eyes.
"Good girl, she is smart and know what to say," Alpha Xerxes laughed and patted her small shoulder. "Can I see you in your wolf?"
Blue frowned and only then she looked at his eyes and saw greed there.
"I don't think it's the right time, we have a long journey and all of us are tired," Anthony spoke softly, he tried to be as polite as he could, since it was not his nature to speak this way as an alpha, but their pack was desparated for help. "Maybe she can show it to you later."
"Oh, right… right, my bad," Xerxes mumbled, but his eyes were on Blue. "Let's go to the pack house then."
And they started to move again, but for some odd reason, Blue felt they were being surrounded not escorted.