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Chapter 13

Akira approached Daphne and helped her pick berries that looked fresh and luscious. She bent over and plucked some raspberries in her hand, bringing some to her mouth and biting the soft skin to relish the taste. She placed some down on Daphne’s basket, as well.

     “How long have you all been picking berries?” she asked them.

     “Our older sister Nancy got her college degree that involved something about the wild, zoology and botany, I guess. Those studies involved something about it.” she told her. “She loves nature more than other wolves had and you can constantly see her in some live project about nature conservation. The typical human activity. Our studies say that us being wolves, we also are the guardians of the forest that we live in. And a couple of times, we needed to drive away illegal loggers in order to maintain the beauty of our home.” she left her gaze lingering on her hand as she constantly plucked berries out of their stems. Her mouth moved animatedly as she continued to explain. “And because our home is rich in edible and non-edible berries, she taught us how to pick them—which one to avoid, and which one that we can eat. So, us girls, it already became a tradition for us.”

     “So where is she?” Akira asked.

     “She’s actually somewhere in Africa.” Daphne then turned to her and placed her baskets down on the ground. “Stop Joseph Kony!”

     Akira scrunched her brows. “Who’s this Joseph Kony?”

     “He’s the top-most dangerous criminal in the whole world and he resides in Africa.” she explained. “He takes the boys to become his army and turns the girls into . . .” she shivered. “Sex slaves. There’s a movement currently ongoing in there that campaigns out to help stop his atrocities. Nancy and some volunteers are helping spread the word throughout the whole continents to help stop him.”

     “Okay, then. I’ll tell that to my dad, maybe he can donate some to that campaign.” At the mention of her father, she felt a wave of sadness. So instead of saying it any further, she decided to change the topic. “You don’t sound a kid like your age.”

     “I’m different than any of the other wolves.” Daphne told her. “My IQ’s higher than the rest of them. I’m planning on taking Nancy’s footstep after her.”

     “That’s good for you,” Akira’s back erected as she patted Daphne’s head affectionately. “I wish your goals come true.”

     Akira watched Adam closely, sauntering towards a tree. He was crouched beside Junín and Kayla, picking on a wild stash of blueberries. They were on a farther distance, but Akira hadn’t seen many berries in one place. Even though holding a basket was supposed to ruin his manliness appeal, Akira had found it more appealing than she could ever explain. Studying his actions while he smiled and pointed at berries he suggested were fresh and good enough as he thought got her thinking what kind of person he really is. At first, he seemed to be that kind of cocky, arrogant, and boastful man she commonly meets. Men with those good looks as his would certainly be the womanizer-type of guy. And there is no doubt that he’s been with other girls before. And like every other boy themselves, they got a secret side which was often ignored and unseen by other people because of their reputation. Akira was afraid of meeting and knowing that side. She has this feeling in her guts she couldn’t quite explain. He got those dimples that will mostly get girls flustered when he smiles. His mouth moved animatedly while he spoke to an excited-looking Junín beside him. And she must admit those lips looked so kissable.

      After sensing the fact that he was ogling his image, she diverted her gaze and found a vine wrapping itself around a thin tree. It crept up until it reached one of the lowest branches. A clump of juicy-looking, red berries hanging enticingly, as if beckoning her to take a bite out of them. They looked like a bunch of cherries, appearing to glow a bright red. Although it was more oval-shaped.

     She reached out a plucked a single berry, staring at it carefully. She slowly raised it to her lips, but was stopped by a sudden scream. Her eyes redirected towards Daphne, her hands were placed on both of sides of her cheeks, watching Akira with wide eyes.

     Running towards her, Daphne placed her basket down and headed towards her direction. “Noooo! Luna, stop!” Daphne dragged out the word while screaming all the way. Akira noticed that everyone’s attention was now snapped towards her.

     Gazing at Daphne as she panted, holding up one finger and placing one hand above her knee, Akira’s brow slowly lifted questionably. “What is it?”

     “Don’t—don’t eat that.” she breathed. Daphne picked it out of her hold and threw it away. A small rustle echoed in their ears as the berry disappeared behind a couple of leaves.

     “Why?” she inquired.

     “Those . . .” she panted. “That was a Red Nightshade.” she told her.

     The girls behind her gasped.

     “It’s one of the poisonous berries we’re avoiding.” she clutched her chest in relief and fell on the forest floor as if she fainted. “That was close.” she groaned.

     Akira rushed to her side. “Are you okay, Daphne? I’m sorry.”

     Daphne’s head rose from the ground as more of the girls rushed forward. “I’m just relieved.” she answered. “Should you ever have taken a bite, it would’ve made you quite ill. It could’ve caused you breathing and cardiac problems. It will even affect your nervous system.”

     “Come on, Daphne!” Kayla yelled. “Get up and quit acting like a geek!”

     The girl scrambled to her feet, supported by Akira’s soft hold. “As I said, I just felt relieved.” she informed. “It may have resulted to the death of Luna.” she told them.

     “First of, girls,” Akira bent down on her knees and matched the girl’s eye levels. “I’m so very sorry I got you all worried. I promise I won’t eat any berries unless I got your permission. Deal?” she gave them a questioning look, one that she distributed when coming upon an agreement with other people. The girls nodded at her while holding their baskets close.

     “We were scared, Luna.” Justin whispered. The girls swarmed around Akira.

     A girl named Samantha dropped her berry-filled basket while cupping both of her cheeks inside her hands. “Imagine the horror.” she stared wide-eyed into nothing but space.

     “Alpha Adam will be angry.” Tabby followed.

     “The pack will fall into peril!”

     Junín then stepped out of nowhere and crushed Akira into a hug. “I thought you would die!” the girl clutched her into her small arms as if she would dissipate into nothingness.

     “Girls,” Akira said as she slowly withdrew from Junín’s tight embrace. “You’re all overreacting!” she chuckled. “I’m still here, I am not yet dead. Didn’t I promise you, hmm? There is no need to shed tears. You all have to learn how to be strong.”

     “Luna’s right,” Fiona sniffed. “I don’t get why we’re crying over that.”

     “I can’t handle it.” Said Kayla. “Who will be the superhero to beat up the nasty witch? Who will kick the evil villain’s ass? Who will give us milkshakes? Who will eat our berries?” and then the girl collapsed into the floor, crying out sarcastically. Kayla placed the back of her hand on her forehead like Victorian heroine. “And most of all,” she screamed. “Who will teach us how to fight? I still want to learn from the best!”

     Akira laughed, followed by the others. “Ok, Kayla. You’re damned right.” Everyone heard the smile on her voice while she spoke. “But for the last time, if Jessica is a witch, she’s a good one. Let’s go back to berry-picking, shall we? But before that, please stop calling me Luna. Call me Akira instead.” she told them.

     “Don’t you like your title, Lu—I mean, Akira?”

     Akira contemplated for a moment. Usually when people call her titles like Miss or Captain, she feels uncomfortable with it. But the designation of being a Luna, as they say, felt natural to her. She didn’t felt any self-awareness.

     She was her school’s cheerleading captain. One position which is the often cause of getting her into troubles. The blonde bimbo that actually got her expelled from her school had targeted her because she got the job instead. More importantly, she targeted her friend, Eliana. She was a big competition. And her own skills always got her into trouble. And now, Jessica even targeted her because she got the title of Luna instead. Her life’s just complicated.

     “It’s not that,” Akira started. But luckily, Adam stepped in, but he looked a bit angry.

     “You should be more careful,” he said through gritted teeth. His voice was dangerously low and his steps were deadly silent. “You almost got yourself killed.”

     “Look, Adam—“

     “That’s the first time you ever said my name,” he pointed out. It’s obvious by the look on his face, he likes her saying his name.

     “I don’t care, okay? I know you somehow . . . care. But you don’t have to hiss and grit your teeth every time I did something wrong.” But for me it looks kinda hot. She kept the last sentence to herself and crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not used to everything around here.” And I’m not planning on staying for so long to get used to it, either. She doesn’t want to say anything like that in front of the children. But then, she remembered he can read her mind.

     She cursed mentally.

     “What was in your brain you even picked those berries?” he lightly scolded.

     Unknown to the both of them, the girls were slowly backing away with their baskets. They sure didn’t want to get caught up in a fight between the two. They retreated to the area where they find most berries.

     “You can read my mind why don’t you find out for yourself?” she snapped.

     Adam crossed his broad and muscular arms over her chest and looked at her. Minutes later, Akira felt something softly rummaging her brain. It was like something was softly sorting out her thoughts and she started to get confused on what she was exactly thinking. Images flashed in front of her eyes like she was reliving the past. The last thing she saw was the red, cherry-looking berries hanging in front of her.

     “You thought they were cherries?” he sounded shocked.

     “Um, hello—they look cherries!” she objected.

     “Not everything is as they seem, love. Do not always make assumptions. And do not trust things you don’t know fully.”

     “Which is why you are in the criteria.” she retaliated.

     “I do not get the fact that you trusted a poisonous berry rather than trusting me—your mate.” he told her.

     Akira huffed and rolled her eyes. “Those berries look mouth-watering and appetizing.” she replied.

     “Why? Don’t I look mouth-watering and appetizing?” he asked, smirking. Akira allowed her eyes to rake down his luscious body.

     Oh, hell, you do. She mentally replied, but she kept silent about her thoughts. “Whatever, you arrogant jerk.”

     “I have a mate,” Adam stated in his usual, but melodic, voice. “And she’s in constant denial.”

     “I am not in constant denial!” Akira responded instinctively.

     “And finally she admits she’s my mate!” Adam sighed rather wistfully and mocking at the same time.

     Akira felt a deep red, scarlet shade stain her fair cheeks but kept her expressions blank. She rarely gets embarrassed, and realizing that she’s been tricked by a werewolf is absolutely humiliating! But, look on the bright side—Mister Werewolf is not very bad-looking himself. She let out an aggravated sigh.

     “She also keeps forgetting I can read her mind,” Adam pointedly informed her, causing her face to turn a shade redder than before.

     Wiggling her toes inside her shoes, Akira tried cooling her scalded cheeks. “Listen, you werewolf jerk.” Akira stomped her way in front of Adam. She stood on her tiptoes and glared straight at Adam’s sterling-grey eyes. “You will learn to back off from listening from my thoughts or I swear I won’t hesitate to give you a karate combo! Punch in the guts and a kick where the sun doesn’t shine exclusively included!” she threateningly announced.

     “Well, keep your thoughts to yourself.” Adam suggested in mild amusement.

     “I am keeping them to myself, idiot!” she retorted. “You’re the one who’s invading them!”

     “So you aren’t denying you think I’m hot.”

     She leaned back. “If I say no, I would be lying. Every girl can see that.” she placed her hand on her hips. “You may be charming, yes. You’re handsome, check. Muscular, verified. But there is no way in the galaxy will I ever fall for your allure.”

     She then began walking away. Singing quietly to herself, she made sure Adam heard the lyrics of ‘Womanizer’ by Britney Spears. “Boy don’t try to font, I-I know just-just what you are-are. Womanizer, woman-womanizer, you’re a womanizer, oh, womanizer, oh, you’re a womanizer, baby.” she smirked to herself, knowing she’ll always find a way to have the last laugh.

     “Lollipop!” she yelled. “Must mistake me you’re the sucker! To think that I, would be a victim not another! Say it, play it how you want it! But no way I’m never gonna fall for you! Never you, baby!” she laughed.

     “You sound like cockatoo, babe!” Adam shouted behind her while picking up the basket he placed on the ground a few moments ago. She could hear the sarcasm dripping from his voice, along with the sound of a smile.

     She turned to face him. “I’m not your babe!” Akira told him. He was following her swiftly.

     “Oh, right. Mate!”

     “I’m not your mate, either.”

     “You already admitted you were.”

     “Well, then, I’m taking it back!”

     “Say it, play it how you want it, but some way you’re only gonna fall for me . . . only me, baby.” Adam sang.

     “Ha ha!” Akira sarcastically laughed. “Says the cockatoo himself!”

     “Girl don’t try to font, I-I know just-just how you fe-feel! You’re my lover, lo-lo-lover, you’re my lover, oh, you’re my lover, oh, you’re my lover, baby!”

     “You’re a bad songwriter!”

     “Oh, you know you like it!”

     “Stop flirting, will yah?! I need to find the girls. Where are they anyway?” she stopped at her tracks and looked back and forth between the right and left. Adam stopped beside her with a smirk. Akira rolled her eyes and stood idly on her position.

     “I saw them slip this way.” he said, pointing to their right. A sandy trail had come to their sight.

     “Step aside,” she shoved him out of her way and headed right down for the path he pointed to.

     Adam laughed at her feistiness and just followed her walk towards the path he directed. Usually, he wouldn’t let a female dominate over him but in order to win Akira over he has to set aside his nature and try his best. She isn’t just any other werewolf girl. Even if she is a hunter’s daughter, she lived a normal life of a human. Usually, a human’s relationship with another takes a very slow progress—except, he isn’t really a human.

     They walked through the forest for a few minutes before Akira turned to meet Adam’s face. “You know where they are! I know it! What are you trying to do?”

     “I’m not doing anything.” Adam whistled innocently. “I was trying to tell you the way but you ignored me. I was just following.”

     “Quit playing innocent and tell me where exactly they are. I’ve been watching you, dude, and you aren’t saying anything about anything!”

     “Don’t get your knickers in a twist. I told you—“

     “Shut up! Give me that.” Akira grabbed the woven basket from his hand and took some berries from it, popping them into her mouth.

     “Don’t eat all of those. You’ll get fat.” Adam chuckled.

     “I get a lot of workouts. Berries aren’t filled saturated fat. They’re natural.” Akira stated with a ‘duh’ tone.

     “Well, you shouldn’t eat them all.”

     “I’m hungry.”

     “Well, I’ll just show you the way back to pack-house.” he suggested as Akira wiped a berry on her shirt and nibbled on it again.

     “Good,” she said with a half-full mouth, waving her hands in the air in circles. “Because we’re going around in pointless circles.” she paused, but then something snapped in her memory. “But the kids—“

     “They know their way back.” he answered, reassuringly.

     “Okay, well—”

     Grrrr…

     She was cut off when a growl resonated behind her. She shuddered by the obvious anger dripping from the sound it released. It didn’t sound like a wolf—no, not really. It was more of on the ‘bear’ side. Akira stiffened as it sniffed. She stared at Adam and found him watching the creature behind her cautiously. He looked like he was ready to pounce. The look on his eyes was deadly and lethal, even his body was tensed—muscles tightly clenched.

     “Adam,” Akira tried speaking, but the creature let out another low growl, cutting her off instantly.

     “Don’t move yet, Akira. When I say run, you run, do you understand?”

     “But—“

     “I want no objections from you. Not now. If you make a single move without my permission, you’ll be dead, you understand?”

     She gave out a light shriek as the creature sniffed her leg. Adam let out a growl. Its cold nose slowly traveled from the back of her knees until it reached the point under her butt. Akira withheld the scream. She was finally relieved once it found her hand and sniffed on the basket of berries she was holding. Diverting her gaze down, she found the face of the bear tucked past the mouth of the basket, reaching for the berries inside.

     “It’s okay,” she murmured. “I think he likes the berries—makes sense.”

     Adam didn’t relax though. She felt his watchful gaze as she bent on the ground and placed the woven basket on the floor. Reaching for the berries, she took some on her hand. As if on instinct, the creature leaned back and licked off the berries from her hand. Adam almost pounced on the creature with his misinterpreted move, but remained calm when he figured out what he tried doing.

     Akira suddenly realized they were standing in front of a small cave. She stared at the opening as the bear roared lowly, causing a movement inside the hollow space inside. Akira backed off a few steps away just until a cub crawled out.

     “Akira,” Adam’s precautious voice rang beside her. “Just pour the berries out of the basket and let’s go. Mother Bears are extremely protective of their cubs, if you ever pose any threat they won’t waste a second thought of devouring you alive.”

     “But—“

     “Don’t argue with me now, Akira. Bears are aggressive when it comes to their young. Back-off, now. Or I will pull you back myself.”

     Akira sighed as she gently reached for the basket and poured all of its contents out. The berries littered on the floor and the mother and her cub instantly came forward. As Akira withdrew with her basket, another growl reverberated behind both of them. Turning swiftly, they found a bigger bear—male to be precise, advancing towards their position. It roared loud, causing Akira to shiver from the intensity in its tone.

     Roooaarrr!

     With no doubt, Adam took her wrist in his hands and began dragging her away. Akira stumbled behind him, trying to catch up with his long-legged strides. The biggest bear was starting to run after them, causing her to panic. Because of Akira’s inability to match Adam’s pace, she was suddenly hauled from her feet and thrown onto someone’s arms.

  “Adam!” Akira yelled. They burst into a blinding speed until the sight of the bear was finally gone from their view. Adam suddenly tripped, but he held Akira close to keep her safe. She gave out a short scream as they fell on the forest floor. As they both landed, Akira found herself staring into Adam’s eyes, pinned against the ground. His bulky weight trapped her completely, his hands held out on either side of her head.

     He was so close, she could feel the loud thrumming of his own heart inside his chest, while hers continued to pound, not because of their encounter with another wild animal, but because of the intimate position she found herself caught in. She'd never been this close to a boy before, and if any of the opposite sex even tried getting near her, she would instantly push them away.

     His eyes . . . their color was remarkable and unnatural. It's something that would only exist when people wears contacts, although his looked more real in a weird kind of way. His features were mesmerizing Akira began thinking if he himself was even real. The way he looked was picturesque, something that an artist would be willing to paint as his subject. His hot breath fanned her face, causing her to inhale a sweet scent of mint and . . . raspberries?

     They stayed like that for a while before Adam decided to break their stare and stand up. It was time they get out of the awkward position anyway. “Let’s go back.” he grabbed her by the arms and helped her up on her feet.

     Akira dusted her clothes and found the basket she was holding broken. “Thanks.” she murmured.

     “No problem.”

     “No. For the bear incident. I can help myself up on my feet, for your information.” she told him, throwing away the broken, weaved basket away. “I guess that basket got destroyed on the fall.”

     “Come on, let’s go back.” Adam turned towards the direction which Akira presumed leads to the pack-house.

     As she watched him walk away, she diverted her gaze to the direction they came from and whispered something she made certain only she can hear. “I do hope the girls are okay, though.”