Leilani.
"Leilani?" His voice came again, bolder and louder this time, but he made no move to come close. Hell, he didn’t even seem as though it was his intention to get anywhere near me.
The shock on his face also didn’t disappear. If anything, it seemed to increase in intensity.
And that sight... Something about that sight made my heart ache in my chest, especially as I watched him rub his eyes vigorously again and again... and again until they were quickly becoming swollen and red. But he didn’t stop.
It felt as if he wanted to rid himself of this sight— this sight that was me, his legs trembling as he took a step back from me, whilst looking more afraid than happy as he called out again; "Leilani?"
But because I didn’t know what to say to him nor could quickly think of anything that could make him feel better, I took a step back.
"Is this really you?" He asked softly in disbelief,
His voice and the way the words had cracked at the end of that question made my heart churn. My voice cracked just as a small sob slipped past my lips, and because I couldn’t immediately find my voice, I settled for nodding.
"It is?"
"Yes." I cried, "...yes, it is me."
"This is you?" He asked again, as if still unsure and I found myself nodding so hard, I nearly sprained my neck.
"Yes," I said again, firmer this time.
A couple of seconds passed between us with neither of us speaking. And when he finally had the courage to break the ice, the first thing he asked was;
"Why did you never come to look for me? For us? Why did you decide to hide, knowing fully well that Maya would never take your death lightly?"
At the mention of her name, my heart squeezed even more tightly in my chest. I took in a deep breath, lowered my head to hide the pain and the confusion in my eyes and said in a voice so inaudible, I feared he wouldn’t hear me;
"Because I was scared."
It sounded like an excuse but even the heavens knew that it was the truth. I had, however, made myself believe that he would never take me seriously until he voiced out his next words. He asked;
"Scared of what?"
I gulped.
"Leilani... talk to me."
"There are so many people after my life, Gavin," I cried out, "So many people who want nothing but my head. So many people who would do everything to have me out of the picture..."
"Like Chalice?" He cut in, his eyes soft, but his voice softer.
"Yes, like Chalice... but not her. She’s dead. Now, it’s Keisha and her cohorts. I do not know if Darius wants me dead too... but then I know about this girl at my work place, Yvette who..."
"Well, we don’t know anything about Darius for now. He’s been quiet for too long."
Something about those words made Gavin calm down significantly. He sighed, pulled me into another hug and whispered; "I am sorry, I didn’t know all of these."
"It is not your fault." I whispered back,
"Welll, can I tell Maya? She hasn’t been eating or living well ever since... you know... the news of your death reached us, and—"
"Tell her about it..." I snapped, interrupting him, "...and try to get Alpha Jarek to come here. I need to see him."
At the mention of Jay’s name, the triplets’ eyes all darkened but none of them said anything to me. They couldn’t. Not when I was eying them all as if daring them to refute.
And not when Gavin was casting them a knowing look— one that was both mocking and sarcastic.
Then he turned to us and said; "Oh, I forgot to add that Maya is outside. She has been waiting for me in the car until whatever this meeting that you called me for will be over."
I cocked my eyebrow as soon as I heard that then turned to cast everyone a glance.
"What meeting?" That was me asking, but then I was suddenly interrupted when Kael coughed.
He muttered; "A meeting. We want to make Gavin our beta."

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