2. Leon

'Amaya, wake up! Someone is coming!' Ivy's loud voice resonates in my aching head.

I opened my eyes and try to get up, but I failed miserably when an unbearable pain in my right leg made me scream.

I could see my bone coming out through my bloodied flesh.

'Do not worry, Amaya! It will heal in a couple of minutes. Being a werewolf has its perks.' Ivy said.

I heard the leaves crunching under heavy feet and insects crawling and flying nearby. Animals were fighting in the distance, and the water was streaming slowly from a river. Everything was so excellent and scary at the same time.

All these colours made me think that I was dreaming. My vision seems to be ten times better than before.

'The river! We should go there, Ivy! Would you please help me? If everything you told me is true, then you should be able to speed the healing process, isn't it?' I said when I realised that the one who was coming was now so close to me.

'It is true, Amaya! But if I do that, I won't be able to help you if a fight will be needed. The one who is coming is a werewolf. But I can not tell if he is a rogue. His scent is different. He doesn't smell like one but either like a pack member.'

'Do not worry about a fight! If you can help me to get to the river, I can take care of this. I'm still a water elemental, Ivy!'

'You are right!' she said, and I feel my broken leg starting to heal. After a few seconds, all that was left was a small scar.

'That will heal soon as well. Now I need to rest, Amaya! Don't do anything stupid.' she said in a low, weak voice with a slight chuckle.

I started running as fast as I could in the direction of the river jumping over tree trunks and fallen branches. The stranger was still following me, his steps heavier than before and his breath uneven.

"Stop! I won't hurt you! I know you are hurt!" he shouts from behind me.

But I kept running as I couldn't trust this person. I didn't know him.

"Wait! Please! I'm a healer! I want to help you!" he shouts again.

"I didn't ask for your help! So go away! I don't need any!" I said, hoping he would give up and turn around.

The river was just a few feet away now. I push more challenges to get there faster. Then I stop on the edge of the shore.

"Stop there!" I yell at the stranger.

I was now facing him. He was tall with green eyes and black hair. His body was well. Built and the fact that he was shirtless didn't help.

"Who are you, and what do you want?" I ask, looking him in the eyes, ready to fight if I need to.

"I told you that I'm a healer! My name is Leon. I want to help you!" he said in a warm sexy voice.

'He is hot! But he is not our mate, Amaya! So stop drooling!' Ivy's weak voice came again in my mind.

I shake my head and look away when I feel my cheeks reddening.

"Oh... I make you feel shy, now?" Leon asks with a smirk.

"Shut up, Leon! I'm not blushing because of you! It's because of my wolf."

"Your wolf, ah? You smell different! Why is that? Who are you? I can tell you are not a rogue." he said, eyeing me suspiciously.

"I could say the same about you, Leon!" I said, narrowing my eyes.

He starts laughing and steps closer.

"Stop there! What are you doing?" I said a bit too quickly, but he didn't stop.

"I want to help you! I live close... So if you need a place to rest, you are welcome to come. I'm sure your wolf will be able to find it. I can sense she is a strong one." He said and turned around to leave, but stopped in his tracks when I shouted again.

"Ok! I'll come! The truth is I need to rest and eat something. If this is not too much for you!"

He chuckled and nodded his head but did not turn back to me.

"Come... What is your name, by the way?" he asks.

"I'm Amaya," I said and ran to his side. I feel like I can trust him.

"Amaya, who?"

"Mmm... just Amaya."

"Well, ok, just Amaya! Come! My home is this way!" He said, laughing.

His laughter was so calming that you can get addicted.

"So, so you live alone in the forest, Leon?"

"Yeah! I left my pack two years ago. But I'm not a rogue. I still go to visit them sometimes. I feel my place is not there. So I decided to come here. My mom wasn't happy about this... but what can I do."

"Whoa! So you are part of a pack? How is it?"

"What do you mean? Do you not have a pack? I'm sure you are not a rogue either. So how come you don't know what a pack is like?" He asks, looking at me with his emerald green eyes.

"Well... is a long story... and I don't want to talk about this right now. Until yesterday I didn't even know that I am a werewolf. I have seen one before. So this is all new for me."

"You haven't seen one before? What are you, a caveman?" he said, laughing but stopped when he noticed the pain in my eyes.

"I'm sorry if I overstepped, Amaya! Please, forgive me. But it is hard to believe you didn't see a werewolf before. Where were you living, then?"

"I-I live in... Wow! Is that your home?!" I ask in surprise, looking at a two-storey wooden house. Beds of wildflowers were surrounding it.

"Yeah..." he said, scratching the back of his head. "Do you like it? I built it myself. Now all I need is to find my mate." He added with sadness in his voice.