Love Grows In The Dark

by Eli Lowe

  “What? Nothing? Not a single thing about Alpha Kazan? His past? How did he become an alpha at such a young age? What is his pack like? What kind of Alpha he is? Don't you know anything about all these, Summer?” Again I had no answers to give to his questions.

  Seeing me all quiet, uncle Benjamin went on further but whatever he said, shook the earth beneath me ever so maliciously.

  “Well, then you must be aware of one thing very clearly as the daughter of the former Alpha of our pack, Summer. That is, though I still do not have any valid proof, I strongly believe that the Blood Bay pack was surely involved with the rogues who had attacked your parents that night a few years ago. I do believe that Alpha Kazan's pack had something to do with your parent's painful death. And I will prove that someday for sure. Is this reason enough for you to reject him?” Whatever uncle said was completely new which shocked the hell out of me absolutely and indeed each of his words got engraved deep into my heart, cause it was something about those people whom I used to love the most. I lost all my ability to think if I should be angry or not, but my blood did boil without much of my awareness.

  The only thing which I kept asking in my mind, for now, was why?

  “For what? Why someone would even do that for no reason?” My body started to tremble, recalling the vicious night. The bodies of mom and dad covered with blood which were ripped from few places ever so brutally came to my mind in an instant. I wanted to scream with all my might. But I couldn't.

  “Why do you think that there was no reason. Of course, there was.

  Other than revenge what else it could be, my dear?” Uncle Benjamin kept saying as if it was all clear before his eyes since long. He did not even have to struggle to recall, as if he was talking about something which happened just yesterday.

  “Revenge for what?” I did not bother to hold myself back either, from getting myself all the ideas about what else uncle Benjamin was thinking about that incident of the treacherous night all this while. I wanted to know each and every detail of what uncle got till now, even before I start to look into the matter myself which I should have done long ago.

  How could I never think of that ever?

  How could I never realized the importance to punish those who had dared to kill my loved ones?

  Anyway,

  Better late than never.

  “It seems that you really know nothing.” Said, uncle Benjamin ever so menacingly.

  “What is it?” I asked again quite frustratingly as I was done with all those question-answer game.

  But surprisingly, uncle just smirked without giving me any answer, and said, before going out of his office in no time,

  “Later, Summer. I have other works to do.” Uncle Benjamin went out of my sight after slamming the door behind.

  The banging of the door appeared quite harsh as if life was on its way of closing each and every door of opportunity for me so that I could never let myself free, instead, it was more like I was left to suffocate inside the closed room, with no mercy at all.

  I came outside the packhouse as there was no reason left for me to stay inside any longer, among all those glaring eyes.

  The bright and shining morning which I saw before going in, was not the same any more as the whole surrounding turned into dark and gloomy in no time, even when it was still morning.

  I looked up at the sky.

  A dark massive cloud came in no time to cover the entire vastness, casting the darkest shadow ever, to engulf the entire area, depriving each and every ray of the sun, from coming to our earth to brighten our lives, not even for a little bit.

  A storm was coming.

  As if the whole universe was trying to aware all of us about some cruel conspiracy which either already happened in the past or was yet to happen soon.

  But, this time I knew what I had to do.

  Yes, I was determined not to judge anyone based on one's words only. I was never going to do the same mistake as Kazan, for which I might have to regret for the rest of my life.

  For now, I need to do only one thing. I need to look into the past to know what actually happened that night, without accusing anyone at first.

  For now, the truth is more important than anything else to me.

  With a lot of determination and new promises that I made to myself today, I went straight to the school together with Kaith after picking up Jenny from her place.

  It was the same routine which I had to go through once again.

  But something else happened at school, which blew my mind completely, causing me to be left all confused all over again, announcing the very fact that my life was never going to be that easy at all.

  What happened?

  Well, you will get to know soon.

  It was again the time for my part-time work at the school library and I was busy as usual with arranging books, checking the detailed records of all those books which had been issued recently, and few other things. And it was exactly when I got his smell.

  Yes, my mate's smell.

  I could not see Kazan anywhere at school after he rushed out of my house this morning till now. But he got time to find me here at last?

  Even though I realised that he was coming to see me, I did not bother at all to stop whatever I was doing to find where he was right now.

  The smell was getting closer and closer with each passing second and in the next moment, I felt that Kazan was already standing just behind me at last.

  “How did you find me here Kaz... Markus?” As soon as I turned back to look at him, I became completely shocked as my eyes almost popped out and my mouth was left agape.

  How could this be even possible?

  The confusion which had once started with the very same smell of my mate, again came to mess up my mind completely, even when I was already preoccupied with whatever uncle had said this morning.

  I was completely taken aback realising that Markus was smelling like Kazan once again, strangely. But even then, something was odd this time which I just could not point out yet.

  “Are you all right, Summer? I mean, why will I not know where you are? Remember, we have pretty much the same schedule. And I also know that you work here during your off periods. Did you remember anything?” Markus made fun being totally unaware but only I knew what was happening right now.

  “Yes, I remember. You do not have to brag about your sharp mind.” Again I went busy with my work while Markus did help me whenever needed or whenever he was not reading anything.

  My mind got entangled with a lot of things in no time. So many new puzzles were created to solve all over again. And I kept thinking about what lead I should follow first.

  So, without bothering myself much, I decided to ask whatever comes to my mind first.

  “Markus?” I called him in a low voice to know if he was busy reading or not?

  “Yes?” He looked up at me instantly, conveying the fact that he was not, giving me the courage to proceed to clear few of my doubts. But one at a time of course.

  “I was wondering what happened to Adrian. Do you know anything about him?” I asked cautiously, without giving him any clue that I was really anxious to know about them, about Kazan especially.

  “Ah... Yes. After Kazan took him away, Adrian was kept in the dungeon for a few days and was tortured by him for whatever he did until he acknowledged whatever he did wrong.

  I tried to stop Kazan from acting like such a ruthless but he never listens to anyone when it comes to his own judgements.

  Kazan was even up for declaring him rogue or killing him with his bare hands but the fact that Adrian did not belong to Blood Bay pack saved him greatly this time. As Kazan had no authority to declare someone a rogue, who belonged to another pack than his own.

  So, instead, Adrian was degraded from his beta position to the lowest rank of the pack. And he is even expelled from school and other places.

  That's all. Why did you ask?” Markus enquired after informing me all about Adrian.

&nb
sp; “Just because, I was curious to know. Nothing else.” I replied as I did not want to let him know everything this soon, which I got to know recently.

  “Summer! Actually, I had something to ask you.” His voice appeared quite hesitant though, still, his eyes stayed hopeful for whatever was yet to come next.

  “And, what is it?” I replied while I kept on putting the books on the shelf, carefully.

  “Do you want to go out with me? I mean, I am asking you out on a date, cause I like you a lot, Summer.”

  As soon as Markus said, I became stupefied as the books slipped from my hands and created some horrible sounds which resonated through the whole library, ever so wickedly.

  “Well, you do not have to answer right now. But please do give it a thought.” And with that Markus planted a quick kiss on my cheek and I could not even dodge as I was completely shocked.

  After showing the killer smirk, Markus went out of the library just when the bell went off, declaring the end of a period.

  Episode 36

  Summer's P.O.V

  It was still drizzling when I got off from my work at the cafe. The night appeared colder than ever while each and everything outside was completely drenched from today's sudden rainfall.

  I came outside as it was time to go back home already. The surrounding appeared exceptionally quiet tonight, as, except for the faint sound of the soft drizzle, everything was dead silent. In fact, it was like the whole world became motionless while the little droplets of rain which had never ceased falling since all this while, kept forcing the leaves, the grasses and the other things to move ever so slightly, every time when it touched their surfaces, ever so lovingly.

  Under the street lights the already soaked road, the wet leaves of the trees which were always stood there like an eternity, was glistening for the first time in quite a while.

  Without waiting further I went straight to my bike so that I could leave as soon as possible. But just when I reached in front of my parked bike, I was reminded that how forgetful I was becoming day by day.

  Yes, I had totally forgotten the fact that I had some promise to fulfil.

  Cause a huge masculine figure was leaning against my bike, without bothering much about the chilled night and the drizzle, which did not even spare him from getting slightly soaked tonight. I could not see his face at all, as he was saving himself from the rain and the cold breeze by staying under his hoodie, but as if I even needed to know who could be such a crazy person to wait for me like this.

  Yes, without any second thought I could tell that he was none other than my mate, Kazan, let alone the fact that I had found his smell way before. But if I think now, even the smell alone seemed not enough to get confirmed if the person was Kazan or Markus.

  Strange, isn't it?

  Yes, that was the mystery I had to solve, but little did I know that I have to put not a single effort to find the reason behind all these confusions, cause something was waiting for us ever so eagerly to leave me in a sudden shock, later tonight.

  “Were you waiting for long, Kazan?” I asked even when I knew that he was always watching me from the beginning when I came outside tonight after completing my work, and he even kept enjoying himself to see me getting closer to him with each of my steps.

  “Yes, for an eternity.” Kazan's deep and manly voice even caused me to feel sparks all over my body or maybe it was me who was dying to hear his voice once again.

  “Sorry, that you had to wait.” I apologised, cause I was feeling really bad seeing him standing in this cold and rainy night only to wait for me.

  “If you are really sorry to keep me waiting then come and warm me up. Hurry. Your mate is really cold right now.” Kazan stretched both of his hands towards me, pulling them out of his pockets, while he kept waiting for me with an open chest to run into. And I just could not hold myself back from the temptation to find myself into his embrace once again.

  Yes, I was becoming addictive indeed.

  We did not have to ask for the much-needed kiss as our lips found their way on their own and kept exploiting each other with our desperate tongues, cause we were both hungry for each other, for no doubt at all.

  “Let's go?” Kazan asked after we broke the kiss, at last, seeing that it was doing nothing good except increasing our thirst for each other even more than before and also when the night was treacherous enough to compel us to look for the warmth from mate which we were lacking tonight, for sure.

  I just nodded a 'yes' without saying any further and went to hand him the keys of my bike, so that he could drive.

  But instead of taking the keys, he lifted me up effortlessly only to make me sit on the front seat of my bike while he settled his massive body behind me in no time.

  I sighed as I realised that he had already planned to keep hugging me from behind just like a bear while I was left to do nothing but to ride my bullet towards our destination for tonight.

  “Then you have to tell me which way to go.” I said as soon as I started my bike.

  “Okay.” Came his reply just before I felt his cold lips on my neck all of a sudden and it was enough for me to guess in how many ways I was going to be tortured throughout our journey.

  The wheels kept running on some unusual roads than before, as Kazan kept distracting me from behind unknowingly for minutes now. And me?

  Well, I was again engulfed with the thoughts about all the information which had been disclosed before me recently. And strangely, I became quite suspicious about a few things now. I could not tell whom should I trust and whom I should not. But one thing I had started to believe for sure that, whatever I knew about the incident at that night was not at all a complete truth. There must be something else which I just could not see through, at least not yet.

  ****flashback****

  After Markus left me behind at the school library, my mind kept getting entangled more and more, thinking about all those unnecessary complications to deal with, at least after what happened today, when I had enough of my own problems already.

  And all those overthinking denied me from feeling some unexpectedly new but strange tingles which I had never expected to feel due to another person and also which I should have noticed way before, only if I bothered myself enough to look beyond my pitiful life, at least for once.

  Anyway,

  I did overlook the very thing which I should not have if I was intended enough to look for the truth behind such confusion, so that I did not have to be immensely shocked later when the truth got revealed on its own.

  The last bell rang, at last, declaring that the school had ended for today and it was time to go again on our respective ways. But the sudden rainfall in this season was successful enough to make the day lazier than ever, not only for me but for everyone else.

  I went out of the entrance of our school only to find that it was still pouring outside. I saw few people were waiting for the rain to stop before they go out of the school building while others were bothered the least to stop for the surprising downpour.

  I did not realise when Kaith had come and was standing beside me, until he asked,

  “What are you thinking, Sam? Is it about what Alpha Benjamin said to you this morning?” He was right though. I was indeed worried about whatever uncle said this morning, raising so many questions in my mind about the past.

  “Kaith! Do you know what exactly happened that night a few years ago? I mean, when my mom and dad were killed by the rogue. Tell me anything that you remember.” I asked Kaith as I was desperate enough to know more about that night from as many persons as possible, so that I could better realise what is the truth and what is not.

  “Well, I don't know everything about the incident that night, but as far as I heard, our former Alpha and Luna went to look for you as soon as they were informed that you went after a rogue, alone. They even left an important meeting that night only to save you ever so desperately, just when uncle Benjamin came with the news about you. And after that, you know what
happened. We all saw uncle Benjamin rushed out somewhere and then came with the bodies after a while. And you came after that.” Kaith informed but I was feeling like something was not right about whatever he just said.

  “Did you say uncle informed about me to my mom and dad?” I enquired as I clearly remembered that it was just me who eavesdropped someone's conversation about the intruder and went to look for it back then. I could not remember exactly who it was but I was certain that I did not tell anyone about my little hunt that night...not even to Kaith.

  “Yes” He ensured and that was where all the suspicion began. My mind got entangled once again but I chose to keep it inside me for now.

  “Where was your dad that night. I mean a beta is expected to be with his alpha all the time.” I queried again and waited for him to answer.

  “Again, as far as I know, he was out with some business that he was assigned by the alpha. And he did come right after when you arrived at the pack that night, which you might have not noticed back then.” As soon as he finished, Jenny arrived and I had to stop enquiring further about that night.

  Instead, we talked about other things while we chose to wait for some more time for the rain to stop, but it seemed that it was never meant to happen.

  So, Jenny could not wait any longer as she had to go for her work and Kaith had to take her there too. And I did not have any other reason to wait either as I had work to go to, as well.

  After seeing off Kaith and Jenny, I was about to pull out my bike from the parking when a hand pulled me into a tight hug from behind, emitting the strongest sparks all over my body, as the very familiar voice brushed against my ears,

  “I missed you so much. I am sorry I could not come earlier.” Just his words were enough to compel me to let my guard down, at least when he was around. And I knew for sure that it was Kazan this time who did not even bother to stop himself from touching me this way like I was all his to exploit.

  And he did not wait long to enclose my lips with his own which were already drenched in the rain only to get warm again with the desperate and long kiss of Kazan.