Chapter 73 – Rekindled Love

Leal couldn’t quite process everything that’s happening. She has fast reflexes but not the fastest coping ability. Just then did she realize she failed to talk to Axel, not that she wants to — but just out of courtesy because Big Rory had already pulled her to the children’s playground. They rushed to the stall and as soon as Leal saw the chaos inside, the thought of Axel being in the same place as they were immediately clouded by her immense worry for Anna. The kids were crying, the jumpy castle was inflated, the staff was running around trying to console the kids, and the place was a mess.

“What the f u ck happened?!” Rory quickly held a staff in the collar and yelled at his face in German, demanding to know what happened.

The other parents were also running to the place, attempting to go inside the stall but the staff won’t let them in for a reason Leal’s yet to find out. She left Rory with that poor guy and decided to go in herself, blatantly ignoring the staff telling her she’s not allowed to go in and carelessly shoved a few that were getting in her way.

“Miss, you can’t go in yet,” one attempted to stop her again, talking rather quickly in German. “We’re still fixing the problem, your kid is safe—”

“Let me through,” she said, her tone stern. The staff shook his head and blocked her way, resorting to him being thrown to the floor with a single shove. Her enhanced strength was getting the best of her, tainting her mind with violence, especially now that she’s a ticking time bomb. Anna was the only detonator.

She just can’t deal with humans right now. She needs to get to her daughter. She even forgot how her daughter’s father is in the same building and can literally see her anytime if fate allows. At this point, she doesn’t care anymore. Let him see them, she just needs to make sure if Anna’s okay.

“Ma’am—”

Leal effortlessly broke the wooden gate that was a few inches thick and stepped inside. Her intense glare darted to another staff that attempted to block her, making the latter halt his words and swallow nervously. Leal, who was still holding a broken piece of the thick wood, raised a brow at him. The staff who looked like he has had enough violence today stepped aside and motioned her to come in.

Leal stormed inside, walking past the wailing children and the mess of a playground. Gosh, how did it become this bad? Finally, she spotted Anna in a far corner, holding a doll with disheveled hair, and broken legs — in front of her was a staff trying to calm her.

She couldn’t describe the feeling, but it certainly wasn’t pleasant and warm. She could feel coldness creep up from her feet by just looking at her daughter from afar.

Despite that, Leal didn’t miss a beat and quickly rushed to Anna. Although her daughter looks lethal with that fiery gaze and tight grip on the doll’s neck, she didn’t mind and still held her shoulders.

“Ah!”

Leal yelped when her hand was wounded by Anna’s elongated nails. What has happened? She wondered. When her daughter turned to her, that’s when her blood ran cold. Bloodshot red orbs looked back at her widening hazel ones, a pair of pointed fangs, and a pale complexion. Anna semi-shifted, a transformation she remembers she also did way back when Axel’s guards stopped her from going out of the building. But she was in her early twenties then, a full-grown adult — but Anna... Anna is merely two years old. A toddler.

“Anna...?” Leal croaked, her figure still frozen in shock. She couldn’t believe it.

Almost instantly upon hearing her voice, Anna’s eyes shifted from looking murderous to looking tamed. Her grim face brightened up and the grip on her doll’s neck loosened.

“Mommy?” spoke Anna with a soft voice.

The brave staff released a heavy sigh and stood up, looking at Leal with fear visible in his eyes.

“P-Please get her out... She destroyed the whole place and scared the kids!”

Leal nodded and looked back at Anna, who was slowly shifting back. She’s afraid of what this incident will do to her daughter. Will it haunt her every night like what happened to her before? Or will she forget this eventually? Sighing, she smiled reassuringly at Anna and enveloped her in a tight embrace. No matter what her daughter becomes, she will accept her and help her control herself. She can’t afford history to repeat itself.

“Mommy’s here,” she cooed as she felt Anna’s soft whimpers. “Mommy’s here, don’t worry... Mommy is not afraid of you,” she repeatedly whispered, gently stroking Anna’s locks.

Leal shut her eyes tight when heavy footsteps reigned in her ears, his scent lingering around her. He followed them.

“Schatzi.” His voice was cold and spine-chilling, but she heard the underlying shakiness. He was nervous, and so was she.

“Not now, please,” she muttered under her breath, still hearing Anna’s sobs.

“S-Schatzi...” His voice broke, and she couldn’t believe she’d still be able to hear that — his pleading voice — after everything.

“Axel, please,” she sighed. “Please leave. I don’t want to see you right now.”

That was a lie.

Lilith was clawing her heart from inside, and she knew they both wanted the same thing, but the circumstances are just not letting them get it. Not now, not when Anna is like this.

There were a few moments of silence between them, with Axel’s shadow just towering over the two of them on the floor. Leal quietly watched, until Anna unexpectedly leaned away and looked up at his with furrowed brows.

“Mommy said leave!”

Although barely coherent, Anna made her point clear by growling up at him. Her dark orbs glared at him and grumbled. When kids do that, they’re usually cute — but Anna, Anna was menacing to say the least. Remembering her semi-shift earlier, Leal knew she was already dangerous from birth.

Surprisingly, it was effective. Axel sighed and form his shadow, she could see him slumping his shoulders. “Fine. But I will look for you, schatzi. I have no plans of letting you go... and her.”

As the shadow walked away, beads formed on her forehead. Does he know? Does he have a hunch?

For the following days, both Leal and Anna refused to go out. They stayed indoors for different reasons— with Leal wanting to avoid Axel and with Anna not wanting to play for a while due to the incident — and enjoyed every minute with each other, and Anna’s aunts. Since the cabin had a wide backyard, one wide enough for them to do all sorts of sports, they never had a dull time together. Leal would chuckle when Anna stumbles while running and Anna would giggle when Leal fails to catch up with her. Leal, not having the athletic body she should have when playing with the energetic toddler, was trying to keep up with her energy and everlasting eagerness to play.

Luckily, the drugs injected into her were doing its job and pushing parts of her lycan part out, helping her become agile and sharpens her senses. Until now, she still couldn’t get those out, so she ends up taking painkillers when the drugs’ side effects occur. And the side-effects aren’t the usual side-effects we usually get warned about.

This went on for days.

Yawning, Leal fluttered her eyes open when the doorbell rang. She tried standing up to get it, but there was something heavy on her lap. Looking down, she recognized the person as Anna, sleeping soundly. A small smile curved to her lips before carefully replacing her thighs with a pillow. She fell asleep right after ordering takeout, and it looks like it’s been forty-five minutes after that. Walking down to their entrance, she casually combed her hair to appear somewhat presentable for the delivery guy — not minding her oversize bugs bunny overall that matched Anna’s small bugs bunny overalls. She looked presentable, right?

Out of habit, she peeked at the peephole expecting a Swiss delivery man holding pizza — and thank God she peeked at the peephole first before swinging the door open. Her eyes widened as she quickly stepped back from the door, not believing her eyes.

How did he find where they live?! And why is he still in Switzerland?!

The person outside wasn’t a Swiss delivery man, but a jaw-dropping Russian man in an all-black three-piece. And what shocked her the most, was that the Russian alpha was holding boxes of pizza.

Memories of the time when he was also outside her and Izzy’s condo, holding boxes of pizza flashed in her mind. A familiar feeling warmed her hearts as she hesitantly took a few steps forward and held the doorknob. She’s currently debating on whether or not to open it. Is she ready? Is it time? She’s already spent almost a week hiding from him, was that enough time?

Sighing, she slowly twisted the door open when she heard a feminine yell from outside.

“Oy! What are you doing here?!” It was Big Trisha. Leal’s eyes widened as her head whipped to the wall clock nearby. It was Trisha’s time off of work. She had the best timing. “Who are you looking for?! Who do you work for?!”

Leal quietly swallowed the lump in her throat as she inched more to the closed door and placed her ear nearer.

Axel didn’t answer, unfortunately. So Trisha, being the paranoid lady she is, stormed to the terrace where he is. The next Leal heard was a series of heavy footsteps and thuds. She was about to open the door upon hearing action outside, but she froze when she heard his response.

The breathing outside was rugged, uneven, and deep — it was Trisha’s. While Axel’s remained calm and a little bit heavy.

“I’m here for my family. Leal Horryn-Elcort and Divina Anastasia Elcort.”