Kabanata 21
Tracy
"Damn it," asik ko nang hindi ko pa rin nagawang tamaan ang sentro ng target.
I could see Baron shaking his head in a disappointed way while Hank still claps for me as if he wanted to boost my spirit.
"Stop clapping. She sucks at this," sita ni Baron sa kakambal ngunit lalo lamang nilakasan ni Hank ang pagpalakpak.
I picked up another bullet for my shotgun. Dapat yata ay hindi ko na lang sila pinayagang manood ng training ko ngayon. Si Tina lang naman dapat ang isasama ko kaya lang ay bumuntot ang kambal. I know it was on Hank's free will to watch me. Pero si Baron? I highly doubt that . . . unless he was dragged here by my best friend.
Heather smirked at me. "Is there anything you're good at other than embarrassing yourself?"
My eyes twitched in annoyance. Hindi ko na sana papansinin dahil siguradong lalo lang siyang matutuwa kung papatulan ako. I just rolled my eyes and prepared to take another shot but Tina stood up and broke the silence.
"You won't hit the target properly in that position, Tracy." Nakasimangot siyang nagmartsa palapit sa akin. She adjusted the position of my arms and the way I hold the gun before she lifted a brow at Heather. "Maybe if you're teaching her properly instead of acting like a total bitch, she would've hit the middle easier."
Naningkit ang mga mata ni Heather. "You don't make the call--"
"And you will never get her position." Tina smirked. "How does it feel to be so Luna material but not good enough to be Alpha Levi's Luna, hmm? Must've bruised your fucking ego so much so you're trying to bully my friend." Naningkit ang mga mata ni Tina. "Sorry, princess. But no one gets to bully my best friend when I'm around."
Heather's eyes turned golden yellow. Napalapit ang kambal sa aming pwesto ngunit hindi natinag si Tina. She even held her head high and lifted a brow at Heather.
"Watch your stupid mouth," Heather warned.
"Try me. Maybe it's time to put all my trainings to the test. It would be nice to exchange your head for my first bounty, hmm? Kahit mukhang kulang pang pampa-salon ang makukuha ko sa'yo."
Heather looked so pressed. Lumabas ang matatalas niyang kuko kaya pumagitna na ako. She tried to hit us but Hank and Baron moved fast.
"Let go of me, Hank," asik ni Heather.
As if Hank had sensed someone's presence, he slowly let go of Heather's arm and stepped aside. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa baril nang makita ang matalim na titig ni Heather. I was ready to fight her. Ngunit bago pa man siya nakalapit ay naagaw na ng pagdating ni Levi ang aming atensyon.
She instantly changed her expression after seeing Levi's sharp gaze. Napayuko ako sa hiya dahil akala ko ay sa akin siya nagagalit.
"Levi, they started it. Kung ganitong Luna ang--"
"Leave," putol ni Levi sa sinasabi ni Heather. Dumilim din nang husto ang kanyang ekspresyon. "Or I'll send you back to Nirvana in a fucking casket."
Napaangat ako ng tingin sa kanya nang lapitan niya ako't hinawakan sa aking braso. His eyes narrowed at Heather while his jaw was tightly clenched. Tila nagpipigil lamang ng galit.
Inis na nagmartsa paalis si Heather. We all watched her leave the training ground before Hank and Baron left with my best friend. Nang kami na lamang ni Levi ang natira sa lugar ay nahihiya ko siyang tiningala.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause you problems." I sighed before I showed him the shotgun that I was holding. "And I'm sorry if I am so bad at everything."
He sighed. Maya-maya ay pumwesto siya sa harapan ko saka niya hinawakan ang aking pisngi.
"No, you're not. I'm sorry I let someone make you feel that way," he said while his eyes flickered with sincerity.
My heart swelled as I flashed a weak smile. "I'm really trying. I swear, I do."
"And I can see that." He caressed my cheek with his thumb. "Why don't I train you instead, hmm?"
"But you're busy."
He smiled. "I will always have time for you, luv."
My heart banged loudly inside my chest when Levi made me turn and face the target. I even had to hold my breath when he started adjusting my body's position.
"Focus on the target. Imagine someone running towards you to attack us. Bring out the Tracy who was tough enough to become bitchy towards me when I tried to flirt with her in the border," he said under his breath before he placed his hands on my waist.
Lalo lang tuloy lumakas ang tibok ng aking puso. Does he even know that his presence makes it harder for me to focus?!
Lumunok ako. "M-Maybe you should take a few step backwards."
Kahit hindi ko siya direktang tingnan ay alam kong kumurba ang mga labi niya dahil sa aking sinabi. "Why, hmm?" His thumb stroked my lower ribs. "Am I distracting you?"
"Y-Yes," pag-amin ko.
"Too bad," he said in a breathy way before he lowered his head until his lips are nearly brushing against my ear. "We have to get used to this. We have to protect each other during bloodbaths." He planted a tender kiss on my cheek. "Now pull the trigger, luv. Make me proud . . ."
Humugot na lamang ako ng hininga't sinubukang mag-focus sa target. He's right. Sooner or later, I'm going to experience fighting with him. Gaya ng sinabi niya, kailangan ko siyang protektahan mula sa harapan. I wouldn't be able to do that if I'd let his effect on me control my focus.
Levi trained me since that day. It wasn't easy at first. Nahihirapan akong mag-focus dahil nakaka-distract naman talaga ang presensya ni Levi.
I don't think it's just because we're mates and the sexual tension between us is naturally strong according to Tina. Tingin ko ay may iba pang dahilan na hindi ko pa lamang handang tanggapin sa ngayon dahil pakiramdam ko ay masyadong mabilis na nangyari ang mga bagay-bagay.
Rouge courted me for a couple years. Even when we're already together, I never felt this attracted towards him. Pero kay Levi . . .
I sighed when I remembered how much he affected me during our first encounter at the entrance of Astrid. Hindi ko pa alam na may koneksyon kaming dalawa ay iba na ang epekto niya sa aking sistema.
"Kumusta ang trainings mo, Tracy?" tanong ni Papa nang makababa ako pagkatapos maligo at magpatuyo ng buhok.
Napabuntonghininga ako. "Maybe I'm not really meant to be a hunter, Papa. Nahihiya na ako kay Levi dahil wala pa akong target na nasasapul."
Sumandal si Papa sa island counter. "What weapon have you been using?"
"A shotgun."
"Have you considered using a crossbow? Your mother was really good at it."
Napaisip ako. "Maybe I'll try that tomorrow, Papa."
Lumakad ako palapit sa oven. I wore my mittens and pulled out the cupcakes I baked earlier.
"Para kanino ang mga 'yan?" usyoso ni Papa.
"Kay Levi, Papa. Pa-thank you ko sa pag-train niya sa akin." I started putting the cupcakes in a box. "I'll bring these to him."
He checked his watch. "You should bring it before sundown. Tonight's a full moon. We have to lock the house all night."
Kumunot ang aking noo. "Bakit po?"
"They don't have their Lycan King to help them control their wolves. They have a hard time taming their wolves during full moons. You and Levi haven't officially mated yet, Tracy. He wouldn't have enough human strength to control himself and his people tonight so he'd surely chain himself, gaya ng lahat ng lycan sa distrito."
Nalunok ko ang sarili kong laway. Right. We're in a not so normal place. I nearly forgot about that part because I'm getting comfortable lately.
Binilisan ko na lamang ang paglalagay ng cupcakes sa box. Nagtira rin ako ng para kina Hank na balak kong ibigay bukas. I kept the rest in the fridge before I borrowed Dad's truck. Nagtungo ako sa tahanan ni Levi at kaagad siyang hinanap.
"Nasa basement na si Alpha," saad ng katulong. Ihinatid niya rin ako roon ngunit hinayaan na akong bumaba nang mag-isa.
Narinig ko ang ingay na gawa ng kadena habang pababa ako ng hagdan. There's a steel door by the end of the staircase as well. Tila ba kung sakaling makalas ang kadena ay gagamitin ang pinto nang hindi makalabas ang sinomang nasa loob.
Humugot ako ng hininga bago tuluyang pinihit ang knob. I found Levi inside, sweating while holding what seems to be a silver chain.
Tina said silver hurts them so much, and judging by the way his forehead wrinkles right now, I know his leather gloves are not helping at all.
"What are you doing here, luv? It's almost sun down," may pag-aalala niyang tanong.
I showed the box I was holding. "Ginawan kita ng cupcakes." Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang kadena. "Is that really necessary?"
He sighed before he gently nodded. "I have to chain myself or else . . ."
"Or else what?"
Muli siyang bumuntonghininga. "Or else I'll end up crashing at your place because my wolf will crave for you the most tonight."
My heart pounced. Hindi kaagad ako nakakibo dahil hindi ko rin naman alam kung ano ang dapat isagot sa sinabi niya.
I planned to leave the box on top of a dusty table. Nagpaalam na rin ako dahil pababa na ang araw ngunit nang marinig ko ang muling pagkalansing ng kadena ay humagod ang awa sa aking dibdib.
I shut my eyes while I'm holding the knob. Humugot ako ng hininga bago muling humarap sa kanya.
"Am I the only reason why you wanted to chain yourself tonight?"
Marahan siyang tumango. "I can control my wolf's desire to hunt but I could never resist its hunger for your presence."
Nilunok ko ang sarili kong laway bago tuluyang lumapit ulit sa kanya. Napahinto naman siya sa ginagawang pag-ayos sa kadena na tila nagtataka kung bakit ko iyon ginawa.
I don't even know what got into my head. All I know is that I could feel how much he hates those chains. A part of me didn't want to see him locked up in this place either.
Huminto ako sa kanyang harap. Nagkatitigan kami habang pinupuno ko ng sapat na hangin ang dibdib ko.
"Let's go upstairs. It's gonna be uncomfortable here for you," lakas-loob kong sabi.
His brows slightly furrowed. "Are you planning to stay here tonight?"
I pursed my lips and gently nodded. "If I am the only reason why you're about to hurt yourself with those chains then . . ." I breathed in a sharp breath. "Then I'll just stay here and be with you."
His eye softened. "Tracy, my wolf will surely try to remark you if we will give it the chance to get close to you tonight."
Sandali akong yumuko at tinimbang ang sitwasyon. I tried to search for a reason to take back what I said but . . . I couldn't.
A part of me is afraid, yes but my soul, it craves for him, too. It wants to be one with him and his wolf, no matter how hard it is to explain how I truly feel.
Iniangat ko ang tingin ko sa kanya saka ko nilunok ang bara sa aking lalamunan. "I'll stay. I don't wanna see you chained here."
"Tracy . . ."
"Remark me . . ." My heart banged loudly inside my chest. "D-Do it i-if you have to . . ."
His jaw clenched as he breathed in a sharp breath. Maya-maya ay tuluyan niyang itinapon sa sahig ang kadena saka niya hinubad ang leather gloves niya.
"I won't be able to stop anymore once you let me do this," seryoso niyang sabi. Tila ba nais pa akong bigyan ng pagkakataon upang baguhin ang desisyon ko.
I clenched my fists. "I . . . am ready."
Levi's eyes slowly turned blue as he held me by my nape. His jaw slightly moved while his fingers gently clutched onto my hair.
"You better be . . ."