Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Once again, the pain strikes, and even worse, I'm experiencing this pain right in front of Aurel. I have no idea what she's thinking about me now. Thankfully, I managed to keep my composure, as any change in front of her would surely frighten her. I hope Aurel is okay. I then attempt to steady my heavy breathing.

As it happened before, the signs of my transformation are returning. I observe my hand turning into a half-Wolf form, and just as I imagined, it only lasts a few minutes before I revert back to my own body, still feeling the pain. But that's not the only thing on my mind right now; my thoughts are fixated on Aurel. I fear she might distance herself further, maybe even come to hate me. As these thoughts cross my mind, Brenda approaches me.

"Are you going through it again?" Brenda asks. We're currently in the Neutral dimension, so I simply nod.

"Yes, just like before. It only lasts for a few moments before I return to my original form," I reply, trying to close my eyes briefly with each surge of pain. Every ounce of my strength and power seems to drain away instantly, and while I can quickly recover, this process still feels unfamiliar to me.

"How can you be feeling this pain again?" Brenda inquires, prompting me to recall my behavior towards Aurel. I curse inwardly; of course, she'd only grow to hate me after the rough kiss I initiated. I gently touch the corner of my injured lip, realizing that even her small bite didn't cause the slightest pain. Yet, I can't help but remember the expressions of fear and concern on her face when she saw me in that state.

"Aurel came to see me, looking worried. She even cried while banging on our house's door," Brenda says, causing me to stare at her in confusion.

"Aurel came to the house?" I ask, my tone questioning. Brenda nods in confirmation.

"Yes, she looked terrified. If only you hadn't severed your pack link with me when you undergo these changes, I could have helped you more quickly," Brenda says, causing me to fall silent. Of course, she knows. I've always chosen to sever the pack link between me and Brenda every time I experience these signs of transformation. I just don't want to appear pitiful in front of her.

"What actually happened?"

"I almost transformed in front of Aurel, even though it was just my hand. But still, Aurel would probably see me as a monster. All I could do then was disappear from her sight and go to the Neutral dimension," I explain, making Brenda run her hand roughly over her face.

"That's why she had that expression earlier," Brenda says again.

"There's nothing else I could do. Instead of showing my true form, it's better for me to vanish from her presence," that was the thought that crossed my mind in the midst of pain. My brain wasn't functioning at its best.

"It's no different from simply disappearing in front of her. That would change Aurel's perception of you. She might even think you're a ghost or a spirit," Brenda explains, causing me to smirk dismissively.

"Don't worry, I can erase her memories after I recover. But why didn't you do it before coming here?" I ask, making Brenda sigh in annoyance.

"I even slammed the door in her face accidentally, and all I could think about was finding you first. I was afraid you might be stranded anywhere, afraid you might not come to this dimension," Brenda explains, making me even more fearful that Aurel might have gone to the police or something to report me, which cannot happen.

"I have to go immediately," I say, forcing myself to get up with all the strength I have.

"Where are you going? It's better for you to stay in this dimension to regain your strength," Brenda says, following me as I get up.

"I need to find Aurel. I'm afraid she's getting more worried, or she might have told people that she saw me disappear in front of her. I need to erase her memories first," I say, once again causing Brenda to stop me.

"I'll do it, so you better stay here," Brenda insists, and it wouldn't be me if I didn't resist Brenda's request.

"I'd better handle it myself," I reply. Afterward, I need to find Aurel immediately. I vanish and exit the Neutral dimension. The first place I visit is the swimming pool building. I search for her, but she's not there anymore. I also check around the school, but it's futile. She might have gone home, I think. If that's the case, at least she'll be safe, I reason.

Right now, it's best to return home and recover my strength. I walk to the parking lot, get into the car I left at school, and drive home. Several times, I wince as I feel my head and neck throbbing. Not to mention my trembling hands. I haven't had a chance to consider my physical condition when I suddenly slam the brakes as I spot Aurel's bike lying in the yard.

Is she still here, I wonder. I get out of the car and confirm my suspicion when I see Aurel sitting on the front steps of our house, her head bowed. I don't know why, but just thinking about her makes my heart race. I quickly walk over and stand in front of her.

"Aurel," I say, and immediately, she looks up. Her eyes are red, and her small body trembles when she sees me. Is she scared of me, I wonder. But the next moment, she throws herself into my arms, hugging me tightly. She's crying, and my mind goes blank. All I can do is return the embrace.

"You scared me. What actually happened to you?" Aurel says between sobs, still holding onto me tightly. I don't even know how to answer that. As she releases the hug and looks up at me, her tear-streaked face making my heart twist, I find myself unable to think clearly.

"Am I too cruel? Did my bite hurt you?" Aurel asks, extending her hand and touching the corner of my injured lip.

"Forgive me, I never meant to hurt you even a bit. I didn't know you'd be in pain like that," Aurel says, her index finger gently tracing my injured lip. This is totally unexpected; I thought Aurel would run away in fear when she saw me after what she witnessed. But here she is, hugging me and worrying about me. I don't even know what to say; I don't know what kind of answer would reassure her.

All I can think of right now is to silence all her worries. So, I pull her closer and press my lips to hers again, this time more gently. I'm not letting my emotions or my arrogance control me. I connect my lips with hers, feeling how they were trembling and gradually calming down. Finally, I pull away, looking at Aurel's face, afraid she might be angry about the kiss.

I'm just about to apologize for kissing her again when, before I can utter the words, Aurel reaches out and tugs at the jacket I'm wearing. In an instant, her soft lips are moving against my lower lip, gently sucking it, and then moving it slightly. It's as if she's exploring the sensation, and I can't help but embrace her tightly, deepening the kiss, not wanting it to end. The warmth between us seems to restore my body and strength, the pain I felt before seems to vanish, and I'm almost thirsty for the aroma of Aurel and the kiss she's sharing with me.