Chapter 53: Chapter 53

"Aland?" Jonea said without making a sound from the shock.

She saw Aland standing behind her, carrying a suitcase in his left hand.

"You… looking for me?" asked Aland with confidence.

“Uh… um… Uh… I… Safira! Where is she?

Aland smiled a little. He noticed Jonea's shocked and confused expression was almost precisely the same as Miller's surprised reaction when they first met in the school forest.

Aland grabbed Jonea's back with his right hand and pulled the girl into his arms.

"Say miss if you really miss. And say hate if you really don't like it," Aland whispered into Jonea's ear.

The girl froze. Her body was stiff as wax. Jonea felt goosebumps all over her body, and her heart pounded wildly. But she was afraid to move because she was so nervous.

Aland opened his mouth wide and wanted to sink his sharp fangs into Jonea's neck. Suddenly Aland failed to do so.

'I could have marked you as my mate this instant,' thought Aland. 'But not! I want you to accept me as your mate because of the honesty of your feelings for me, Jonea.'

Aland smiled on Jonea's shoulder and smelled her very unique scent longingly.

When Jonea realized what Aland would do, the girl immediately stepped back and pushed Aland's chest politely.

'I do admire him,' thought Jonea. 'But not like this. I was so scared when I thought of having to be a werewolf's mate.'

Jonea shook her head silently.

"What's wrong, Jonea?"

"Safira? Where is she?"

"Oh, I'm so disappointed in you." Aland pretended to regret Jonea's attitude. "I thought you came here to find me."

"Y-yes… no! I mean… it's not like that," Jonea said nervously. "I have come to see you off to Auckland. Aren't you going?"

Jonea winked. She wanted to jump up and down for joy right then and there. But, Jonea desperately held herself back from doing something so embarrassing in front of everyone, especially in front of Aland.

"I changed my mind," Aland replied casually.

"Then Safira?"

Aland seemed to ignore Jonea's question about Safira.

"I hate winter in Auckland. It's much colder there than here. Safira finally returned alone. But I will visit it later when summer comes. Maybe I'll vacation there for a few weeks. It was a fair decision, I guess." Aland grinned at Jonea. He knew the girl was curious about Aland's decision.

Jonea gulped and blushed. She lowered her face until her chin pressed against her chest.

'Does Aland know my real intention of coming here?' thought Jonea, closing her eyes and secretly clenching her fists to hold back her heartbeat.

"Ah, Safira left a farewell greeting for you. She said she really enjoyed spending time with you." Aland frowned. "By the way, when did you get close to my sister?"

Jonea chuckled to cover up her nervousness. "We just happened to meet for coffee together. We discussed the other day's birthday party that didn't go well."

Aland nodded, trying to understand that.

"I'm sorry for that night too."

Jonea shook her head.

"And I'm also sorry you came here on a cold night only to be disappointed. Safira left without meeting you."

Jonea shook her head again and smiled. Her eyes almost narrowed. "I'm fine. I am quite pleased to meet you here."

"You mean you're happy to see I didn't go?" Aland seduces Jonea.

The girl took a step back. "In that case, okay. I think I can go back home now."

"You're in such a hurry?" asked Aland, who looked disappointed. "I thought you still missed me? We can stop by the cafe for coffee."

"Oh, I really want to. I really want to talk a lot with you and establish closeness as a future senior and junior at school. But I have a promise that I must fulfill right now.

Jonea glanced at the clock at the airport, which showed it was almost 9:00 pm.

Aland tried to understand and didn't want to force it. "Want me to deliver?"

Jonea bit her lip and shook her head. "No, I can go alone."

The girl rushed out of the airport. Unbeknownst to Jonea, it turned out that Aland was following and chasing her. When they were outside the airport, Aland took Jonea's hand.

Jonea was shocked. She thought someone was trying to misbehave with her.

"Jonea…." call Aland.

"Yes?"

For some reason, Jonea's gaze was fixed on Aland's naturally red lips. Suddenly Jonea's own lips felt hot and throbbing. She remembered how her first kiss was stolen by the young man before her.

Aland took something from his bag and took Jonea's hand. He placed it into Jonea's palm and held it.

Jonea was surprised to see the silver stake held by Aland. She thought the stake was gone.

"How are you?"

"I kept it all this time. I want to return it to you. This is indeed yours. Right?"

Jonea shook her head quickly. "No. This stake actually belongs to Miller. He gave it to me as a means of self-protection."

Aland nodded, trying to understand. They split up. Jonea drove a taxi and rushed to the concert venue to meet Marlyn. Although the promise is too late.

Hunter was still standing at the entrance to the amusement park. He was shivering with cold. Hunter repeatedly jumped up and down and moved his whole body to not freeze to death. Even that thick fur coat couldn't protect his body from the cold.

"This is too much!" shouted Hunter.

He took a deep breath and let it out while closing his eyes.

"How long do I have to wait!" he shouted even louder.

Hunter glanced at the large clock on the amusement park tower.

"It's past midnight, and the girl is still nowhere to be seen. Just watch out for her!"

The amusement park is getting quieter. The last visitors had just left the amusement park, and an officer started to close the gate.

Hunter ran around screaming at the amusement park guard. "Wait, sir! Stop it!"

The officer was shocked to see Hunter suddenly appear. "Sorry, Young Man. Come back tomorrow. It's time for the park to close."

"No, wait a moment. I ask!" asked Hunter. "I will pay you whatever you want. Wait another hour. Okay?" said Hunter.

The officer shook his head and showed a sleepy and tired face.

"Impossible, young man. We have to follow procedures. This park should close at exactly midnight."

"I will buy this amusement park!" shouted Hunter haughtily. "I would even buy your life if need be. You only need to wait 10 minutes! 10 minutes!" repeated Hunter, pleading.

The amusement park attendant looked at Hunter from head to toe then he pouted.

"You said you wanted to buy this amusement park? Even buying my life? Get lost!" cried the officer.

The officer again pushed the iron fence door until it was almost closed. Hunter suddenly pulled and held him as hard as he could.

"Hey, what are you doing, Young Man?" The officer pushed harder at the gate.

But Hunter didn't want to lose. He pulled even harder. The two of them continued to do something like that for a few seconds, which was quite tiring.

"Well!" shouted the amusement park guard. "What are you doing? I can report you to security if you interfere with my work."

"Five minutes! Give me five minutes," begged Hunter as he reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out his wallet. He handed over several hundred thousand Coll bills.

The amusement park ranger's eyes widened as Hunter handed him the money. He couldn't believe he received nearly a million Coll in cash just to delay closing the gate for five minutes.

"Fine, I'll give you fifteen minutes if you'll pay me more," said the officer.

With a steamy breath from holding back the cold, Hunter took out three times as much money as he had given the first time.

"15 minutes. Make sure you keep the gate of this amusement park open. Understand?"

Hunter again walked towards the front. He looked around and watched every vehicle approaching. He thought Jonea might come there.

Hunter kept checking his cell phone. He has contacted Jonea dozens of times, maybe even hundreds of times, but the girl's cell phone continues to be off.

"Poor young man," muttered the amusement park guard. "But, so be it! By delaying 15 minutes, I can get three million Col. This is equivalent to my monthly salary. Or should I suggest he buy this amusement park?" While paying attention to the amusement park, which is now deserted, the lights have started turning off.

"Ah, so tired," Jonea exclaimed as she stretched her legs in the back seat of the taxi.

Jonea had just returned from a concert with Marlyn. Even though Jonea arrived an hour late, she still had the opportunity to see the appearance of Marlyn's future lover.

Jonea grumbled. "No wonder Marlyn urged me to have a relationship with Aland immediately. Apparently, she fell in love with a youth from the werewolf race. A beta of Pack Yakoob."

Jonea cast a glance out the taxi window. The streets are filled with colorful lights. As if the city never sleeps. In the distance, beyond a row of buildings, Jonea saw the top of a Ferris wheel whose lights were starting to go out.

"Hunter!" shrieked Jonea, who suddenly remembered Hunter's message. "But it is already very late."

Jonea sat back down and tried to calm her mind.

"There's no way he's still waiting in the amusement park. He was not the type of youth who would patiently wait. Tech, on the other hand, is a very terrible dictator."

Jonea just shrugged and tried to close her eyes on the way home.

No matter how hard Jonea tried to get rid of the thought of Hunter, the image of the young man's angry face kept flashing in her mind.

Jonea immediately sat up straight again and smacked her thigh hard.

'Damn it! If I don't come, he might get me into trouble at school later. I don't want to accept retribution like what happened to Miller. That would be very troublesome and get me into a lot of time-consuming trouble.'

"Sir!" Jonea called out to the taxi driver. "Please take me to the amusement park!"

"Wow, we've almost reached our destination, Miss. But, by the way, the amusement park must be closed at this hour. Are you sure you're going there?"

"Well!" said Jonea firmly.

'At the very least, I must confirm that Hunter is gone. That would probably be better. But what if it turns out he's still waiting? Kill me!' thought Jonea.

Fifteen minutes later, the taxi stopped in front of the amusement park gate, which was closed, and all the lights went out.

Jonea paid the bill and then got out of the taxi. She noticed the amusement park was empty.

Jonea took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"God, may nothing bad will happen to me. Hopefully, his message asking me to come to the amusement park was just a joke. Hopefully!" Jonea said softly to herself.

Jonea backed away slowly and was about to turn towards the nearest bus stop. Suddenly someone came at high speed and hugged her very tightly from behind.

Jonea was wary, with arms trying to parry the attacks.

"You're so damn late!" Hunter hissed emphatically.

Jonea froze and failed to hit her.

"You… will receive a ruthless punishment from me!"

Jonea was speechless. At that moment, Hunter had pounced on Jonea's neck with his fangs to mark the girl.

"Be my mate!"

Jonea screamed and struggled. She did not accept what Hunter did to her.

"Let me go!"

A wolf suddenly jumped up and lunged at Hunter. Hunter's reflex turned him into a wolf with red and golden fur. The first wolf attacked Hunter, sinking its jaws and tearing Hunter's body.

"Who's he?" screamed Jonea with a pale face.