Chapter 132 - Leave Him While It's Early
Chapter 132 – Leave Him While It’s Early
Last night, Hugo held me in his arms as if there was no tomorrow. Even though we barely had sleep because he said he couldn't stop, I was pleased. I liked it. All our shared nights together were exhausting, but also something I enjoyed and loved.
"Take care, Hugh." I smiled, cupping his cheek gently while standing on my toes.
Hugo let out a shallow sigh, clicking his tongue lightly. "I will come back as soon as we finished the inspection. Just tell me to stay and I'll send Ivo to lead the inspection."
"Hugh." I chuckled, watching him hold my hand, pressing his cheek against my palm. "You've been gone for so long, so it's better if your people see you themselves. Also, it's only for five days. It's not like you're going to war that will last for five years."
"But I feel like five days is five years."
My chuckle grew louder while shaking my head. "I will wait for you," I reassured, searching for his eyes and holding his gaze. "I will welcome you myself with a warm hug once you return. So, don't get in trouble, alright? Don't worry about me. You trust everyone in the castle, so I trust them as well. Nothing will happen to me here."
"Rinrin." Hugo placed a peck on my hand as he let out another sigh. "Once I return, I will ask you something very important."
"Can't you ask now?"
He chuckled, guiding my hand down with a playful smile on his face. "I can, but then, my preparations will all go down the drain."
I furrowed my brows and frowned, not very fond of riddles. I gazed up when he laughed.
"Don't think too much about it." He winked mischievously. "Just stay here where you are safe. Ivo promised to clear my schedule after the inspection. Let's visit the tribe together then."
"Yes." The side of my lips stretched broader.
Shortly after, Hugo and I turned our heads to Ivo when he said they should depart. Since Hugo wanted to finish the inspection early, they would set off without a carriage. Instead, they would run as a pack, with Hugo riding Tito, who was already in his wolf form, just like the rest.
I waved when he looked back. He cast me a knowing smirk before he set his eyes ahead. With that, I watched the pack depart the castle until they were as tiny as ants. For some reason, I felt a bit lonely. This was my first time being separated from Hugo for a long time.
'It's just five days,' I told myself, convincing myself that time was fleeting. 'But… it does feel like five years.'
"Luna." I looked back when Edge, the person Hugo tasked to guard me just in case, called from behind me. "Are we going to visit the tribe today?"
"Yes." I smiled, setting aside this melancholic feeling in my heart as I approached him. "Toby, let's visit our new friends, shall we?"
Edge passed Toby to me, since he was hugging him. I thanked him and smiled at my little black bear before glancing at Edge. He had this unusual look in his eyes, avoiding my gaze.
"Edge, are you scared to visit the tribe?" I asked as I walked back to the castle while he followed.
"Well… bears scare me…" came out a muffled reply, fidgeting with his fingers. I chuckled and reassured him that it would be fine. Tito got along with them just fine, since the man volunteered to be Toby's nanny.
As we head back inside, I glanced at Edge once again. I didn't understand why Hugo entrusted my life to Edge, but I didn't ask. I believed everyone in the pack was reliable. Still, Edge was like living negativity.
'Don't judge, Rinnie.' I told myself, keeping my questions to myself since I wanted to trust Hugo's judgment. He could've left Edge behind, so he didn't have to listen to Mitch's complaints. Well, not that this place was unsafe, and I didn't need more people to keep following me.
*****
"Bowie!"
I rushed to the sleuth of bears dwelling in a small forest clearing where they settled down. Although not everyone from beyond the wall had permission to enter Belcoot for safety measures, the bears dwelling deep in the forest had reunited with a few that came in.
Unlike the tough negotiations with the bears beyond the wall, the bears within the forest were friendlier. With the help of Toby, they trusted Hugo. Although they said it was mostly because of me and Toby that they chose to trust Hugo.
As soon as I approached a bear named Bowie, I stopped. Bowie sat up, towering over me as he was around six feet tall. Yes. He was almost the same height as Hugo.
'Little girl, you're back,' came out a voice of an old man, making me grin from ear to ear while hugging Toby. 'Did that young wolf leave?'
"Yes." I sighed, looking around at everyone who was lazing around. I sauntered and sat down beside Bowie under the fallen tree. "This is the first time that I will be separated from Hugh for days, so… I feel a bit lonely."
I looked up at the intimidating gigantic black bear. Bowie was currently the tribe leader and the other one, who was leading everyone beyond the wall, was his older brother, Bentley. The latter was still beyond the wall since he wanted to enter the wall once everyone was already inside.
Bowie's eyes softened while gazing down at me. 'Little girl, since you are sad, do you want to hear the history of our Tarsa tribe and the holy war?'
"The holy war?"
"Our Tarsa Tribe is long forgotten because we, from the Tarsa tribe, were punished and considered as demonic bears with intelligence." Bowie peeled his eyes away from me and gazed at the bears playing around. Edge stayed on a branch because he said he was scared.
"But now that someone such as yourself can hear us… I am unsure myself if what I am going to tell you will be helpful or not." My brows furrowed while gazing up at him. "Leave that wolf while it's early."
"What?"