Chapter 204 - I've Seen The Danger Signs
Chapter 204 – I’ve Seen The Danger Signs
I stared at the moon reigning in the dark night sky, lying on my back to where Niall pinned me down. I didn't know how long had it been since he left, but I didn't come after him. Instead, I stayed in the same spot, paralyzed.
"What… did I miss?" I whispered, closing my eyes as I took a deep breath. "How come Hugo… has some similarity with him?"
My eyelashes fluttered open ever so slowly. My heart was calmly beating, body fusing on the ground as if its very roots were stilling me. I was quite calm despite the sudden realization that dawned on me.
"Sudden…?" the side of my lips curled up mockingly, laughing at the thought. "Is it really? Sudden? Rinnie?"
No, it wasn't.
Deep down, I had seen the signs. I simply ignored them, thinking there was no way Hugo might be the wolf. I was certain the wolf was Daniel, but then again, Hugo's traits shared similarities with the wolf.
I broke down and segregated my thoughts, considering the memories of the wolf in the past and Hugo and Daniel. Niall mentioned the wolf splitting himself in half.
"That is so like him," came out a whisper. "He nearly died back then. He wouldn't allow himself to be in that situation again."
The wolf was cunning and wise. He was the person who could make the impossible possible. It was almost amazing to a degree. What I was trying to say was, if Daniel died, he would still live in Hugo.
IF that was truly the case… then it wasn't impossible.
How Hugo didn't remember the past or how was he not aware was something I didn't dwell in too much. It didn't matter. What mattered was that… I couldn't let Daniel die. If he did, my husband would die, for Daniel would claim his body, identity, and life.
'That Niall…' I blinked as Hugo's face suddenly blocked the sky, looking down at me with curiosity in his eyes. 'That man isn't only dangerous because of his capabilities. What's truly terrifying about him was he knows a lot of things which he uses at the perfect time to his advantage. This information crippled me, leaving me paralyzed on the ground to think about it.'
"Bambi, are you alright?" Hugo inquired, scanning me from head to toe. He sniffed hard as if to smell if I was bleeding, and then frowned as he set his eyes back to me.
"I don't think you're injured." He extended his arms, offering his hand for me to clasp. "Come. Let me help you."
"I can't stand up," came out a weak voice, expression still calm.
"Were you hurt?"
"Physically? No." I shook my head, letting out a shallow breath. "Mentally? A bit."
Hugo cocked his head to the side before he squatted down beside me. He rested his arms on his thighs, clicking his tongue continuously.
"Don't listen to his gibberish," he said with a deep sigh, staring at me straight in the eye. "That person had his ways with words. If you let him inside your head, he will hurt you from the inside. Come. I'll carry you."
A subtle smile appeared on my lips while staring at him. Hugo had changed, and I wouldn't get tired of repeating that. Although he still bore genuine care in his eyes, he wasn't acting overly protective anymore. If anything, he was now seeing me as equally capable of fighting my own battles alone.
Hugo held my wrist, holding my waist, and assisted me to sit up. He squatted with his back facing me, helping me wrap my arms around his neck before he held my legs up.
Actually, he didn't need to do all that. I could even somersault if I wanted to. But I just didn't find enough will to stand up or move a muscle. So, this almost looked like I was beaten until I couldn't lift a finger. Not that I cared about that.
I rested my chin on Hugo's shoulder, tilting my head to rest as we walked back to the forest lane.
"Hugh?" I called in a soft voice, hearing him hum as a reply. "Do you still love me?"
"Every second of my life."
"Even when you know what I did in the past?" came a quick follow-up question.
"Regardless of the past." He cast me a quick look, cocking his head and bumping heads with me lightly. "It doesn't matter, honestly. About you, the wolf, the lamb… I don't care about the past that had nothing to do with me."
I pressed my lips into a thin line. It seemed Daniel didn't tell him everything. Or… was it possible Daniel was unaware of this too? Of Hugo possibly being the wolf? Either way, it didn't actually matter.
"I love you the same, Hugh," I whispered, causing him to pause and turn his head to him. "I really do."
The side of his lips curled up into a smirk, chuckled with his lips closed. "I love you the same, Bambi." He winked before resuming in his strides.
There was a moment of silence as we took the silent forest lane. The night was oddly quiet, despite what happened to Althea tonight. Hugo just carried me on his back while I tightened my arms around him. I hid half of my lower face on his back, eyes softened as I looked ahead.
"How did you find out?" I asked, breaking the stillness between us. "About the lamb, Daniel, and everything? I want to know, Hugh. I need to know."
This time, his steps slowed down. He didn't cast me a look, but instead, pressed his lips as its corners curved down. He let out a sharp breath, eyes ahead. I waited for him to figure out where to start, which took him a couple of minutes to ponder.
"I've seen the signs, but chose to ignore it." When his lips parted, he cast me a quick look before setting his eyes ahead once again. "But when you're gone, I was forced to read through the lines. Daniel's declining health, your habits in writing scribbles, and everything. I'm not dumb and I tend to catch things even when I don't want to."
He paused and smacked his lips.. "So, I confronted Daniel one day to get enlightenment once and for all."