Louisa's POV
Darren stood up reluctantly and said, "Lisa, you don't have to apologize to me. You've done nothing wrong. It must be so hard to have another being living inside of you, talking to you in your mind like that. Master sometimes gets moody as well because of his wolf. He would beat and torture me for pleasure. I really don't mind. I'm used to it. That's what I was born and trained for. So next time, if you feel bored or angry, or I might say something that you don't like, feel free to punish me. You can do whatever you want to me. It's totally OK. But please don't walk away..."
Darren was very reserved and calm whenever he was talking about his traUmatic experience. It felt as if he was talking about somebody else's story. This made me feel so sorry for him.
I couldn't help but hug him tightly and cried a river against his bare chest.
His skin was warm and smooth. I could feel the shivering of his body. It seemed that he was hot and cold at the same time.
I couldn't say anything.
I didn't think any words would ever bring even the slightest amount of relief to a man who had been so torn and hurt by his miserable life.
I showed up too late in his life. I wished I could have traveled back in time. I wished I could have met him when someone had laid their hands on him for the first time. I wished I could tell him that he was worthy and everything would be alright.
But even if I could have done that, nothing would have been changed.
He would still have been sold, tortured, and enslaved.
Just like what happened in my miserable life.
"Lisa, are you crying because of me?" He lowered his head and asked.
I looked up at his eyes and wiped my tears, "I don't want anyone to hurt you anymore."
He smiled faintly and said in a tender voice, "I'm not getting hurt. I don't feel anything. I mean, physically, it's painful and torturing. But mentally, I don't feel a thing. I'm not worthy of your tears, Lisa. You're a very kind girl and you've got a big heart. You always want to help others and I know you will be able to do so as soon as you get strong and independent. You see, I don't have a family. Everyone in this world thinks I'm a freak. They either want to use or abuse me. I really don't mind... But you... You're different. You matter to me. You're the only one who cooks and sheds tears for me. You're like my family, Lisa. If I mess up and make you walk away from me, I don't even know what I'm supposed to do."
"I will never ever leave you!" I cried out.
Darren wiped the tears off my face and smiled.
"Why don't you sit here in the yard with me for a while? I'll help you clean the cottage as soon as I bury the hunter. When Master is back, he'll be happy to see a nice and tidy house. And then, I'll help you with cooking."
As he was talking, he walked me into the yard.
I sat at the corner of the yard and watched him finish digging the grave.
Then, he dragged the hunter's remains into the grave and buried him with dirt.
I found a slate and put it on top of his grave as a headstone.
I felt that I should say something, just as what the Shaman did at my mother's funeral.
"Please rest in peace," I whispered and put a flower on top of his headstone.
Darren held me in his arms, which made me feel supported.
I took off his coat that was wrapped around my face and said, "Thank you for your coat."
"You can keep it. The temperature in the forest drops drastically at night." Darren waved his hands and said.
I put my hands over his and said, "Don't worry about me, Darren. Finn will keep me warm at night. But before you get dressed, let's clean up the house together. Later, you can take a shower in the stream. You're covered in dirt. Meanwhile, I'll wash your clothes for you..."
"I can wash my own clothes, Lisa," Darren said reluctantly.
"I insist," I said and winked at him.
Apparently, Darren was even a better homemaker than I was.
I had never met a man who could do house chores with such style and efficiency.
With his help, everything in the room was swept, wiped, mopped, and dusted.
He even got into the chimney and cleaned up the fireplace.
He looked like a piece of coal after getting out of the chimney.
"Well, I guess I'm burnt." He smiled at me and said.
I didn't expect him to have a sense of humor, so I burst into laughter.
"I need to rinse you up now." I giggled while pushing him towards the stream flowing next to the cottage.
He jumped into the stream and submerged in it.
I gathered his clothes and started to wash them on a piece of rock.
As I was concentrating on cleaning the stains, Darren suddenly disappeared from my sight.
I looked around, but I couldn't find him.
"Darren? Where are you?" I stood up and asked.
No one replied. The stream was quietly flowing. The only sound I could hear was the squeal coming from the wooden mill when it was rotating.
I panicked.
"Darren? Please come out. I'm scared!" I raised my voice.
The water in the stream was dark because of the poor visibility in the forest. I couldn't see the bottom of it.
While I was looking into the darkness, I felt a chill down my spine. I was consumed by the fear of losing Darren and being left alone like this.
As I was about to freak out, Darren popped up from the surface of the water right in front of me.
I screamed with surprise and splashed some water on his face.
"You've scared me! Don't do that again!" I frowned and said.
Darren wiped the water on his face and smiled apologetically, "I'm sorry, Lisa."
I was still a bit upset, but when I saw his almost full-naked body, I quickly covered my eyes and turned my back against him.
Then, my waist was wrapped in his hands. Before I could protest, I was already pulled into the water by him.
"Hey! What are you doing? I can't swim!" I screamed out and struggled in his arms.
"Lisa, don't be afraid. It's shallow. You can touch the bottom of the stream with your feet." Darren said softly.
I stretched my legs and touched the ground. The depth of water was only up to my chest.
"Why did you drag me into the water?" I pouted and asked.
Darren used his hand to wipe my face and said, "I need to rinse you up as well. You can't cook for Master with tear marks on your face and dust in your hair."
"You've scared me. I don't want to see you anymore." I turned my head away from him.
Darren held my shoulders and turned me towards him.
"I can change into an apologetic bear cub if you don't want to see my face," he said.
His face was sparkling with water in the dim light of the forest. He looked dazzling.
It's not fair. I can't stay angry at a man with such an innocent look on his handsome face. I thought to myself.
Plus, the thought of him turning into a fluffy bear cub amused me.
"You don't have to change into anything," I said, "I've already washed your clothes. You can set up a fire and dry them up. I'll join you as soon as I've washed my hair."
Then, I took a deep breath and submerged myself under the surface of the water.
The water was tepid. I felt as if I was bathing in Uma's tent again.
I really wished she could be with me right now, so I could hold her body against mine and feel the tenderness of her skin.
I gently stroke my hair, my arms, and my legs. My hands accidentally stroked across my inner thighs and I felt the burning sensation from my loins again.
I wonder what the big bad wolf is doing right now? Is he mad at me and looking for me? Or has he completely forgotten my existence?
The string of questions made me exhausted.
Somehow, I just didn't believe that I would stay away from him for long. I knew that he would eventually catch me. He would pull my waist against his body and take me like a savage again.
It would be extremely painful, but we would be one together.