The Luna Queen - Chapter 11: Chapter 11

_Leah's POV_
Later that evening, after dinner, I headed to my room for a shower. The warm water was soothing against my skin. It washed away the tension from the day but my thoughts kept returning to Tariq. The way he had looked at me during dinner, the way he had teased me. It all swirled in my mind, leaving me feeling flustered and confused. Was he just being friendly or was there something more?
After I dried off and dressed, I heard a knock on the door. My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly wrapped my robe tighter around myself.
"Come in," I called, my voice a little shaky.
The door opened, and Tariq stepped inside, carrying a small jar of ointment and fresh bandages. His presence filled the room, making it feel smaller, more intimate.
"I thought I would help with your wounds before you go to sleep," he said with a soft smile. "They're healing fast, but they still need some care."
I nodded, feeling my heart race as he approached. I sat on the edge of the bed and lifted the hem of my shirt to expose the healing gashes on my back. Tariq’s fingers brushed against my skin as he applied the ointment. His touch was gentle and soothing.
"You're healing quicker than I expected," he murmured. "In a few days, they’ll be gone completely."
"Thanks to you," I replied.
He finished bandaging the wounds, his hands lingering for a moment before he stepped back. I pulled my shirt down and turned to face him. I was suddenly feeling nervous under his gaze.
"Tomorrow," Tariq said, breaking the silence, "I am going to train with some of the rogues. They’re my friends, good people, even if they live outside the pack system. I think you should come with me."
I blinked in surprise. "Training? I don’t know if I’m ready for that."
"You are," Tariq insisted gently. "If you train, maybe your dormant powers will awaken. Your mother’s magic suppressed them, but they’re still inside you. You need to learn how to access them."
I shook my head. "I don’t have any powers, Tariq. I’m just… I’m just me."
His eyes softened as he looked at me. "You’re more than that, Leah. You just don’t know it yet. Will you try? For me?"
I hesitated but finally nodded. "Okay. I’ll go with you."
Tariq smiled, and before I could react, he leaned down and kissed me on the cheek. His lips were warm against my skin, and the simple gesture sent a flutter through my chest.
"Goodnight, Leah," he whispered.
"Goodnight."
As he left the room, I touched my cheek where his lips had been. Was he just being friendly? Or was there something more behind that kiss? I couldn’t help but wonder.
The next morning, I woke up to the sound of light knocking on my door. Tariq’s voice came from the other side. "Leah, it’s time to get up."
I groaned softly and glanced at the clock. It was 6 AM, just as he had promised. I got dressed quickly and made my way downstairs. Susan was still asleep, and the house was quiet.
Tariq had already prepared breakfast; scrambled eggs and toast. "Eat up," he said with a grin. "You’ll need your strength today."
I smiled and sat down at the table, eating quickly. My nerves were fluttering again, but it was a different kind of anticipation now. Maybe training would help me clear my head, at least for a little while.
After breakfast, Tariq led me outside. We walked through the dense woods. The morning air felt cool and crisp. The path wound through the trees, and after several minutes, we reached a large clearing. I could see several werewolves there. They were training in different groups.
One group was fighting while another was practicing hand-to-hand combat techniques. Others were in their wolf forms, running drills and working on their agility. It was intense, the air buzzing with energy.
As soon as they saw us approaching, the entire group stopped what they were doing and turned toward Tariq. To my surprise, they all bowed their heads in respect.
I looked at Tariq. I was confused. Why were they doing this?
Tariq seemed embarrassed and a faint blush colored his cheeks. "Please, continue training. You don’t have to stop for me."
The werewolves exchanged glances before they slowly resumed their training. I looked at Tariq. Who was he, really? And why did these rogues, wolves who lived outside of pack law, respect him so much?
Tariq led me to a quieter corner of the clearing. "Let’s start with some basic self-defense," he said.
He demonstrated a few simple techniques, showing me how to block punches, how to shift my weight to avoid being thrown, and how to land a solid hit if necessary. His movements were smooth and I found myself captivated by the way he moved. He was so confident and so strong.
"Here, try this," he said, standing close behind me and guiding my hands into the right position.
I followed his instructions, but my mind was spinning, my senses heightened by his proximity. His breath was warm on my neck, his body close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from him.
"Good," Tariq murmured. "Now, twist your body like this."
I turned, following his lead, and suddenly found myself face-to-face with him. His face was just inches from mine, his breath mingling with mine in the cool morning air. My heart skipped a beat. I could feel my heart rate increasing.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still. His eyes locked onto mine, and I could feel the tension between us, electric and undeniable. My breath hitched in my throat as he leaned down, his lips brushing softly against mine.
The kiss was light at first, tentative, as if he was testing the waters. But then, as if some invisible barrier broke, he deepened the kiss, his hand coming up to cup the side of my face. I melted into the sensation. My mind went blank as I responded to him, kissing him back with the same intensity.
When we finally pulled apart, I was breathless. Tariq’s eyes were dark with emotion as he looked down at me, his hand still resting gently on my cheek.
"I... I’m sorry," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "I shouldn’t have done that."
But I shook my head. "No, it’s okay. I... I wanted it, too."
Tariq’s eyes softened, and he let out a soft breath. He brushed his thumb gently against my cheek before stepping back.
"We should keep training," he said, his voice a little strained. "But... we’ll talk later. Okay?"
I nodded, still trying to catch my breath, and we continued training, though my mind was far from focused on the techniques now. All I could think about was that kiss and what it meant for the two of us.