The Luna Queen - Chapter 12: Chapter 12

_Leah's POV_
After training, Tariq suggested that we go for a walk before heading back home. I was still flushed from the physical activity. My mind was swirling with the memory of our kiss. Part of me wanted to pull away and retreat to the safety of my thoughts, but another part, the bolder and more daring part, wanted to stay close to him.
As we walked through the forest, the quiet rustle of leaves underfoot and the distant chirping of birds filled the space between us. Tariq glanced over at me. His eyes lingered in that way that made my heart race.
"Leah," he said after a few moments of silence, "I just want to say... you're really beautiful."
His words caught me off guard, and I felt a warmth rise in my cheeks. I wasn't used to hearing compliments like that, especially from someone like him. I looked down at the ground. I was unsure of how to respond.
"You don’t have to say that," I mumbled, trying to laugh it off, but Tariq stopped walking and turned to face me.
"I mean it," he said, his gaze sincere. "I've been attracted to you since the day we met. There is something about you, Leah. And it’s not just your looks. It’s everything about you."
My heart skipped a beat, but at the same time, a familiar wall of hesitation rose up inside me. I didn’t know if I could let someone in, not after everything I had been through. The wounds of the past hadn’t fully healed, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready for anything more, especially now.
I took a deep breath. "Tariq, I have been through a lot lately," I said carefully. "I don’t know if I am ready to feel that way about anyone right now. I... I need to figure out my life first. I need to put things in order."
His expression softened as I spoke, and he reached out, taking my hand in his. His touch was warm and reassuring. "I understand," he said gently. "I don’t want to push you into anything which you're not ready for, Leah. But... just know that I care about you. And I’m here, whenever you're ready."
I looked up at him. Tariq wasn’t pressuring me, and for that, I was thankful. But there was still something about him that pulled me in, something that made me feel safe, even if I wasn’t ready to admit it fully.
"Thank you," I said softly.
He smiled at me, his thumb gently brushing over my hand before letting go. As we continued walking, his mood seemed to lighten, and soon enough, the teasing began.
"You know," he said while glancing over at me with a playful smirk, "if I didn’t know any better, I would say that you were trying to avoid training with me tomorrow."
I laughed and shook my head. "I am not avoiding it! I just don’t want to make a fool of myself in front of your rogue friends again."
Tariq chuckled. "Trust me, they were all impressed by you. Especially when you knocked me down during that last drill."
"I did not knock you down!" I protested, but Tariq raised an eyebrow, giving me a mischievous look.
"Pretty sure you did, Leah. You have hidden strength, you know."
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips. "You let me win," I muttered.
"Maybe," he said with a grin. "Or maybe you’re just stronger than you think."
We arrived back at the house, where Susan was waiting for us. She had laid out lunch on the table, and the smell of roasted chicken and fresh vegetables filled the air. My stomach growled in response, and I realized just how hungry I was after all the training.
"How did it go?" Susan asked as she motioned for us to sit.
Tariq grinned as he pulled out a chair for me. "Leah was incredible," he said. "With a little more time, she could become a great warrior."
I blushed at the compliment and shook my head modestly. "I have a long way to go," I admitted.
"Maybe," Susan said with a knowing smile. "But you’re stronger than you realize."
As we started eating, Susan’s expression grew more serious. "There’s something we need to discuss, Leah," she said, glancing between Tariq and me. "It’s about the ritual which you will need to perform during the next full moon."
I froze, a forkful of chicken halfway to my mouth. "Ritual?" I asked. I was confused. "What ritual?"
Susan nodded and set her glass down. "It is a ceremony that will help awaken your true powers and strengthen your wolf. The full moon is in two weeks, and I need to start preparing for it."
My mind raced as I processed her words. I had heard whispers of rituals like this, but I never imagined I would be involved in one. "What exactly does this ritual involve?" I asked cautiously.
"We’ll explain everything in due time," Tariq said. "There’s no need to worry about it now. You have been through a lot already. Right now, you just need to focus on resting and getting stronger."
I wanted to ask more, to understand what I was being pulled into, but Tariq’s gentle tone calmed me. He was right. The past few days had been overwhelming, and I wasn’t sure I could handle another layer of stress.
Susan excused herself after lunch, mentioning that she was going to take a nap, leaving Tariq and me alone in the cozy living room. Tariq glanced over at me. There was a playful glint in his eye.
"You have been pretty tense lately," he said while leaning back on the couch. "How about we watch a movie? Something to take your mind off things."
I hesitated. It sounded nice, but I wasn’t sure what kind of movie he would be interested in. "You choose," I said, deciding to let him pick.
Tariq raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?" he teased. "What if I pick something you hate?"
"I doubt that," I replied and gave him a smile.
To my surprise, he selected a romance movie. I shot him a curious look. "I thought that you would pick some action movie with explosions and fight scenes."
Tariq laughed. "I like romance too, you know. Besides, I thought that you might enjoy it."
As the movie started, I settled into the cushions, but my attention kept drifting to Tariq. The way he leaned back casually, the way his arm rested along the back of the couch—it all felt too comfortable, too familiar. I tried to focus on the film, but then he leaned in, his breath warm against my ear.
"So," he whispered, "what do you think so far? Am I a hopeless romantic or what?"
I turned to face him, rolling my eyes playfully. "Maybe a little," I teased back. "But it’s nice."
His grin widened. "I knew that you would say that."