MY EYES STARTED TO TWITCH, and the corner of my mouth rose. At the same time, my heartbeat was going erratic. I couldn't believe it! I, who didn't even flinch when my parents gave Nieva my favourite voodoo doll, suddenly felt the emotion known as... jealousy!
"Are you alright, mademoiselle?" asked Cross, whispering to my side.
"I'm not," I replied honestly and bitterly.
"Brother Sev, you have no idea how boring this castle is without you!" the woman pouted, "You should have let me accompany you!" My eyes narrowed as the girl rubbed her face into Severino's arms.
"The journey was a hassle," Severino answered monotonously, but he was trying to act as if he cared, "It would be better for you to stay here, safe."
The girl huffed. Then, she crossed her arms, "Which place is safer without you," she murmured.
"Places without him," I butted in their conversation. I smiled sweetly when the girl finally gave me her attention. "You will be safer if he is not around you. In fact, the world would be at peace if he was not born."
"And you are?" she asked. Her eyes turned into a slit, and her forehead creased.
My eyes fluttered as I continued looking at her with a grin. Seconds later, her face gradually wrinkled. Her hands began to shake as she slowly took my good mate's hands. Then, she said, her voice cracking, "This--- Why am I feeling something odd? Why is she---" she looked at me vehemently, "Why is she oozing a luna's aura? Our luna, to be exact." She whispered the last words she said.
Her eyes contracted, and she was gritting her teeth.
My grin widened. Nothing was more appealing to the eye than a creature who tensed and struggled to keep its cool. "I am your luna," I said as I walked slowly to where my mate was. When I got to Severino, I linked our arms and pulled him to my side, at least a foot away from the woman. "You can call me Luna Alinta, and it's a pleasure to meet you," I added.
The woman's face almost fell while the one behind me whistled amusingly.
"That's--- that is amazing!" the woman exclaimed. Then, she looked at Severino and said, "I never knew that you went to the summit to look for a mate."
Severino opened his mouth to respond, but I didn't let him. "Why should he report it to you?" I asked, "Are you his sister?"
I know, I know. That sounded sarcastic. But I did try to express it naturally. It now depended on this woman on how she would take my words.
The girl's face darkened for a moment before returning to her smiling one. After taking a deep breath, her smile became genuine and amiable. I couldn't help but raise a brow at that. If you want no one to know you were against something. Then, change your face quickly and unnoticeably.
Ah! How stupid!
"I am Beta Parviz's sister," she introduced quickly with lots of smugness, "And the only woman in this pack."
When she didn't continue, I asked, "So, your name is what?"
She looked at me with disgust before replying, "Parza."
I saw Severino open his mouth again to speak, so I immediately said, "Then, Parza, please take our belongings and put them into our respective rooms. Do hold it with care as if you are holding your---" I trailed and thought of something good before adding, "child." Children were the most significant things or creatures in this world, am I right?
"Pardon?" she asked, quite taken aback, "I am not a maid here. I am---"
"Let's go," I quickly pulled, with great effort, my dearest mate inside the castle. I have no interest in exchanging pleasantries with that woman. She reeked of adultery and schemes. I am too innocent and honest for her kind of games.
"I am not a maid!" the woman exclaimed. Who knows who she was talking to?
"Who cares? Not following the luna's order is a form of treason," I heard Cross answer playfully. Oh! So, the woman was talking to him. Then, I heard him add, "Pick. Carry all those baggage or be subjected to treason?"
Hmmm...
I was liking this gamma. A little bit. But liking him a little bit was a good omen too. At least, I won't be confining myself inside my room, hating everyone in this pack.
"Enough," Severino remarked. Then, he suddenly halted. It almost made me stumble down and fall like a princess into my mate's arms if not for my good balance.
I glared at him before letting go of his arms in disgust. "You're welcome," I stated while cleaning my hands with magical water. It was just like a glitter moistening my hands until they turned--- well, clean.
"And for what exactly?" he raised a brow.
I smiled. "For letting you touch my skin. You're very much welcome." I am too precious for him.
He didn't respond. Instead, he started walking somewhere. This castle was quite huge. But not as huge as ours, of course. And because I have no idea where is where I reluctantly followed him.
"You are not allowed to act childish next time," he commanded all of a sudden.
"Childish, is it?" I replied while looking around. The bricks were tough enough to safeguard against a canon. I'm wondering if these werewolves knew about or used a cannon. If not, they should give it a shot. Long-distance weapons were useful for someone who lacked magic when war broke out unexpectedly. "I am your mate. I, at least, have the right to demand your loyalty, right?" I couldn't help but remark. The mark on my neck was affecting my feelings and mood. So I'd better clear things up with this mutt. In case I lost control and murdered the woman earlier out of rage and jealousy. If I had to kill someone, I would want to do it for a good reason. For example, killing a bad guy for the sake of the greater good?
"The soul-branding is something that can never be broken. You and I are bonded eternally." His voice was hoarse and deep, but there were still no fluctuations there. I wonder when would this emotionless and bloodthirsty mutt would show me a change of expression or tone.
"I don't believe that," I objected.
"Oh? Do you know how to break the bond?"
I blinked innocently. Even if only his back saw my cute side, I still acted one. "I don't. I haven't tried it yet. But I will surely tell you the result once I did."
Moments later, I found myself standing in a very dull but wide room. There was a clean bed, a vanity mirror, a room probably heading to the comfort room, and a cabinet to put my clothes in. It was not styled nor painted into a vibrant colour. It was just plain wood, but shiny.
As for my mate, who knows where he went? I expected him to introduce me to the pack. But other than escorting me to my exclusive room, there was nothing else. I haven't seen anyone else either. However, I sensed hundreds of pack warriors surrounding the castle. They were quite ferocious and bloodthirsty. Overall, I concluded that they were hard to befriend.
I sat down on the fluffy bed and stared blankly into the air. There was nothing for me to do here.
Feeling bored, I decided to look around the castle. I left the room and let my feet direct me to my destination.
"Where are you going?"
"To get to know the castle," I turned around and smiled, only to see Parza frowning at me while her arms crossed around her chest.
"You're not allowed to loiter around. Go back to your room," she sneered. Gone was her sweet and childish attitude from earlier. But she was still annoying as ever.
"I don't take orders. Especially to someone below me." Oh well, I am totally loving this hierarchy!
My response caught her off guard. But she quickly regained her footing. "I think you're misinterpreting your role as a luna," she tsked, "I'm not sure what kind of nonsense the luna is from the pack you came from, but your role here in the Blood Clad Pack is to birth strong werewolves. An army that will make us more unbeatable." She curled her hair around her finger. "Do not think that Brother Sev took you because you are interesting or that he will eventually love you because that is far from reality."
I almost laughed, but I restrained myself. Instead, I pretended to be surprised and adjusted my expression to appear hurt. "No," I said quietly, my eyes fluttering as if I couldn't believe what she had just said. "You're wrong. He said I'm the strongest woman he's ever laid his eyes on. Being chosen by him," I looked at her, eyes full of desperation, "must mean he likes me. He loves me!"
"Have you gone insane?" she asked, stunned. Then she gave me a disgusted look. "Loving someone you barely knew? You're a moron."
Did she not hear the phrase, 'love at first sight'?
Anyway, my eyes started to water and I clutched my chest to make my act more convincing. "No, no, no! His heart will become mine! He will gaze at me with gentle and loving eyes, hold me in his arms, and kiss me longingly! I know he will! He will!"
"Hah! I never thought Brother Sev would bring us a luna without a brain," she exclaimed, shaking her head. "What a moron, I'm wasting my time talking to people like you."
Parza turned around and was about to walk away. But she suddenly stiffened.
Ah!
I couldn't help myself. I lost control and burst out laughing uncontrollably.
"A fool, am I?" I inquired. When I raised my hand, the air began to gradually warm up. "A birth machine," I began to walk towards her, my nails making a very unpleasant noise as they made contact with the wall, "Ever since I came here, I have already noticed how men treated women as their birth machine, someone who would give them lots and lots of heir. What love? Even the most loving couple has someone in between. There's no such thing as love in this world—- only interest."
"Ugh-ha!" Parza knelt and gasped for air, her hands gripping her throat. Her eyes were wide and filled with tears on both sides.
I gripped her chin, and whispered to her ears, "And he's my mate now. Someone whose soul is already bound to mine. Even if you die out of jealousy, he will still remain as my mate. Even if you keep disturbing my peace, talk a lot of bullshit, and cling to him, he will never become yours. I say." I looked at her eyes, amused at her messy appearance. "That's the true meaning of wasting time."
"What is going on here?"
I released Parza and raised both of my hands. The temperature quickly returned to normal. "Why do you keep coming to me one after the other?" I sighed.
"Brother Sev!" Parza exclaimed, sprinting to my good mate's arms. "Help! She tried to kill me! She—-she—-"
I rolled my eyes when the woman sobbed. "I didn't try to kill her," I defended, "But I did teach her a lesson." I grinned. Apparently, my smile didn't look good since Severino's eyes only turned chilly.
"I told you to stop," he said coldly.
"Stop what?" I inquired, hoping he would elaborate. Instead of a sentence or two, I was met with a force I could hardly contain. I coughed again and again. My throat was burning, and something that taste metallic spurted out of my mouth. I leaned on the wall to support my weight. And looking at the damn mutt with hostility, I cursed, "Death be with you, life is gone. Earth swallows, and the fire blazes...." My chant continued for almost a minute. At the end of it, the energy was gone.
Severino's brow furrowed in curiosity. He opened his mouth to say something, or maybe ask. But it didn't matter to me. I moved my feet as quickly as I could to reach him. I want his corpse!