"Pale man?" The individual I addressed right now was perplexed as to why I called him by a name that perhaps no one had ever called him.
I simply bit the lower of my lip since even I never imagined being able to refer to him by such moniker.
To get away, I diverted the conversation. I focused on Morgan, who was pulling the hem of Veron's shirt. There was no disputing that he had a lost child's stance— bruised knees, stained white clothing, and a wet face from crying.
The heavy iron that had been coursing through my chest vanished when I turned to look at his face once more. My icy brain that had been empty since earlier had also cooled down.
"It's only luck that can be taken into account that he didn't continue his stroll into the perilous woodland. I heard him sobbing earlier today as we entered the fence."
I agreed with him by nodding and headed in their direction. As I arrived in their spot, he was the first person I turned to look at. "I am beyond grateful to show you my gratitude for aiding my son, Prince Veron. You can tell me what can be in compensation for this."
"Compensation? Why do you appear to look down on my wellspring of helping hearts, rogue woman?" He scowled in response.
I knelt in front of Morgan before I responded to him, "Isn't that how royals like you truly are—the simple "kindness" you offered can almost take life as a repayment?"
I said gravely, staring intently at Morgan's face as if I were memorizing every side of it. I reached out to caress his face with my outstretched palm, but Veron's hand with frown expression abruptly stopped me from doing so.
"Why are you acting in such a manner? Aren't you also a royal who was expelled from your pack due to the disgrace you brought on your race? Does this indicate you're also merely looking for anything in return—"
"Don't compare me to you!" I yelled at him and got to my feet.
"Why? What's the difference between the two of us, except from the fact that I have status and you are now a rogue and can just be thrown somewhere—"
"Watch your words, Veron; you probably fail to recall about where turf you're standing on."
Veron and I both looked at the man who abruptly spoke— and when I saw who it was and who was accompanying him, my mood plummeted even worse.
'Is Helene truly really holding out hope for the marriage she wants to happen?'
"Oh, Alpha Jaxon is here; it's just a shame I found your son before you," the man called out mockingly.
"Losing my son is not a game."
"Is my father's throne then a competition for you?"
"Veron, stop it!" Helene shrieked.
Veron shook his head and released go of Morgan. My son refused to get go of his clothes, so I was astonished when Jaxon abruptly scooped him up and forcibly separated him from the man who had been making everyone unhappy with his disrespectful demeanor.
"Let's go, Veronica," he said, grabbing my hand, and before we could leave, Veron's obnoxious voice stopped us.
"Who will be the next to disappear, Alpha Jaxon? Will it be your son again or the lady you thought would make up for the sin you did before—"
"Ahhh!" Helene let out a deafening scream as Veron's back fell to the ground due to Jaxon's quick start attack.
Jaxon transformed into a wolf and attacked Veron's body with his sharp claws as if he were a hungry animal that didn't care what happened or who was murdered by him.
Veron, on the other hand, shifted as a wolf when he predicted Jaxon's move.
I wasn't sure what was making me so surprised. This was my first time witnessing a wolf fight. My father had never exposed me to such a sight in my entire life. He truly wanted me to be a puppet that my subordinates could manipulate.
I wouldn't take my gaze away from the two wolves if it weren't for the searing scalp on the top of my head.
"What the fuck are you doing? Jaxon is going to kill my brother! Stop them!" Helene shoved me hard after screaming in my face and not releasing grip of my scalp.
It caused both me and my son to fall. I gave her a piercing look, and the rage that had built up in me since the previous night she sprayed me with her proud comments raced through my mind.
"Don't you desire to be Jaxon's formal mate? It's a future Luna's role to control her Alpha whenever he's on a rampage. Besides, his opponent is your brother, so maybe it's better for you to stop than someone like me who doesn't have enough power, isn't it Princess?"
I talked freely, putting the term Princess at the forefront for her.
She continued to gaze down at me while I was still lying on the ground, using her position to her advantage.
On contrast to the other royal, this peasant laying on the ground with royal ancestry was much lower in the social scale just because she got pregnant and shunned by her pack. Funny to consider.
Every repulsive glance she gave me made me feel like an insect that had just fallen on her foot.
"You won't succeed in whatever you're trying to do to Jaxon just so he can stay by your side!"
I got to my feet, pulled Morgan up, and asked, "Am I really the one with malicious intentions, Helene? I have Morgan to keep Jaxon by my side. Effort is unnecessary. You? What memories and things did you leave him when you abandoned him?"
When I uttered those things to her, it was easy to see the shock in her pupils. When she opened her eyes, it was as though her protracted nightmare had come to an end.
She tried to grab my hand, but I swiftly pushed her away; as a result, she was now on the ground and I was now standing. "How did you know about that?" she asked.
"You don't have to know," I coldly spat. "Look how pitiful you are, Helene. You have the position of authority, but I'm standing in front of you, looking down on you while the ground with dirt envelops you."
"Be quiet, bitch!"
Without any attempt at comedy, I laughed. I feigned to be laughing for a little moment at her tearful look, but as soon as I was done, the smile left my lips.
"They're right, elegant garments can never disguise a person's insecurities and lunacy. Like you, Helene. The Moon Goddess has endowed you with greatness, but you can't acquire what you crave so badly."
"You know nothing! You don't know what Jaxon and I went through! You don't know why... Why—"
"And I don't plan to find out." I gritted my teeth.
I would admit that I was a little bit pushy right now because I was worried she would try to steal Jaxon from me— because I knew for sure... When Jaxon's thirst for power arrived, Helene would get the triumphant.
After all, she was right... I had nothing to contribute.
Before I was completely engulfed by what was running through my mind, I turned my back on her. However, Jaxon was rushing over Veron's body as I turned around.
Although they were now in human shape, I could see the bleeding body of a man who would die any seconds if Jaxon chose to. I hid Morgan's eyes before returning my attention to Helene.
"I propose you stand there and keep an eye on what's going on behind you right now if you want to spare your brother's life."
I spoke the phrase and then kept on moving. Nonetheless, before we ever emerged from the woods, I could hear Jaxon's voice calling me out.
"Watch out, Veronica!"
And before I could understand what he meant, everything turned dark...