"DO YOU WANT ANYTHING ELSE? A cake? A tea? Werewolf meat? Or do you want the blood instead?"
I stilled, then slowly looked at the red tea I just conjured.
Ugh! How great! Now, I lost my appetite!
I immediately let go of the teacup, and it vanished into thin air.
Looking at the grinning gamma of Severino, I sarcastically asked, "Are werewolf meat and blood tasted that good?"
I expected him to appear disgusted. Or, at least, acted shocked to look as if he didn't mean those words of his. Surprisingly, though, he caressed his chin and started longing for the taste. Then, he answered, "Werewolf meat is rough. We have to cook it for you to be able to eat it. As for the blood, it tasted metallic. Nothing worth taking note of about."
Bah! I want this mutt gone out of my carriage the instant!
I couldn't help but sigh exasperatedly.
It had only been three hours since we departed from the summit, yet this annoying man never ceased to irritate me. And I've heard that the travel would take at least five days. Five freaking days! The thought of having this man's company for over a day already made me feel like dying--- what more if it was extended to more than a day?
Suddenly, my brain flashed an image of a very ugly man.
Well, on second thought, it was better than having Severino in my carriage. I might end up sucking their souls if I had to see his face every day of the journey. Thinking like that, this gamma was becoming pleasing to my eyes.
"I want neither of those," I remarked with patience, "It's disgusting."
Cross blinked. Then, he chuckled. "Forgive me, then. I thought our luna had weird preferences since you seemed to ooze a bloodlust aura the first time I saw you," said Cross, shrugging his shoulders, "But kidding aside. Why don't you tell me about yourself, then I will tell you mine. Let's get to know each other, shall we?"
I leaned on the couch and thought about his proposal before shrugging. I think getting to know each other was better than annoying me. "I have nothing to say about myself other than I've been in this realm for over three years with the Dark Region Pack."
Cross frowned curiously. "How did you manage to enter here?"
"Through magic, of course."
Cross shook his head. "That would be absurd. None of the witches from this realm did such an act. If we're going to talk about the witches outside the werewolf realm, it is impossible too."
"Why so?"
"Only you were able to enter here over the centuries. It speaks that outside witches are also weaklings."
"Do not belittle them," I remarked, drinking the tea I conjured once again. But I went for the original tea this time. Let me have a good red tea when no one's around. "Who knows? Maybe, you'll suddenly stumble into a witch who would slit your throat without you knowing."
He chuckled. Though, I didn't find my words funny. I honestly hope that someone will take the lives of these werewolves, saving me the effort of doing it myself.
"How about telling me why the elders fear your alpha?" I asked. I have been curious about it. Regardless of how powerful Severino might be, if the elders fought him together, they would be able to defeat him. The elders had ten streaks of golden furs, after all. It was funny to think that they would fear him unless there was a story behind it.
"You're curious about your mate, are you now?" Cross asked, his eyes twinkling. He appeared delighted with the thought of me having an interest in knowing their boring alpha.
I didn't respond and just let him have such ridiculous thoughts.
"My brother and I were born from a different elder," Cross started explaining, "Thousands of years ago before the world divided itself into realms, there were seven elders--- five of which are the ones ruling right now, while the two were the Alpha and Beta of the Blood Clad Pack. Those other two were brothers and have a weird personality." Cross shrugged his shoulders when I raised a brow, "I'm not insulting them. They do have weird personalities. They refused to associate with the other packs, acting like they were from a different clan. But before the realms' creation, they died."
Well, it's not like the Blood Clad Pack started associating itself with the other packs after changing its leader. So, it was just right for me to call them weirdos. Aye?
"The alpha, he was your father?"
Cross blinked, "Nope. He was Severino's father."
"What?"
I heard another laugh, challenging my patience again. "Severino and I have the same mother but different fathers. Mine was the beta."
Oh, yes.
The harem of women. I forgot about it.
"Then, why are you given the title of gamma?"
"I was born late and unexpectedly," he replied with a grin, "Parviz was born before me and had already undergone a ritual to become the rightful beta. Hence, I couldn't just take his crown away. Unless he died or was convicted of treason."
The corner of my mouth twitched. Although he was still smiling naturally, I couldn't help but suspect he was giving me an idea.
Convicted of treason?
If Parviz kept offending me, convicting him of treason would be possible. Oh, now I'm looking forward to my stay in this pack!
"By the way, that didn't answer my question on why the elders are afraid of your alpha," I clicked my tongue. We almost lost the purpose of this conversation.
"Well," Cross licked the bottom of his lips before continuing, "Aside from Severino's father being the mightiest alpha, our mother is a priestess."
"Priestess?" I asked curiously. It was the first I heard of such a term after being transported here. Back in the Hex Kingdom, we also had the so-called priests and priestesses. They were the order, the promoter of peace. And they were the cause of the downfall of the Dark Witches. Unfortunately, I had never seen one in my entire life. Our good grandmother had already annihilated them before my mother's birth.
"The daughter of the world, the symbol of the seven clans' union," Cross explained, "To become the priestess, one must have the blood of the seven clans. And our mother was born with seven bloodlines."
My eyes couldn't help but widen in astonishment. At the same time, I started calculating her genes and family tree. To have the seven bloodlines, her family must be complicated.
"Having those bloodlines, you can quickly grasp how strong of an entity our mother was. It was the reason why the elders feared us. We are an existent that none of them could defeat," his chin was up, and his tone of voice was full of pride.
I nearly smiled. Mind you, nearly.
Having a powerful mate had almost made me proud as well. Apparently, powerful men had a strong appeal to me.
The feeling of admiration couldn't help but blossom in the deepest part of my heart. But I held it in. Regardless of how impressive Severino's identity was, it wouldn't change the reality that he forced me into this, being mated without my permission. Plus, the fact that he was boring. He showed no emotion and rarely spoke.
I took a deep breath.
How could I live an eternal life with someone like that?
---
"How are the women who consumed the medicine?" asked Alpha Drake with worry. He and his mate was on the bed, cuddling each other, and thought of having a restless night; but not before talking about the pack first.
Luna Hyacinth smiled. She took her mate's hand before answering, "Do not worry too much. If the medicines are false, how can I conceive?"
She couldn't resist caressing her stomach. After centuries of pain and losing hope, she would finally become a mother! Having this gift paled everything she thought was a blessing!
Alpha Drake nodded, and his frowning face broke into a smile. But he still couldn't shake the feeling of being worried.
"We also received several women in the pack," Luna Hyacinth's smile widened, "It is a good omen. So, stop frowning and give me a smile." She kissed his chin before caressing his cheeks.
Alpha Drake chuckled and then gave Luna Hyacinth a lengthy kiss. Afterwards, he said, "You're right."
Just days ago, they received additional five women to their pack. They had already done a background check, and those women were clean. They didn't come from the rogues. They were just ordinary females.
They were about to have their restless night when one of their pack warriors shouted nervously, "Alpha! The beta of the Blood Clad Pack is outside!"
Alpha Drake instantly got out of bed. He gave Luna Hyacinth a reassuring look before leaving. However, upon leaving the room, his face contorted into an ugly expression.
Lake, he thought.
How could he fucking forget about Lake?!
His worries weren't about the medicines. He was feeling uncomfortable because of Lake!
Now that the Blood Clad Pack's Beta was on their doorstep, he had a hunch that the guy was here not to give them some good news.
"Alpha Drake," Tyler called out. He had just left his room, and his forehead was creasing. He too felt Lake's dead body outside. But he refused to believe that Lake was gone.
"Let's go," Alpha Drake ordered without stopping his steps.
Parviz was feasting his eyes on the surrounding and also observing the pack warriors when the pair finally stepped out of the house.
He tsked.
Facing these wusses was a crushing blow to him. He felt like he was frittering away his time. They were too beneath him and should worship him for showing up and giving them the opportunity to have his presence.
He didn't want to stay any longer, so he threw the bag where Lance's body was without waiting for the other side to speak. He was about to leave when Alpha Drake stopped him.
"Wait!" exclaimed Alpha Drake angrily. He was fuming with rage as he smelled Lance's blood inside the bag. The werewolves around could see his forehead bulging. Hence, they all growled and waited for their alpha's signal to charge.
Such a small bag! They may have chopped Lance's body for him to fit into such a small bag! "This is blatant disrespect! We have not done anything against your pack, yet you treated ours like this! Do you think the elders would still condone this heinous act?!"
"The elders wouldn't mind," sneered Parviz. They were unconscious and on the verge of death, lying weakly on their bed. Why would they care about a tiny pack like this one? "If you want revenge, why not start with your old little friend? She was the cause of this, after all," he added indifferently.
Parviz then harrumphed before finally departing. A malicious grin formed on his face as he felt the hatred of the Dark Region Pack. The woman who took his sister's place should not think it was easy to become their luna. He'd make sure the rest of the pack would never accept her.
---
I felt a shiver run down my spine. I was feeling ill for some strange reason—- or, more accurately, someone was wishing me harm. But then, I'd been getting glares from women because of my beauty or hatred from men because they didn't meet my standard. If someone wished me dead, it was nothing new.
I closed my eyes and yawned. At the same time, I heard my companion say, "We're here."
I half-opened my eyes and peered out the window. It was white and green. All I could see was snow, trees, and a castle. I couldn't help but notice that werewolves' hair in human form and fur in wolf form varied according to their territories. The Dark Region Pack, for example, had brown hair because they lived in a forestry or tropical area. The Blood Clad Pack, on the other hand, had white hair since their place was snowy.
Heh.
Fascinating!
All three carriages halted. And the first one who stepped out was Severino. He stood there looking like a massive mascot without any expression.
"Welcome to Kastillo Stefano!" exclaimed Cross. He grinned at me before getting out first.
I quickly took the hem of my dress, and like a noble lady, I slowly stepped down the carriage. And as soon as my left foot touched the snowy ground, I heard a girlish shriek, "Brother Sev! Welcome home, brother Sev!"
The girl with long wavy white hair happily went near my supposed mate and tightly hugged him.
I frowned. There was a tingling emotion kicking my heart. It was the first time I felt it, making me uncomfortable.
Then, my left brow unconsciously raised when I saw Severino hug the girl back. His face no longer had that stern expression. It softened.
Looking at his doting face as he caressed the girl's head, that emotion began kicking my heart again. My face couldn't help but turn ugly. What the fuck is this?!
Why do I feel like I wanted to kill the girl? And for what reason?
Seconds later, my body stiffened upon realisation of what the damn emotion was.
Oh, freaking dear!
How horrifying!