"Hey, you. Here."
Severin bestowed a vial as soon as I was on my way to the dining hall to fill my stomach from the morning's dreadful classes. I caught it when it almost hit the floor, maintaining a glare in his direction.
This scumbag... He never failed to make my blood boil, as always.
"Don't miss taking it," he said, squinting his eyes before parting ways with me.
When he receded from view, bitterness took over my smile before I scoffed. "Don't miss taking it," I copied his words and tone scornfully as I rolled my eyes.
I went to the nearest powder room to check the translucent vial that had pale blue liquid on it.
The liquid drizzled my mouth down to my throat, hurling as plain as a parchment. Having to take this was enough to make my stomach churn for the adverse effects I would feel for the next few days.
This was way better to endure than having another life form shaping inside me.
Yet.
At least, not yet.
Severin and I both agreed on it. This was the only moment where we had to agree on one thing. It was a pain in the ass to be with him, but it was worth it not to conceive yet.
He would bestow me a vial every time we had to fulfill our marital duties. It was necessary to avoid a worst-case scenario. Thaddeus and Madeline did not even pressure us to get conceived already, so we both made a decision to tune it down like this without their knowledge.
I went to the balcony first to settle this stomach that was grumbling just a moment ago. Throwing up the medicine was the last thing I wanted to do before continuing my way to my next class.
Arrived at the study hall for my next class with ridiculed gazes pointed at me, shunning them to return to my seat. They looked at me that way because of what happened at the masquerade ball. I couldn't blame them if they were curious about why I was the subject of oppression every time I had to cross paths with one of my cousins.
But the uneasiness I felt meltdown when I was with my friends, asking me how I was doing after what happened. I answered them to the best of my abilities, not wanting to worry them.
"How can you ever have that kind of relative who would dare to oppress you in front of everyone?" Lady Juliette scoffed, shaking her head in disappointment. "Did she have no idea that she is also damaging her reputation?"
"Right!" Lady Manuela snapped her fingers. "How did she even become your cousin anyway?"
Lady Irene sighed and crossed her arms. "And they even hid you from the society. We even thought that the daughter of Lord Hideyoshi was dead until you showed up here in the academy and became a wife to Lord Severin."
Lady Irene's words caused my hands to instinctively clasp together while an undeniable tightness gripped my heart, leaving no room for doubt. The misfortune I shouldered when Father died replayed like a broken record in my mind.
It was... painful.
Lady Rory chimed in. "And this is not over as always. Mind you, this is not the only time she has done this deed to you. Why don't you report this to Headmaster Matteo?"
I smiled as an answer, lowering my head to find my hands more entertaining than the meal I had on my table. "No, it's fine. There is no need."
"But Lady Kasumi..."
I tilted my head slightly and gave a subtle shake, silently conveying my desire for them to abandon the subject.
If it reached Uncle Hajime's ears that I reported Akane's actions to Headmaster Matteo, there would be consequences. I was already on thin ice. It would jeopardize attaining what I had planned ever since I was shrouded from the public. I couldn't risk everything if my cousins did something to make me drop out of the academy.
For the next few days, I kept looking for Thaddeus to talk about what I had opened up to him then. However, it seemed like he deliberately avoided me by any means possible. Even with attempting to talk to him after my class with him, Thaddeus could be as fast as the thunderbolt to be out of my sight.
"Thaddeus..." I muttered through gritted teeth, clenching my hand.
Living in the dormitory prevented me from visiting the Blazing Winter pack; Severin faced the same obstacle. Our professors had to authorize our homecoming which we needed Thaddeus' permission since he was my father-in-law.
But I must not give up. I needed to find him and implore my demands. My last chance was to go to the faculty again to confirm if he was there.
"I beg your pardon, Professor Lilac, but have you seen Professor Thaddeus?" I asked one of the professors who were there working.
Professor Lilac yawned and stretched her arms before looking at me. "Oh, Thaddeus...?" I nodded to confirm. "Uh..." Her eyes darted at his desk as she rolled her eyes. "He went out, I believe."
"May I ask where he went?"
"I am uncertain. Usually, Thaddeus does not stay here for long. Sometimes, he would be at the headmaster's study room or training ground...?" she asked, unsure. Then her eyes were on Professor Brig, who had just arrived. "Oh! Brig! Have you seen Thaddeus?" She pointed at me. "His daughter-in-law is looking for him."
My cheeks inflamed at how she identified me. Daughter-in-law... Was that a fitting term for me if they ever learned that I was Thaddeus' mate?
Professor Brig settled his things on his desk before cocking his head from side to side. "I have seen him in the lagoon a while ago. I even spoke to him, and he said he needed to contemplate for a while. He will return soon, perhaps."
"I see. I shall return here later then," I said politely before bidding farewell to them.
As soon as I left the faculty room, my gnashing teeth nearly broke down from annoyance.
My heart pounded in my chest, sending waves of heat through my veins. I clenched my fists and quickened my pace, ignoring the curious stares of the other students. The lagoon of the royal academy loomed ahead, a shimmering pool of blue that mocked me with its tranquility.
"Contemplate, my ass. He is just avoiding me," I said through gritted teeth when I found out that he was not there.
My eyes lowered down to my bracelet. I reached for it and did not hesitate to remove it. A sharp intake of breath summoned me as soon as I sniffed around and caught a whiff of mint and orange in this place before the scent went in the right direction to where the labyrinth garden was.
"Got you..." I carefully heaved out a sigh, whispering my heart to calm. But it failed the moment my wolf knew Thaddeus' trace of scent fluttered in the faint breeze. "Hush..." I castigated my wolf before walking long strides, passing through the ground field.
But I hastily changed my course to another way when I spotted Akeno, Akane's cousin, laughing with his peers. "Shit..." I averted my gaze before I could even catch his.
Silently praying that Akeno wouldn't see me, my feet made a quick turn to the alleyway before I wore my bangle again to conceal my scent so my cousin wouldn't know it. I heard some laughter from a few miles away, making Akeno's laugh stand out among them.
As a sigh of relief escaped me, I initially anticipated trepidation, only to discover that everything was proceeding smoothly. That opportunity sought me to use the other way to go to the labyrinth garden after removing my bracelet again.
I inhaled the scent of Thaddeus lingering in the air, tracing its trail until I discovered the concealed bench nestled behind the tree. I had to crease my forehead when no one was there, but my senses taught me to look up.
I grimaced upon seeing Thaddeus sitting at the tree branch with an impish smile drawing on his rosy lips. "Do you have any idea that I have been looking for you for the past few days?" Aggravation tried to blind me as soon as I returned my bangle before crossing my arms over my chest.
"Oh... You are looking for me?" He inquired playfully, his tone laced with teasing. "And let me remind you that we are not allowed to talk matters if it is family matters here in this academy, my dear daughter-in-law," he said as he leaped and landed perfectly on the ground. "You can discuss things with me once you return to my pack."
I balled my fist. What did he say? 'My dear daughter-in-law?'
"I am not going to betray the Blazing Winter pack," I emphasized my words back then. I caught up with him when he walked past me. I even used my body to block him. "Please... The Red Sun pack is mine."
"It is not yours now. Your uncle is already the Alpha there." His playful tone defrosted into an earnest one. "And I will not help you in any way, Kasumi. As I said, you are going to be the next Luna soon once I make Severin—"
"I did not even want to become a Luna, nor did I want to be your son's wife!" I allowed this frustration to succumb to me since I would hear that answer again, just as he said the first time I brought my plans up. "Why did you persist in attempting to matchmake me with your son, despite knowing that the Moon Goddess Herself has intertwined you and me as a mate to one another?!"
Because of dissatisfaction and vexation poisoned my mind, I blurted out something before realizing it. With widened eyes, I let out a gasp that resonated loudly. I turned my gaze towards Thaddeus, feeling a temporary deafness engulfing my ears due to the rapid rhythm of my heartbeats at that very moment.
His plump moist lips curved up into that familiar lopsided smile. "Huh... Is that so?" His tone reverberated with an intriguing melody. His eyes twinkled with a mix of amusement and understanding. He seemed unfazed by my outburst as if he had anticipated it.
"I..." It seemed like there was a lump stuck in my throat. "Um..." Shit! What must I say when I was feeling flustered at the words I uttered? "F-Forget what I said!" Gripping my tunic like my life depended on it, I spun around, briskly preparing to walk away and bury myself later on the ground from the embarrassing words I said.
I would come back again once I had calmed down.
"I never thought you would ever acknowledge our mate bond, sunshine."
I came to a halt when I heard what he called a word at me that was so bizarre that it was my first time hearing it.
Did he just call me... sunshine...?
Creasing my forehead, I spun around and flinched when Thaddeus was already in front of me. My tongue seemed stuck at the back of my throat by his bewitching features.
He nipped my chin, slightly tilting his head. "Where does that confidence go? I thought you were here to convince me to implore for my assistance. Hmm?" His thumb that grazed my chin sent chills down my spine, and his husky tone tickled me at the apex of my thighs, which I couldn't possibly ignore.
I wet my lips, gulping. My lips seemed like they had been stitched delicately by a seamstress.
But if I remained silent, it would also mean I was admitting my defeat here. I would lose my opportunity of achieving what I had to reach. I must swallow my pride and forget what happened earlier.
"I..."
"Cat got your tongue, sunshine?" His upper lip lifted up into a smirk.
I opened my mouth again, but I got distracted by our closeness and the intoxication of his male perfume that wafted in the air. Shame, I missed out on experiencing his scent, which would have added an additional layer of muskiness to his presence.
Not only that. Because of the endearment he called me, my mind went haywire.
Thaddeus chuckled when I was still speechless before his eyes lowered to my bracelet. He reached for it and swiftly removed it in a blink of an eye.
'Mate,' my wolf whispered.
Thaddeus growled, reverberating in my direction that my knees wobbled when his sapphire blue orbs glowed.
"Thaddeus..." I clung to him when I couldn't control my knees anymore. That made me draw closer to him.
He secretly sniffed me with his hot breath fanning the slender of my neck. "Fuck..." His tone wasn't annoyed nor revolting. It was a dreamy one that made my wolf squirm.
As I lifted my gaze to meet his, I couldn't shake the feeling that his intense stare held an insatiable desire, as if he longed to consume me at that very moment. I gulped, not knowing what to do. But my clit was throbbing in need when his hand came in contact with my waist.
I slowly closed my eyes when his face was getting closer, but I felt his lips caressed in my earlobe.
"Offer me something valuable, sunshine," he whispered huskily.
"What...?" I pried my eyes open when I felt him withdrawing as I witnessed Thaddeus spinning my bracelet in a constant rotation. I gasped, but his words prevailed over the bracelet he had on his hand. "S-Something valuable?" A perplexed expression furrowed my brow.Was he asking me to offer my body to him?"Nope. That is not what I am thinking." I jolted at my ground, feeling my cheeks flamed, for he answered what was happening inside my head. His grin grew more since he knew what I was thinking. "Information or anything. Something that is not known yet by anyone."That further puzzled me, and I experienced a wave of relief when I realized he was asking for something other than my physical presence."I do not understand..." Or did I? "If you are after information," I paused. "Are you looking for something that would make my previous pack a vassal to you?"That was the only plausible reason I could think of, I think."No.""Then what? Can you be more specific?""Specific, huh?" Thaddeu
Everything went smoothly after that. Still wondering why Severin was there at the moment of my shortcomings was alarming. His dormitory wasn't even in the north. He was residing in the east, where the Emerald Dorm was a dormitory for the students born as royals, aristocrats, and elites were residing there.After my class from Thaddeus, I rested under the tree while watching some students swarming him like a pillar of society."Ah, yes, he is," I murmured, almost rolling my eyes. "Why did they find him attractive even with his cold demeanor?" I couldn't help but ask. However, I had to pinch myself for trying to deny that Thaddeus was attractive. His well-defined features accentuated his mature 39-year-old physique, complementing his captivating demeanor that had the power to captivate any woman. Yes, Thaddeus was 39 years old and a well-known ruthless ruler of a pack.It might look like Thaddeus did not look like one, but I could ascertain how frightened his neighboring packs were. Th
"Why here?" I asked as my eyes took in the sight of the magnificent Temple of the Moon Goddess after Thaddeus helped me mount down from the carriage.Just as he wanted, we disembarked this dawn to go to the Temple of the Moon Goddess. However, I did not expect that we would be here in this place. I thought that we would be going straight to the royal palace."Why not here?" he asked sheepishly.My lips almost shaped into a wry one, but I got distracted from the stimulating sensations crawling through my skin, still, my hand was contacting on his. Thaddeus noticed it or must have felt it for certain before I decided to simply remove my hand from him, pretending that his touch was not awakening the wolf inside me.Clearing my throat, feeling like there was a huge chunk stuck in my throat, I eyed the temple again, which was located on the north side of the main capital city of the Sowinski Kingdom.Legend has it that Mother personally constructed this temple, providing a sacred space for
The abandoned building became my new study hall with the approval of Headmaster Matteo. Thaddeus was the one who processed it but did not tell Severin since he knew that his son wouldn't accept that I was being treated differently.I decided to visit only after the classes had concluded, as Thaddeus was going to instruct me on the responsibilities of an Alpha and provide guidance to enhance my leadership skills."How can you execute it?"Midway through reading the third volume of the royal ordinance, my gaze lifted, and I blinked in surprise as he posed an unexpected question. I had been engrossed in my task, knowing that I needed to memorize all the laws and recite the entire volume by the end of the week."What do you mean?" After reading the book for over three hours without a break, my neck felt stiff and strained, prompting me to gently massage it for relief. I held my breath as Thaddeus leaned against the desk, emanating an aura of grandeur and authority. This made me feel tickl
As my legs grew weak, Thaddeus swiftly closed the distance between us, his strong arms encircling my trembling form. I found solace and security in his embrace, clinging to him as he effortlessly scooped me up and carried me towards the nearby couch. Gently, he laid me down, ensuring my comfort and safety in his arms. The touch of his firm yet tender grip sent a rush of mixed emotions coursing through me, leaving me both vulnerable and reassured."Thaddeus..." I clutched my chest as this unbearable heat made me want to carve my skin to relieve myself. My skin had become so itchy that it was hard for me to feel the surroundings around me."I'm here, Kasumi." Feeling his hand enveloping mine only intensified the conflicting emotions within me. My instinct urged me to pull away, to break free from his touch, but an undeniable force compelled me to hold on. It was as if my inner wolf recognized a deeper connection, an undeniable attraction I couldn't deny. The arousal that pulsed through
"Why did you summon us here? Are we going to spar with you, Father?" he impatiently asked before his arrow-like gaze almost penetrated my direction while he nestled his wooden sword on his shoulder."What's the rush, Severin? It's not like we have any academic commitments at the moment, considering it's our academic break," I said sarcastically, oscillating my wooden sword from left to right after stretching out when we arrived here in the training ground of the pack.Before Severin could even bark, Thaddeus halted us using his commanding tone. "Today's agenda is you will spar with each other," he stated firmly. "If either of you does anything to displease me, remember that I won't take the punishment lightly." His words hung in the air, carrying a sense of warning and consequence.That sent shivers down my spine, leaving me unable to offer any retort. I instinctively checked my wrist and sighed in relief upon finding my bracelet securely in place. He returned it back after that day
"Thaddeus... What if someone comes in?" I asked while moaning, accepting my defeat with his bet as soon as the contact of his tongue to my hardened n i p p l e. My fingers delicately entwined in his hair as I maintained my position, straddling him while Thaddeus observed from his chair.Thaddeus left his attention from my n i p p l e as he went up to my cleavage, neck, and earlobe before nibbling it, making me shiver under his touch. "No one's going to come here without my approval, sunshine." His husky tone could wet my core in a blink of an eye."Are you certain, Thaddeus..?" My hips were riding his bulging crotch, obscured by the fabric of his trousers. I just had this urge to feel how hard he was for me, knowing that I also affected him."Yes, sunshine..." That endearment could make me stir in delight. But a gasp escaped from my lips when Thaddeus pulled back my hair, and it stimulated my arousal for him. "Let's set some boundaries, sunshine. I do not wish you to be called me by m
I complied, rising to my feet, my body trembling with anticipation. His next words, laced with dominance and desire, caused a flush to spread across my cheeks. "Bend over," he commanded, his voice carrying a mixture of authority and anticipation. I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest, as I slowly obeyed, offering myself in a vulnerable display of submission, holding to the edge of his desk.With my back and butt exposed before him, Thaddeus reached out for his quill pen and turned himself to the front desk."Eyes on the floor, sunshine." I did as he told, meeting his solemnity. "I did not tell you to look at me, did I?"A nervous gulp escaped my throat as I watched him unbuckle his belt, my mind anticipating the stinging impact it would soon have on my behind, reminiscent of what he had done before. He moved to my side, and I felt a sudden obscuring of my vision as he placed my own handkerchief over my eyes."My lord..." Damn it... I felt so lost every time he had to do this