Chapter 3

The Payment

Though he is still unaware of what was going on between the two and about how they both appeared in one place at the same time, he must have to defend Ellen from Rodney. As far as he could remember, she also defended him back at the school.

"You choose this crippled metallic idiot over me?" Rodney burst out laughing. He crossed his arms around his chest in a sarcastic way while pacing his glimpse from her to Nathan and vice-versa. "Ellen, are you that insane to become his mate? To a beta who knows and has nothing? Have you tried thinking about your future with him, huh?"

From Rodney's statement, Nathan's inner core suddenly chickened out for reminding him about how useless both his wolf and human being are. However, part of him also thought that if he could not defend Ellen from Rodney, everything he said about him was the real him.

He wanted to put an end to that kind of terrible mindset not just from the people and wolves around him but for himself as well. Nathan just still doesn't know how to do it.

"Yes. I would rather choose this idiot metallic boy over you, Rodney. Because I know compared to you, Nathan had a pure heart. He's not as boastful as you, taking advantage of your family's wealth and power. Even if could barely walk, he stands firm for his dreams..."

As Ellen kept on praising Nathan, Nathan, himself, could not help but feel enthralled and flabbergasted. It was the first in his eighteen years of existence that someone has treated him the way she does.

Even if he kept himself behind the shadows of those walls in school or the house, he barely thought someone like Ellen could notice his existence. The worst part is, that she knows him more than he does himself.

"And about the future, you were afraid of, no one can predict what's going to happen in our future. As long as we're together, nothing is impossible. So, back off. You can never have me, Rodney. I now belonged to no one but Nathan alone." Ellen added before she held on to Nathan's arms and dragged him back to the mansion.

Nathan immediately takes off his coat and wrapped it around Ellen's naked body. And they talked about the mating event so that Nathan could be aware of what was going on and how Rodney and her appeared in the middle of the woods in the middle of the night.

Also, Nathan could not deny the fact that he felt comfortable being with Ellen. She somehow helped him forget the burden of his cruel life.

"See? You are not that unlucky after all, Nathan. You just have to believe in yourself you aren't." Ellen's smile suddenly made Nathan realize one thing. Their unexpected kiss.

He immediately turned his face in the other direction to avoid the extension of their awkward moment. Needless to say, Nathan's face was about to explode from blemishing. And he was starting to recall about the kiss. She was his first kiss.

"Maybe or maybe not." Nathan grim shortly. "Anyway, thank you so much for making me feel better, Ellen. I did not expect you were that tough when it comes to that evil man."

"I did?" Ellen humbly smiled back. "So, you were saying, like you're accepting my proposal to be my mate?"

Nathan gulped some water down to his throat as though the cold air has blocked his breathing. He first thought Ellen was simply bluffing at Rodney earlier to avoid being with him.

"How old are you, anyway?" Nathan asked out of curiosity.

"I just turned eighteen last week. And I guess you are already at the right age too, right?" Ellen asked based on Nathan's school records. Considering she was the president of their class, she was aware of every bit of information from her subordinates, and that included Nathan.

Nathan was no longer surprised by Ellen's broad knowledge since she never ceases to amaze him by giving every piece of information about him.

"So, you're serious about this mating thing, huh?" Nathan asked back. "I mean, not that I was complaining but you deserve someone better than me, Ellen. Rodney was right. I have nothing both as a werewolf and a human."

"Me either, Nathan. I'm not ready yet to have a mate. Haven't accomplished my hopes and dreams yet." Ellen suddenly locked her gaze on Nathan. "Could you just pretend to be my mate? Rodney will not stop until he gets what he wanted. But if I can convince him you're my mate, perhaps he would stop chasing me. Don't worry, I can pay you. Just name your price."

Nathan's first impression of Ellen suddenly changed. He expected her to be that good but it seemed that they have no difference with Rodney. He thinks Ellen was also a manipulative type of wolf behind her gorgeous mask.

He doesn't like the sound of it offering him a price for his service. That was beyond his imagination Ellen could have done that to someone like him, a loser.

"Fine. But I'm not gonna accept any payments from you, Ellen. Just tell me what to do." Nathan said back, not because he felt pity for Ellen but because he wanted to prove his instinct about her was mistaken.

"But, how am I supposed to pay you in return for helping me out? What else do you need? A job? Position in the school? Tell me, please!" Ellen insisted as though she hadn't read Nathan's disappointing expression towards her.

"Just don't. All right? Not now." This time, Nathan's voice began to ascend in irritation. However, when he noticed Ellen got surprised, he gets back to his words and muttered, "let me think of it. In the meantime, I'm just gonna handle my problem first.

Ellen doesn't want to argue with Nathan anymore. She already have known she mated someone with him against the world dilemma. So, instead of putting fire into the fire, Ellen shut off her mouth and focused on the mating event.

As soon as Ellen and Nathan appeared back on the grand terrace, everyone, including Vladimir, was surprised after seeing Ellen was with someone else, not his son, Rodney. The rest of the participants, male and female wolves, at the mating event were also one by one arriving with their faces full of pleasure.

Then, they gathered around in one place, waiting for the last wolf to arrive... Rodney. To their surprise, Rodney appeared in front of everyone with his entire body covered in fresh blood.

Luckily, most of them have scented the blood comes from a wild animal, not from their co-wolves who joined the mating event. After Ellen and Nathan left Rodney, his fury was unbearable and unreachable.

Rodney could not accept the fact that his beloved female wolf has chosen someone way behind his wolf. For him, it was a big insult when Ellen has chosen a loser over the wealthy, powerful, and soon-to-be alpha of their pack.

So, out of his anger, he crashed the deer who appeared nearby and devours its flesh and blood. When he realize the mating event was about to end, he went back to the grand terrace with his entire body tainted.

"Don't say a single word, dad. Not now." Rodney said when Vladimir was about to offer him his coat. Several indistinct chattering immediately resounded on the entire terrace when Rodney marched away.

Ellen and Nathan exchanged bothered glances when Rodney dragged and locked his furious gaze at them before he got out of sight. Most of the wolves who joined the mating event have immediately read the story behind it, leading to Nathan's interruption.

When Nathan noticed their eyes were locked on him, he marched out of the mansion to follow Ellen's advice. To mourn for the death of his mum and to know who was behind her death. Since Ellen was already committed to Nathan, she followed him out of the mansion.

And for her to stay away from trouble. She knows those wolves have a few questions in their mind about what happened. She's not ready to answer them. So, it's better for her to leave with Nathan, to let them know she has mated already.