Chapter 9: Punishment Or Let You Pass
1391 Words
Willow's Point of View
The excitement to answer his phone call was there. Anyhow, something changed which I couldn't determine what it was.
Frigid wind oozed in my skin, making the strands of my hair fly away and become a hindrance to my vision. The view before me screams my teenager life and at some point, I suddenly missed it even without a bunch of friends. Well, I only have one, which was Conrad's sister. I honestly wanted to see her and I might after this day.
"How's the rogue you're after?" I muttered solemnly whilst hitching.
Ethan sighed. "Well, he's too bold and aggressive. He wounded two of my men but we caught him right away afterwards. Everything's tiring when you're not here, love."
A small chuckle escaped from my lips. He's not really used to being away from me especially when things are getting hard for him to manage. Ethan is sweet. He's transparent and I am happy that he shows me his vulnerable side. When he suffers, I suffer too. We're always together no matter what happens and I am always there to support and cheer him as their Alpha.
Being an Alpha is a responsibility that weighs more than blocks of frigid stone-like things. He's a leader, the one who's in charge with his pack and knowing it wasn't just a normal pack pressured me most of the time. At some point, I thought his pack was gonna boo or make fun of me but I didn't realize there are still kind people out there.
"We'll soon come home, Ethan. We might come back earlier than I expected."
He sighed. "When?" He mumbled with softness in his voice. "You should know how hard it was to function when you're not here. Everything seemed frustrating. I haven't changed my shirt for days cause your smell still lingers." He admitted which made my eyes huge as balls.
I chuckled. Hearing how he stated it made me think he was telling the truth.
"Oh, boy. Are you that obsessed with me?" I jokingly said.
"Uh-huh. I'm down bad for you."
I was speechless. He knows that his words are making me speechless each time he makes statements like that. Not when a guard that he said I should bring with us appeared right in front of me who's constantly talking with another fellow guard.
"Anyway, you brought too many men for us," I asserted. "They're not doing anything. Maybe I should ask some and tell them to come back in your pack. Maybe it's you who needs them, not us."
"It's just a battalion. What do you mean it's too much? Damn, woman. It's not enough, honestly."
I scoffed. The conversation I had with him continues to go on as we tackle too many topics. He asked me how I feel about seeing my mother again. I missed her so much and no cap, there's no day where I don't feel worried and pray to Goddess for their safety.
At some point, I felt troubled going back but when I saw my brothers who's willing to take me back, the anxiety and horror of seeing my father was abruptly erased in my system.
"Ethan!" I heard a lady calling him between the lines.
My eyebrows arched. The way he called him was in a softest voice a normal woman couldn't. Besides, it seemed familiar and it seems like I've heard of her voice somewhere else. I heard that Ethan mumbled something but couldn't interpret what it really was. It feels like he too his phone away and even heard the girl complaining.
At some point, a sudden hitch deep within my heart appeared. I felt troubled knowing she's with a girl when he doesn't hang out with any and has no girl friends at all.
I haven't seen Ethan talking with women except when it's business related stuff. I never also heard he was entertaining women the moment he met me because as far as I could remember, he's not interested but I managed to pull him despite being fragile back then.
"Who's that?" I mumbled whilst clenching my fist due to anxiety.
"A girl. She's asking me for help. She's one of the victims we rescued when we're after the rogue." He explained which made my mind at ease.
"I see. It seems like you need to leave now. Duty calls?"
He chuckled. "I'll call you again later."
The disappointment in my eyes appeared. He took the phone down without even saying the things he frequently says and it doesn't sound good to me. At some point, I felt disappointed and a little sad yet I have to understand it. He might be in a hurry.
I was about to come back to where my children were when Conrad appeared to be behind me. He was leaning on the wall whilst his hands were crossed across his chest.
"H-How long have you been there?" I muttered, jolting in shock.
He scoffed. "Why do you seem disappointed? Didn't he say 'I love you' to you?" He mockingly affirmed before coming closer in a slow yet gentle movement.
I took a deep breath. Conrad's appearance are out of nowhere. We just had a small conversation earlier but right now, he's getting to my nerve as if he was picking up a fight which I won't give him.
"It's not really a problem where you get yourself involve, your majesty," I muttered with a poker face.
He scoffed. "What happened to the first name basis now?"
"With all due respect, that's now how I should respect you."
"Seems like you didn't get what I meant," he affirmed. "Anyhow, I think a wedding between you two won't happen. A woman calling his name… probably his other girl?" Now, he had the audacity to smirk which pisses me off real good.
Conrad might have heard the news from my brothers. They were close, and might have told him about my current relationship but regardless of the information he knew, he should have shut himself and stop picking up a fight otherwise I'll lose the temper I was trying to hold.
He's not worth my time. Besides, I'm over him and as much as possible, I'll do everything I can in order to avoid him. I might have been rejected by him years ago, but the memories on that day still lingers in my mind. It stings each time I remember myself groveling just for Conrad to notice me.
"If you'd excuse me," these are all I could say despite everything.
I was about to pass against him when I was two steps forward when Conrad didn't let me pass through. He was holding my elbow, clenching his jaw as he pulled me back that infuriated me right away.
I couldn't halt myself not to furrow. I was looking at him as if he was testing my patience as I annoyingly took my hands away.
"The f**k is your problem?!" I bursted out in anger.
Instead of getting angry, Conrad showed me his amused face. He was licking his lower lip real good as he arched both of his eyebrows before craning his neck then crossing his arms on to his chest.
"First, your children disrespected me but I let it pass because you are their mother. Now, you disrespected me the same thing your children made. You cursed… in front of a king. You cursed… to a king."
It was too late for me to realize what I've done. For God's sake, Willow! How could you be so careless and not think of what you say before reacting? It's the madness I had within me that triggered me!
Conrad had begun to come closer. He was staring at me straight in my eyes and each gazes he made were making my heart thump. He was moving forward whilst I was moving backward until the wall behind me hit my back, a sign that there's no chance of running away.
Every stare he makes is meaningful and different in my case. Conrad bit his lower lip, pressing himself more with an inch away that sent chills all over my body.
"Tell me… should I give you punishment or let it pass?" He muttered solemnly. The gentleness and manly voice he has got me. "Hmm, sweetheart?"
- Writer
