The Alpha's Claim

Chapter 9: Fake Affection

Ellio already knew those but hearing it from Xorran, he was slightly taken aback. "The portal that was long had been closed, opened for you.. that's why I am sure that your appearance has a purpose.."

The boy listening did not know how to react to that.

All his life, he had existed on earth for a long time. He searched for his life's purpose but no matter where he went, he did not find it. He did not belong anywhere. That's why hearing such words from Xorran made his heart flutter, but those butterflies faded so fast when he realized something.

What if Xorran is mistaken? What if I really don't have a purpose here? What if the portal only glitched? Would Xorran still want me alive?

"I am not mistaken."

With eyes widening, Ellio's face that was originally looking down jerked up towards the Alpha.

"Y-You.." Ellio is lost for words. "How.. how did you.." he unconsciously reached for his head. That awkward reaction of his made Xorran to slightly chuckle.

Ever since he arrived here in Acadia, Ellio never saw Xorran laugh, much less a smile. He either looked cold or pissed. So looking at the curve of the Alpha's mouth and the slight separation of his lips to create a chuckle, startled and amazed Ellio at the same time.

Seeing the human's reaction and realizing what he just did, Xorran immediately cleared his throat and switched back to his cold and casual tone.

"Yes, I can hear your thoughts," He admitted

"You must be joking!" Ellio exclaimed. "Is it because you're a werewolf?! None of those werewolf movies I've seen had said that you have the power to read minds!"

"It is not because I am a werewolf, it is because you are my claim." Xorran explained and halted for a minute upon realizing the other words Ellio had muttered.

Humans make entertaining movies about my species? Who gave them permission to?!

"I really don't understand anything about this claim stuff! It's driving me mad, Xorran!" Ellio exclaimed, stopping Xorran from throwing his own tantrum about werewolf movies.

"Ever since you kissed me that day, I started to feel weird!" The human is unable to hold his frustrations. Now that the topic has been opened, might as well take the opportunity.

"When you left with your fiancè without telling me, I was pissed! Thinking that you're being lovey dovey with Kerry faraway makes me jealous! I have grown insecure of ladies whom I suppose to be attracted to, 'cause as far as I know, I'm fùcking straight as an arrow!"

Xorran could not understand some of Ellio's words and could only listen.

"When Salem wanted to kill me all I thought about was to stay alive just so I could see you when you get back! When I woke up earlier, I had hoped that you would be there by my side. The best part is you even refused to see me and it broke my heart because no matter how I try to deny it I missed you! I was dying to see you! Do you understand how cringey it is on my part?! You're a man, I am too, so I shouldn't be feeling this way! I shouldn't be acting like a teenager throwing a tantrum because my boyfriend is giving me a fùcking cold treatment!"

After finishing that long litany of unsaid hate, Ellio was panting in anger and lost for breath. His chest went up and down as he gasped for air to fill up his lungs. Xorran, on the other hand, was left speechless. Ellio spoke so fast and there were human terminologies that he has no idea of but Xorran can sum up everything, the human is hurting..

After a long while he spoke.

"Love."

Still huffing in anger, Ellio's brows knitted in confusion. "What?"

"You felt all those things.. because you love me.."

Xorran realized that keeping Ellio this fact would only make things worse so he thought it is better for the human to know.

Ellio couldn't mutter a single word upon hearing Xorran's remarks. He refused to believe him. Ellio is a grown up man, but has no idea what love really feels like. He doesn't know if he is really in love with the Alpha or not. And to add, I'm not gay.

He stiffed when Xorran opened his arms, trapped Ellio in between them, hugging the confused human. Xorran's arms around him were really warm and Ellio's heart rejoiced upon feeling that warmth for the first time.

"And I am apologizing for causing you pain.. because I love you as well.."

Ellio's heart beated so loud, like the loud bombing of fireworks. He doesn't understand why but he felt extremely happy hearing those affectionate words from Xorran. He doesn't know why the Alpha felt that way or if what he had said was true, but Ellio allowed himself to be selfish and accept the affection.

Xorran felt Ellio hugging back. The Alpha was hurting seeing Ellio in pain and so he decided to not restrain himself and follow the command of the heart. He has been surpassing his feelings too but he can no longer stop it when the person that he is in love with is right in front of him. The love was too strong to resist.

But then again, all of this is fake. My love for him and his love for me, it is not true.

After reminding himself with this fact, he lets go of the human. Ellio's expression showed that he did not want Xorran to let go but the Alpha had to.

"You have mentioned that you started feeling all this when I claimed you right?" Xorran heard it loud and clear. He did not ask for confirmation, he muttered the question to make Ellio realize the situation for.

It's better for him to comprehend it on his own than for the Alpha to reveal it himself because it will be painful not just for him but for Xorran's part too.

"Yeah.." Ellio muttered dumbfoundedly. "It all.. started from there.." he spoke slowly as if trying to analyze a hard math problem.

Ellio connected all the dots: His jealousy, his anger, his pain, what he heard from Salem, Kerry's words and Xorran's.

Upon achieving the answer, for a quick moment, Ellio had wished that it was not true. That he's mistaken, but a part of him is somewhat relieved too.

"Affection is part of the claim," he mutters in a slow manner. "Because you claimed me, we are now connected by love." Ellio completed what Kerry was unable to finish when they once talked because Xorran had interrupted.

Ellio understands now why the Ozarae ceremony is needed. It was to find out if the one who claimed and the one who has been claimed really loved each other or if it was all still fake love, binded by the claim.

"I did not want to let you know because I thought you would be able to handle it and I could hide the affection I have for you as well.." Xorran explained. "..but it turns out that stopping the heart from feeling what it's supposed to feel is impossible."

Ellio now understands why the werefolks hated him. It was because Ellio now owns the heart of the Alpha that was originally owned by Kerry. They were the perfect couple. The Luna and the Alpha together, a pack would be much stronger and everyone will be living in harmony. But Ellio had appeared, vanishing their dreams.

Xorran loves him and because of that, it is everyone's duty to protect him, to risk their life for him because if he was hurt, Xorran will be hurt too and God knows what the guardian of the wolves is capable of doing.

"I claimed you not just to protect you from the other guardians but also from myself." Xorran confessed and Ellio was hurt knowing that the Alpha originally had the intention of harming him.

"And the affection is the consequence that I will have to suffer.."