Fated to the Enemy

3

[ Brakk! ]

"Have you gone mad bringing a Pure Werewolf back to the Mansion?! What the hell are you thinking, Kai?!" Jade Lorelei shouted outrageously; her elegant face was bright red. She went apoplectic, breaking down Kaius' office door violently. "Since when have we made peace with them?! Aren't they the greatest enemies?! You're out of your mind, huh?!"

Kai sat quietly in his desk chair, unmoved. Ignoring Jade Lorelei's growling of protest. Kai's attention is focused on the pile of important company project documents.

"Miss Lorelei." Beta Mael blocked Jade's pounding and fiery steps. He smiled kindly. "Could you be a little more calm? Currently, the Grand Master was at work and was reluctant to be disturbed. Can we talk about this another time?"

"GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Jade pushed Mael out of the way. Before the desk, she shouted at Kai. Thump the edge of the table. "Do you hear me?!"

"Go, I have nothing to answer," Kai responded sternly, without showing his attention or face towards Jade. He pulled the top of his silver-ash-grey hair back.

Jade snorted, cackled, folding her hands on her chest since Verena Iridessa's arrival at the Lakeview Mansion. She was sick of seeing the foreign woman dressed up, served with all the hospitality and warmth of the Morgenstern residence. Jade can't take that! She was struck by blind jealousy, considering that Verena was shining and adorable under a nightgown. Ridiculous! "You treat that disgusting woman so special?! You have servants to serve her? Change her clothes to the best suit. Let her stay in one of the guest rooms, and I don't think she deserves to be there! SHE'S A PURE WEREWOLF! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?!"

Mael, who stood beside Kai's desk, bowed deeply as the proud Beta of the Osiris Pack had a similar question to Jade. Since saving the werewolf woman, there's been something strange about Grand Master Kaius Morgenstern. It is unorthodox, preferential treatment, and a change in Kai's attitude that is arduous to understand. However, Mael could not intervene or question the Grand Master's decision. Secretly, he wanted to hear a definitive answer from the Grand Master. Just listening to that little fight with his head down.

"Stay out of my way, Lorelei. You're starting to cross the line. I let you live here by my father’s will. I respect his decision. Has the treatment of the Morgenstern residence not been respectful enough of your presence?" Kai sighed lazily. Didn't have time to deal with Jade's often childish and unreasonable nature. Since childhood, she has always been so. Burdensome for Kai — and tiring.

"I don't care! That pure werewolf woman has to get away from the Digris Northlandic! I have a bad feeling about her! She must be planning something to destroy you!"

"Who are you? Dare to command me?!" Kai slammed the pen in her hand. His jaw muscles skyrocketed like beavers. "Whether or not that woman has bad intentions towards me, let that be my business and decision. Stay out of this, Jade, or I will kick you out of this Mansion."

Jade pounded the edge of the table again. Not afraid of Kai's threats. She pointed at Kai's face. "I warned you, Kai! The sanctity of Digris Northlandic has never been tarnished in such a ludicrous manner! You'll see. The Council of Elders will not let this happen! Let's see what they say?! Sooner or later, they will kick that hazardous strange woman out! What happened to you exactly? Why are you risking Digris' well-being with that disgusting pure werewolf woman?!"

This time, Kai gazed at Jade coldly. Expressionless. Kai confirmed the two words through the glare of his sharp eyes. "Out! Now!"

Jade turned away with a fiery facial expression. The footsteps clattered like a raging sledgehammer. Her hands clenched to hold the Beaver. She went to slam the door roughly.

"Frustrating! She should remember her place here. I'm tired of Jade always acting all-powerful. Who is she? Dare to rule me?!" Kai leaned back at the head of the chair, his charming face shining under the dim morning light clouded by dense gray clouds. All night, the snow fell quietly. Bury Digris. Kai comforted his heated back. Glancing at Mael out of the corner of his eye. "You too, Mael? Want to ask a similar question to Jade?"

Mael bowed respectfully. "Sorry, Grand Master. If I'm presumptuous. Of course, you can read my mind. I honestly can't understand your decision regarding that pure werewolf woman. We have been at war for hundreds of decades, engaged in bloodshed with them. The biggest enemy that can’t be left after the vampire. It hit my common sense a lot, Grand Master. I never doubted you. I am the first person who always believes and supports you."

Kai was silent, his shady eyes looking out the large window of his office room — scrutinizing the slowly falling snowflakes. Snow has never separated from the Digris Northlandic. The central climate is almost year-round. "She'll be useful. Think of that pure werewolf woman as my trophy, simple as that."

***

“How’s everything, Rose?” Kai asked, seeing the mansion's doctor, Rose Ophelia.

"Grand Master Morgenstern." Rose bowed respectfully, smiling broadly. She had just finished her examination and closed the room door behind her back. She was out with a nursing assistant and two Lakeview Mansion maids. "Well, I've taken good care of it. She needs some rest. She's got a high fever from her rib injury. Physical wounds are infinite, coming from the incision of a knife or a pointed whip. I had to sew up the wound parts of her skin torn wide. The internal injuries are quite severe. Whoever did, it was vile and cruel. No matter how kind of a woman she is, she doesn't deserve to be treated like that. I can't believe it. Experience a broken left rib, almost injuring and stabbing the lungs and heart. Five segments of the diaphragm are dislocated: flail chest. Her shoulder and right leg had a similar injury. Had gross bleeding, amazing — she survived."

"When did she come to her senses?"

"We all know werewolves have unique regeneration abilities. They are weak to poison, silver, and magic. I think she'll be fine as soon as her fever goes down. Let me know if she wakes up later. Excuse me, Grand Master. See you later." Rose bowed respectfully and said goodbye, leaving behind her big smile.

Kai smiled faintly. Shake Rose's hand. "Thanks a ton, Rose. Beta Mael will escort you to the mansion grounds."

Mael, standing behind Kai, nodded, giving way to Rose. "Let me see you, Doctor Ophelia."

"Aw, you're always sweet, Mael." Rose joked, hitting Mael's burly arm at a glance. "See you later."

Kai noticed the backs of Mael and Rose, who were moving away in the mansion's hallway, their laughter faintly echoing. Two other servants bowed respectfully before saying goodbye. Kai was silent before the guest room door and hesitant when he wanted to enter it. He was about to go to his office, but his footsteps stopped. Kai turned to the entrance of the room again.

"Acting strange." Kai chuckled bitterly, not thinking. Then, he convinced himself to open the guest room door slowly. Visit Verena, who has been treated and cleaned of all her injuries.

It leaves traces of bruises all over the body. There is a splint fabric coiled around the right shoulder. The edges of the lips are torn. Under Rena's eyelids were small sideman scars.

Verena was lying behind a large satin bed, her eyes closed tightly. Her skin was shining and sparkling under a blue nightgown sky. She's got golden glowing hair. Her face fell asleep peacefully. Kai viewed closely at Verena's face through the glare of sharp, cold eyes and sharply bent facial expressions.

[ She's a pure werewolf! I got it wrong. But how did this happen?! ] Kai muttered in a vexed tone, somewhat fed up. He unbuttoned his top shirt, which suddenly felt suffocating to the neck. Since yesterday, finding this werewolf woman has been disturbing and always makes him sultry. Kai rubbed the top of his silver-ash-grey hair slowly, agitated and frustrated. He needed enlightenment from The Elder Amaryllis, who never came back earlier. [ Still, this is impossible, right?! ]

"Ares ... Malia... I'm so sorry—" Rena was delirious indistinctly. A fever reddened her face; her head moved restlessly, a flood of cold sweat. A flashback of torture in a dungeon leaves a trauma scar as she finds Ares and Malia dead on a bunk bed. Hands, a tiny hug, the laughter of two twin babies, the source of her strength, were taken away from her. Resentment thickened, and fury bubbled as Quinn and Lucian's faces flashed. The most disgusting disgust! "MY BABY!"

Verena awoke from bed with a hunting breath. She was terrified and still felt all the most terrible nightmares of her life. Cupped head, shaken through all that painful bitterness. Rena sobbed, devastated. "How could this happen to me?!"

Hearing a growling scream made Kai tiptoe back, surprised.

"Oh, hell." Rena sniffed the Lycan scent, noticing the presence of Kaius Morgenstern standing behind the king’s bed, examining Rena coldly, flatly, expressionless.

Rena was aghast beyond measure, intimidated by Kai forcing Rena's hand to grab the sleeping lamp quickly. "DON'T COME ANY CLOSER! Get away from me!"

Rena's eyes wandered to all corners of the magnificent and spacious room; being in this strange place with the Alpha Lycan known as the most cruel, cold, and heartless Werewolf Slayer—Verena was exhausted, scared, and cornered because everywhere she was surrounded by the scent of Lycan.

Kai sighed, putting on a calm but flat expression. His body language is authoritative. "Relax, I didn't mean to hurt you. You're in the Lakeview Mansion in Digris Northlandic. The main residence of Morgenstern."

Verena was unsteady; she leaned against the wall with shortness of breath—feeling unbearable stinging pressure on the left rib. She realized that her whole body had been treated and cared for properly. Sleeping lamp in a first freefall on the floor. Rena almost fell forward—Kai switched places at lightning speed, catching Verena's hips in time.

"Don't move much. Can't you lie down?" Kai snorted, a bit disturbed.

The distance was too close; Rena did not realize she was in her greatest enemy's arms. How could she be in this scary place?

Rena growled. Her movements were limited, and the burning pressure all over her body became unbearable. Her head throbbed; a scorching hot, stuffy air burned her chest. "Why did you bring me here?! You want to kill me? Torture me?! Let go of me! Let me go—I have no bad intentions towards anyone!"

"Chill! A Pure Werewolf doesn't know how to thank you, huh?! If I had wanted to kill you, you wouldn't be here right now. Lie down. Your injury is quite serious." Kaius's orders are absolute. His every word is incontrovertible. "My doctor said you should get plenty of rest."

Rena brushed off Kai's hand that grabbed her hip, growling furiously. "I can walk alone!" the expression on Verena's adorable face looked murky, showing an aura of hostility and hatred, thickens. Staring at Kai sharply. Rena walked over to the side of the bed. Her eyes closed as she managed to sit there, feeling a burning pressure on her left rib that was suffocating her chest.

Kai sighed slowly. Folded hands on the chest. Staring at Rena coldly. "What's your name?"

Verena was stunned, refusing to answer. Still showing a vexed expression.

"You don't want to answer? It would be best if you remembered I saved your life. I could have left you to eat that Wild Rogue. You owe me your life. Don't expect you to leave or escape easily from here." Kai affirmed his words, turning to leave Rena.

"Why did you save me?!" Verena asked with trepidation in her voice.

Kaius briefly paused, glancing coldly out of the corner of his eye. He demanded deeply with a smug commander's tone. "Don't get me wrong, I have no intention of saving you. I'm not that good. You refused to answer my question, so I don't need to answer your question either."

***