Unfeeling Luna, Ruthless Alpha

CHAPTER 7: Kill and Give Birth

FORSYTHIA’S POV

A grudge left unpaid. An oath fulfilled. Yet, here I was, playing cat and mouse with this man.

I placed my hands on his chest and pushed myself up forcefully.

Alpha Makarios’s eyes widened in surprise. He pushed himself off the floor and stood up. The situation had become awkward, and neither of us wanted to break the tension.

"Thank you for catching me," I said, bowing my head to look at the ground, unwilling to face or provoke him.

"Hmm," the Alpha grunted. He shoved his hands into his pockets.

"If there’s nothing else, I’ll return to my room."

"Come to the Research Lab with me," he commanded.

Immediately, I shuddered. Goosebumps rose all over my skin.

"Very well." I nodded. Reminding him, I added, "Please don't give orders when it’s just the two of us."

Mak’s voice held a note of dissatisfaction. "I wasn't giving an order."

Yes, he was. He just didn't realize it.

However, my common sense was sufficient to know that arguing with this man was pointless.

"Please lead the way," I said politely.

Mak gestured with his hand, signaling the direction. I walked with a light, graceful step. The simple movements felt incredibly awkward between us.

Walking beside me, Mak asked, "Sometimes you are cold, sometimes you are naive. Which is the real you? I’m asking as your future husband."

"I... am all of those things." Stopping, I hesitated before continuing. "When I touch others, it makes me uncomfortable. Especially men."

"Unpleasant memories?"

"Yes."

He said nothing. That silence felt heavier than words. The feeling of being heard and sensing his empathy washed over me.

Or perhaps... he was just too bored with my story.

The Research Lab was on the ground floor, down a hallway leading to the garden and toward the kitchen. Hanging in front of the door was a wooden sign carved with "Research Lab."

"You are very concerned with research," I commented as I stood before the door, assuming the posture of a lady waiting to be admitted.

"Ecosystem research. More urgently, botany." Mak nodded, acting the gentleman as he opened the door for me.

Inside was a room many times larger than my current bedroom. It had many large windows and a glass door leading to a bigger greenhouse in the backyard. From here, I could look out to the distant edge of the forest and the deep blue sky.

"Oh, hello, beautiful sister." A girl with fluffy, curly black hair, dressed in a jumpsuit, turned to look at me.

"Hi." I hesitated. Unconsciously, my cheeks flushed hot at her beauty, which eclipsed even her utilitarian clothing.

"Oh my god, Mak. She’s blushing." She walked over to me.

Those gray eyes were strangely familiar. I realized who she was and asked, "Is she a close relative of yours?"

"My karma," Mak said, rubbing his temples.

"Oh, come on, don't talk about your adorable little sister like that." She pouted and hugged me. "Hello, beautiful sister, I’m Emarine. Call me Ema."

My body stiffened at the sudden hug. I looked at Mak.

While his sister hugged me, he walked to the table, looking at a row of seedling pots smaller than his fist. In that row, only one had a healthy green sprout.

The yellowing at the edge of the leaf was a sign that it was dying.

"Hey, what’s your name? Brother’s mate?" Emarine asked.

"Um, Forsythia Greenwood." My body froze. All my senses were focused on Emarine’s grip. She wasn't holding me tightly, but it was enough to distract me.

"Oh, what a beautiful name. Like spring." Emarine rested her head on my shoulder.

This was the Alpha’s sister; I couldn't be impolite. I kept reminding myself of that.

"Forsy, come here. Emarine, let go of my mate. That is my mate," Mak said without looking at us. I breathed a sigh of relief, feeling immensely grateful to him.

Emarine let me go, albeit unwillingly. "Forsy, is that a nickname you came up with?"

"A few hateful people used it," I answered honestly. "And I think it defines me to some extent."

I stepped toward Mak.

"Can I call you Goldie?"

"No, call me Forsythia, or Forsy. I’m used to it." As quickly as possible, I asked Mak, "What kind are you growing?"

"Foxglove. Only one sprouted." Mak didn't dare touch the pot.

"And it’s dying."

"Yes. My future Luna will bring it back to life." Mak straightened up, his eyes finally meeting mine.

And I was the first to look away. Behind us, Ema clicked her tongue. "Well, there is something very interesting going on here."

"She’s here," I said, referring to Ema.

"She’s my sister. She’s fine." Mak didn't change his attitude at all when I expressed suspicion about his sister. Ema gave me a judgmental look but said nothing.

"The surveillance." I pointed to the cameras in the corners of the room.

"Small matter," Ema said, then picked up her phone. She looked down at it for a moment before showing me her screen. All the feeds had been pointed away from us.

Fine, I let out a breath. The Alpha needed to know what I could do for him before he used me.

I placed both hands on the table. I closed my eyes, sensing every familiar thing in the room. This place offered abundant power. I reached out slowly—the smell of soil and the sensation of the tiny sprout caressed my intuition. I only needed a slight shift of power from the outside in.

A feeling of restoration, where everything was healed. New nutrients were created. When I opened my eyes, the plant was a hand’s span taller, with lush, fresh green leaves. I smiled happily looking at it.

"Alpha, I didn't disappoint you, did I?" I kept my focus on the plant rather than looking at him. "Now it needs a bigger pot."

Mak stepped closer to me; his warmth seemed to caress my skin.

"I’m going to the kitchen; the cameras are already turned away, and..." Ema dragged out the last word until she walked out of the room.

Mak immediately stepped away from me. Both of us crossed our arms over our chests at the same time to create an invisible wall between us.

"You did alright. I had hoped you could skip the process and make it grow as fast as you did yesterday, the way you treated the Alpha’s son."

"Fast growth means fast death. Why would I make it die quickly?"

"Because things that create death more quickly are more respected. I don't need you here just to grow vegetables for everyone to get extra fiber. I need a useful ability."

"Is that a killing skill? More important than birthing others?" I alluded to my womb; I still needed to go check if my encounter with Draco had left any consequences.

"Yes. Those who know how to kill are more important than those who know how to give birth," Mak replied coldly. "Can you learn to do that?"

"Small matter. If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving." I walked to the door, and as I touched the handle, I added, "I need to go to a clinic to get checked before sleeping with you. Do you want to come along?"

"We have doctors and equipment here," Mak said; I heard the friction of his clothes. "I’ll be done at seven tonight. We’ll do it then."

I wanted to tell him he didn't need to do that for me. But clearly, that wasn't the case. He also had an obligation to keep me healthy. It’s just... why should we check at the same time? It was so embarrassing.

Opening the door, I stepped out. I walked down the empty hallway, enjoying the quiet. I was about to turn right when I heard familiar laughter.

"Truly shameless. She’s going to be a burden on our pack, you’ll see."

That was the voice of the girl who informed us about the Research Lab earlier. Unila, I believe? I leaned forward, seeing Unila and another woman walking down the tunnel leading to the kitchen. Their voices still echoed.

"You know, I think the Alpha needs a better lover than an outsider."