The young usher hurried away without acknowledging Storm’s polite nod. His steps quickened, and he received the greetings of the young wolves with indifference. His gaze didn’t leave young Vione for a second. So, he didn’t miss the moment when Lewis just walked by, ignoring young Vione.
The uncomfortable pounding in young Usher’s heart turned into a burning sensation. His chest felt hot. He was sure that Lewis was one of those who looked down on young Vione after the coming-of-age ceremony.
The young Usher and Lewis crossed paths. Lewis wanted to greet him, but he didn’t give him the chance. He walked quickly, then left the party hall.
Young Usher’s eyes wandered. At first, he thought young Vione was on the terrace, but she wasn’t there. So, he was puzzled.
“Are you looking for Vione?”
The young usher was startled. He turned to find a maid approaching with a tray of drinks. “O-oh, it’s you,” he murmured in a slightly stuttering voice. He took a deep breath to calm himself. Then he immediately asked back, “Have you seen her?”
The maid nodded. “It seems she went to the old pavilion.”
“Ah!” The young usher nodded. He cast a glance as if to pierce the darkness in his eyes. “She must be meeting Buddy.” He didn’t waste any time after that. “Thank you.”
The young Usher caught a brief smile from the maid before deciding to leave immediately. He stepped into the fresh grass, and the night breeze welcomed him, easing his lungs after being in the crowd for a while.
It wasn’t long before the young Usher arrived at the old pavilion. His arrival immediately made young Vione rise from her seat. But that was all. Young Vione didn’t greet him, didn’t approach him, just stood in her place.
The young usher quickened his pace. Besides, he didn’t need young Vione to approach him. On the contrary, he knew that he should be the one to approach young Vione. Maybe even more than just approach.
That’s why there was a desire that had somehow taken over the young Usher. The desire grew as the distance between them decreased. Then, when they faced each other, the desire manifested itself in the form of an action.
The young Usher blinked and realized when everything had already happened. He kissed young Vione.
His heart raced. His breath grew louder. Young Usher found himself engulfed in feelings he had never felt before.
“U-Usher.” Young Vione’s voice sounded very weak, almost like a whisper. She looked confused and blinked several times. “Wh-what.” Her head felt empty. She struggled to speak. “Y-you.”
Young Usher swallowed. He could see the confusion in young Vione’s eyes. So he took a deep breath before he spoke. “I love you, Vione.”
Young Vione’s eyes widened immediately. Young Usher’s expression startled her, but his embrace managed to hold her. “U-Usher, what do you mean? You…”
“I love you, Vione,” young Usher repeated, staring at young Vione without blinking. “I’m sorry for saying it now, but that’s the only reason I couldn’t stay calm when something happened to you.”
This time young Vione couldn’t speak. Her tongue was tied, and it seemed that young Usher’s explanation only made her shock worse.
Young Vione needed time to calm down. The kiss and the declaration of love were surprises she had never expected. So, the first thing she did was to reassure herself that it was real and not just an illusion.
Her face lifted. Young Vione returned the young Usher’s gaze. Then she felt the irregular rhythm that had been playing with her heart since earlier. A moment later, she was sure she was no longer dreaming.
Various butterflies fluttered in young Vione’s stomach. Her emotions soared to the seventh heaven. Happiness flooded her chest, but unfortunately it didn’t last long.
Clouds appeared and quickly overshadowed young Vione’s face. The young usher felt uneasy.
“Vione, what’s wrong?”
Vione bit her lower lip. She reminded herself not to get her hopes up. “Usher, I’m an Omega. You saw that at the ceremony.”
“So what?”
“So what?” Vione gaped. “I’m an Omega, so-”
“I don’t care if you’re an Omega. The fact is, this is the first time I’ve seen an Omega as brave as you. Do you know that?” the young Usher asked without waiting for the young Vione to answer. “You really amazed me.”
Young Vione shook his head in despair. “Amazement is not enough, Usher. Not only because I’m an Omega, but because…” Once again, she couldn’t speak. “Forget it, Usher. We should get back to the party.”
Young Usher didn’t want to let young Vione out of this conversation. So, he grabbed young Vione’s hand tightly. He didn’t give young Vione a chance to walk away. “Is it because I’m a future Alpha?”
Vione didn’t deny it, but the young Usher wasn’t stupid. He knew that must be young Vione’s main reason.
Young Usher sighed deeply. He released his grip on young Vione’s wrist and instead cupped young Vione’s face with both hands. He kept young Vione’s eyes fixed on him.
Young Usher didn’t say a word. He remained silent, just continued to stare at young Vione. But apparently this action was more powerful than speaking in a thousand languages. That’s why young Vione could feel the warmth seeping into her soul.
Young Vione held her breath in her chest as warmth began to appear in her eyes. Her emotions surged with the onslaught of sincerity the young Usher gave. She was powerless, then surrendered. She embraced young Usher.
Young Usher’s eyes closed in unison with the relief that swept through his entire body. Then he returned young Vione’s embrace with joy.
The peaceful moment lasted a moment. When a faint rustling came from the bushes, the embrace broke. The young usher turned to look at the source of the sound, but there was nothing there.
*
Usher couldn’t stay any longer. He realized that he had to leave as soon as possible, at least before young Usher found out about his presence.
So, Usher got up quickly. Then he decided to run when he realized that his movements made the bushes rustle. He didn’t want to risk young Usher becoming suspicious and being disturbed to check.
Usher kept running and left the palace by the secret path he knew well. He entered the darkness of the night, and the fatigue that weighed on his body grew.
Usher’s vision became blurred, no longer focused. Everything seemed shadowy, making him unsure of what he was seeing.
Usher froze. The sensation was no longer unfamiliar. He knew what was about to happen. So, he prepared himself.
Unfortunately, Usher was powerless when the time portal appeared and sucked him back in. He was completely helpless, unable to do anything as the wave of power engulfed him and then threw him down.
Usher floated. His body was pushed so violently, then caught in a tight embrace.
“Usher!”
*