“Let’s talk somewhere else.”
I suggested somewhere other than this room. The last time the two of us were in a closed room, things ended badly, and I didn’t want that to happen to me again. I need to build up my trust in him.
I saw Pollux nod his head and walk out of the room. We went down the stairs and made our way down the front hall. The open night air is more suitable for a casual conversation, especially when Pollux leads me to one of the gazebos.
I sat on the far side of the bench, and Pollux remained standing. I folded my arms across my chest, waiting for him to open the conversation first. After many minutes of silence, Pollux finally cleared his throat softly.
“I want to make a deal with you, Godiva.”
I raised one eyebrow. It sounded strange to me when Pollux said that line. He moved his eyes right and left, but still with a tense face.
I could not guess what sort of deal he would offer, but I hoped it would not be to my detriment. I continued to watch him move irregularly in front of me. It was very different from when we used to argue because, back then, he always looked confident.
I leaned my back against the bench divider. I was trying to think even though I didn’t have a clue. I took a deep breath and then exhaled roughly.
“I’m willing to negotiate, so let’s cut a deal,” I said without hesitation because I was actually curious too.
“I’ll mark you, but…”
“But?” I leaned forward a little more.
“Do you want to answer my question first?”
“Just ask. If I know, I’ll answer it, and if I don’t know, don’t force me to answer it; I’m as simple as that.”
“It’s about you. I need you to tell me everything about you. I need that to convince myself that you would never cheat on me.”
I widened my eyes. Not because I felt offended, but because I didn’t expect Pollux to want to get to know me.
I thought hard. Should I tell him everything? What part of me did he want to know?
Honestly, I’ve always avoided talking to him. After the events of that night, I confined myself to having nothing to do with him. It was quiet for a moment because I was still confused about where to start.
“I’ve never had a boyfriend. One of the boys in my high school had a crush on me, but I didn’t return his feelings because I wanted to focus more on my studies. I once liked a customer at our restaurant, but after I found out that he already had a fiancee, I buried my feelings.” I decided to explain my love life.
“Poppin’,” Pollux exclaimed, but quickly turned down the volume.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m glad to hear it. You didn’t have a smooth love affair. I don’t mean to disparage you, but two people who have had such a love affair will have the possibility to strengthen each other. Castor must have told you about me, right?”
“Yeah, he told me. Can I conclude that I won’t be the object of your games anymore?”
“As per the agreement, then the answer is yes. Do you want a written agreement on paper?”
“No need. Castor has already told me how werewolves will be loyal to their mates if they have marked them. I’m sorry if you’ve ever been hurt by a bond in your past.”
“How ridiculous. You pity me because of my past.”
“Consider it my revenge for you. I want the wedding to go perfectly and smoothly. That’s all.”
“Okay. Do we have a deal?”
I nodded firmly. I didn’t want any problems at my wedding. I reached out my hand to shake Pollux’s.
Pollux welcomed my hand, but that wasn’t all he did. Pollux pulled my hand until my body collided with his chest. I noticed a gleam in his dark, beady eyes. His eyes flashed yellow, and I felt his breath on my neck.
I felt another sharp object pierce my neck’s skin. The burning sensation and pressure that had gripped my head spread throughout my body. This time my heart was beating faster, and I could barely stand it.
I touch my chest where it hurts. I couldn’t feel my legs anymore. I couldn’t bear the pain; it was agonizing.
“Hold on to me, Luna Godiva. You’ll be fine.”
“This hurts, Pollux.”
After I said his name, I gripped his arm firmly. I exerted the rest of my strength to hold on to him. His orders seemed like an absolute thing that I had to do.
I groaned in pain. I couldn’t see my surroundings, and I couldn’t even see Pollux, who was close to me, clearly. This is really tormenting me.
A second later, I couldn’t feel anything but Pollux and Castor’s voices ringing in my head. Both of them were talking to me, but I couldn’t see them. Their voices were strangely soft and soothing. The rest of my strength couldn’t penetrate the darkness that overcame me.
Until I heard Castor and Pollux’s voices again, I steeled myself to open my eyes this time. I saw both of them on the left and right sides of my bed. I was already in the room, but in a different situation.
I saw the IV bottle on the metal rod beside me and Doctor Cian touching my chest with his stethoscope. He removed the device from his ear and spoke about me to Castor and Pollux. I could feel my hands again, and I took Castor’s hand gently.
“Alpha Castor…”
“My precious, don’t get up yet. You’ve just woken up. Just lie down.”
“I’m thirsty.”
Pollux quickly grabbed a glass and filled it with water from the nightstand. He helped me hold the straw so that I didn’t have to lift my head too high to drink. Doctor Cian slid the IV tube in my hand and pulled it out slowly.
“Luna Godiva, I am glad you are awake. You no longer need the IV and can start eating an hour from now,” said Doctor Cian.
“How long have I been unconscious?”
“Two days. You’re like a sleeping beauty,” Pollux interrupted before Doctor Cian could reply.
I blinked my eyes repeatedly. Between not being convinced by reality and also because my eyes were too stiff to blink after being closed for so long, I also drained the water from the glass because I was really thirsty.
I glared at Pollux because he made me this way. I wanted to show him that I was annoyed with him, but there was a pounding in my heart. I turned my gaze to Castor instead of getting annoyed at Pollux all the time.
“Don’t look at me sarcastically like that again. It’ll be to your own detriment.”
“I don’t want to hear you, so you better shut up!”
“You’re lucky because I love seeing you annoyed at me. You’re so cute.”
I pulled the pillow from behind my head and covered my ears to keep Pollux’s voice from disturbing me. Before long, I felt the pillow move away and saw Castor bring his face closer to mine.
He said, “Pollux is right, Luna Godiva. You can’t get upset and keep denying it. It will hurt yourself. Both of our words are orders to you, and our requests are obligations to you since you are bound to us.”
“Alpha Castor, but Pollux…”
“Call him Alpha, like you call me,” ordered Castor to me.
I immediately stopped my speech. I wanted to argue but couldn’t bring myself to do so, like hypnosis was working on my body.
“I wish she would listen to me, Cas.”
“Then you shouldn’t always upset her, Pol. She deserves good things from you.”
“Yeah, I understand. Now I want to be with Godiva, so you escort Cian out.”
I looked at Castor and Pollux, who were compromising with each other. I moved my head alternately towards Castor and Pollux to understand their facial expressions. Castor remained flat-faced, while Pollux continued to show his smirk.
I exhaled harshly. I was a little annoyed at having to accept the fact that I had to submit to Pollux. Hearing Castor’s statements to Pollux made me wish I wasn’t part of Pollux’s absurd behavior.
“What do you want, my sweet pea?”
“Why do you always call me that… Alpha Pollux?” My throat choked at the mention of his name.
“You smell so good, like that flower. I think I told you that once, didn’t I?”
I nodded. I decided to make peace with this. It was just a flower name, though, not an animal name.
I saw Castor escort Cian out of the room and disappear into the doorway. After Pollux closed the door, he opened his T-shirt in front of me without hesitation. I widened my eyes again and shook my head weakly at his actions.
“What are you doing, Alpha Pollux?” I still stammered to put it that way.
“Keeping you company all night by leaning next to you while reading a book.”
What? I was unconscious for two days, but my hearing was still functioning properly. One line that I didn’t expect to hear from him.
“Why are you scowling? You didn’t expect me to be like this, did you?”