Is That Good News?

XIMUN

The moment Ximun held Aysu, their eyes met and the man became very tempted to plead with her to change her mind concerning them. But Evalopus stopped him and made him focus on the fact that Aysu seemed to be unlike herself.

The woman was holding the side of her face while she groaned lightly and shivered for some seconds.

“Aysu, are you fine?” he asked while he tried not to touch her to conduct a little check.

She was not okay. She could not respond but the moment her drowsiness led to her closing her eyes and not opening them, Ximun got a response to his question. And with haste, he carried her close to his heart and raced out of that garden.

As he ran with all his might, Ximun prayed to the heavens for the first time in a while. He suspected that the curse was the reason Aysu was helpless in his arms, so with heavy genuinity in his heart, he begged the Moon Goddess, who he harboured hatred for a great deal of his existence, to stop the curse from winning.

“Please,” he begged further, his lengthy hair flying with the strong wind of the silent night. “Let her live. She has been through so much.”

Of course, he had no intimate knowledge about everything Aysu had been through, but he suffered immensely for twelve years ever since his eighteenth birthday because of the curse. Ximun reckoned that Aysu had it harder than him, so he didn’t cease his begging, because, truly, more than anything, he wished for the woman to live.

“Alpha Ximun O’Hara?” One of the seasoned Healer Wolves of the hospital located in the palace called the attention of the man who was yet to let go of Aysu’s hand that he had been clinging to ever since he barged into the hospital and demanded quick attention.

Ximun was not willing to tear his gaze off Aysu who was still unconscious but when the Healer called him again, he sighed and looked in that person’s direction. “Is it bad news? Is it the curse? How do we go about it?”

“Alpha Ximun,” the man chuckled, “you need to embrace more positivity.”

Ximun’s face expressed what he thought of that statement. “Why? Is the world filled with an abundance of positivity?”

“Alpha Ximun, Miss Aysu is fine.”

His impatience was instantly tamed. “She is?”

“Yes. In fact, she is pregnant.”

“What?” Ximun did not expect that. “But we have only done it once.”

The Healer maintained his sort of annoying smile. “Sometimes, one time is all it takes. Congratulations, Alpha Ximun. This is good news for you and the Night Crimson Pack. Now, all that’s left is the Queen’s coronation.”

“Yeah.” Alpha Ximun went back to staring at Aysu and he wondered if he was allowed to express the true emotion he was feeling at that moment. “Healer?”

“Yes, Alpha?”

“Let’s keep this between us for now.”

“Huh?”

Ximun reached for Aysu’s hand again. “I don’t want the council members to put their noses in our business. Once they hear that she’s with child, they might try to control Aysu who is still new to our Pack.”

“You have a point.”

Ximun looked up at the Healer. “Andrew,” he called him by name, “sit with me for a few seconds.”

Andrew, his friend for many years, was more than glad to do as asked. One could not blame the man for being excited. Due to protocols tied to the Alpha King’s seat, their friendship had to be hidden as though it was forbidden.

Once he was settled, Andrew ran a hand through his dark hair and finally showed the concern he had. “How do you feel about this?”

Ximun sighed, his head ducked. “My heart is jumping with joy.”

“That’s good,” Andrew perked. “I thought you hated this situation.”

“I don’t know if I am allowed to feel this way.”

“How so?”

Alpha Ximun closed his eyes and wondered why he allowed his fickle emotions to mess up the one chance he could have used to show Aysu that mating with her was something meaningful to him. “I hurt her, Andrew. I let my stubbornness get its way and I humiliated her without thinking.”

“Oh, that,” said Andrew. “I heard what happened. Most people now dislike you because of that.”

“Aysu hates me because of that. And I am afraid that she will hate me even more once she wakes up and finds out that a baby was conceived in that terrible moment.”

“She told you she hates you?”

“Yes, a few days ago and earlier today. She found out that Mayana was in my chamber and-”

Andrew gasped with disbelief. “How could you let Mayana in?”

Ximun rolled his eyes and gently let go of Aysu’s hand when it occurred to him that her subconscious could be aware of their words. “Mayana was there when I walked in. But that’s not the point. Andrew, how do I get Aysu to believe that I wish to make things work between us? I really don’t want to be a stranger to her or our child.”

“First, apologise and never stop apologising. Second, chase Mayana out of this place before things get worse. Having an ex around does no good.”

“I know that,” Ximun retorted.

“So, how come she is still in the palace?”

“Huh…” Ximun scratched the bridge of his nose. “She asked to stay for a few days.”

“Chase her out.”Andrew became extra-serious with his words and that made his eyes somewhat sparkly. “If you wish to build something with Miss Aysu, chase that ex out.”

“I will. I will chase that ex out.” Ximun almost seemed like a little child with the way he blurted his determined words that were punctuated with a balled fist.

Andrew then reached for Ximun’s right arm and he kneaded it with brotherly affection. “I have watched you suffer for years because of the curse, so I am rooting for your happiness. But if you are going to be stupid enough to ruin things, I am afraid that I might have to slap the back of your head from time to time until you receive some sense.”

“Hitting your Alpha King is not allowed.”

“It is allowed when it’s for medical purposes.”

Ximun relaxed his position. “I think I would appreciate that slap from time to time.” He tilted his head towards the blue ceiling. “I don’t understand why I am acting foolish now that I finally have a chance to be free from the curse.”

“Is the curse now broken?” Andrew asked.

“I think we are halfway there. I just need to mark her the next time we mate. But I don’t want us to mate while she hates my guts.”

“Well, you know what to do.” Andrew got to his feet. “Get rid of that ex and apologise to Miss Aysu with all that you have.”

“Thank you, Andrew.”

“You are welcome, Alpha Ximun.” Andrew looked towards Aysu. “Miss Aysu, you can open your eyes now.”

Ximun’s eyes bulged and his heart pounded at the thought that she really had been listening to their discussion. And for a second, he wished that Andrew was just trying to pull his leg, but Aysu slowly opened her eyes and he was left to wonder how to beg the floor to swallow him whole.

Andrew, on the other hand, was beaming and he maintained that expression even after Ximun sneered at him. Soon, he left and it was just Ximun and Aysu in that large, exclusive room.

“Uhm…” Alpha Ximun cleared his throat and drew his wheeled chair closer. “How are you feeling?”

“I…” Her eyelids blinked furiously for some seconds, and when they became stable, Ximun was able to look into the depths of her eyes. He then wondered if her eyes were always a mix of blue and silver. “I am pregnant?” she finally asked, her voice barely audible.

“Huh…” Ximun really felt terrible about the truth of that situation. And he feared that she would hate him more. But, despite the hesitation in his heart, he responded, ”Yes. Yes, you are pregnant.”

Her lips slightly parted and Ximun made sure to give her all of his attention. Then, she asked, “Is that good news?”

“If you want it to be,” he replied, the hope that she would not push him away budding in his heart. “Is it good news to you?”

Aysu released a light exhale and looked to her right where a window provided a view of the night sky. Aysu maintained silence for a while and that discouraged Ximun who wondered whether to walk away.

But, moments later, her voice timidly replied with, “It is a good thing. So, yes, it is good news”

And with that, Ximun’s budding hope blossomed.