Warmth

XIMUN

While his strides were rapid, his mind raced with thoughts about Aysu. From the smile she tried to stifle while he fell, to the intensity in her eyes as his inner soul begged to kiss her, Ximun thought about those little moments and those memories assured him that he and Aysu were on the right track, though it thoroughly bummed him that their child would not be able to join that journey.

The thought of their lost child made Ximun’s heart squeeze. He had been trying to ignore how he truly felt about the disaster. But since he spent a great deal of his time imagining what it would be like to be free of the curse and bear a child, the news about losing his unborn child definitely hit him in the greatest way.

But, despite those aches, there were other issues to shoulder. So, while he hoped that Aysu wouldn’t be too immersed in her pain while she’s alone, he shrugged his thoughts away and tilted his head in the direction of the guard walking with him.

“Is it the people from Tarmish Pack?” Ximun asked.

“Yes, Your Majesty. This time, it is just one person waiting in the throne room. But she came with a few carts.”

“She?”

“Yes. And weirdly, she is half-naked.”

“Half-naked? Is that in a haunting way or..?”

“No, Your Majesty. She’s half-naked in a way that makes you wonder if she’s in her right senses.”

“Hmm.” Ximun recalled that Aysu had briefly mentioned a half-naked person when she came to confront him about her father.

The guard then continued, “It seems they are trying to offer a bribe. We caught a glimpse of the cart’s content and it was oddly shiny.”

“We might have to stain that shine with the blood of this messenger. Perhaps, then, the Alpha of Tarmish Pack will realise that I am not letting them near Aysu.”

“If I may ask,” the guard continued, his naturally solemn voice flowing as a melodious song would, “how is Miss Aysu doing?”

Hearing that question from someone else placed a burden on Ximun’s heart. So, he heaved a very heavy sigh before he responded. “Truthfully,” their loud steps were now closer to the throne room, “I don’t know. She says she is fine, but how could she be?”

“What if she is, Your Majesty?”

“Huh… I guess that will be good.”

“Your Majesty,” the man smacked his lips, “certain thoughts tend to stop us from seeing the real side to things. When I lost my pup due to stillbirth, I noticed that my late wife was happier than usual. That angered me so much because I thought she didn’t regard the life of the child. But when we sat down to talk, I realised that she was sad and happy about what happened.”

“Sad and happy?”

He nodded. “Sad because the pup didn’t survive. But happy, because, on a microscopic level, the cells of that pup were still thriving within her. And she was also happy that the babies that would come after would get to experience a cellular relationship with the brother or sister they would not get to meet in real life.”

Ximun was oddly warmed by that sentence. “Your wife sounds like she loved science.”

“She did.”

“What happened?”

“Work accident while we were still living in Tarmish Pack. Because that accident took her away, we didn’t get to fulfill our dream of creating another life. But I am always grateful that I met someone as wonderful and gracious as her.”

“It sucks that sometimes life tends to be a pain in the ass.”

“Oh well,” the he-wolf shrugged, “what can we do?”

Now, they were approaching the main throne room and once the doors to that room opened, the guard stepped aside and Ximun headed inside.

Truly, the woman was half-naked.

Ximun took his eyes off the woman’s bare back and walked to his seat. And while he moved, he said, “I heard you met with my wife.”

At this point, Evalopus was returning from a lengthy journey he embarked on the moment Aysu woke up.

“I was told to deliver a message to her.”

“You told her that she’s a traitor.”

“Isn’t she?” The woman was oddly over-confident and it got on Ximun’s nerves. “If she’s not one, why would the Alpha King send me here?”

“Who knows?” Ximun kept his cool and dropped into his seat. “It might be because he is a huge son-of-a-bitch.”

Her forehead creased deeply. “Alpha Ximun, please watch your words.”

“Now that I think about it, you met with her before she slumped.”

“What?”

“You are a suspect.”

“How am I a suspect?”

“You are delivering messages for the people that wish to kill Aysu. Why wouldn’t you be a suspect?” Ximun sighed. “I have no desire for long talk, I have better things to do. Musse?”

The informant stepped forward. “Yes, Alpha Ximun?”

“Inform the guards to lock her up and-” The woman rushed to his front and she skillfully pressed the blade of her dagger against his neck. Quickly, the guards in and out of the room rushed in and stood still, ready to strike.

Ximun chuckled and signalled to the guards to stand down. Then, he said, “Your Alpha King sent a ticking bomb to me. How cute.”

He summoned one-third of his super strength which was mostly rumoured about in market places, grabbed the blade and with a single motion, he flung her and the blade to the far end of the room.

Once he stood up, he strutted to the groaning woman and said, “I don’t hit women. Well, I never do. But the moment you pose a threat to my life and that of my loved one, I will make sure to tear you into a million pieces and I will do it in the most painful way.”

Ximun dusted his hands as if they were stained. “I am done with you. Grab your shiny goods and tell your King that he should get ready for the worst. I don’t intend to spare him for trying to kill Aysu.”

After that, Ximun flapped the wings of his nightwear jacket and walked out with pride in his steps.

The guard from earlier joined him, but this time, words didn’t fall from his lips. Ximun deduced that the man was trying to maintain respect for his King, so he said nothing either and chose to ruminate on their earlier discussion.

After a few mental and emotional calculations, Ximun decided to probe into Aysu’s true feelings a little more. That way, he would know how best to make her happy.

Within minutes, Ximun was in front of the door to Aysu’s exclusive ward. Before he stepped in, he did a little throat clearing, some hair-adjusting and once he cleared sleep out of his eyes, he dismissed the guard and opened the door.

Aysu jumped in a way that startled him so much that he gripped his chest while trying not to fall.

“Aysu…” A thick breath escaped him while he studied the way she scrutinized his face. “What is it?”

“You.” A finger was in his face. “You are a huge cheat.”

“What?”

“From the moment we got married, you cheated on me with that woman in the corridor and also with that ex of yours.”

Ximun was ashamed of himself. Very ashamed. “I-”

Aysu relaxed her pointed finger and began to pace a little portion of the space around them. “Ever since you stepped out, I have been sorting out my thoughts and I can successfully say that I am not happy that you cheated.”

“I deserve to be punished.”

She halted her steps and with a certain gloat, she slightly tilted her chin upwards and folded her arms. “There is a way out for you, Ximun O’Hara.”

Even though his chest tightened due to the reminder of his faults, Ximun found Aysu very amusing. He was sure that a slight smile kept growing on his lips and in his eyes the more he looked at her. “Won’t you ask what the way out is?”

“I don’t think I deserve it.”

“It’s a very reasonable way. You should consider it while the offer lasts.”

For some reason, even though she was talking about something serious, Aysu seemed playful and that warmed his heart.

“How long does it last for?”

Her index finger was raised. “One minute.”

“I will take the offer,” he sharply replied.

And Aysu wore a very mischievous and devious smile almost immediately.