Her Hurting Words

AYSU

A scoff of disbelief escaped her gapped lips while she struggled to find more words to say.

“What…” And when the words did come, she could barely complete them.

“Beta Richard,” Ximun’s resounding voice took over Aysu’s inability to question the man on his knees. “At the risk of sounding stupid, are you the killer?”

Aysu saw the way her father’s eyes hardened in response. That expression was very new to her, and it startled her so much that her legs almost failed her while her chest squeezed some more.

“Beta Richard,” Ximun tried to maintain a conversation but the man on his knees was very adamant about speaking. Besides, it was written all over his face that he was greatly offended by the deceitful trap that was set.

Aysu observed her father keenly as he exhibited those attributes and soon, questions started to flood her mind. But she still couldn’t ask them.

“We should cuff him,” Zion said, his eager voice interrupting Aysu’s thoughts.

“Try it and watch how I bite off your skin,” Beta Richard finally spoke, his reply almost enough to make Zion back down. When the guard relaxed his intention to cage his hands, the kneeling man looked at Aysu. And with a stone expression, he communicated with her.

Aysu had no idea what he was saying but going by his body language, she could tell that he didn’t wish to remain in that position for long. Aysu had no idea how he wished to escape that tight situation and since she didn’t want him to escape, she faced Ximun.

And she said, “We have to imprison him before he escapes and-”

A mass of gas from nowhere stopped Aysu’s words and her fear instantly came to pass when the gas filled the air and blinded all of them. It took many seconds for that menace to clear and when it finally did, Beta Richard was nowhere to be seen. All that was left of his presence was the hooded jacket he was wearing when he walked into the room.

“Go after him right now,” Ximun ordered the guards. “He must have someone assisting him.”

Aysu just stood still, her mind still unable to wrap around the fact that the man she just saw was indeed her father.

They say one can never know a person fully. To Aysu, that’s an acceptable statement. But when that person has exhibited multiple shades of unfamiliarity within weeks, she was bound to question what she knew about the person.

“Aysu,” Ximun called from behind, his hands resting on her shoulders, “are you-”

“I am not. I am not fine, Ximun,” came her heated response. Aysu turned and looked up at him. “How can this be? How do I fully believe that my father has killed people?”

“Nothing is confirmed, Aysu. He might not be the culprit.”

“But there is a huge chance he is.” Aysu sighed in dejection. “Ximun, he bit the bait we laid. My father is the one that walked into our trap.”

“I am aware, Aysu. But there’s the innocent until proven guilty part of this situation. Your father walking into this place could just be a coincidence and-”

Aysu’s soul dropped in sorrow. “I can tell you don’t believe the words you are speaking.” Her feet dragged towards a nearby stool. “My father is a serial killer,” she said after she settled on the wooden furniture. “But it makes no sense. Why would he even want to end people’s lives? He’s got it all. He’s got wealth and power and position.”

“Once we capture him, we’ll find out the truth.”

Aysu looked up at Ximun who remained in the spot she left him, his arms firmly crossed. “That truth will scare me, Ximun.”

“It might. But it will also set you free.”

Aysu’s eyes clamped shut. “What do we do if he is truly the killer? He will be put to death, won’t he?”

“The decision lies with the court.”

“But you have power over the court.”

“I can’t act on my own despite the power I yield, Aysu.” His solid footsteps approached her and that prompted her to open her eyes. “Let’s trust the system. If your father is innocent or guilty, it will be carefully decided after intense investigation.”

“Okay.”

“So, my dear Aysu,” Ximun cupped the back of her head after he squatted in front of her, “please let go of the tumultuous thoughts in your head for a while.”

She snickered. “I always forget that we can share the thoughts in our mind.”

“It’s very fun.” Ximun helped her up. “We should start making preparations for the mating ball. And-”

“Really?” Aysu did not hide her displeasure.

“What is it?”

“A wolf just died in your palace, is it really time to think about the mating ball?”

“Aysu, it is sad, yes. But it won’t stop an event that hundreds of people have spent weeks planning. Besides, the mating ball is not an ordinary event. It is a place where the entire pack becomes a community under a single roof.” Aysu removed her hand from his grasp. “Aysu, it is not possible to call it off.”

“Is this because Magnetino was an omega wolf? Is your pack so particular about what the higher ranks think about the mating ball? Is that why you would rather acknowledge the ball rather than the death of a subject?”

“Aysu.” Ximun frowned slightly. “I never mentioned ignoring Magnetino’s death. I am and will always be responsible for everyone in our pack and most especially, in this palace. It bums me too that Magnetino is dead and trust me when I say I won’t let his death be a worthless one, it will be avenged. But, at the same time, because it is one of my many duties, I notified the public about the date for the mating ball long ago. The mating ball is a tradition that can’t be tossed aside regardless of what happens.”

“What if the killer operated on a bigger scale?” Aysu was determined to force out some of the faults in Ximun’s reasoning.

“What?”

“What if the killer didn’t kill just Magnetino? What if about twenty people lost their lives within these few hours because of the killer? Would you still hold the ball?”

Ximun’s eyes darted to the floor. “I-”

“You would cancel it, wouldn’t you? So, are you trying to say that Magnetino’s life is not enough to postpone a party where horny wolves will be doing nothing more than humping each other?”

“Aysu.”

“The fact that you didn’t even suggest including Magentino’s memories in this so-called ball of yours makes me question the kind of Alpha King you are.”

“Okay, Aysu,” Ximun breathed hard, his hands on his waist, “that’s enough.”

Her insistence remained. “If you can’t respect the life and death of one citizen, how can you do the same for the many wolves that look up to you for protection?”

“Aysu,” his voice turned into a warning growl. “I don’t appreciate what you are saying right now. You have no right to judge me or the way I rule when you barely know anything.” The two exchanged heated gazes. “ I will look past this moment because you must be overwhelmed about your father. But please, never make jest of how I run my pack. Never.”

“I-”

“If going to the ball displeases you, you can stay back. But the ball is going to hold because it has to. Okay?”

Aysu swallowed hard. “Okay.”

Ximun spared her a glance that was barely filled with excitement. “You should head to the room. I will catch up with others and get an update. Will you be able to find your way back?”

Aysu replayed the words she said in slight anger and she could see how they might have hurt Ximun . That realisation made her lower her head in guilt and quietly she wondered whether to apologise or not.

“Aysu? Ximun called her out of her thoughts.

A sharp breath escaped her as she looked up. “Yes?”

“You should take the secret route. Will you remember the way back?”

“I will.”

“Good.” That was all he said and soon, his back was facing her and it became more and more distant till he fully left the room. And while she watched him walk, her mind instructed her to tender an apology for being too intense with her view of things, but her pride refused to allow such.

So, till Ximun left, she watched him while silently hoping that his heart wasn’t brutally hurt by her words. And that was very likely to happen because Ximun bared his heart to her way before she did.