4: How It Feels to Touch Him

            The two were introduced as Amadeo and Augustus Brooks. They were twins who were so identical to each other that there is no way to tell who the other was.

            Amadeo was Dark’s gamma. And Augustus as the delta. They were blonde twins, with a signature charming smile. And if there’s one thing that she noticed among Dark’s pack, was that they’re all so informal to each other.

            This only means they shared a closer bond than usual.

            “Why are you blaming me? I am his beta so I should support him,” Theo replied at Amadeo’s rants. Rants that had started since they met and continued until now that they were dining together.

            The night descended fast so they stayed in an inn along the way. Although it wasn’t as good as she expected, this might be better than spending the night in the wilderness.

            “That’s exactly why!” Augustus chimed in, pointing at Theo with a drumstick on his hand. “You are his beta so you should stop him when he’s doing some irrational decisions!”

            “It is my duty as a beta to support the alpha with complete loyalty! You cannot question my loyalty to him!”

            “A blind loyalty! So are you saying just because you’re his beta, you’re going to support him even he says he’s jumping on his own death?!”

            “If that’s our alpha’s decision, then-”

            “ENOUGH!”

            Everyone was startled when Dark slammed his hand on the table, completely shuttering it into half. All platters of foods scattered on the floor. What a waste…

            Perhaps, he’s really mad.

            “Do I look foolish to all of you?!” he scoffed, looking at his guilty pack. All of them were looking everywhere, refusing to meet his dangerous gaze. “And what?! I made a foolish decision for taking what should have been mine?!”

            Augustus whistled in nervousness, sweat falling down his forehead. Feeling Dark’s gaze on him, he looked at Caia with pitiful doe eyes, as if pleading for help.

            “What?” she mouthed, also terrified of Dark. What does he expect her to do? Can she even calm the furious alpha?

            “A-Alpha!” Amadeo stood up, braving himself to break the impending storm of the alpha’s rage. His face was pale from nervousness. “I think Lady Herald was hurt!”

            “What?!” Dark’s expression turned even darker than before. on the other hand, Caia was so flustered when he suddenly held her on her arms, holding her hands to check for injuries.

            He even scanned her whole body with his scrutinizing gaze that her body burned in embarrassment. His gaze was too fierce that she felt naked under his eyes!

            “Fuck.” Caia was surprised when she heard him cursing under his breath. He sounded angrier at himself.

            Seeing his hurt and guilty expression tugged some strings in her heart that she can’t believe what she was seeing.

            “Huh?” she muttered, looking at where his eyes were. And she was surprised to see a tiny scratch on her feet. Perhaps, it was caused by the broken pieces of plates when Dark slammed the table.

            “D-Don’t worry. It’s just a small- Ahh! H-Hey?! Why are you-”

            “Quit it, little lady. I won’t let you down unless that wound is treated.” His tone carried a threat, as if delivering a final verdict that no one can change but him.

            But what this fuss is all about? It’s just a tiny scratch. Compared to what she’s gone through, this is really nothing but a pin dropped in an ocean.

            Left with no choice, she can only let Dark carry her as they left the dining hall. Luckily, there were no other guest aside from them. Or else, this embarrassing commotion would have been seen by everyone.  

As they walked away, those three men silently thanked her for saving their lives. Amadeo and Augustus were mouthing her their utmost gratefulness with some charming silly smile. And even Theodore gave her a gentlemen bow as he placed his palm on his left chest.

She was bewildered.

            Does angering Dark really that bad?! For them to act this way…

            “Oh,” Dark paused, and despite not turning back to look at his men, it’s as if he knew they were relieved they got away from his fury. Yet, he wasn’t really planning to let them off the hook. “I noticed your skills aren’t improving these days. So, in these days we were traveling, don’t skip training. Not even for a single day.”

            “What?! But we can’t sleep and even eat if we do our training, alpha!” Amadeo complained, like a child sulking.

            “That’s right, Dark! We’ll die if we-”          

            “Then go die.”  Dark cut him off, his gaze was as sharp as a sword.

            The two continued to complain while only Theodore accepted his verdict with no protest.

            “We will do as you order, my alpha-”

            “SHUT UP! DIE ON YOUR OWN IF YOU WANT!” the twins cried, falling on their knees in frustration.

            Caia almost cannot believe what she was witnessing. She even thought that Dark was being severe in his punishment. Yet, when she glanced at him, she caught the silly grin playing on his lips.

            Is he… toying with them?!

            He?! The dark alpha?! He actually knows how to joke around too?!

            What about those countless rumors she heard that he’s evil. And he killed everyone he’s mad at. That he’s even walking on the pile of bodies he killed and-

            “Close your mouth, my Caia. You might drool.”

            God! That’s embarrassing!

            Quickly, Caia buried her face on his chest to avoid seeing his teasing look anymore. However, she noticed him flinch. His deep chuckle alongside his beating heart was heard on the same exact spot her face was in.

            Why was it beating loud and fast?

            Was it because of her?

            Taking a peek on his face, her cheeks burned when she saw the smile on his lips. It was strange. How can a normal smile look so beautiful and adorable in this rough man’s face?

            Since she met him, he always looks as if he’s mad at everything. Or that he’s preparing for a dreadful war.

            Yet, why does he look so dashing while smiling? How can a single smile completely turned him into a captivatingly handsome man?

            Caia hides her shy face on his body, clutching on his armor. How she wished this armor wasn’t getting in the way.

            Because she wondered… how would it feel if she’s touching his body instead of this annoying metal?