Chapter 6: All Together Now

I listened to Simon's breathing and my heart slowly calmed down. Then I gradually got sleepy.

Suddenly, the mattress shook, and my sleepiness completely dissipated. The hideous face of my foster father suddenly appeared behind my eyes.

I was so terrified that I reached forward grasping at air until I felt a pair of warm hands, and those hands held mine.

"Well, so you're not asleep."

It was Simon's voice. I opened my eyes and saw Simon standing by my bed.

I said, feeling a little shaky, "I'm still a little scared. My foster father had never been a good father. I was afraid of being alone."

Simon touched my head and lay down beside me. He gently grabbed my shoulder and made me face him.

"Then I won't leave. How about we chat?" Simon suggested, and I nodded.

"Mia, can you tell me about yourself?" He put his arm around my shoulders. Then he patted my back gently, as if he was comforting a child.

Simon was polite. His attitude made me believe that there was no malice in his question.

"My life is probably not that interesting." I'm really not very good at telling stories, especially my own terrible experiences.

"I'm not asking you to tell me a bedtime story. I want you to share the story of your life with me, just like old friends would do." It was strange how Simon's voice easily warmed me.

I was about to say something, but my nose twitched. This was the first time someone had taken the initiative to care about my experiences. My past was always looming over me like dark clouds.

Simon touched the back of my head and let my head rest on his chest. He was encouraging me to continue.

I whimpered in Simon's arms. Then I said in a trembling voice, "My real mother died when I was born."

As I spoke, I unconsciously touched the moon-shaped necklace hanging around my neck. I felt really upset.

"What about your biological father? Where is he?" Simon stroked my back and asked carefully.

"My biological father also passed away in grief after my mother died. The people kept calling me an orphan! My foster father always wanted to do something inappropriate to me, but my foster mother wouldn't let him. She just wanted to be able to sell me at a good price."

The tears flowed uncontrollably, wetting Simon's shirt, but he didn't mind. Instead, he hugged me tighter.

"Sorry to hear that. I'm glad I was there today. It's all right. You're safe now." Simon touched my head again, running his fingers through my hair, combing it again and again.

This feeling was very pleasing. It made me feel like I was loved and cared for.

I looked up into Simon's eyes. They were gray-green, gentle and amorous. They were as intoxicating as beautiful turquoise.

I should be happy, but I still could not hold back my tears.

"Mia, you're very good. This shouldn't have happened to you. I'll protect you from now on," Simon said as he gently stroked my back to comfort me.

I buried my head in Simon's arms and said in a muffled voice, "Simon, why are you being so nice to me?"

Simon said, "Aren't we friends?"

"But I didn't offer you any help." I was agitated and looked up to meet Simon's eyes.

However, Simon seemed to want to dodge my eyes. After a second, he looked back at me and said, "You being able to come to my side is already the greatest help to me."

"But..." I wanted to say something again, but Simon pressed his index finger against my lips, indicating that I should not speak anymore.

"Mia, it's already very late. Aren't you tired? I'm very sleepy." Simon yawned. "Don't think about anything else. I'll sleep well with you tonight. Just forget your painful memories for the time being, okay?"

"Don't worry. I'll always be around you tonight. No one will be able to hurt you."

"I'll always protect you."

Simon continued to repeat these words softly. They reassured me.

The moonlight shone through the window and covered us

I soon got sleepy and fell into a beautiful dream

Was this a scepter?

And this was a crown?

Why was I dressed so elegantly like this?

I was in midair like a god, glowing with golden light. The endless blue sky was my background. The golden sun was my attendant.

It was the same dream again. It was me in fine clothes again. It was an image of myself I had dreamed of since I was young.

My dress was made of purple velvet overlapping with gold and silver thread, which formed a complex coat of arms. Beside my hand was a heavy wolf-headed scepter encrusted with gems.

My head felt heavy. Although there was no mirror, I had an inexplicable feeling that it was definitely a gorgeous crown.

I had never dressed up like this in real life, but I find it so familiar in my dream.

"Mia, my only master, I am willing to serve you forever."

Did someone just call me?

I looked around and saw that it was a light gray wolf. Its eyes glowed green.

It smelled like spring grass, refreshing and gentle, reminding people of all the beautiful things in the world.

It seemed to be Simon.

"Mia, wake up."

When I opened my eyes, I saw Simon's fair face. He was looking at me affectionately.

"Get up and have breakfast." Simon put his arm through the back of my head and helped me sit up. "I don't know when you should be going to work, so I though I'd better wake you earlier."

I looked at Simon and his green eyes. They were exactly the same as the wolf's eyes in my dream. Even their expressions were somewhat similar. I had never seen Simon's wolf form, but I was certain that the wolf in my dream was Simon.

Why did Simon say that in my dream?

***

*Krell*

A few days passed.

This was the first time Mia had taken the initiative to knock on my office door. At this moment, she was holding a box with both hands. Inside was a pendant.

"This is for you." Mia held the pendant in front of me.

For me?

I glanced at the pendant in her box. It wasn't made of expensive gemstones. But when I thought about how it was from Mia, my heart was filled.

I said, "Well, that's not very nice." I pretended to dislike the pedant when I looked at it.

Mia lowered her head as if she just made a mistake and said, "I'm not very good at it."

She actually made it herself? That made me more interested in the gift. Mia, you are so attractive to me.

"I'm not talking about the pedant." I pulled one of Mia's wrists. She was very thin. With just a pull, I made her fall into my arms. "You should put it on me yourself." I deliberately whispered that beside her ear.

Mia blushed. She buried her head in my chest. I could feel her rapid breathing.

She lay in my arms like this for a full minute. She seemed to treat this place as her personal space and completely ignored my presence. I liked to spend time with her like this and did not disturb her.

She might have thought about this very hard. Then she raised her head and sat up right on my lap. I could feel her hips as she wrapped her arms around my neck and put the pendant on me.

She lowered her eyes and I saw her thick eyelashes. They were very long and black. I really wanted to touch them.

"Well, here you are."

Mia looked up happily. I could feel the pendant on my neck. She had already put it on me.

She wanted to get up, but I was still enjoying her fragrance. I grabbed her waist to prevent her from getting up.

"You're really bad!" Mia's face got totally red, and her ears were also red.

She was flirting with me. We were just like a real couple and I enjoyed it a lot.

I reached for the pendant around my neck and brought it to my eye.

It was a perfect moon goddess figurine. The expression and figure were just right. I could tell that she was very careful when making this.

I gently fondled Mia's slender waist. Her body trembled with it. I liked Mia more and more because of her pendant, her face, her figure, her kindness, and the intoxicating feeling she gave me.

Mia then said in a coy voice, "Krell, stop touching me. I have something to tell you."

I asked, "What is it?"

"Thank you." I did not expect that she would thank me.

"For what?" I buried myself in her hair and breathed in her scent. I really couldn't resist her current appearance.

"Thank you for offering me the job. Thank you for blocking the car for me."

The way Mia answered my question seriously was really cute.

"Isn't it too late for you to thank me now?" For some reason, I liked teasing Mia like this. Her shy look made me feel extremely satisfied.

"And do you want to repay me with just a pendant?" I continued.

"After you saved me that day, I wanted to thank you immediately. But we..." Mia blushed. She was too embarrassed to tell me what happened that day.

But I still asked her, "We what?"

Mia bit her lips and did not say anything for a long time. I could see her shyness and it was really cute!

I couldn't help but lean closer to her face. I wanted to kiss her on the lips. How strange! She always attracted me a lot.

I was about to taste her sweet lip again, but I missed.

"I'll treat you to a meal at my home on Friday!" Mia shyly escaped my embrace and left me with an invitation to dinner.

Was this an invitation to a date? Look at how shy she was. How interesting.

I touched the pendant on my neck, feeling a great sense of satisfaction. It was clear to me that I was besotted with Mia. I wanted to possess her because I was used to holding what I liked in my hands.

What about Mia?

I thought she also had a special feeling for me. She gave me such a thoughtful gift and invited me to her house for dinner. We kissed intimately so many times. Every time, she would respond positively to me. She seemed to enjoy those kisses. She must like me.

The idea pleased me and I began to look forward to the date.

Soon Friday came.

***

*Mia*

I finally had a chance to thank them properly. If not for them, I would definitely be living even worse than before, let alone have a house to live in and a stable job like now.

Whatever their purpose in approaching me, they helped me indeed, so I decided to invite Krell, Locas and Simon to my house for dinner today.

I was in Krell's car and sat next to him. He asked, "Which way?"

I said, "Turn right."

Krell suddenly said, "You never let me drop you off at your front door." He sounded a little whiny.

Yeah, ever since I saved the stray dog that day, Krell drove me home every day, but I always got out of the car in advance and never let him see me to the door because I was afraid that he would misunderstand me when he saw my current residence.

And I didn't want to explain to him at all why I had moved here. The behavior of my foster father that night terrified me a lot. I might not be able to get over it for the rest of my life.

However, I could not hide it from him forever. This could be an opportunity to explain to him.

Strangely, I cared a lot about Krell's feelings. I didn't want to give him any bad impression.

I kept silent for a while. Then I said, "My home might not be what you imagined."

"It's okay, I won't mind." Krell stroked my head lovingly.

Soon we were at my front door. I'd made advance appointments with Locas and Simon. By now they should be inside.

Krell looked at the house in front of him in silence.

"Is there anything wrong?" I asked him.

He then asked me with a gloomy face, "Who gave you this house?"

I replied, "Simon." I then saw Krell's expression turn even more terrible. I hurriedly explained, "That day, I was harassed by my foster father. He saved me. For my safety, he let me stay here."

"You don't really know him that well and you just moved into the house he gave you?" Krell's voice was low.

I was stunned. Didn't he care that I was being harassed by my foster father? I felt a little down.

"Let's go in first." I took out my keys and opened the door.

However, the scene in front of him seemed to make him more upset.

Locas was sitting on the sofa in a bathrobe. His collar was wide open and we could see a large part of his chest. He winked at us.

Simon walked quickly from the kitchen and greeted me excitedly, "Mia, you finally come."

Krell suddenly grabbed my hand tightly, which hurt me a lot.