"Mom's cooking?" I mumbled as I went downstairs and found Mom busy preparing breakfast. When I looked there, Atlas and Harry were already sitting at the table waiting for breakfast.
I tried to stroll and out of sight to get out of there. Such a situation was unimaginable to me. Just as I was about to move on, Mom turned around and looked at me. "Elsie, hurry up and sit down and have breakfast together." Mom gave me a look that signaled me to obey her as she arranged the pancakes she made.I looked at the table in a huff. If I could choose, it would be better to have my breakfast outside. I'm usually like that, too. But this time, I was forced to sit with them.I ignored my discomfort. I quickly grabbed some toast that was easier to eat so that I could get out of there quickly before I had problems with my digestion from eating at the same table with them, especially with Atlas.When I ate the first piece, I had trouble swallowing it. Who would have thought that making even the simplest toast could fail?I glanced at my mother in annoyance. Her poor cooking skills were outrageous, as she had never tried before. Even for the umpteenth time in my life, it was a foreign experience to see my mother preparing breakfast for her family. Most of the time, I saw her drunk in the morning.I ignored the taste of Mom's toast and stuffed it into my mouth with force to finish it. But while I was busy trying to finish it, I suddenly jerked in my chair. Something slammed into my chair from underneath, causing me to be pushed back slightly. As I looked down to check what had happened, I saw Atlas's legs stretching towards me, stomping his feet against my chair. What he was doing frustrated and disturbed me greatly. So I forcefully put down the rest of my bread, drink the water in the glass in one gulp and stand up, unable to stand the distraction Atlas is putting me through."Elsie, where are you going? Why did you suddenly get up when the others weren't finished?" Mom's question made the other two eyes glance at me indifferently.I glanced at them hesitantly, then looked straight at my mom. "I have an appointment with my friend today."I looked at Mom. She didn't react much and just silently looked at me while giving me a slightly glazed look, and I took that as a sign that she allowed me.So I pushed my chair back and walked away from the dining table, after which I picked up the bag that I had hung near the stairs and walked out of the house, ignoring Atlas' gaze, who was looking at me silently like I was an object that he could observe for research. But I ignored it and walked out of the house. I left the yard after closing the fence tightly and walked from there."My stomach feels uncomfortable," I complained while holding my stomach. Even though I said that I had an appointment to meet up with my friend, the fact was that I didn't have anyone who was worthy or could be called a friend, in other words, I had no destination.But I thought of the only place that could give me peace. That place was quite far from here. It took about 30 minutes on foot."It's a bit farther from here, but it wouldn't be this far from home," I muttered as I climbed the steep rocks. The road ahead of me was almost entirely uphill.Even though the route was a little complicated, I liked it. Because as I climbed, my mind was distracted from the various things that had previously occupied me. When I reached the top, I felt relieved. I took a deep breath of the fresh air on the cliff. Then, I sat down under a shady tree."This kind of serenity is what I'm talking about." I smiled at the view of the city from the top of the cliff. Not many people came to this place, that's why I liked it; it was quiet from people, and it was perfect for me.I opened the can of drink I bought from the shop below, then took a slow sip. "It feels so cozy." For a few moments, I looked at the scenery spread out in front of me.Then I turned to my bag. I took out the notebook I had brought with me, checked some of the answers on the assignment I had done, and then put it back into my bag after I was sure that the answers I had written down were correct. "Since I don't have any classes scheduled today, I should relax more and enjoy this tranquility," I muttered softly, leaning against the large tree behind me.Finding something was missing, I reached into the small section of my bag again. Then, taking out a pair of Airpods along with my cell phone, I gagged my right ear with the Airpod, and when it was my turn to gag my left ear, suddenly my hand was pulled back.Spontaneously, I looked back in shock. The AirPods I held had slipped out of my hand and were now in Atlas' hands.Atlas? My eyes opened wide. My body jumped in shock when I realized Atlas was standing before me. I was stunned into inaction as my eyes caught the look on his face.Atlas, with his pair of piercing blue eyes, stared at me. "So, which one is your friend? This tree or that grass?" Atlas looked at me sharply and coldly. He gave off a sinister aura from within himself. His face, which helped make him look good, also helped when he tried to look scary.I gasped. I unconsciously banged my back against the tree behind me, trying to escape him. Seeing him standing before me made my heart react quickly, pulsing so strongly that it made my stomach uncomfortable. I clenched my hands tightly, staring in fear at him. "Wh-what are you doing in this place, Atlas?" I ventured hesitantly, asking him, worried that if I kept quiet, he would get even more annoyed and push me off the cliff, my body twitching in horror at the thought of what would happen next.He looked around the cliff with a flat gaze and then looked back at me. I swear the cold look in his eyes hindered my breathing rate every time our eyes met. "What do you think I'm doing in this place?" he raised his eyebrows, signaling me to think of an answer. "In a lonely place with no people around, wouldn't this be a fitting location to perform a challenging act?" he said, grinning wickedly as he moved closer to me. He stared intently at me, so I held my breath and squeezed the bag on my lap.After looking at me, he shifted his gaze to the can of water I had placed near me, and he squeezed it firmly. "Your current appearance is pathetic." He looked back at me intently. "You said that you met your friends, but in fact, you're isolating yourself in a secluded place like this." He gave me an annoyed look.Our eyes locked, and he moved closer to me until we were only an inch apart. I tried to avert my gaze from him, but he pushed my body away, cornering me against the tree and placing his hand against my side. I wanted to turn my face away. Not wanting to be in a situation that pressured my heart to beat rapidly, I spontaneously got up from that place, kept my distance from him, and then pointed at my airpod in his hand. "Give me back my airpod," I asked him annoyedly, but still sounded quiet. I was still using my wits to deal with him. I realized my gut wasn't that big to deal with her.As I tried to snatch it away, Atlas kept his hand holding my airpod behind his waist. But I didn't give up. I tried to snatch it away, but he instead raised his arm high while continuing to watch me with a gaze that was difficult to understand its meaning.I stopped reaching for it. I looked at him irritably. "Fine, just take it if you want." I grabbed my bag near the tree, and as I was climbing out of it, Atlas quickly pulled my hand, which automatically stopped my steps, and then he stood in front of me.His eyes and mine met again, but even though it was the umpteenth time our eyes looked at each other, I still felt uncomfortable looking into those dark blue eyes. "Well, you're the loner who has no friends." He mocked me again. "Instead of being here alone, you should come with me.""Huh?" I looked at him in confusion. And before I could process his invitation and give him a refusal, Atlas had already taken my hand and led me downstairs.Along the steep path, he kept a tight grip on my hand. I tried several times to remove my hand from his, but my efforts were in vain once we reached the bottom. Atlas went straight to his car, opened the door on the passenger seat, and pushed me into it. Then he moved to the other door.I again tried to get out of there, but Atlas quickly locked it to thwart my escape. I looked at him with panic and fear. "Where are you taking me, Atlas?" I asked him in a trembling voice, but Atlas ignored me.I sat stiffly beside him, with all the worries in my mind. What would this madman do? Could it be that he wanted to take me somewhere and kill me? My heart was pounding as my anxiety grew.Then, not long after, Atlas stopped the car. He glanced at me. "Get out, we're here." He got out of the car afterward.I followed him hesitantly. Then, when I saw where Atlas was taking me, I felt another panic attack creep up, seeing that the clearing was so filled with people."Why did you bring me to this place?" I turned my face towards Atlas, and he seemed unconcerned at my rather excited reaction.Atlas opened his car door. Before getting out, he said in his consistent tone that always sounded cold, "Get off now."I gave him an annoyed look, my hand twisting my fingers, and chose to stay in the car. I was reluctant to get off in front of the biggest clothing store in Voskon city. There were too many people there; I started to feel uncomfortable and nervous imagining myself walking in their midst.Especially now that I was with Atlas. The people there would undoubtedly notice us because Atlas' presence wherever he went attracted the attention of the people around him.I turned my attention to Atlas, standing in front of the car's hood; she was tapping on the hood while looking coldly at me, signaling me to get out.He didn't understand what I was feeling. The pressure was intense.My heart pounded, and I began to fidget, the strangers making me reluctant
"You're troublesome." Liam looked at me with annoyance.Three months had passed since Alpha Harry and my mom got married. They both still liked each other, and thanks to that, Mom was no longer as annoying as she used to be. One thing that made me relieved and a little grateful. Although, to be honest, I'm still not used to their intimacy, like this morning. Although, yes. Of course, I don't mind it as long as they don't bother me.But behind that, my situation was not much different from before. Because Atlas still bothered me with various things, both on campus and when we were at home.Atlas isn't my only problem right now. Since Atlas arrived, the number of people who hate me has only increased. Like yesterday, some people are looking for reasons that don't even make sense.Especially those women who idolize Atlas. They deliberately spilled water on my clothes just because they were jealous of me and made me go home with wet clothes.I admit that Atlas is indeed handsome. No one w
"It's all because of Atlas!" I closed my bedroom door rather loudly, put my bag down haphazardly, and quickly headed for the toilet.I shuddered as I looked at my condition in the mirror. My jaw hardened, clenching tightly as I stared at my messy hair and my exposed chest, revealing the underwear I was wearing. I took the shirt off and threw it in the trash can, small in the corner of the toilet.Letting the water run down my body immediately, I looked down while watching my legs. "Their behavior is so disgusting. How could they treat me like that?" I rubbed the part of my body that they touched hard, feeling something disgusting sticking there."If Atlas wasn't in my life, this wouldn't have happened. I wouldn't be subjected to this kind of humiliation." I cried under the blazing shower water.I had never felt this abused by anyone before. I wasn't treated well early, but those guys only verbally attacked me. Even Donna and Liam may have been rude, but not with abuse. Because of that
"No way ...." I said softly as I looked at Atlas on the other end.This doesn't make sense. What is the moon goddess doing to me?I squeezed the hem of my jacket tightly. I was getting strange feelings for Atlas. I felt a bond that I couldn't explain how it felt something seemed to connect us, and I was helpless.Atlas walked towards me, his blue eyes looking straight at me without blinking. I retreated my steps, standing on the verge of losing my balance. My heart beat loudly and painfully. My chest felt like it was being rammed from the inside. The noise made my ears ring,At the same time, I couldn't stop thinking that the reason for the pain and humiliation I got yesterday came from Atlas. The reason those women were bullying me even crazily was because of Atlas' existence, which caused me trouble.It was all because of that man who was considered extraordinary.Until my surroundings began to sound excited."Atlas is looking at her. Isn't it possible that she...?" The woman with th
"What are you doing?" I swatted Atlas' hand away hard, but it didn't budge even an inch.My eyes stared at him fixedly and boldly. I no longer cared about what he did to me.All the images of the mistreatment I received overlapped in my memory. They appeared like a long scene and made my emotions uncontrollable. My chest was tight, and I was so tormented."How could I be your eyes... Atlas? I don't want that to happen. I didn't want to have any relationship with you, not even being your half-brother, but I held back because of Mom. Then what happens now?!" I spoke quickly, and my tone of voice was not pleasant.Atlas' blue eyes looked at me intently. His face looked flat. Either he was angry because of what I said, or he was upset because he didn't want to get this kind of fate either.I opened my mouth to groan soundlessly as something pressed painfully against my chest, my eyebrows twitching. My heart beat sluggishly, and my hands and body trembled from the pain.I felt the bonds wi
"Did he leave already?" I peeked out of the window and slightly moved away, looking out when I heard the soft sound of a car.Atlas's red Cadillac escalade came out of the yard, seeing it I was a little relieved. For the past few days I've been shutting myself in my room and avoiding the public, I've closed myself off more tightly than ever.Luckily, I didn't have any reason to leave the house since my college was on a weekend break, but I didn't know what the situation would be like when the break ended.I chuckled softly, my chin moving up until it made my lips clench tightly and rise. My head was more than a little complicated with various problems at the moment, but I was also getting hungry after a few days of torturing myself by doing nothing and just hiding in my room."While he's gone, I'd better go out now." I walked out of my room and then downstairs to the dining table.How nice!There was no one there. It was more peaceful to see the emptiness of the place. I gently pulled
"Oh, shit..." I cursed, staring at the open wound on her hand that revealed blood.I raised my gaze to stare at the three women who were the same as the woman who tore my shirt that day. They were looking at me with various looks on their faces, but one thing I could deduce was that I saw hatred and anger in their eyes and expressions.The cat-eyed woman's hand slammed into my shoulder so hard that I hit the cold wall behind me. "It's your fault." She pointed at my wound that could not quickly close due to my poor self-healing ability. "How dare you be chosen as Atlas' mate!" She stared intently at me.Again, because of that.I stared at her with an annoyed face, my eyebrows bent as I stared at the three of them.This happened as I was about to rush home immediately after settling down at my favorite spot, but these bar-bar ladies were waiting for me. They dragged me away from the hallway towards the abandoned building at the corner of the campus. The moment I saw one of their faces,
"I don't feel like going to college," I complained as I put on the navy-colored varsity jacket I took from my closet, then picked up my bag on the bed.Suppose I follow my heart's desire. I didn't want to leave the room at all. Especially after what happened yesterday, I didn't want to see those crazy women again.But I have a lot of things to do at the college right now. I need to collect assignments for my semester grade, then meet the lecturer for the assignment of the subject I'm taking and various other things related to my studies. Of course, those things are more important, and I can't postpone or avoid them, so I have to keep coming to campus.I want to graduate soon and leave here. That seems better.I came down from my room with lazy steps. I didn't expect to arrive at class quickly, so I didn't need to rush. When I came downstairs, I saw that Mom, Harry, and Atlas were having breakfast together. I paused momentarily near the steps in front of the dining table.I saw Mom jus
Elsie's PovI stared at the man fiercely. No...no, Atlas can't think that this is his son. I don't want that man to feel that way. No matter how much I don't want to trust him anymore, I will stick to my previous decision.I shook my head, pushing him back from in front of me. "No, it's not. You already know that this is Seth's child!" I denied it loudly, but Atlas didn't believe my words.He shook his head sluggishly. "I'm sure you're telling a lie. The baby in your womb, he responded to me." Atlas fixed his eyes on my stomach, making me grab it and cover it from him. "He became calmer when I got closer to him, and your condition improved. It's like he's talking to me through the bond. I feel it!" Atlas exclaimed, coming closer to me with his gaze fixed firmly on me, not letting me escape him.I tried to break away from him, pushing him away, but my efforts were in vain. "What are you thinking? Just because this baby is calmer, you think he's yours?" I tried to turn the tables by say
Atlas PovSo he was the one who gave the wolf bane to Donna? But he probably didn't know anything. It could be that, just like Donan, prof Awkson was perhaps the one being used.However, finding Awkson to be the one involved seemed to further narrow down the people who were also involved."So my suspicions were well-founded, suspecting Seth was the right thing to do," I muttered seriously, keeping watch all night in that place.Now I'm just waiting for the right moment to go inside and meet with Elsie. But damn, Seth hadn't moved from his spot in days.He remained in the house, and that made me very upset. "This isn't normal. How could he be home for so many days? Does she have absolutely nothing else to do? There's no way an unemployed person like that would agree to be responsible for someone, let alone a baby. He must have some other identity he's hiding so money isn't a problem for him."My suspicions grew daily, and I became increasingly reluctant to leave, leaving Elsie, who cou
Atlas' POVI sighed heavily, pulling my car door open, then getting inside and slamming it shut. Again, even after being inside and watching them from a distance, I still felt annoyed.I was annoyed by various things. So far, I felt like I was being played and tortured at the same time. My feelings became so chaotic when I saw Elsie holding her stomach pain in the hospital. I followed her from behind and was full of anxiety. I was angry because even though I saw her, I couldn't do anything. I could only follow her from behind, hoping that she was okay.I closed my eyes while exhaling a heavy breath that pressed against my chest with an unrelenting weight. "Why do I have to experience such a horrible thing?" I covered my face with my palms and rubbed them back. Of the many difficult things I've experienced in my lifetime, this was the first time I felt so helpless.I didn't understand why, among millions of people, I had to be chosen to undergo this kind of fate. Why did I get bad luck
Elsie's PovI looked out with a carefree feeling. What was previously weighing on my heart and mind seemed to be lifted thanks to my gaze being distracted by what passed before my eyes. As Seth's car passed by, I saw many things.The sight of the bustling city and the many large buildings built along the way comforted my eyes and quieted my mind. I had been thinking about many things for a while, and the noise in my head suddenly disappeared, becoming quieter as I watched my surroundings bustling with people."Is it this crowded, Seth? I don't recall it being the weekend." I turned my head towards Seth, who was also looking out the window.From the crowded place, I wondered what they were doing, where they were going, and what they felt as they walked down the street in the middle of the crowd, mingling with others.Could it be that they felt free? Did they think lighter by enjoying their lives, or did they feel shackled by what they were doing? Among them, some were walking with only
Elsie's Pov"So you're sure this isn't a contraction or something?" I looked at Seth. Even though the expression on his face looked grim and gloomy, he still asked and confirmed my condition, overriding what he felt.The doctor approached and checked my pulse quietly. It seemed not to confirm what Seth asked but because he just needed to check. "No, it's still not labour yet. If it's normal labour, it seems it will still take a while." he turned towards Seth, then later patted the man's shoulder. "You don't need to be that worried. This kind of cramps will probably appear several times during pregnancy, but stay calm, as it's nothing serious."Seth exhaled and looked at me with relief, though his eyes still didn't seem back to what they were before. "Let it go, then. I'll take her home." Seth approached me, helped me get up from where I was lying and sat me in the wheelchair.Before leaving, Seth approached the doctor, who wrote something on paper. Then he held his head and looked at
Elsie's PovEven though I had previously avoided Seth's suspicions of me, and I had also tried to organise my mind to trust Seth, I didn't understand why I still doubted what had happened or why I still doubted that he was someone I knew.I still doubted that what Seth did had anything to do with what Atlas said. My eyes realised his sincerity, realised his feelings for me weren't an ordinary mask, but my intuition for him didn't make me calm.Day after day, I was troubled by my growing suspicion of him. I, who tried to ignore what I felt, finally could no longer ignore my feelings for him. I felt restless, and my desire to keep my mind calm for the sake of the baby in my womb was no longer able to keep it calm.Even though I tried my hardest, I could no longer dismiss the suspicion towards Seth that kept growing inside me. I wanted to keep trusting him and hoping that he was exactly what I had seen, but I couldn't do it. I can't think like that anymore.If I'm a hybrid, then that mea
Elsie's povWhat was he doing? Why did he suddenly come back? Didn't she leave earlier? I didn't understand. My eyes looked at him in surprise while Seth looked at me in confusion."Seth, why did you come back?" I ventured to ask him. Staring at him with the fear in me that I tried to hide. "Didn't you go out earlier?"Why did he suddenly come back? Did he know what I was about to do? Could he be starting to suspect that I knew what he would do? How is this? What should I do?Seth walked closer. I, sitting on the floor near the row where his books were lined up, stared while holding my breath.He walked steadily closer, then stopped on the floor where I was sitting, near a drawer. "I came back because I left something behind." He pulled the drawer out and then took out a light brown file. I watched silently, with my breath trying to escape. Then he looked back at me. "And you alone, Elsie? What are you doing in my room?"I gulped the saliva in my throat nervously. My heart felt like i
Elsie's pov"Where are you going, Seth?" I asked Seth, who was getting ready by putting on his shoes.I looked into his eyes intently after he turned to me as soon as I asked him.Seth smoothed the laces on the light brown formal shoes he was wearing. He turned his head silently to me for a moment. "I have something to buy outside, and then I want to meet someone." He looked at me, somewhat confused.I came closer to him. For some reason, I wanted to prove what Atlas had told me that day. I didn't want to keep harbouring suspicions about him, so I'd better quickly find out what Seth might be hiding from me. "Can I come?" I looked at him expectantly. "How about we do the shopping later and meet your friend first?" I suggested it to him.For all I knew, if it wasn't anything suspicious or anything like that, Seth would never object to me following him, and he wouldHe did as I asked and was patient as always. However, one thing made it necessary for her to act otherwise.He looked doubt
Elsie's PovI stared blankly at what Seth was busily preparing for me, my mind completely distracted with what he might do. I can no longer trust him completely like I used to.I'm not sure what he gave me now is safe. I didn't understand which one I trusted more between him and Atlas, but feeling the way my heart thumped around him and how I responded while being around Atlas, I believed that something wrong was indeed happening.If my feelings are already like this, then I should be wary. If later this proves to be just a suspicion, I will punish myself for suspecting him and apologise to him, while in the meantime, I will be wary of his attitude.I'm sorry, Seth, but I just want safety for myself, especially since the situation lately is very complicated, and I don't want to take any risks."Sit down. Why are you just sitting there?" He smiled softly, as was his habit in front of me.I gazed at that face with observing eyes. I stared at her intently, trying to find a crack at what