Atlas' POVI stared at the iron bars that restricted my movement because what I did to Donna yesterday ended up earning me punishment from my father. I was detained in the detention room for troubled rebels."Father made a mistake by keeping me in this place." He made me spend time in vain. I was planning to look for Elsie as soon as possible if I wasn't detained in this place, but my father forced me to delay what I was going to do.There's no time for me to procrastinate in finding Elsie's whereabouts. I'm sure that if I take longer to find her, then things between us will become even more chaotic. I don't want that to happen. No matter what the story is, I want Elsie to stay by my side. I want Elsie to be my softie and nothing else.I will make that happen, no matter what.But the fact that I couldn't do anything to get out of this place made me even more frustrated. Father made me completely helpless, and that made me somewhat disappointed in him.I ignored the sound of steps appr
Atlas' POVThe heaviness in my head still hadn't lessened since yesterday. My face was starting to feel stiff from not speaking and staying gloomy. Since I had nothing to do and my time during my punishment seemed long, I thought about many things. My hand kept moving to write down the figures that might have caused this.I wrote them down with my hands, creating a structure to the list of names I suspected, along with their connection to me. It's hard to do something without any underlying motive. What they wanted from me was something I had yet to figure out. When doing something risky, the person who planned this for me or Elsie likely has a big grudge, or they have a purpose.Wolfbane is a kind of poison whose use can be very dangerous, but considering that I only lost consciousness, the person who planned this must have known very well what they were doing. You could say they're not ordinary people either. Wolfbane is not something that anyone can easily obtain. I believe it's li
Elsie's PovThis place didn't look that bad, even though my main purpose of coming to Abrua was a student town where all the faculties of Education with high accreditation in each university were located.But after much thought during the trip, I decided to go to a region that was quite isolated from Abrua. It was not for no reason that I did so. I did it all to avoid Atlas. Either this was a part of me wishing for him, or I did know him.I was sure Atlas would look for me all the way to Abrua. He knew for sure that I would come to Abrua to settle down, especially since I had told him how much I wanted to be in Oxana to continue my education. Now, I regretted ever telling him about that."I should have stuck to my guns and not been persuaded by him." I groaned, leaning my shoulders against the chair I was sitting on and relaxing myself there.I tried to cheer up by gazing around the small town of Sarsas. This place was quite beautiful with its lush charm. Even though I was gazing from
Elsie's Pov"What do you want to eat tonight?" Seth came out of nowhere after I hadn't seen him at the local market where we were shopping.A while ago, I searched for him, but he was nowhere to be seen. Ever since he arrived, I had noticed his eyes busy looking here and there, seemingly amazed at the various things sold in the market."I don't mind eating anything," I replied to her by looking in the direction her eyes were looking after she whispered near my ear. "Maybe a spicy soup."He nodded. He was still listening even though his gaze was elsewhere with enthusiasm. "Alright, we'll just cook that menu." Seth began to lead me deeper into the market. Although he seemed busy, he did not let go of the hand that held my arm in the midst of the crowded place.It has been two weeks since I came to the Abrua region and pulled over in the small town called Sarsas. Everything is perfect in this place, juju raku feels better with everything here, plus there is Seth, who ensures everything i
Elsie's Pov"Elsie, please, I feel sick." Rory's sobbing voice sounded disturbing in my ears.She shows up when I'm trying to enjoy my time, not just when she's feeling pain and other annoying things. I could feel it, too, but I ignored it. But Rory seemed to bear it all by himself. She voiced his pain to me as if I didn't know what it felt like.I sighed, took another sip of the tea in my cup, and stared at the open window, revealing a view of the day almost dusk. I'd been craving this serenity for a long time, and now that I could have it, I didn't want to be bothered with another thought about all the problems I wanted to leave behind.But Rory refused to stop complaining, distracting me with her whining and agitation inside me. "We need to get back to the Atlas, Elsie." Her voice was forceful. "I feel like something bad is happening there."I placed my cup on the table, intending to ignore her, but that wouldn't make Rory shut up and stop. "Whatever happens, it is no longer my bus
Elsie's Pov"Do you have this kind of facial cleanser?" I asked the shopkeeper standing behind the counter.The brunette woman leaned in, looking at what I was showing her from my phone screen, after which she turned to look at the aisle to my left. "You can look for it around there. There's the same product type but a bit smaller." She explained skillfully.I shook my head and nodded. "No problem. Thank you," I said, leaving the counter and putting my phone back into my bag. I walked down the corridor and stood in the row of shelves holding various face wash types.I went without any preparations, so I didn't bring what I needed, but it wasn't necessary. Among the many types of products, I found one that I usually wear, but the lady was proper, there was only a small size available, not the size I usually buy, but it didn't matter.I reached out my hand to take it, but simultaneously, someone's hand touched the same bottle. I turned my head to the side and found a young woman who look
Elsie's Pov"You look like a bookworm with all those books in your hands, Elsie." I glanced at Seth, standing not far from me in the library hallway. I only glanced at him briefly, smiling before returning to the other books."What's a compliment?" I responded casually.Seth came closer to me. He picked up the stack of books in my hand. "Haven't you ever heard people call you that before?" he cocked his head and turned his face towards me, peering in the narrow gap.My eyes glanced back at him briefly, noticing the face that looked seriously questioning. I silently shook my head at him, then spoke. "I've never heard that kind of nickname attached to my name, they more often label me as lame, loser, weak and things that point to my status as an omega." It was not a pleasant thing, but I remember it clearly.The annoying thing in my life is when I want to forget the bad memories, but no matter how hard I try to forget them, I still can't. I keep living in the shadow of the bad words the
Elsie's PovI walked into my room with a smile on my lips. This was a confession that I never expected. I ran a little to the small sofa in the corner of my room that was right by the window. I grabbed the small cushion there, and then I dropped my body to sit on it by hugging the cushion tightly.I was in a pleased mood. I didn't try to deny it. I was happy because Seth's declaration of love came to me suddenly at a time when I was doubting myself. Doubting whether I deserved someone who truly loved me for who I was.Then I found Seth with that answer. I had never thought before that Seth, who was more than perfect, would have an interest in me, and when juxtaposed with him, it was hard to say that I was worthy of him.Seth has nothing to gain from liking me, unlike my acceptance as a mate, who certainly has a basis for acceptance. But even that can be rejected if he changes his mind.So far, Seth has been a figure who has offered me various things. He came as a helpful mentor and th
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