Because I Care

    To make it more convincing, Johnson and Lackey also shifted into wolves and growled continuously, trying to scare the hell out of him. I have to get something from the man no matter what. 

    Even if I have to stain my royal hands with his blood, I would rather take the chance to make sure what they did to the one I love will be given the justice he deserved. And I will do everything even if I had to kill.

    "I will only burst out laughing if you guys bark at him. You'll get nothing from him." my trembling legs eased off when the Sheriff appeared in my unit. I almost gave up that he had simply ignored my short notice considering he was busy in his office.

    "You never ceased to surprise me, Mr. Sheriff. Thanks for coming." I said back with a smile on my face. "Is he one of those men in the CCTV?" Johnson and Lackey moved out of their way and shifted back to their human forms.

    "Yes. His name is David Bowie. Thirty-five years old. Had a wife and three kids who studied in the same school as yours. He's an omega under the Blue Moon Pack." Mr. Delfin slid closer, crossed his arms around his chest, and studied the man's face for a few seconds.

    "Don't you dare touch any of my family, you monsters!" David growled loudly. Good thing my room was built entirely soundproof. No matter how loud he growls, no one could hear him even in my neighboring units.

    "Don't dare me, Mr. Bowie. You know who I am. What I can and cannot do as a Sheriff of this town." Mr. Delfin retorted. "In fact, already have my officers on guard in front of your house. They can do whatever I order them to do. So, better start talking before I change my mind."

    In a few seconds, a bunch of cops appeared in my unit with the sole purpose of interrogating David Bowie. The Sheriff highly advised his officers should be the ones to keep our hostage because it's their job to get any information from the suspects.

    Aside from that, he ordered us to get back to school as it should be. We were wearing our school uniform and with the fact that we are already late for our first two subjects.

    I agreed to the Sheriff's proposal. In return, he will give us updates from time to time about the proceeding of the case. Already had my assumptions about the reason but I need proof so Ghino would believe me.

    "Now I know why," Lackey said on our way back to the school. He and Johnson suddenly exchanged glances with teasing looks in their eyes.

    "Know what?" I shortly stealth a glimpse at them from the backseat. It was me who hopped into the driver's seat which I was supposed to be not. But I left no choice, my hands need to hold onto something that can alter my thoughts. And that's driving the car.

    "That Ghino is important to you. Deny it or not, dude. We've been friends... Like forever. Something changed about you when you met him. I saw it back in the school canteen three years ago. And it even worsen when he appeared closer to you after the Mating Event." Lackey made a ticking sound from his mouth.

    "Well then, what you said earlier about our generation's love knows no bounds is now applicable to our prince." Johnson nodded his head a few times to support Lackey's assumptions.

    "It applies to everyone. All you have to do is to believe that true love existed." Don't know where that comes from but it seems that it hit my nerves.

    But I'm afraid that if I will pursue this forbidden kind of love, I might lose everything... Starlight, wealth, power, pack, and most of all, RESPECT. Respect from everyone, considering what I believe was right is wrong to them no matter what.

    Never in the history of the wolf kind that a male wolf mated another male wolf. It'll destroy the pack that my parents have built for centuries. They were highly respected by our kind. And I can't afford to lose that.

    "So it's a yes?" Lackey asked.

    I shortly dragged my gaze to the rearview mirror, staring at their eager faces before I said, "yes my ass! Lilith is destined to be my mate, you idiot!"

    The three of us laughed in unison. But deep inside my heart was still hopeful there will be a world out there where my craziness about faith, hope, and love existed.

    A few minutes later, Lackey and Johnson hopped out of the car and proceeded to our classroom. I, on the other hand, still felt restless if I can't talk to Ghino so I decided to talk to him about the man who followed him earlier.

    However, when I was about to approach him, Lilith's furious face greeted me. She tossed her Lacoste shoulder bag to Ghino and ordered him to properly park her car. After parking the car, Ghino eagerly hopped out and followed Lilith and her friends like a servant.

    And it squeezes my heart seeing that he was simply being fooled by Lilith. His eyes couldn't see it because he mated her. And he can't say no to anything she ordered him to do because she was a royal like me. But the worst of all is that Ghino can't resist her charm compared to me.

    So, instead of approaching Ghino, which I can't because of Lilith, I slid closer to his friends, who were standing from a distance, staring at him, following Lilith like a lapdog.

    "I'm fine. They're my friends." I told the security guards who were following me. Ghino's friends bent half of their bodies in front of me in respect.

    "If you're looking for Ghino, he's not here. He's with her mate." One of them said back. They were about to turn around but I refused.

    "I'm not talking to Ghino, but you guys... his friends. I know he can't say no if his friends will be the ones to convince him to stay away from Lilith." I said back in a calm tone, trying to make them feel comfortable. 

    They hate me because I'm a bully. And I can't change that fact. But it is worth a try if I should talk to them. They were the only chance I could think of.

    The female wolf suddenly chuckled before she shrugged off the chubby one. "Why do you think that crippled metallic boy would listen to us? His life was already glued to Lilith. He even ditched us, his friends for years."

    From the tone of her voice, it seemed that she was mad at Ghino. I don't know what happened earlier but my wolf is telling me Ghino did something that can make them give up their friend.

    "I know Ghino will not listen to me. But he deserves to know about the wolf who tried to kill him. It's Lilith's people. They were against him being mated with her. Aside from the fact that he was a half cyborg, a nerd loser, he can't afford everything Lilith needs and wants if you know what I mean."

    Even if that was a bit harsh, I will not say sorry as it was the least I could say to them to open their eyes to the truth. Their friend is in danger. 

    "And why would we believe you, huh?" The chubby one asked. "With all due respect, Prince Nathan, aren't you supposed to stay away from us because we were viruses in the society?"

    I rolled my eyes shortly. How am I indeed going to convince them if I have no proof? If only the Sheriff was around, perhaps he can convince them.

    "Because I cared for him. Would that be enough?" I had to swallow my pride at that time. On the bright side, it's just the two of them who might have heard it. But I highly doubt that. "Please tell Ghino before it'll be too late. Let's just say, his death will also be my downfall."

    After letting out those words, I shortly bent half of my body and rushed to the music club since I am already late for the class. Undeniably, my entirety has felt pleased that I told someone about my feelings for Ghino. 

    Though I did not deliver the message straight to the point, it's the thought that counts. And it was all that mattered. It was as though a thorn has been taken out behind my back.

    In the middle of our band practice, I tried not to ruin my mood as much as possible. Someone once told me that if I am to listen to a piece of music, I have to put my heart and soul into it. To feel the message of the song. If I am happy, it will help me become happier.

    But if my current state is too sad, the song will also help me lift my mood. It'll make me happy instead. So, after the band practice, I immediately went to the parking lot since my friends are waiting for me there before I visit the precinct where the cops put David Bowie.

    To my surprise, Ghino, Lilith, and her female friends were also there. Johnson immediately signaled me about their presence as soon as he found me approaching the car.

    But for me, I found it an opportunity. I don't know if Ghino's friends had already talked to him about my request. If they already did, then it'll not be hard for me to explain to him.

    So, I stiffened my legs, took courage deep beneath my core, and marched in Ghino and Lilith's direction. "Can I talk to you for a sec?" Obviously, my voice was stuttering. Lilith and Ghino shortly dragged their curious gaze at me.

    "Of course, darling. You can talk to me anytime. It's been like... Forever, since we had our conversation. Missed me already?" Lilith slid closer and even wrapped her arms around me in front of Ghino. The worst part was, that she kissed me on the lips.

    She was about to kiss me again but I pushed her away with my eyes locked on Ghino. "No. I'm referring to your mate," then I nodded to Ghino in a begging way.

    "Fine. You can have him." Lilith smiled. "Anyway, I'll be waiting for you in the car honey. You already owed me fifty thousand dollars. If you keep me waiting for just a minute, I will charge another ten thousand dollars."

    "Don't worry, Lilith. I'll pay you no matter how much he owed you." I said before I grabbed Ghino's left hand and dragged him away from Lilith.

    But I've been thinking that if I have to talk to him about everything, should be in a place where any wolf could barely hear our discussion. And there's only one place in the parking lot where I know no one could hear us. In my car. It's soundproof.

    "What are you doing?" Ghino removed my hands from him by force as we seated in the backseat of my car. I crawled towards the driver's seat and bubbled out from the parking lot.

    "I am to show you something. And please, trust me this time. It is for your own good." 

    "Get me back to the parking lot, Nathan. You heard Lilith. I can't afford it if I will owe her additional ten thousand dollars." Ghino insisted. Even snatched the steering wheel from me.

    Good thing I immediately stepped onto the brake before we could hit another car in the streets. Ghino moaned from such frustration. Out of anger, he punched his lap a few times.

    Before he could reach the door of the car, I pulled his body back to me and our lips got leaned to each other. I kissed a male wolf for the very first time.

    Unfortunately, I received a hard punch from him. Yes, without any sign of doubt, considering I am a prince, he throws me a hard punch right through my face. Then he hopped out of the car.

    I expected him to run away. And I can't blame him for that. However, it's not the way it happened. He stayed on the street's corner, pacing back and forth, shifting his grip from his head down to his knees, and vice-versa.