AUTUMN:Alpha Hugh and Eric looked at me as if I had grown horns. Then the two stared at each other. "You're not the only one who is busy, Eric. I am too because I have a job. I take care of the kid. So if you want someone who could amuse you, I'm not the one for that. There are other women out there who could do the job well."This man would only flirt, lie, or joke just to get in my pants. Or who knows? Maybe he was different from the other men who were only good at playing a woman’s heart. "I'm not looking for a fling. I’m looking for someone who would return the same love I feel for someone. One glance at you and I know it was you, Autumn."What a sweet talker and women fell for that one? Cheap. Did he think I was that stupid?I was about to respond when the alpha opened his mouth and said, "Autumn is also not looking for a fling, Eric. She’s focused on her job because she has a goal in her mind. Getting in a relationship with someone is not part of that."Really? Now I have a
AUTUMN:‘Do what?’ Alpha Hugh asked. ‘Telling me that no one will like someone like me. How could you be so cruel? You’re not the only one who deserved to be happy. I too deserved to be happy! Stop meddling with my life! You’re not my brother! I am not your sister. Back off, Alpha Hugh!’‘I want you to be happy. I only want you to be safe. I don’t want you to get hurt by meeting someone whom you don’t even know.’Using our connection, I made him feel how much I hated him. ‘Again with that bullshit. If I tell you that you are my happiness, what will you do with it?’ I spat. Alpha Hugh was speechless. That was the reaction that I kind of expected. It served him right. He should know here he should stick his fucking nose. He should know that sometimes, his opinion was already unwanted.'Do you desire someone who loves someone else? Someone who could not forgive the mother of his child?' Alpha Hugh commented. 'I don't want to be unfair to you, Autumn,' he explained softly inside my hea
AUTUMN:A date, huh. Was Eric certain of inviting me to a date? I never experienced one. All I had were dates with my cleaning materials. I was secretly jealous of women in my pack who would casually buy dresses and make themselves even more gorgeous on their date. They would get excited and even asked me to clean their room after creating a mess. When I watched them in the mirror in awe, I realized I wanted to experience that, too. With my mate. My world and my dreams fell apart when Beta Maddox rejected me. The reality that no one would want to be with a cursed one slapped me. Hard.And here came Eric. There was someone who wanted to date me despite my social status. Someone who made me recall those dreams I had in the past. "Why would you ask me for a date?" I asked, wanting to clarify it. “There is nothing worthwhile in me. I’m boring to talk to. I am always straightforward. I’m not like the other women out there who would laugh at your corny jokes. I never put any makeup o
AUTUMN:“What tricks?” I asked, confused. “Eric’s pick up line,” Aloha Hugh growled. “I told you before to be wary of him. He is not the man whom he is portraying. He might be a womanizer given how he looked.” The keyword was might. The alpha did not know for sure. When it comes to convincing someone, he should choose the right words. I snorted. “Now you’re acting as if you cared about me, Alpha Hugh. And you’re acting like a jealous mate. You don’t have the right, okay? You loved your Pamela. You can love her for as long as you want, but leave my love life out of it.”“I am trying to protect you.”“I don’t need your protection, damn it!”His eyes widened. “You think you know him but you don't.”“Stop it,” I warned. “Giving you a flying kiss? Telling sweet words? You have to think of his intention, Autumn. Whether it is pure or not. Think. You got to use your brain. Not your heart. You listen to your wolf. Listen to what name she is whispering in your head.”How dare he give advic
ALPHA HUGH:“You will create a hole on the floor, Alpha Hugh,” Maddox commented. We were already inside the office after I walked Eric to the gate. Gabriel was being taken care of by Autumn. A couple of hours had passed, but my anger had not even subsided. I needed an outlet. Something that would make this anger disappear. Right. I will run later. “Are you perhaps bothered by that man?”I stopped pacing and barked, “Who?”“Eric. You seemed on edge after you had a talk with him.”How about you? Are you not bothered at all? I stared at him, checked for his reaction, and found that he did not feel any sense of jealousy despite Autumn being his mate. Were they mates? Or not. He seemed unaffected by Eric’s presence. Maybe Maddox was the type who could control himself. How pathetic I could be when it comes to self-control? I am an alpha. Self-control should be easy like that. I had not told him that I already knew. He sure did know how to act and pretend as if he did not feel anythi
AUTUMN:Two days had passed since the last time that Eric had visited and he never had visited again. I did not know what had happened to him. Did I miss his presence? Kind of. He broke the monotony of my life. When I was with Eric, I could laugh easily.Still…it did not mean that I missed him. And even if he did not visit this house for a year, it was fine with me since I really did not wait for his presence. Life must go on whether he will come or not.“Are you done coloring the apple?” I asked. We were inside the kid’s room. The room was more spacious than my room at the pack. It was also tidy. There was another room for his playground where there was also a basketball ring.I envied this child. Even if he was still a child, he already experienced luxury, unlike me who already witnessed how difficult it was to live alone without my parents.If you did not only kill your family…I closed my eyes and breathed deeply.That voice would occasionally enter my mind every now and then. S
AUTUMN:My heart hammered against my chest. I wanted to go to my room and grab some knives. If things get worse, at least I have something to defend myself. But it would only be a waste of time. With calculated steps, I went downstairs, tiptoeing. Was I stupid for walking downstairs like this without any weapon in my hand? Yes, I was. I should lock the door and wait until the thief steals everything. This was not my house. I did not care anything about the objects inside. Besides, the alpha was already filthy rich. He could buy and replace anything that would be stolen. But my life? It will never be replaced. There was only one foolish Autumn who died from fighting off the thief whom she did not know if she could handle or not. But no. I had to play a hero for the kid and go after the culprit.I might die because of this. But at least, I will die of a noble death. What will you do if you're already six feet below the ground?Dang.I never dreamed of dying and becoming a hero.
ALPHA HUGH:I grabbed my jacket and put it on after dropping the call from Autumn's link. She was with a man while taking care of my son? How could she do it? Maddox raised his eyebrows and asked, “Where are you going? Can’t you see there’s a lot of documents that need your attention? Plus there’s an incoming war where we might be involved. Hugh. I do understand that you wanted to see Gabby, but now is not the right time for that. It can wait.”“A war will never take place. I will do my best not to get involved.” It was an ongoing rift between the neighboring pack and mine. It started from Dad’s time and until now, it had never been solved. As the time went by, the conflict turned even worse. “There should never be a war. We cannot afford to lose innocent lives, Maddox.”“Right. I’m glad that you know it. Where are you again?”“Home.”“Home? Why? Did something happen to Gabby?” He rose from his seat and grabbed his coat, too. When it comes to my son, he will leave all the th
AUTUMN:Alpha Hugh’s eyes widened. “You’re in a relationship now?”“Yes,” I replied. “So please allow me to reject you, Alpha Hugh. Or you can reject me right now. it will be both beneficial for the two of us, Alpha HUgh. Let’s free ourselves from each other.”His face darkened once again. “No.”Someone suddenly cleared his throat. Glancing over my shoulder, I found Eric standing while holding some snacks. The sight made my stomach growl. “Uhm, did I interrupt something?”Alpha Hugh stood. “Gabby and I are going now. You can come with us if you want, Autumn.”Come with him? What did he think of me? Shameless and did not even have any dignity at all? After what he revealed, the more I wanted to stay here and think about everything once and for all. “No. I want to spend more time with Eric, Alpha Hugh. We will go home later.”“Don’t come home late,” he recalled and went inside his awaiting car. I gave me a curt nod. “Here, Autumn.” Eric gave me a cup and it turned out it was some kin
AUTUMN:What the heck was happening with my life? My first mate rejected me. My second chance mate was undecided with me. And now, he was telling me about a woman whom he was going to marry without even considering my feelings?Isn’t asking what you think of him marrying someone else one way of considering your feelings? another part of my mind asked. Would it be better if I did not know at all? ‘It was your fault in the first place,’ Trisha stated. ‘You told him you’re going to accept Eric’s feelings right now. That might be the reason why he finally decided on considering the woman as his wife.’‘He really did not have any feelings for me, right?’ All he wanted was to be friends with me again. Nothing else. ‘Tell me what I should do, Trisha.’My heart felt suddenly heavy as if there was a large elephant inside it.I just wanted to shift and let Trisha take over. A long run would be nice. I was pathetic. How could I long for someone’s acceptance to be his mate? How could I not mov
AUTUMN:Who was going to get married? Alpha Hugh? To whom?What if it's you? the other part of my mind said.Me? Why would we enter a marriage of convenience?There was something like a lump on my throat."What do you mean by that?""I am just asking. That's all. You seemed to believe in marriage.""You don't'?""I...I haven't found someone whom I want to marry."My heart sank.In short, he had not found me. He did not see my worth as a person. He did not believe that I was some kind of wife material.Pathetic. How could I continue thinking foolishly? it was clear that this man had never seen me at all as a potential wife. Maybe a potential made of his house.Damn it.What did I really want from him?"Are you sure? Then why do you keep on asking about marriage?"He cleared his throat. "The thing is... maybe you are already aware of the conflict between our neighboring pack.""That has been going on for like what? forever? What about it?""The alpha has a daughter."I did not want to l
AUTUMN:I thought the alpha would be watching over our conversation, but he did not. Hugh stayed inside the car, watching over his sleeping son. It was too bad that Gabriel did not see the beautiful scenery in front of us. Another attraction of this place was that someone would paint you and give it to you over a few dollars.It was nice for creating memories. Eric had availed the service and gave the painting to me. It was me and him facing the river while I was leaning on his shoulder. It had a romantic atmosphere.I wanted to spend a few dollars on Gabriel and me, but the kid was asleep."So...what do you want to say, Autumn? We've been staring at the river for far too long. But if you want to stay like this, it's fine by me. As long as I got to spend my time with you. We can stay here as long as you want, Autumn."What did I want to say again? That I wanted to give him a chance? Did I not tell him already? Was I about to tell him that I accepted his feelings? That I wanted to g
ALPHA HUGH:'Alpha Hugh. Are you done babysitting your slave?' Maddox asked after I called him. I was still inside the car, and could not leave Gabby alone. Both of the doors were open.'I am not babysitting her, Maddox,' I replied while watching the two sitting side by side, their shoulders already touching each other. My wolf was already growling at me, demanding me to go there and separate the two. It unsettled me after knowing that Autumn was now planning to accept Eric's feelings.'Oh. What are you doing right now, Hugh? I told you that we have a lot of things to do, yet you followed what you wanted and went with the love birds.''They are not love birds,' I corrected. 'Maybe not right now, but later on.''Later on? What do you mean by that?''Autumn...she said that she will now accept Eric's proposal.''What proposal? Wedding proposal?' he asked. 'You know what kind of proposal it is.''After Autumn will say yes, they will complete the mating ceremony which includes biting he
AUTUMN:"Do I like him? Why do you ask, Alpha Hugh? Are you now stepping in on my romance? Will you dictate it, too?""I am only looking after your welfare, Autumn.""I don't think that it's part of your job, Alpha Hugh.""What about what happened last night?"My eyes shifted to the kid who was already sleeping. This kid was a fast sleeper. He would doze off whenever he wanted. I was jealous of that."What about last night?" I asked, acting innocent. "I don't get what you mean by that.""Did you already forget what happened?""What happened last night, Alpha Hugh? Because right now, all I remembered was that I was drinking with you until the beta and Cedric entered the scene and the rest was already hazy.""You did not...remember that I walked you into your room?"I pretended that I was thinking. "Did it happen?""You did not remember," he said quietly, as if he was disappointed. "You did not remember what happened next?""Hmmm. I don't get what you mean by that, Alpha Hugh. I think y
AUTUMN:Walk away. Walk away while you still have the chance, Eric.This was the final test I had for you. Any one in their right mind would walk away and run for their lives. That was what he should be doing right now. I did not want him to be imprisoned by someone like me who did not even have a future.“You kissed the alpha?”“Yes, last night,” I responded without batting an eyelid. “If you cannot deal with that, you still have some time to step away. I will not take it against you.”“Why did you kiss him?”“What if I tell you that I like him?”“You like the alpha? Isn’t he your mate? You told me earlier.”“yes. So, is it fine with you? Me kissing the alpha because if it’s not fine with you, you can walk away, Eric.”His hands dropped to the side. “Why do you keep on driving me away?”“Why not? I am only saving you from doom.”“No. Are you scared?”“Scared about what?”“That you will kill me like what you believe? You think you are cursed and that anyone who would get near you woul
[82]AUTUMN:“Take it or leave it, Autumn,” Alpha Hugh stated. “If you don’t want to, then stay here. You can also have a date. It’s not about the place. It has something to do with your companion,” he stated. He looked like he was already in a lot of relationships. He sounded so much like a professional already when it comes to relationships. “Why would you join us? I assure you, we will only bore you to death, Alpha Hugh.”“I don’t trust Eric for you. That’s all.” What the heck.He woke up on the other side of the bed. How could he say those words like it was nothing? Eric was clearly listening to him! Isn't he embarrassed at all? “You don’t trust him? Why is that? Are you the only one who would be in a relationship with him?”“No. But you’re living under my house and I don’t want anything to happen to you. I am only doing this to protect you.” Ah. So he was pulling the protective card. The safety card. “What's there to protect him? I could perfectly do it for myself?” I asked.
AUTUMN:My heart felt like it was so heavy. Why would I need to prove something whenever someone likes me? Why did I have to justify it? Why was there a need to validate it? Why could I not be happy about it? “Men would usually give up on their title just to be with you, Autumn. It's already weird enough.” It was not weird for me because I also deserve to be happy right? Why could he not understand that? “It has nothing to do with me. But them. I never even have any relatives who know how to do such things so please stop saying I put some kind of witchery in a man. I don’t know any of those cheap tricks. I promised myself that if someone liked me, it was because he liked me for who I was not because I put something on his drinks. What do you take me for? A pathetic fool?”Someone cleared his throat. Eric. “Autumn, whatever the beta said, I don't believe him that you're capable of doing such a thing. I believed you. You have a good heart and that's what made me fall for you. I wish