True Alpha’s Chosen Mate

Chapter 43 – Will You Forgive Me If I Succumbed To My Instincts?

After bathing, I stood in front of the window to gaze up at the crescent moon. It had been a while since I adored it like this. Back in Everfell, I would always stand on the balcony, just staring at it as it felt like we're the same in a way. We're both alone, although I couldn't really say I was lonely just like it.

"It's still as beautiful as ever," I whispered, snapping my eyes when I heard a light knock from outside the door. I glanced at it and saw Hugo entering quietly. 

"Hello," I greeted with a weak smile before looking up at the moon once again. Ever since I was abducted, Hugo would sleep in the same room. Although he would usually sleep on the floor while I was on the bed. I didn't argue with him about this, as sleeping alone somehow scared me deep down.

"What are you doing?" His voice sounded close before I felt him stand behind me. I glanced to my right when he planted both his hands on the windowsill, keeping me in between them.

"Looking at the moon," I answered, not dwelling on his position as I gaze up again. "Back in Everfell, I always gaze at it because it gives me this comforting feeling."

"Ahh… you're right. The moon, indeed, gives this comforting feeling. But it also gives strength to us werewolves."

I looked back, only to see him gazing up. His natural golden eyes slowly turned red while staring at the moon. 

"Are you angry?" I blurted out.

He glanced down momentarily. "No?"

"Then why did your eyes turn red?" 

"Because of the moon." He jerked his chin in the window's direction before peeling his eyes away from me. "Werewolves worshipped the moon goddess. The moon is something very important to us; It heavily influenced the Ronmin Empire, so most of our customs and beliefs were to please the moon goddess. Mating, shifting, and the like always happen during the full moon."

I blinked, still staring at his charming, solemn front while he stared at the moon. Unlike his words, he appeared as if he thought otherwise. 

"Do you worship the moon goddess?"

"I worship myself." His answer was quick, but not surprising. "I dislike how it forced us to believe in the moon and that my body reacts to it even though I didn't want to. I hate the feeling that it's meddling with my instincts and how my eye color change in just a glance."

"Your red eyes are just as pretty as its original color, though." Hugo gazed down at me while I looked at him straight in the eye. "I think the werewolves believing in the mood goddess makes her less lonely up there."

I peeled my eyes away from him and set them back on the crescent moon. A subtle smile appeared on me as it seemed the moon wasn't as lonely as I thought it was. Someone below here believed in it, so that felt relieving in a way.

"You should sleep," he said after minutes of silence, withdrawing his hand from the windowsill as she stepped aside. "We will set off early tomorrow so we can reach Ronmin in five days."

I gazed at him and nodded, walking back to my bed. As I sat down on the edge of the mattress, my eyes fell on him as he still stood in front of the window. He was still staring outside, strangely silent as if he had a lot of things in mind. It made me remember that there was a time he said he would sleep on the window.

"Are you not going to sleep?" I asked, but Hugo didn't turn his head to me as he answered.

"Later."

My mouth opened but closed them again. Instead, I just stared at him in silence before gazing down at the old wooden floor. This was, by far, the oldest inn we had stayed at. Would he sleep on the floor again? The window was dangerous and uncomfortable. The floor was cold and hard. 

My eyes fell on the bed. It was small, but we would fit if we sleep closer. I flinched when Hugo suddenly spoke, making me shift my eyes back to him.

"Are you not going to sleep?" he asked, arching his brow while resting his elbows on the windowsill. 

"Where do you plan on sleeping?" I inquired back.

Hugo cocked his head to the side. "Here. On the window."

"Isn't that dangerous? What if you fall outside once you doze off?"

"I won't. Even if I do, I will wake up and land on my feet safely." He shrugged as if it didn't bother him at all. His forehead wrinkled when I tapped the bed lightly.

"Here. Sleep here," I said simply. "The window is dangerous and uncomfortable and the floor is cold and hard. Both are bad choices. The bed, although small, we can fit if I sleep closer to you. Is that alright?"

"My Rinnie, I know you are offering this out of the goodness of your heart, but do you know you are basically inviting a man to sleep in the same bed as you?"

I tilted my head. "How is it different from sleeping in the same room and on the same bed?"

Hugo and I shared a moment of silence while staring at each other. It was not like he would do something. If he planned to, he would've done it before, since there were too many times I was unguarded.

"I am getting tested every night, and she just makes it more challenging," he mumbled, but I barely heard him, so I asked him; "What did you say?"

"Nothing." He waved, sauntering towards me that brought a smile to my face. "All I said is that I am weak."

Hugo sat down on the edge of the mattress beside me while I looked at him. He shrugged as he cocked his head to the bed, gesturing me to slip under the sheet. Once I was lying down, he remained seated with his eyes on me.

"Come." I patted the empty side, moving a little to free up more space. 

"Rinnie…" he called in a quiet tone, batting his eyes leisurely. "… I said I am weak." He repeated while I furrowed my brows. 

I heard him the first time. Why did he repeat it?

"Forgiving and unsuspecting, like a blank canvass painted with light colors," he mumbled, baffling me at what he was suddenly saying. Before I could ask, Hugo bent over. But instead of lying to my side, he planted his palm on either side of me until his face was a palm length away from mine.

I blinked, watching him stare into my eyes as if he was trying to read my soul. "Hugo?" I called in confusion when his eyes glinted menacingly.

"Rinnie, will you forgive me if I succumbed to my… instincts?"