Chapter 48 - Ayieee
Chapter 48 – Ayieee
Once we were dropped off by the carriage, we all headed to the woods that was not far away from the town. It was still afternoon, so they told me they wouldn't shift. Why? Because they said it was hot. I wanted to ask them how it was hot since I had already worn a few layers of clothes to battle the cold.
After all, the closer we got to Ronmin Empire, the colder the climate had become. But I was the only person who was affected by it since the pack wouldn't budge. As we stood in the middle of the woods, I looked around at everyone who was stretching to prepare.
"Do you want to run?" Hugo asked, catching my attention as I set my eyes on him. He stood on my side, planting his hands on his hips. I pointed to myself and he nodded, making my face brighten up.
"You will let me run?" I asked, suppressing the sudden excitement welling up in my chest. "I mean, won't I lag you behind?"
"Bambi, you ran pretty quickly that night, remember?" he cocked his head to the side and his eyes diverted. "I mean, never mind. Forget about it."
"It's alright. Even though it's a terrible memory to remember, it's not entirely that bad." I smiled, closed-lipped."
"How so?" His brow arched before he narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
I smacked my lips, thinking that Hugo wasn't as smart as he claimed to be sometimes. "Because I met you, obviously. If not for that night, I wouldn't be here."
"Ayieeee~"
I flinched when the twins suddenly whistled and made a teasing sound. I gazed at them, only to see them grinning with Ivo and Tito. Reks just scrunched his nose bitterly, while Edge and Mitch were still quarreling. What an odd sound to make, I thought, shifting my eyes to Hugo, who closed his eyes while taking deep breaths.
"Shhh." I placed a finger in front of my lips before Hugo scold them. Really. These people often say they were scared of Hugo and yet they kept teasing him.
"Alpha Hugo, are you blushing?" Tito asked in his usual angry voice — that was his normal voice, apparently. Being with them, I was getting used to them slowly.
"That's nonsense," I chuckled in a low tone before gazing up at Hugo, who suddenly turn his back against me to face them all. My brows furrowed when I noticed the tip of his ear that was beet red.
"You guys… if you reach Ronmin alive, I will make you regret it." Their expression instantly went blank as they looked at Hugo in horror. "If Rinnie and I reach that damn place first, you better feed yourself to the vultures."
"A race?" Winter muttered before he suddenly dashed away like a bolt of lightning. The rest followed his action as they all suddenly started running while yelling at Winter. They all sounded happy as they howled and whistled whilst running away.
"Is that necessary to make them go away?" I asked Hugo, as we're the only ones who were left on the starting line. "They will win, though."
Although I was glad that Hugo ask me if I wanted to run, that was because I felt I wasn't completely useless. Running also looked fun, although it was something I wasn't used to.
"Bambi, you run very fast." Hugo slowly turned around and his face was a bit pinkish, but I ignored it.
"If you mean that night, that is because the situation is different," I explained in a knowing tone, shrugging. But Hugo's expression was strange. It was as if he was appalled at something.
"What?" I asked, but he shook his head lightly.
"Nothing, Bambi."
I looked at his face while he studied me, but he said nothing. So, I didn't pry anymore. Instead, I huffed and turned my head in the direction the others went in.
"Shall we follow them?" I asked, glancing at Hugo, who was still staring at me with narrowed eyes.
"Sure." He nodded. After a second, he jumped lightly before running on the same spot. "Come, Bambi."
I grinned and started jogging and running, picking up my pace as we ran through the unknown woods. As we ran, I gazed at him and he smirked, casting me a knowing look.
"Bambi, if you keep this up, I might not catch up." I giggled at his joke as he was jogging while I was already running, but that didn't matter. I was just glad that I wasn't being restricted, nor did I feel like Hugo saw me as someone useless.
I raised my chin arrogantly. "This is what happens when you slack too much," I teased as I picked up my pace, looking back at him momentarily before gazing ahead. He would catch up soon, so I didn't think much about it.
*******
"This is what happens when you slack too much,"
When she uttered those words, Rinnie dashed away from him. Hugo furrowed his brows as he slowly halted, tilting his head to the side.
"Bambi…" he whispered, blinking his eyes as she immediately ran to a distance in a short span of time. "Do humans run that fast?"
Hugo scratched the back of his head as Rinnie hadn't realized it, but he actually needed to run normally if he wanted to catch up to her. Although he didn't need to exert such strength, Rinnie could run with the pack without a problem during the full moon. He didn't have much interaction with humans, so he was unsure.
"Well, she looks thrilled. That's what's important." He shrugged, throwing the thought at the back of his head before he dash forth. This time, he didn't just jog to troll her, but he actually ran to catch up.
*****
[Night time in the Ronmin Empire]
"Your Majesty, the mad wolves' pack has been sighted. They brought a lady with them."
A middle-aged man seated on the throne in the throne hall gazed down at the knight kneeling before him. His long beard was a mix of black and white and his blanched hair was neatly brushed back. Despite the wrinkles on his temple and the side of his lips, he imposed himself with dignity and pride.
A man fitting to stand above all werewolves. A person who had gained all the respect of their entire race aside from one defective son.
The emperor's sharp eyes squinted, holding the golden armrest. "Tell the royal knights to prepare.. I will go to the border myself.