Chapter 18 A Stroll After Dinner

At the dining table of Wisteria’s cottage, it suddenly felt very sombre.
She could feel Nat’s blinding gaze on her as she kept her eyes on the plate in front of her. At the same time, his presence was enough to summon her desire. Aria was just as needy as she was, but she tried to calm herself and be patient.
Nat wanted more than just their mate bond. He had a fearsome hatred toward werewolves, so as long as she could, she had to prevent him from finding out the truth about her. Otherwise, she might even die in Jave. The mystical village had wards that overpowered her werewolf power, furthermore, she was only a young wolf. She found her wolf ten years ago, but she had not undergone the training of a werewolf, and hence she didn’t know how to be one, much lead a pack.
The events of the day before still remained fresh on her mind. Nat revealed the truth about the place being a bane for evil creatures, but the disdain in his voice raised her suspicion about his hatred for creatures of her kind. She just swallowed her fear and faked a smile.
In fact, her heart had wanted to question what was his enmity with the werewolves and why he classified them as evil creatures. However, the question remained rooted deep inside her mind and she didn’t say a word. She feared that if Nat discovered her actual identity, then chaos would reign.
Aside from the concern about Nat’s hatred for werewolves and the threat of Jave towards her, why was she worried about how he would feel for her? Did it mean that there was something else more to that?
“Nat, I asked when you will be tying the knot with Ally.”
Wisteria’s soft voice disrupted the silence, ending the trance in Alyssa’s mind. She remained focused on the meal in front of her. Silently she prayed, hoping that Nat had a suitable answer to delay that so-called fake marriage. However, Nat brushed his thigh against hers, hinting for her to play her part.
“Any time, Grandma. You know that we made the trip back to spend some quality time with you.”
Ahem. This sentence required some correction. He had kidnapped or tricked her into making the trip back with him. But why had it been her? What was so special about her that he had to make that person her?
To add to this audacity of his, he had even insisted that she do the house chores and help out on the farm. For her to be reduced to a farm helper and to wash the dishes was not something she could accept easily. She was a CEO, with a net worth of a few million and with servants and employees to do her bidding. In fact, that was the reason she had sought up Nat in the first place. Because she didn’t want to be bound by silly romantic feelings or a destined relationship!
But since that fateful night that she lost her virginity to Nat, her entire life had changed. What irked her the most was how Nat always had his way with her! First, the sex tape, and now, pretending to be his fiance! If anything, Regina White was his true fiance and not her! So, why was she involved in something she didn’t need to be? Why her?
“I’m happy to hear. What about this Thursday?”
Wisteria’s eyes lit up with excitement as she spoke. Thursday was only two days from this day. The shock of how soon that fake marriage was to happen overwhelmed her, and she looked up at Wisteria in surprise. Nat, however, hooked his leg to hers, a gesture that allowed her to feel that everything was as he planned.
She compelled herself to calm her horses and remained silent, allowing Nat to respond. Maybe he would say that it was too soon.
To her relief, he spoke up, “We do need time to prepare. Isn’t Thursday just two days more? How can everything be ready by then?”
“Don’t worry, I’ve already started preparing for the ritual some months back. So all you have to do is just be there!” Wisteria exclaimed cheerfully, despite the frailness of her voice.
Ritual? That word sounded exciting yet threatening at the same time. She eyed Nat for an escape. However, he just kept his Cheshire Cat smile on and nodded.
“Very well, Grandma. It will be as you wanted.”
What, he was agreeing to it already? Alyssa couldn’t believe what she just heard. He hadn’t even properly explained to her what was going on. Even before they went to Jave, he hadn’t told her that she was going to do the housework and act as his dutiful fiancee. But part of her felt glad that he hadn’t come to Jave with Regina. Just the thought of her was ample to trigger her jealous feelings.
She was also a very possessive woman. Since Nat was her exclusive gigolo, she didn’t want him sleeping with his other clients. Even his relationship with Regina was something she found difficult stomaching. She didn’t enjoy the idea of being second in importance to a mere human.
There had to be a solid reason why Nat hadn’t taken Regina here. Surely it couldn’t be because Regina was busy. Because time stopped when Nat entered Jave, it would be like he never left at all.
“Ally, are you free to take a stroll around the area?” Nat said in an amiable voice. Right now, all she could do was nod and tell him yes. In this magical village, she had little power of choice. She did the dishes, as usual, ranting under her breath, and returned to the room to change into some light sports attire for her to be comfortable during the stroll.
In the middle of that, Nat opened the door and entered the room, earning a couple of curses from her.
“So, what’s wrong with this? Can’t I enjoy some sights of my wife-to-be looking good?”
“Save that for Regina.” She scowled, pulling on her tights. The next thing was, Nat was kissing her bare back, while his fingers caressed her twin hills. She inhaled and exhaled a few times.
“You can’t resist me. And I want you as much as you want me.”
He rolled her easily on the bed, pulling down the tights that she was trying to pull on so difficultly earlier. The way his lips claimed hers made her feel every anger she had for him diminished. Then the mate bond took over.
……………………………………………………………….
Leaves rustled under her feet as Nat led her through the woods, walking endlessly through a maze that she had just seen for the first time. The cold breeze of the night chilled her exposed skin, but Nat kept on walking.
“Where are you taking me, Nat?” Alyssa called to him, but her voice was drowned in the silence of the night. She brisk-walked, speeding up to cope with his quick strides. She had no idea that there was a maze in the woods, and the fear of them getting lost was nothing compared to her nervousness about the ritual.
“To the secrets of Jave,” he suddenly said after they trudged on for some time. He didn’t say why he was bringing her somewhere so important. As much as she was curious when he mentioned the word secrets, she didn’t want to be involved in a place that detested werewolves. As soon as they were back home to Neon, she would be glad to have left that place.
They stopped just outside a massive structure. Her heart palpitated as soon as they were close to the entrance. Nat stretched his hand and reached a strange dial on the stone door. She heard the sound of metal chains being tightened, and instantaneously, the door opened with a loud noise.
“This is the lost temple of Jave,” Nat whispered, holding her hand tight as if he was afraid she would run. She mustered her strength, reminding herself she was not the type to give up easily. He had said it was a stroll, but it seemed that he had taken her on an excursion or in other words, an expedition. She hadn’t any idea in the least why she was at a lost temple. Perhaps entering some secret chamber would enlighten her to what he was after.
“My mother was killed by a werewolf when I was very young. She never triggered them, in fact, it was that creature that went on a rage suddenly,” Nat spoke suddenly. “My father tried to hunt down that creature, but to no avail. His efforts were futile.”
“And the connection to this place is?”
“These are where the archives and secret weapons of the Jave villagers are kept. The point I have brought you here is that this is simply something I cannot share with anyone else. But in two days, you and I will undergo the Jave Ritual of Marriage. Then, aren’t the secrets something you should know about?
She opened her mouth, trembling, but he hushed her instead.
“Now that you’ve agreed, there’s no turning back.”
“Then, what about Regina?”
The look on his face when she asked him that question was profound.