Chapter 17 I Am Not Going Back

Regina’s POV
Nigel stared back at me blankly.
“What ash tray?” he asked with a frown.
I had to remind him of that, “The ash tray that I broke last winter. Do you remember?”
He let out a snort, “You broke a lot of things in my house, Regina. Let’s face it, you are not exactly the best sla—”
I gasped in disbelief, “Slave? Are you calling me your salve?”
“No!” he quickly said, shaking his head. “Wife! What I meant was—you are not exactly the best housewife. You aren’t good at cooking and house chores. But it’s OK. There is a learning process. I believe you will get better at it when we go back to Shadow Valley.”
I didn’t want to argue with him about house chores, “And do you remember kicking me out of your house? You said that I was forbade to go back into the house before I finished chopping a block of woods.”
“Oh yeah. I think so. It sounds like something I would say…But why are we talking about this now? We should be talking about getting out of here, babe.”
Nigel reached a sweaty hand to grab my arm. But I dodged him.
“No. Let’s talk about last winter first,” I insisted. “Do you know that it almost killed me? It was so cold…I almost died in the snow.”
He gave me an amused look as though I was the ridiculous one.
“Come on, Regina. You are definitely exaggerating things. It can’t be that cold,” he said.
I couldn’t believe him.
Can’t be that cold? So he wasn’t even a little bit of sorry?
“I am telling you. I almost got froze to death! Is that something I can joke about?” I gasped loudly, trying to get his attention on this. “I still carry frostbites on my feet that I got on that day. Do you want me to show you?”
I bent to take off my shoes. But he stopped me.
“OK. OK. I get it. It’s cold. And you got hurt.” He kicked his tongue impatiently. “But honestly, why are we talking about it anyway? And can we do this somewhere else? Somewhere cooler?”
I surveyed his face closely, biting my lips.
There was not a hint of regret on his face. And when I told him that I was hurt, he didn’t seem to care at all.
All he ever talked about was when I could get him out of here.
Nigel would never change.
He might start calling me “babe” or “darling” now that he knew I was the princess of Ever Moon, but it wouldn’t change the fact that he was still that cold and self-centered rat bastard.
A surge of cold disappointment rose in me.
…I fell in love with the wrong person.
“Regina? Hello?” Nigel waved his hand in front of my eyes, trying to get my attention. “Can we get back and talk about my problem now?”
I took in a deep breath and blinked away my tears.
“Sure. Let’s talk about your issue.”
I looked at Nigel and said more determinedly than ever, “I won’t be going back to Shadow Valley with you.”
There was a blank look on his face as though he just got struck by lightening.
It took him a long time before stammering, “W—What do you mean you are not coming back with me? You are MY WIFE, Regina! Where else will you be?!”
“I will stay here. At home. With my families.” I smiled.
The moment I said those words, the pressure on my shoulder instantly dislodged. It had never been clearer to me that I was making the right decision this time.
“WHAT?!”
Nigel bellowed abruptly. There was a mixed look of shock and rage on his face.
“Are you fucking crazy, Regina? Do you have any idea what you are giving up right now? I am the ambassador god damn it! There’s a bright future ahead of me—ahead of us! Are you going to throw that away?!” he roared.
I couldn’t believe he was still using that ambassador title to threaten me.
If he weren’t my husband, the ambassador of an insignificant pack like Shadow Valley wouldn’t even have the right to meet me in person.
But I guessed Nigel was too self-centered to realize that.
“I’ll be alright, Nigel. I know what I am giving up.” I said with a sigh, “I’ll have people taking you out of our pack soon. But we have to be discreet because my brother Gray might not be happy with it—”
“NO!” Nigel gasped, grabbing my wrist forcefully. “I’m not leaving without you! You ARE MY WIFE!”
“No!” I struggled, “I am leaving you!”
“Well, I won’t allow it!”
The crazy enthusiastic that gleamed in his eyes sent a chill down my spine. He pulled me close and whispered into my ears:
“You are my wife…My wife is the princess of Ever Moon, the largest pack on earth! How often does something like that happen? Almost never! Do you think I am going to throw away a rare chance like that? Do I look stupid to you?”
A gasp almost escaped my lips when the guard noticed our quarrel in the near distance and rushed over urgently.
“Step down!” the guard snarled, pulling Nigel away from me. “Stay away from the princess!”
Nigel staggered back and was forced to kneel on the ground with his arms on his back.
Panting roughly, I held my arms in panic and looked at the guard with a grateful smile, “…Thank you.”
The guard replied with a nod, “You are welcome, Princess Regina. But I strongly advice you to keep your distance. The Alpha won’t be happy to know that you two talked.”
“Y—You are right. I should go now.”
I wrapped myself in my shawl and gave one quick glance at Nigel before walking away.
“Behave, Nige.” I warned him lowly, “Or even I won’t be able to save you.”
I turned to leave.
But Nigel’s sepulchral voice came behind my back again, “I won’t give up easily, Regina.”
His tone crept me out.
So I picked up my speed and hurried off.
My spirit was uplift as I crossed the sunny yard and stepped into the castle. The day even seemed more beautiful with me being in a fabulous mood.
As it turned out, leaving Nigel was the decision I always wanted to make.
I just hadn’t realized it before.
Standing in the lobby, I felt my heart beating joyfully in my chest. I had to share this moment with someone! But whom?
A name popped up in my head almost instantly.
Gray.
The most important person in the whole wide world.
I needed to see Gray. And talk to him. Now.
Before I even realized it, I had started running. I picked up my long skirt and kicked of my high heels to run faster. As I dashed down the hallway, I couldn’t stop my lips from curving upwards.
Gray. My brother.
The thought of him made my heart race in excitement.
He was normally in his office at this hour, dealing with pack business. But when I got there, guards told me that the Alpha never came to work today.
How weird.
He wasn’t those people who would skip a day of work randomly for no reason.
And I just saw him in the dining room this morning. He didn’t look sick to me.
After thanking the guard, I headed to Gray’s bedroom instead to try my luck. I was starting to get anxious. The wait was killing me, and I needed to see Gray. NOW.
Luckily, the door to his bedroom was left open with a crack and it looked like someone was inside.
I carefully pushed the door open and snuck in.
“Gray?” I called, closing the door behind my back.
The curtain was closed. It was a pitch-black inside.
Was he taking a nap in the middle of the day? How odd.
Just when I was about to call him again, a dark figure appeared out of nowhere and jumped at me!
With a gasp of shock, I was backed against the door panel, with a strong and muscular body pressed on top of me.
What the hell?!
I wanted to scream for help. But then I smelt a familiar scent, which was buried by a strong smell of alcohol.
…Gray?
Had he been drinking?
I heard a heavy and ragged breathing on top of my head. The hand that seized my arm was unusually hot. It felt as though my skin was catching fire under his touch. Gradually, I felt my stomach twitched and I clamped my legs together involuntarily.
“Gray?” I breathed, my mouth dry. “What are you doing? Can we—”
I didn’t get to finish.
He lowered his head and pressed his lips on mine forcefully.
My mind snapped.