Reward

*Chapter 43*

"What did you say?" I parroted.

Must have I heard it right, correct? I wasn't deaf or must have I misheard it?

"The reward I wish to get is to have a date with you, my goddess."

I creased my forehead as my wolf jumped in joy at his words. Date? As a man and woman?

"You mean being a couple?"

Frederick nodded. "Yes, my goddess."

I could have sworn the wrinkles on my forehead weren't disappearing as I confirmed that I didn't mishear it. I was about to retort back when Frederick spoke immediately.

"It is to the best of your abilities. I am certain you can bestow me this as a reward. I do not see any reason for you to decline it and revoke your decision, my goddess," he said sweetly.

I squinted my eyes. Why did I feel my heart race rapidly right now? "So, you already thought about this beforehand, huh?" I asked, accusing him.

Which reminds me, his face brightened up surpassing the radiance of the sun's rays when I told him that he could tell me his reward.

I inhaled softly when I felt his lips on the back of my palm again. I felt my stomach somersaulted. "I am, my goddess. This is why I am excited on that day to tell you about my reward. But unfortunately..." he paused as he smiled wryly.

I sighed. Of course. He was being punished severely by Reginald. Looking at him, I already said to myself before that whatever the reward he wanted, as long as he got healed, I would bestow it with everything I can.

But...

"Of all the rewards you can think of, why would you choose to have a date with me?" I smiled bitterly. "I am married for Moon Goddess' sake, darling." I rolled my eyes, trying to make an excuse to avoid this *reward* he wished me to grant.

He blinked, looking at me innocently. "Then, if you are married, why would you choose to spend your nights with the slaves? Why are you allowing me to pleasure you despite the fact that you are married?"

"I do not like how you sound, darling." Was he trying to manipulate the situation I have so he could have what he wanted? Interesting...

He placed his chin to my thigh and looked at me with a conniving smile. "It is just a date, my goddess. One date."

I arched my eyebrow. One date, huh? "No," I said coldly.

Frederick drew his face closer, just below my chest. "I remember you told me that your words are absolute, my goddess." His tone changed into an amusing one. "And having a date with me... I know that it is to the best of your abilities."

I inhaled slowly feeling intoxicated with having Frederick so close to me right now. The way he spoke... The way he gazed at me...

They looked like they were threatening me with politeness.

I must find it blood-curdling, right? However, why did I feel hot all of a sudden?

I chuckled darkly and held his jaw tightly, digging my nails to his cheeks. "It seems like you built confidence in yourself for daring to speak to me like that, darling. Remember that I have the right to decline the reward you wish me to bestow on you. Even if I say that my words are absolute."

How dare... How dare he use all of my words to me.

This wasn't the first time he did this. This bratty man...

"Are you frightened that our mate bond would deepen if you accept it, my goddess?" he asked, grinning.

I smirked. "That kind of manipulation won't work on me, darling. I live my life using that when it comes to dealing with Reginald. Thus, it is futile."

At that moment, his smile disappeared. It could mean that he wasn't going to win this. "Does... Does this mean I won't have my reward?"

I released his jaw before I caressed his hair. "You can choose another reward. But not asking me for a date, darling."

There was no way I would accept it.

His expression was downcasted. "I see..." he murmured.

I gritted my teeth when guilt suddenly engulfed my whole being. As soon as he smiled bitterly and bowed his head, he remained kneeling.

"A-As you wish, my goddess. I... I will think of something... rewarding." He stood up. "I shall return these dishes to the kitchen."

I placed my hand on my left chest when Frederick left with shoulders slumped. I hissed as I felt a twinge in my heart.

Why did I feel like I was the one who must suffer from my decision?

He was just asking for an impossible request. I couldn't bestow that to him. I castigated my wolf when she teased me that perhaps Frederick was right. I was just too petrified for our mate bond to deepen. I shut my wolf off because she wasn't helping me a lot.

I fidgeted my hands as I stood up, pacing back and forth.

"Damn it..." Why did I feel guilty? His face... His sullen face earlier was eating me. "You are not helping!" I castigated my wolf again when she tried to make me feel guilty about Frederick's expression.

Then I cursed under my breath when my wolf told me that it should be the least I could do since Frederick had a severe injury. I argued with her that Frederick did not follow my order at that time.

It was his fault as to why he ended up like that.

"Stop it..." I faced the mirror and looked at myself earnestly. It was as if I was facing my wolf right now. "You cannot make me change my mind. I have already decided," I talked to her.

Then, I felt myself being sucked in. It felt like something had held me captive inside of my body. I gasped when I realized that my wolf overtook me the moment I saw my eyes glow in the mirror.

I watched as my lips curled up into a condescending smile. "Novalie... You really suck at lying. You are too afraid to accept the mate bond with him. Frederick is our mate. Why would you be scared?" my wolf asked in an amusement tone.

I blinked as I inhaled sharply when I returned to myself. Then I glared at myself. "This is the first time you dare to even show yourself by overtaking my body, my dearest," I said earnestly.

My eyes glowed as my lips smirked in their own accord. Or more likely, my wolf was the one who did that.

"I'm tired that you have been shutting me off, Novalie. Stop lying to yourself. Accept his request and don't be so—"

"Shut up!"

"Then reject him."

My heart stopped at her words. It felt like my world had turned upside down at the three words she uttered. It was only three words yet it was already too painful for me to handle.

"Can't do it, no?" My lips curled up into a smirk while my eyes were still glowing. "I thought so, too." She giggled. "You are a cowardly bitch, Novalie." I frowned at her insult. We were really alike. No doubt. "One thing you need to know is that I accept Frederick as our mate. You have plans to reject him the moment things are over, right? Let's see if you can handle the pain the moment you break the bond. With that, you will lose me forever," she threatened angrily before she allowed me to be the one to take control of my body.

I glared back at my reflection before I decided to storm out of my chamber. I flinched when I almost collided with Frederick but it was a good thing I halted from walking.

"A-Are you alright, my goddess?" Frederick asked when he saw that my mood looked unpleasant.

I summoned my hand. "Not now," I said coldly, heading straight to Reginald's chamber after Heimon mind linked me that I needed to go there. I felt him following me but he didn't say anything.

Heimon met me there. "Young master Jonathan needs to speak with you," he said before he opened the door.

I remained stoic as soon as I saw Reginald's vegetative state while Jonathan was sitting at the edge of the bed. "Allow me to guess. You want him to take more antidotes so he can heal, correct?" I stated and crossed my arms over my chest.

I only allowed Timothy to make Reginald take a few antidotes. Then after that, I told him to stop treating Reginald so his healing process would take longer than before.

"Indeed." Jonathan nodded. "I am still his brother, Novalie. I still wish him to get well."

I smiled bitterly. "Why would I? Do you wish me to enumerate how Reginald failed his task as the Alpha of Lone Crow pack?"

"Then take over the pack," Jonathan reasoned in an earnest tone.

I scoffed. "No. There is no way I will take over this pack."

Not in the next life.

He sighed. "You have challenged the Alpha for a brawl. Reginald loses so many times. It should've been you a long time ago, the new Alpha of the pack."

"No, Jonathan. I have no plans to fully control the Lone Crow pack." I approached Reginald who looked like dead meat to me. "Take over the pack." I glanced at Jonathan whose eyes widened. "You are the chosen one for this role, Jonathan. Reginald didn't know how to handle and manage the pack properly." He silenced. "You should have realized that you are more worthy than Reginald, who is a scumbag."

"I am not the one who brawled with you."

"Then I will pass it down to you by announcing it."

Jonathan sighed in exasperation. "But you are a more capable Alpha. I don't mind that in our country, you shall be the first female Alpha. Eventually, they would accept it. They need to accept that a woman can also be capable of leading, too," he said but I felt my blood boiling when I faced him with clenching my hands.

Why couldn't he just accept my proposal already?! This man... He thinks so lowly of himself when he really had the potential to be an Alpha!

"Announcing that I would be the first female Alpha was incredible. However, I just wanted to live in peace. I don't want to be with anyone. I wanted to live far from those prying eyes and gossip. I want to stay out of the noble society and be a fucking commoner!"

I raised my voice in annoyance as I didn't mind that I burst out causing them to widen their eyes. I even felt my eyes getting stung as my voice croaked.

"I wanted a life where I didn't want to shoulder everything! Can you not all see? I am tired! I am tired of impressing everyone! I also want to take care of myself! I also want to be a selfish bitch! But I can't fucking goddamn do that because I am a Viscountess of Erast! I am the wife of a scoundrel husband! I am the Luna of the Lone Crow pack! I am the daughter of a Beta who is a marquis! I am the owner of Argerich Consulting! I had even been to two freaking arranged marriages who weren't even my mate! The only validation I get is spending most of my nights with my slaves or in a brothel for women!" I slammed the wall by punching it causing it to create a crack. "Give me a goddamn break already!! I suffered enough for the whole time! Let me leave this pack and help me divorce this loveless marriage! I don't want to be here anymore! I am so close killing—"

My words suddenly cut off when in a blink of an eye, Frederick stepped forward to embrace me tightly in his arms. My eyes widened as I blinked when my visions got blurry. It bewildered me as to who the hell made my eyes get watery.

Then the next thing I did was bawl my eyes out.

"Sshh... Don't. Don't say that, Novalie. Please!"