The Lycan’s Bride

Chapter 6: A Little Trouble

Lara’s Point of View

“You’re done?” Cragore asked as soon as he saw me walking towards him. He was sitting on a log and was surrounded by dryads. It seems like they were discussing something before we arrived. He stood up and looked at me then at the woven bags I carry. “Why did I even ask,” he murmured. “Let’s go?”

I just gave him a nod before I turned around to thank Rose. “I’ll come and visit again,” I told her and smiled. I was genuinely happy about what we did. I felt like I just had some fresh air that somehow helped me destress.

She bowed her head at me. “You’re very much welcome to come again, Lady Lara. I had fun showing you around,” she replied, smiling, then gazed at Cragore. “I apologize if it took us long to get everything Lady Lara needed.”

“It's okay,” he replied.

“I had fun, too,” I told her before looking at Cragore who seemed to be bored as hell already. “Let’s go.”

He just nodded before he started walking.

I waved my hand to the dryads before I followed him. I had a little trouble catching up to him because of my foot and the number of supplies I carry with me. “Can you walk slower?” I asked him, panting and wincing as both exhaustion and pain devoured my body. “Or can you at least help me carry these?” I added.

I was waiting for him to go slower or stop walking and carry my supplies for me, but he didn’t. He continued walking as if he did not hear me say anything, and that really pissed me off. I cursed under my breath before looking at him with my piercing eyes. “Can you at least pretend you like me?” I told him. “Or don’t make it too obvious that you despise my presence, because it’s really irritating on my part,” I added.

He stopped walking and faced me with his usual bored face. “I don’t despise your presence,” he replied. “But I don’t like it either,” he added.

“Well, at least treat me properly,” I suggested, shaking my head in disbelief. “It’s not like I wished to be transported here,” I told him with all honesty. I want him to know what I really feel; because he might be probably thinking right now that I like it here. “I had a life back in the human realm. Well, it ain’t that good but at least I was treated well and made to feel my worth,” I added when he did not say anything.

I was expecting him to say anything, but he didn’t, and that just pissed me off even more. I took a deep breath to control my rage. I bit my lower lip and gripped the slings of the woven bags tightly. “See? That’s what I’m talking about—exactly what you did right now! It irritates me to think that you’re making me feel this way,” I told him, taking a deep breath to control my emotions. “It’s frustrating me!”

He continued walking as if he didn’t hear me say anything. Out of rage, I picked a bud of purple flower and threw it at him. “Don’t you dare turn your back on me!” I screamed, gritting my teeth. He looked at me, completely unfazed, making me feel worse. “I hate you!”

My hands and lips were trembling in anger, and it frustrates me more because I don’t know where to vent it all. “I don’t even know what I did to you for you to treat me this way,” I murmured, gritting my teeth and walking as fast as I could. The anger I felt nullified the pain in my feet and I was able to storm my way out of the forest.

I wiped my cheek when I felt a tear roll down. I cursed under my breath. “Fúck you, you stupid, heartless lizard!”

---

I stayed in my room until sunset. I am still upset. I am still mad. I am way too far from feeling okay, and that’s all because of that stupid lizard! The more I think of his expression earlier, the more pissed and frustrated I get. But I had no choice but to leave my room when my stomach started to growl and I remembered I had clothes to get outside.

I almost screamed my heart out when I saw Cragore standing in front of my doorway with his usual blank expression. “W-What the hell are you doing here?!” I exclaimed and could not stop my cheeks from burning in embarrassment. He probably saw how horrified I looked and he’s probably trying his best to keep himself from laughing.

“I want to clear some misunderstanding,” he said but I just raised my brow and passed through him.

“Clear it on your own,” I sarcastically replied and headed straight outside to get my clothes. “Clear some misunderstanding my ass.”

When I went back inside, he was standing right at the doorway. “Let’s talk,” he monotonously said.

I looked at him and thought of a good alibi to get rid of him. “Only when you sound more convincing,” I told him and was about to pass through him when he suddenly grabbed my wrist to stop me. I looked at him and met his crimson orbs. “Let me go,” I added, but I was anticipating he would do exactly what I said.

“Let’s talk, Lara,” he said in his usual tone.

I shrugged my shoulder. Why did I even expect something from him?

I brushed his hand off and rolled my eyes at him and walked away even though he kept on calling me. After putting my clothes in my room, I went to the kitchen to prepare my dinner. And he was there, too; standing in the corner and watching me while telling me to talk to him from time to time, but I ignored him. I want him to taste a bit of his own medicine.

I continued acting as if he wasn't there until I finished cooking. I was about to ready my plate and eat when he grabbed me by the hand and gently pulled me to face him. "I said, let's talk," he said with weight in every word he uttered. His crimson eyes stared at me with a hint of irritation. "I've been asking you for quite a while already. What she wrong with you?" he asked, forehead a little wrinkled.

“Now you know how it feels to be ignored,” I told him, brushing his hand off. “It's frustrating, isn't it?”

He looked away and sighed. "It's no longer new to me," mumbled. “I apologize if I made you feel that way,” he added, glancing back at me. His eyes were already soft and gentle. “And I apologize for making you cry earlier.”

“Your apology won't do anything, Cragore,” I told him honestly. “No matter how many times you apologize to me, I would still feel the same. So why don't you change your ways and start treating me right?” I suggested and looked straight into his eyes. “But if that's too hard for you, then at least treat me with respect.”

“N-No, it's not that,” he pointed out.

“Then what?”

He sighed and shook his head. "I can't tell you yet," he responded.

“Okay, great. That would surely help in clearing our ‘misunderstanding’,” I expressed, emphasizing the last word and rolling my eyes to show him my dismay.

"Forget it," he said, walking out.

My jaw dropped in disbelief. Was he trying to gaslight me? He was the one who did me wrong and wouldn't tell me what I deserve to know, and now that I refused to 'clear' the 'misunderstanding' he was talking about, I become the bad guy? God, he's really something. And if it happens that he's dealing with something right now, I guess that's not my problem anymore. I think he should learn to set it aside if he wants to deal with me because that's not my responsibility.

I held my temple, shaking my head. "Unbelievable," I murmured and went on eating.

I guess I just stress ate. I ate way more than I usually consume and now I feel like I will have an upset stomach. And that just reminded me that I haven't taken a dump ever since I arrived here.

I checked outside and saw that it was already getting dark, so I rushed and grabbed a torch and a knife since I found nothing to help me dit the soil and walked my way to the forest. I didn't imagine I will be able to do this someday. Like, why the hell they don't have any restrooms here? How am I supposed to take a dump?

I was blushing out of embarrassment even while still digging in the soil. I never thought I will get this low when I crossed.

And what's more embarrassing was I used a leaf to wipe my a*s and now I feel so dirty so I decided to go to the spring to wash.

I took my clothes off and dipped my body. I was confident stripping since it was already dark and there was no one else around but that cold lizard, and I doubt he will ever come here. But I still made it quick since the probability is still there and I don't want to be caught in the same situation as what happened in his room.

I went back inside and headed straight to my room and throw myself on the bed. I closed my eyes so I could sleep already, but I couldn't. It's too early!

I shifted my body to find a good position to sleep, but I can't really fall asleep and I had no other things to do other than starting at the wooden ceiling. And that’s when I remembered the books I saw back in Cragore’s room. I bet there’s some books there I would find interesting.

I got up and decided to go to his room. The hallway is already dark, but thanks to the torches around, I was able to somehow see the path.

As I get closer to his room, the number of fireflies flying around gets bigger and bigger, making the hallway look like it's been decorated with lights.

I tried catching one and they started swarming around me. They circle around me and would create a waving pattern whenever I try to catch one. I got too engaged that I almost forgot my agenda.

I stopped right in front of his door and knocked. As I wait for him to open the door, I suddenly feel a tingling sensation on the mark behind my palm. And as second ones pass by, it started to feel like it was burning.

And when he finally opened the door, I heard something snap inside me and my body started to feel hot all of a sudden and my throat started to run dry.

“What is it?” he asked, looking at me with his usual blank expression.

But my brows creased in confusion when I unexpectedly find it attractive. No, it's not just that—I can feel the urge to get close to him and touch him. Suddenly, I started seeing him in a different light and it was freaking me out!

I cursed under my breath as I looked at him with a baffled expression. What did he do to me? Did I eat something bad or did I hit my head unknowingly?

Just what the hell is happening to me?!