The Lycan’s Bride

Chapter 2: Meet the Dragon

Lara's Point of View

I woke up in the middle of the night with my stomach growling. I wasn't able to eat earlier since there was really nothing in his kitchen. There was not enough ingredients to make a decent meal. And the fruits he had were close to being rotten. Seeing that state turned my stomach upside down and convinced me that I am still full even though my empty stomach was already howling to have some food.

I got out of bed and grabbed the lamp. If there was one thing I liked about coming here, it's the bedroom that makes me feel like I am sleeping in an open garden. There are vines, roots, and plants around my canopy bed. And a portion of the roof is made of transparent glass, giving me a view of the night sky and letting some moonlight enter my room. There were also some fireflies around making the silky curtains on my canopy bed look like they're shimmering in cold light.

"At least the place is magical," I whispered, taking a deep breath when my stomach growled again.

I decided to go outside and head to the kitchen. I have no choice but to eat whatever edible food I will find there.

While walking through the quiet, dark, and wooden hallway, I realized that I have seen no one but that cold and monotonic jerk. I forgot to ask him if he has some attendants or people that help him run this fortress because I think it would be better to ask them than him. Maybe I’ll see them when the sun rises. But now, all I have is myself.

When I reached the kitchen, I directly searched for something to eat. I grimaced when all I saw were fruits that are almost rotten. There were some apples with dark patches and those were the most edible among others. I sighed before searching for a knife. I’ll just have to chop off the rotten parts.

“Where’s the knife?!” I groaned in frustration. I am really hungry. My knees are trembling already. I had no choice but to settle with a spoon and used it to scrape the rotten parts.

While eating, I could not stop my blood from boiling as I recall how that jerk neglected me and treated me way too far from what I expected. I never thought I will be treated this awful. I will make sure to get even. I will make him see what a woman can do when made to feel unappreciated and insignificant.

After eating, I decided to go back to my room and sleep. The ambiance of the room somehow helped me sleep faster.

I woke up with the rays of the sunlight hitting my face. I looked around. The leaves of the plants around are so vibrant and warm. If only there are flowers and butterflies inside, everything would be perfect; my room would really look like it’s in the middle of a garden.

I stretched my body before I decided to go out to warm my tummy with tea or anything that’s available. I headed to the kitchen. I was initially expecting to see that jerk or anyone from this fortress cooking breakfast, but to my dismay, I saw none but the rotten fruits I segregated last night.

I cursed under my breath before I decided to throw everything. Since there were no plastic bags around, I used a basket made from vines. I don’t know where to throw them so I took them outside and dumped them under a tree to make use of them as fertilizers when they decompose.

I went back to the kitchen and looked for tea or milk or anything that I can dissolve in hot water, but I saw none.

“That’s it,” I whispered, clutching my hands. I cursed under my breath before I took a deep breath to calm down. The day is just starting and I don’t want to ruin it. “Just find that jerk or anyone from this fortress and ask them if they have some tea,” I told myself before I took another deep breath to recompose myself.

I decided to leave the kitchen and roam around the house to look for someone, but minutes passed and I saw none. I didn’t even see that jerk.

“Don’t tell me...” I shook my head. He may be cold and unwelcoming but I think he wouldn’t leave me here. “Or maybe this isn’t the fortress,” I mumbled, jaw slowly dropping as I come to realize that it’s possible. Maybe that explains why there’s no one in here and why that jerk wanted to leave me that bad.

“This is the fortress, human.” I almost jumped out of surprise when I suddenly heard someone spoke behind me. I turned around and saw the jerk looking at me without any hint of emotions in his eyes. “And I am the only one here.”

“You’re kidding,” I replied, looking at him with unconvinced eyes. “There’s no way you can survive this place alone.”

“I could and will continue to,” he said in a plain voice. “I can live without eating. That explains why there are no food supplies here,” he added before turning around. “Follow me. We’ll get you something to eat.”

“Where?” I asked.

“Just follow me and stop asking so many questions,” he said and started walking.

I rolled my eyes at made face at him before following him. I stayed behind him to watch his back. He’s wearing a crimson cotton robe while his midnight hair is tied in a messy bun. He looked like he just got out of his bed.

“Where are we going?” I asked when I realized we are heading outside.

“To get some supplies,” he replied.

“I said where,” I pointed out.

He stopped walking and turned around to look at me in the eyes. “To the dryad community.”

“Dryad what?”

“It’s a town in the middle of a forest inhabited by the second creations called dryads,” he explained.

“W-Wait, are you serious? They’re enemies,” I pointed out, brows slightly creased

“They used to be,” he corrected. “They have already realized that they can never get their hands on the western gate,” he added.

“Then if that’s the case, why am I even here?” I asked, raising both brows. “I am not needed here anymore, so why don’t you let me go back?”

“You know exactly that you can’t,” he said. “How I wish you can return to your realm.”

My eyes narrowed after hearing what he said. I piercingly looked at him because I didn’t like how he worded it. It sounded like he doesn’t really like me to be here. “Excuse me? Do you really hate my presence that much?”

He just looked at me then turned around and went outside. “Let’s get you food so you’ll shut that noisy mouth of yours.”

“You!” I screamed. I balled my hands and gritted my teeth as I try to contain my anger. I took big steps just go catch up to him. I even ran just to get ahead of him. I stopped in front and faced him. I glared at him and pointed him with my finger. “I really, really hate you, you cold lizard!”

“Who are you calling a lizard?” he said, and that was the first time I heard him add a different tone in his voice. “How dare you call a mighty dragon a lizard,” he added in a deep voice, emphasizing each word he uttered while looking at me with his crimson eyes.

I flinched when he took a step closer to me but I quickly managed my fear. I met his gaze and even raised a brow at him. “O-Oh, my bad,” I sarcastically said with a grin. “I thought you were a lizard when I first saw you—a winged one to be exact.”

“Whatever,” he replied in a monotonous voice before passing through me. “Let’s just go.”

I grinned wider. I somehow feel accomplished after hearing him raise his voice a little. “You just got mad, weren’t you, Mr. Lizard?” I teased him.

He stopped and looked at me with his darting eyes. “Stop calling me a lizard or I’ll burn you to death,” he threatened.

“I’m scared,” I sarcastically said. “As if I am not aware that you can’t use your power unless you unseal it here—” I added, pointing my heart. “—inside me. I am your vessel, Mr. Lizard, so I know.”

“I said stop calling me a lizard.”

“Then what should I call you then?”

He looked at my eyes before turning around. “Cragore. You can call me Cragore. That’s my name.”