Chapter 136
1627words
I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat and took courage to look directly into Ralph’s eyes.
Unexpectedly, it’s not only pain which was visible in his eyes. Together was a glint of innocence and urgency to know everything.
Although he was only an omega, the lowest status bearer among all werewolves, it’s admirable how his eyes were full of wisdom. He could stare so deep that it almost seemed like he could see through people.
“Stand your ground! Don’t let it bother you! Trust me, he won’t know if you don’t admit anything.”
Trisha kept bombarding me nags, persuading me to lie on Ralph.
“If I lie… then what kind of a princess am I?” I asked back to Trisha.
Indeed, lying to him would be an easy escape. After all, there’s no proof about my intention. But the guilt would always keep eating me.
“But…”
Trisha tried to retort, but I stopped her. “Ralph showed me with utmost respect and admiration. He deserve to be shown the same courtesy. At least I shouldn’t lie to him.”
With my eyes not looking away from Ralph, I replied, “Yes, I did it on purpose. I’m sorry.”
As soon as I said that, I prepared myself from facing his anger. Unexpectedly though, he merely widened his eyes in shock.
He blinked a couple of times in disbelief and opened and close his mouth like a fish. It seemed as though he had something to say, but he was so speechless at the same time.
Giving him time to recover, I just waited and stayed there.
Later on, he managed to clear his throat, and said, “I only guessed that you did it, but…”
“But you think I’ll deny it and lie?” I interrupted him.
Ralph swallowed and looked away timidly. Suddenly a hint of awkwardness filled the air. With how the tips of ear reddened, I guess its safe to say that he was flustered by my straightforwardness.
I gave him a genuine smile before seriously speaking, “If there’s one thing my father taught me the most, its that we shouldn’t lie to wise people as we will only be seen so easily. And you, Ralph, is one of the wisest man I know.”
Pride fill me. Though he’s from humble status, I was so proud that Ralph didn’t let such thing get in his way.
“Besides, I’m the princess. As the future ruler of our specie, I believe that honesty is one of the most important quality I should have.”
Ralph nodded. “I understand.” Though he remained polite, I could feel the sadness radiating from him from miles away, especially when he dejectedly looked down on the glass on his hand.
His eyes were dim and his fingers were slightly curled up, as if he was enduring great pain.
I sighed. “I didn’t want to hurt you, Ralph. But I do believe that it’s your right to know the truth, and that same goes for Kylian.”
I patted his shoulder comfortingly.
Things had come to this way, but I still had many questions in my mind. I’ve witness how Stella tried to seduce Kylian and how she make her way in the pack by taking favors for Luke.
At the same time, I also saw her love for Ralph. She was even willing to fight with Luke for Ralph.
Stella is undoubtedly conflicted. Since she loves Ralph that much, why does she want to seduce Kylian?
Her behavior earlier and the past few days was just too suspicious. It made me think that there’s more than to what meets the eye.
From my peripheral vision, I saw Ralph raised his glass to drink, so I looked up. Upon placing it back down on the table, he look at me with those sorrowful eyes once again.
With a gloomy smile and a hoarse voice, he said with a hint of gratitude, “Thank you. Thank you for taking effort to let me know.”
“You deserve it.”
After giving both of us some time to compose ourselves from the heartache we were in, I broke the silence, “So, how’s that going?...About you and Stella?”
Ralph was a very talented engineer. However, its a pity that despite the preferential treatment he received from Jackson and the other lycans, he remained timid.
His self-esteem was still low and had this belief that he is not wothy of the respect that the higher society was giving him.
I knew because I’ve been there.
Maybe Stella’s forceful pursue toward him had been his redemption on changing his mind, making him look forward to true love.
Hence, it must had broke him when he learned that Stella betrayed him.
My heart clenched at that thought.
Would what I did bring more harm to Ralph than good? If I pulled him back to the dark after he saw the light, would he still be able to get back up?
I stared at him, and couldn’t help but contemplate especially when I saw his eyes starting to red with suppressed tears.
With purse lips, he stated, “Stella has been asking to see me this past few days. She tried every means… but…” He shocked his head, “I just can’t see her yet.”
“Take your time. You deserve that.”
I was asking about his plans, trying to divert his mind. But I guess, its just too early to talk about work yet. No thing right now could cover the pain he had in his heart.
Suddenly, Ralph let out a bitter smile and looked out of the window gloomily. “I use to reject her repeatedly before…”
Shifting back his eyes on me, he continued, “So when we got together, I vowed to her that I’ll never reject her again… But I just can’t see her now… Not yet…”
“I don’t blame her though, you know?” he said, which surprised me.
I furrowed my eyebrows to show my confusion, but I didn’t interrupt him and just let him speak his heart out.
I brought him here. The least I could do was be his listening ear.
“Being with her for a short period of time was already a blessing. It made me happy and it gave my heart this kind of magical satisfying sensation I never felt before.”
A glint of nostalgia flashed in his eyes. “Stella is a really good woman. She’s a like a sweet dream one could rarely have. She’s perfect. She like to exercise, make noises, and laugh her heart out. But with me, she always stays quiet.”
Then, he let out a sad smile. He looked as though he was reminiscing in the past, seeing right through them.
“I can still remember the times when she’ll fall asleep at the table with a book in her arm while I am repairing some equipment.” A genuine smile flashed in his lips. “She really looked so cute then.”
His smiled widened, and he looked directly into my eyes. “She was good to me. So good that I forgot my status whenever I’m with her. It’s like there’s no gap between us… just love. I’ve always been shy and a bit of coward, but for her, I made the boldest decision in my life.”
He paused. “I agreed to be with her.”
But then, that smile faded so fast. He shook his head, and said further, “But that was also my biggest mistake. Me, an omega… How can I ever be worthy of a princess like her? Obviously, an Alpha like Alpha Kylian who’s perfect in many ways is far more suitable for him.”
“No–” I was about to repute to that, and tell him how it was Stella who didn’t deserve him, but Ralph immediately interrupted me.
“But that’s enough of that.” He let out a fake laugh, removing every emotional pain he had in him, and put on a mask on his face.
I don’t know, but it’s more heartbreaking that way. He’s trying to hide his pain and suppress all of it inside him.
“Too much about me. After all, that’s not why I’m here. I’m here to help you solve the issues in Wakeland.” He let out a small laugh after looking at his watch. “Forgive me, Ms. Della. It looks like we wasted so much time on my personal matters.”
I shook my head and waved my hand. “None sense! I’m always here… for anything you want to share.”
Finally, I saw him let out a smile… a genuine and happy one. Though it was very small, it’s a start.
“Now!” I clapped my hand. “Let’s get to business.”
He nodded in agreement, and he let out a map and other paper works from his bag, laying it out on the table.
For who knows how many hours, both of us were discussing everything about the water area and docs in the Wakeland. As if we weren’t in an emotional session earlier, Ralph was now in full work mode – all serious and focus.
I smiled while looking at him like that. I think work was one of the best deviation to keep him from drowning in his emotional frustrations, which made me feel relieved.
“Thank you so much for taking time to help me,” I said to Ralph as I personally walked him out the door.
“It’s my pleasure, Ms. Della.”
Once he was out of my sight, I was ready to get back inside the house when I saw an uninvited guest sitting arrogantly on the chair.
A frown instantly made its way on my lips. “Henry? What are you doing here?”
Diana’s hurried footsteps echoed. Within a second, she was beside me, explaining, “Ms. Della, I didn’t let him in. He just barged in and I couldn’t stop him.”
