Bounded

07

Chapter Seven

What even happened last night?

-

Somi Hawthrone’s Point of View

“Turn back around, little lady.”

Oh, no.

Maybe I did not see the gravity of what I have done when Fate was panicking a few hours by. My mind is still probably laced with alcohol that I clearly forgot how my father wanted me to grow up prim and proper. On all accounts, I do not think that acting the way that I did last night counts as behaving in an acceptable manner.

I know that I could inch my way to the thread had it been mom, but alas—I can’t always be lucky. Slowly turning my feel, I faced my family all seated at the dining table. Father has his eyes focused on mine, clearly waiting for me to arrive. I was in the middle of escaping the dinner table when he had spotted me.

I smiled, slowly rushing to the table before taking my seat. One of the servants helped me get comfortable, before drifting away from the scene. Having her away from me lets me see just how attentive everyone is.

“Good morning,” I greeted, voice still strained and obvious of the amount of alcohol that I have enjoyed drinking. “You look presentable, Daddy.”

“Oh,” Mom muttered, cringing as she looked at me. My body froze upon sensing her obvious alarm that I had messed that one up. “I am afraid that is the wrong choice of words, honey. Your father always looks presentable.”

Dad wasn’t always in the house these days, so I would often find the wrong words to say. It wasn’t like my father is a tyrant or someone who is hard to deal with. As a Lycan, he is just generally much more protective than most werewolves. He might not stop me or my brothers from doing what we wanted, but it doesn’t mean that he would not worry every step of the way. He had juggled through making sure we know that he trusts us, and catering to us by every means that he could.

“Can you explain what happened, little lady?” He asked with a voice that seemed controlled and calm. Looking at his eyes, I could not help but panic. “I’ll listen well to what my only daughter had done.”

Slowly fixing myself, I started to speak. “You see… well, I… Uhm…”

“Yes?” Dad urged me on, beckoning me to continue.

Dad is generally more protective of me. Not because I am the only daughter that he has, but as they mentioned that I am quite easier to fool. Enough that despite my being the second born, my younger brothers see it as their mission to keep me safe. After almost accepting the hand of someone who was out to get me, when I was six years old—everyone did keep their guard when it comes to me.

“I’m sorry,” with head hung low and contemplating about what I have done, I easily admit defeat.

I blindly listen to my parents, and would often get away from trouble. When I had learned our family history, and the pressure that is on my brother’s shoulder, I have done everything I could not cause any inconvenience to my family. Clayton mentioned that I was being hard on myself and losing out on vital experiences that I could. He had carried the responsibility of being an Alpha King since he was 10 years old, so he hardly have any of these golden memories that I am allowed to have.

Clayton wanted me to experience those, but our father is clearly worried.

Honestly, Fate and I were having so much fun that I did not know what we were doing—or did I care if we were making a mess of ourselves. For the first time, I have someone in my life in which I did not need to act all proper.

She knew that I have money and my parents were influential but did she care? No.

Even if I act all crazy, she was looking and talking at me as if I could do that. Fate also made sure to keep me safe, as I noticed how she would have me away from some of the humans who seemed dangerous. She is the first person who treated me so well, not because she was ordered to do so—but because she sees me as her friend.

Ordinary people would judge me if they ever see me being so insecure about my body and not wanting to get tagged to the royal family. My name carries a large weight, one that I have carried since I was young. For three consecutive generations, our family managed to win the throne.

I was always labeled as my family, and that means that I could ruin what my generation had worked hard for their entire life.

“Why did you even allow her to come to that party, Clayton? You know that she is underage. It is not a proper place for someone of her status to loiter around.” Dad asked, keeping his voice down into knowing the emotions inside my link.

I was terrified to hear anything from my brother.

While he did approve of me going through the party, I am sure this is not what he had in mind. Still keeping my head low, I flinched at what my brother could say. He had always pamper me, and while he had never raised his voice on me—it was solely because I always kept my status and manner in good nature.

“Calm down, Dad.” Clayton muttered, his hand softly patting my head, urging me to look at him. Instead of looking disappointed, he seemed rather happy. “I heard that you had some fun. How was the party?”

As if forgetting that our parents were in the room, I beamed. “It was exciting! Everything was different from the usual balls that we would attend. Nobody even cared what you’re doing, and I don’t think you’ll be thinking of them when you’re having fun.”

“I’m so glad you had fun, Somi,” Clayton mentioned.

“Clayton.”

I flinched as if being splashed into reality. Slowly facing my parents, I kept my mouth shut. Clayton had always been a good brother, one who would often let me share whatever happened to my day. Back when I was young, he would urge me to do so since he was locked most of his life inside the palace.

Growing up, I realized that he was making sure that I was close with him. I had episodes where I didn’t want to bother my brother, so I would often give him space. My child's mind thought that I was bothering him, so Clayton found a way for me to neglect those thoughts.

He made me believe that it was my job to have fun and to share those stories with him.

I owe a lot to my brother.

“Johnny was there to watch her,” Clayton gently assured him. Not once did my brother seem pressured when my father was clearly holding his temper. It wasn’t like he disrespects my father—in reality, it was the opposite. Never have I seen my brother’s decision questioned since he was a child. He didn’t have to explain himself for everything he had done, yet the respect that he has for our father makes him an exception. “If Johnny isn’t worried about what happened last night, I am sure that nothing of importance had happened.”

That does seem correct.

Johnny would have been first to reprimand me if anything of the sort had happened.

“She is a Princess, Clayton,” Dad replied, a sigh following his words.

“Of course, she is. It is a title that Somi carried since she was young,” He agreed, my eyes looking back at him. Instead of seeing a look of disappointment, my brother seemed proud. “She was never given an opportunity to be a child. While I understand that you are worried about her, it is also important for her to learn to be socialized with people. Somi had always been scared of everyone. This helped her a lot.”

What?

I saw a flash of recognition from everyone’s faces, like what my brother was saying had another meaning. It was true that I hardly communicate with other werewolves, as I was always in the background. Clayton gave me some chance to talk with others, but I would simply listen to them. Anyone who was with me would often indulge in the conversation.

“So before she reached the age of 18, where responsibilities will follow her like a plague—let her have some fun,” Clayton added before I could think through his words.

Mom sighed, slowly looking at her husband. “He does have a point, dear.”

“But…”

Johnny was added into the conversation the second my brother looked at him. He stopped cutting his steak, slowly putting his fork down. “As much as she was drunk and could not keep her mouth shut, she did not do anything bad at the party. If else, she still remained her class and composure through it all. I was not sure if it was the alcohol, but she also managed to talk to some humans and helped them from their problems.”

I did?

My heart was beating faster as I heard him defend me. My mind could hardly juggle what I had gone through the night. Fate did pull some people in our table, and I could vaguely remember the conversation. I wasn’t sure where I got the chance to help them, let alone maintain to display the etiquette that I have learned.

But is that even surprising?

I begged my parents to start my etiquette classes when I was young. When I know that I was representing my brother, I wanted nothing more than to appear as a real Princess.

“Is that so?” Dad asked, c*****g a brow. “You are not lying to me, aren’t you?”

“Of course not, Your Highness.”

This was the first time that Johnny had ever replied to my Dad according to what I did. Naturally, I am always foolish about the decisions that I would impulsively do on my own. However, it was different with Fate. While I know that she was guiding me on the right path, there are situations in that I feel like I was in the right mind when I am with her. Maybe that’s how real friendship works. Like how Johnny functions well with my brother.

Mom chuckled, holding Dad on her side. “You cannot win this round, darling. Both the Alpha and Beta are ganging up on you.”

“Ten could do some help too,” I added as I looked at him.

He shook his head, raising his hand to dismiss the invitation. “I am not there to validate your actions. Sorry about that. I could always help you, but not in this situation.”

Jerk.

Dad did seem worried about me, enough that he had rushed home despite the work that he has to do. Mom is also a force to be reckoned with, so I was grateful to have her on my side. Despite her calm and collected manner, she is a powerful mage with such a fierce personality. Even if she is the daughter of the Mage of Nature, she exhibits some backbone from time to time.

Even my father is scared to face that side of her.

“Let her have some of her fun while she is young, Blayze. Let’s just let this one go,” Mom muttered, smiling at him. “You know that this is the first time that Johnny had accepted a friend of hers. So, it must be a real friendship.”

“Is that true, Johnny?” Dad asked.

I only looked at Johnny who replied to my Dad in a nod. He seemed to be nonchalant about everything but he did not seem pissed into having this conversation. Dad continued on asking him as he continued to defend me.

Why do I feel this?

This is wrong. He is a friend.

He has a mate.

“You really found a friend?” The voice of my brother vibrated into the room, waking me into reality. Maxwell asked as he leaned on the table, raising his hands for me to greet. His brown eyes glinted, lips pulled into a smile. “It’s good to know you’re finally making friends. She must be cool!”

I grinned, accepting his high five. Fate really is cool, and I am excited to know that they were as pumped as I was. “I know, she really is! You should meet her. She knows all about the game you’re playing!”

“Wait, really?” His eyes sparkled, now facing me. I am sure that we are not allowed to take gadgets to the table, but this asshole whipped what he was hiding under the table. Maxwell had basically pushed his game on me as he jumped on the question, clearly tossing his composed personality aside. Despite only a two-year difference between us, Maxwell would often act childlike when the game is mentioned. “You mean this one? Does she have a username?”

I moved his hands away from my face, not wanting to get punched by the console. “I do not know about that. But she said something about crystal—”

“She’s already in the crystal league?!” He screamed, shaking my body as I rolled my eyes. Maxwell might have some death wish if he’s willing to shake a woman who can projectile vomit at any second now. “I want to play with her! Everyone else sucks in this game!”

“Hey!” Everyone reacted at his words, making him chuckle as he backed away from me.

It was really true that everyone really could not with Maxwell on the other side of the arena. Maxwell would assure us that he just knew more about the game, but I am sure it was something more. Clayton would often disapprove of the game, but playing with Maxwell changed his perspective.

Maxwell is heavily dedicated to his game, and when Clayton realized that it enhanced his analytical thinking through it—that just gave him more opportunities to play it. Even Dad agreed that it was a good training base for him. But I was sure that he had never reached the level that Fate was, hence his excitement into finally having someone who speaks his language.

“Does she read books, too?” Matthew, the youngest, questioned as he raised the book that I had given him. His gentle eyes were expressing just how badly he wanted me to agree as if needing another person to baby him.

I nodded, pointing to his book. “That was her recommendation.”

“Wait. That means that the drums—” Maverick gasped, looking at me.

My grin widens as my brothers finally realized that all that I have been given them were recommendations by her. I might have spent every day with them, but I could hardly keep up with my brothers. Fate mentioned that she also has three brothers back home, and they were all older than her. I think that gives her the advantage to know all of these well enough—or maybe, I am just lacking.

Either way, as long as it offered a good light to my brothers.

The three had run in my direction, as they wanted to know more about her.

“See, even the kids like her new friend,” Mom mentioned.

Dad can only release a sigh, already admitting defeat. It was not like he could win when Mom was already on our side. He simply nodded, holding his temple. “If she is so good, maybe you should invite her in. Then, I will see it myself if she is good for you.”

“What? But...” I muttered, frowning at him. While I would like nothing more than to invite Fate in here, we couldn’t possibly give her entry. Fate only managed to stay last night because she was too drunk to even remember anything in the house. Not only that but we were granted a room a few stories away from my brother’s palace.

“Is there something wrong?” Clayton asked.

“Well… you know that she’s human.”

“I will make sure that we are prepared for her. The staff is aware of what to do when a human visit and Ten knew what to do with the knights.” Clayton informed me.

With a shock, I questioned. “We can do that?”

“We’re not allowing human visits, but it doesn’t mean that our gates will always be closed for them. There are situations where we make an exception.” Dad answered for me, a smile on his face. “And for this wonderful friend, your brother will make sure to prepare everything.”

Clayton seemed to agree. “This is your first friend and everyone wanted her to continue being your friend. We will not ruin it for you.”

My eyes swing into Ten, voice firm and serious. “And no flirting with her!”

He raised his arms. “Yes, ma’am.”

I grinned, shaking in my toes as I could not wait to tell Fate about this! The boys will love her and I could spend more time with her! Having friends really does have its perks!