Knight's Tempus [16+]

Chapter 10

Red's Point of View

The western part of the pack never fails to amaze me. Its colossal trees and rare plants keeps on arousing my curiosity. I learned a thing or two about herbal medicines from old man, I wonder if there are herbal plants like those in Tirada here too? I should ask Dr. Emily, wait, maybe I should ask Claudia instead? She's a witch so she must have better knowledge in terms of herbal plants compared to Emily.

I caught a glimpse of a man's walking silhouette ahead of me.

I squinted my eyes to get a clearer look of him. My lips forming a smile.

"Knight!!"

He turns to me. His forehead crease upon seeing me, he doesn't look mad nonetheless. Just plain curiosity why I'm in front of him again. Anyways, why would he be mad in the first place? We're friends now!

"Hi!" I greeted as soon as I got closer to him.

"You're here..." He stated. I just smiled. Phew, he's not half naked right now. Great! “Why are you here?”

“I’ll be patrolling in this area too.” I answered nonchalantly looking at the surroundings.

“Beta’s order?” He asks as he started to walk to somewhere I don’t know again.

“Nope.” I answered smiling. His forehead creases in wonder, I laugh. “It was my decision; I want to help you patrolling here.” He stared at me for a couple of seconds before he avoided my eyes and look somewhere, I diverted my eyes away from his face too. Is it just me or does Knight look better than before? He’s already handsome even before but there’s something different about him today, he looks contented, somehow, that sad and distance look in his eyes seems to disappear. He doesn’t look as icy as he was.

My lips tug a small smile. “Anyway, do you usually patrol around here alone?” He nods his head glancing at me then turns away again.

Huh? What’s with him right now? I caught him glancing at me three times in a row now.

I choose not to talk; I can keep myself quiet unlike what Ava always tells me. Duh, who can’t keep their mouth shut for even a couple of seconds? I definitely can. It isn’t that hard.

I pursed my lips together, licks my lower lip looking down, my hands fidgeting, I look up in the sky and birds are flying freely, I poke my tongue on the inside of my cheeks.

Why do I feel bothered?

This deeper part of the forest is just so quiet. There are chirps of bird nearby and soft hum of the wind along the sound of our footsteps hitting the dried leaves, it wasn’t an awkward silence but I feel extremely bothered and uncomfortable.

Does Knight feel the same way? If not, what could be the reason why he keeps on glancing at me?

Ughhh! I bit my lower lip, heaved a deep sigh and turns to Knight at the same time he turns to me. He looks surprised as our eyes met. He gulps.

“You okay? Do you want to… say something?” I ask eyeing him in worry. Am I making him uncomfortable?

He shakes his head clearing his throat afterwards.

“Well,” I glance around. Indeed, we are on the deeper part of the forest, we are surrounded by huge trees, the distance between trees are shorter here compared to their distance on the entrance and the grass seems bigger here compared to how tall they were. “Where to next?”

He pointed my right side quietly. I sigh still looking at him. “Do you mind having me here?” I ask.

He nods his head, my eyes widen. Oh. I look down, I guess I shouldn’t be—

“Wait, don’t misunderstand. I do mind having you here but not because of whatever reason you are thinking.” He suddenly said, I glance at him. He stared at me and sighs then avoided my eyes again. He coughs. My forehead knitted in wonder.

I cleared my throat and avoided his eyes when I caught him glanced at me again.

“Let’s go.” I tell him then left making my way towards the direction he was telling me awhile back.

I didn’t dare to look at him behind me because the curiosity of what’s his reason for minding my presence with him bothers me. What could be the reason why he minds me being with him? There must be something wrong with me, I think he’s still not comfortable being with me. Is he?

“I’ll go further ahead!” I yelled at him not facing his way while waving. “I’ll be right back and I’ll be really quick.” I added and left, I might have heard a faint sound of disapproval from him or I could be wrong, there is a sudden sound from nowhere so I must have mixed those and imagined Knight’s voice along.

It took me almost five minutes to wander further the area and check for anything suspicious, I even climbed trees to have a broader look around, it’s all thank to these gigantic trees that even I can even spot some of the cabins and houses even though they are quite far from here.

I heaved a deep sigh and jumped, I dashed towards where I left Knight is, I don’t think he’ll be leaving that area anytime soon. As I turn to my side, my eyes widen.

Holy…

~

I shake my head upon remembering the situation Knight was when I return. I wonder if he’s back?

“Hey Red, you’re back.” I stopped walking to stare at Charles face. Should I ask him about what I saw? Does he know?

I shake my head again, that would make me look like a nosy person. I shouldn’t be sticking my nose into things that isn’t my concern. I should mind my own business. Right.

“You okay?” Charles asks again, his eyes showing a hint of worry. I just nod my head but that doesn’t appease him. “You look extremely bothered over something.” He stated.

“I do?” I repeated. Is it that obvious? Why am I so bothered in the first place? Oh right because as far as I am concerned Knight’s heart is currently broken because of his mate’s death and he doesn’t look like over it in my observation and based on how he was. Who wouldn’t be surprised seeing that?

“Red!!” I snapped back into reality, Charles’ face is really close to mine that I had to step back out of reflex in realization of how close our faces are. He chuckles lightly. “Oops, too close for your comfort?” He asks with a playful expression; I nod my head.

“Ah, I’ll go to my room first. I have to call Ava.” I just tell him and gave him a small smile.

“All right.” He said. I quietly walk towards the stairs with my head low. “Knight!! You’re here!”

I froze. My eyes widen. I gulp.

My eyes wander around the living room not sure what to do. My heart suddenly started beating fast and my palms started to sweat, I can feel the sweat trickle from my temple to my cheek, I have to move. To do something.

Do what exactly?

“Oh Red? I thought you’ll be in your room?” Charles ask behind me.

“Ah?” I laugh though it sounded forced and awkward even in my own ears. What more on theirs? “I suddenly got lost in my thoughts that’s why.” I turn to him and he isn’t pranking me or anything that I had hoped, Knight is indeed beside him and he’s looking at me, deeply and seriously. What could he be thinking right now?

And why am I so tensed over that?!!!! I just saw him with… It shouldn’t be a big deal so why am I getting all nervous because of that?! I heaved a discreet sigh and forced a smile, I had to force a smile even though my face feels like a cement.

“Well? What could be the thoughts of yours that got you so lost that it made you look like a statue.” Charles ask again genuinely curious. He is utterly clueless of why I’m acting this way and honestly, I think I am too. I’m making a big deal out of that scene when in fact I shouldn’t be.

I glanced at Knight and he’s still the same, he still has his eyes fixed on me as if waiting for me to say something. Well, should I lie or should I tell the truth?

“Uh… It was, I…”

“She saw me getting kissed by someone.” Knight declared not looking away.

Charles nods his head unbothered by that sudden revelation. “Ahh so that’s why she’s like that. She saw you getting…kissed…by…” Slowly, realization dawned on his face and his head leisurely turn beside him, to Knight’s, like a horror movie possessed doll. Even his face started to drain its color. “…someone.” He mutters looking at Knight unbelievably.

I cringe looking at him. Clearly, I am not the only person shaken by that. Knight sounded nonchalant over that matter though. But how did he even ended up being kissed.

“What the f**k?! Who-wait, you- someone kissed you?!!!” Charles suddenly exclaimed after moment of silence. I glance around and some of the pack members started to gather around us hearing Charles’ loud voice.

Out of worry, I gazed at Knight and still, he isn’t even looking away from me. The heck, is there something wrong with my face?!

I grab his hand and pulled him away from the pack’s mansion, we passed some of the pack’s members on their way on the pack house and they are eyeing us curiously.

I glance around the area we are in, it isn’t that far from the pack mansion but I’m sure we are in a safe distance from prying eyes and enlarge ears willing to hear what they don’t need to.

I let go his hand and sigh exasperatedly. “The last time I check; you are not a robot Knight.” I tell him placing my hands on my waist.

“I’m not.”

“Then why were you absolutely expressionless back there?!” I almost exclaimed in frustration. “You are not even bothered by the pack members’ attention to you when Charles said that!” I added gesturing him.

His forehead crease while looking at me. “Should I be bothered?”

“Of course!” I shouted. I blink realizing what I just did. I raised my freaking voice at him. I shouted at Knight Rochester.

“Why should I be?” He asks clearly not minding that I just shouted at him seconds ago.

“Why should you be?” I repeated. “Because… because…” Damn it. Yeah right, why should he be bothered?

Still, I wasn’t the person who got kissed but I am more than bothered than the person involved.

I should give him a reason for him to be bothered but what could it be? Because he was kissed? Because he’s heart is not mended yet? Because he’s heart-broken? Because I was with him when that happened? Because I was the first person to witnessed that? Because… I’m bothered?

But what does that have to do with him?

“Red.” I look up and stiffened with my head slightly held high to face him and meet his jaw. When did he get so close? “Are you…worried?”

“Huh?”

“Are you worried of me?” He asks. His voice sounded breathy and raspy at the same time. I gulped. His pair of dark eyes regarding me profoundly as if he’s looking for something that he can only see through my eyes. I couldn’t look away, something is dancing on his dark orbs and it’s pulling me to stare at them more, to stare at them deeply and to finally delineate what those emotions on his eyes are. His dark orbs shining as his eyes meeting mine are like an invitation to his soul…to another side he’s unwilling to show. “Answer Red, are you worried of me?” I split from that spell that has seemed to cloud my mind.

“I…worried?” What was he asking me?

“Are you worried about me, Red?” He asks, his guttural voice now clearer from seconds ago.

I gasp as his arms encircled around my waist pulling me closer to his. Wait…

I tried to push him off me but his grip on me only tightened.

“Let go…” I demanded but his ears grew deaf, he paid no attention to my protests. “Knight let go of me!” My voice grew louder than it already is, my efforts to pull away from him rise.

He lowly growled in warning. “Quit moving, woman.” He ordered lowly, his eyes hinting his disapproval of my actions. What the actual…

“Hah!” I exhaled loudly looking at him as if he grew another pair of head. Ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous. My lips formed an irritated smile while I look at him directly on his eyes. “You won’t like what I’ll do to you if you still won’t let me go.” It wasn’t an empty threat. This... this side of him, his bossy and somewhat tyrannical side is infuriating!

He smirked, his golden eyes shone in amusement. “Hmm? I’d like to see what you’ll—f**k!”

I blow a loud breath the moment I’m free from his grasp. I caressed my waist and check if there’s any bruise left. He was gripping me like I’m not a human, I mean, I’m not a breathing being! Does he think I’m a human sized bag?

“You…” He pointed me while glaring and caressing his red cheek. My palm left a mark, I’ve never been satisfied in my whole life. Maybe I should have exerted more force on that slap? Nah, his head might roll out of his body if I did that.

I smile victoriously. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you but you should snap out of it Knight Rochester.” I jutted my chin at him, my eyes challenging. “I promised Ava to take care of you while she’s away and… I think that includes taking care of you even from your own self.”

He growled.

“This body is mine!!” He screamed, his body in an extreme crouch position. His right arm extended in front of him while his left arm raised behind him.

My eyes grew wide.

Oh no no no…

He’s not thinking of sprinting using his full werewolf speed in front of me, is he?

“H-hey Knight… don’t… I’m---“s**t.

Time seemed to slow down as his body slowly turned, his right foot ready to leap forward, his left arm lowering and his golden eyes glowed.

Ah fudge.

I close my eyes, heaved a deep sigh and when I opened it again, Knight is completely still.