Sold to the Cruel Alpha King Arden

11

Erina doesn’t know what to say in response to his saying that. She remained silent, not looking at him, as the servant now put the bandage on his wound.

Minutes later, someone knocked until it opened and the head of the guard went in.

“Alert all the guards. We are attacking the Rockwells tomorrow,” Arden said calmly as the servant gave him his dress shirt.

Erina froze a bit, knowing that the Rockwell ordered their men to kidnap her; she doesn’t know what to feel.

The guard nodded as if those things weren’t new to him.

The guard immediately went out, and he alerted the whole guard about their attack tomorrow. Arden dismissed the servant as well as took a glimpse at Erina’s expression, who was furrowing her brows and seemed like she doesn’t agree at all.

“You’re planning out a war just because of what happened?” Erina’s brows furrowed as she couldn’t control her mouth not to say anything about it.

“Yes. Because if I didn’t come there to save you, what would happen to you?” His brows rose as he looked at her sarcastically.

“Then punish who’s behind it. Don’t include the others who have nothing to do with it. You are starting a war, and it will only kill those innocent lives,” she said desperately as her hatred for what happened to her kind flashed in her mind.

Arden’s brow raised as he walked towards her. He can vividly see the hatred in her eyes, the controlled anger she’s trying to suppress, and the thick voice that wanted to shout so badly.

“This is me, Erina,” he said in a low voice, his eyes looking at her seriously. “I won’t hesitate to kill if I lose a life.”

Erina got goosebumps as he stared at her as if he could see through her soul and read what was on his mind.

“Then how about the innocent lives, huh? You lost a loved one. You should be the one who knows how to empathize with the families of those innocent lives that are going to be tangled in a war because of your wrath,” she fired fearlessly, her eyes burning in so much anger.

Arden held her chin, his eyes grazing down her lips as his thumb caressed them gently.

“You came here like an angel, but I didn’t know this angel could burn someone’s thorns,” he said meaningfully.

Erina remained in her position as the fire in her eyes continued to dominate her. He leaned forward, his head tilting a bit, and his lips parted in an attempt. Erina couldn’t move at all, bracing for what was about to happen when the door opened aggressively as his mom barged in while carrying both sides of her long gown.

“Arden! You are starting a war with the Rockwells! Have you lost your mind?!” His mother’s voice thundered as she saw her son’s back, aiming to kiss Erina.

Her eyes glared more as she looked at Erina with pure hatred, knowing that Arden’s trauma had been unlocked by her. She knew exactly why his son was suddenly driven and hungry for war.

Erina avoided her face by tilting it to the side as Arden was put to a halt. He sighed breathily and straightened up.

“You know what would happen once we attacked them! They are a great alley, Arden! We are maintaining peace with the clans here! But you wanted to start a war with them?” Mrs. Gunner continued, and her voice boomed all over the place so that Erina could hear its vibration.

“Call the head of the guard, Mama,” Arden said in a calm voice.

“Tell me exactly why you wanted this war when we could do this in a proper way!” she raised her voice without considering his words.

Arden glanced at her in a cold yet serious manner.

“Mama, I said call Arthur,” he repeated in a more thick but more controlled voice.

Mrs. Gunner shook her head. “Oh, this is what I hate about you! You are too driven when you’re… good!” She turned her back and walked hastily as she pulled her big gown again.

Arden sighed and went to watch Erina, who was now walking to the shelves of the book. He let her do what she wanted as he occupied the sofa, crossed his arms, and watched her choose another book for herself.

Arden tapped the space beside him. “Read it here.”

Erina glanced at him first before making her way to him as she brought the book she had chosen to read.

She sat on her side, leaving a space between them. Arden rested his hand on the headrest of the sofa, his head glancing over his shoulder to watch how Erina opened the book and read it using her eyes.

“You finished the book you had chosen the other day?” Arden asked.

Erina nodded. “Yes. And it’s, uh, just like what you said: tragic. But I like it that way. It’s bittersweet.”

Arden’s brow shot up. He’s always amazed at how her mind works because she’s unique and amusing.

“You don’t want a happy ending? Where would the boy and the girl end up together? Live happily ever after?”

“Sometimes. But the book itself is fine like that. Because it showed the side of reality where you could only hope for better days but it won’t always go our way. and we must deal with it. Live with the pain. and seek the beauty in it.”

Arden stared at her, enthralled not just by the beauty she possessed but also by the way her mind worked.

He was about to say something when another knock came, and the door opened, revealing the head of the guard.

“Yes, My Lord?” Arthur stated his case and stood formally.

“Bring the head of the Rockwell tomorrow. Tell him I need his head on my table,” Arden said sarcastically, which made Erina glance at him aggressively.

Arden raised his brow. “Just a statement to let him know that I am f*****g mad at him about what he has done to you,” he said softly.

Arthur glanced at Erina first, amused that for the first time, Arden changed his plans, and he doesn’t need to know why because it was obvious to him. He nodded.

“I will, My Lord…”

As soon as the guard left, Arden used the fist of his left hand resting on the headboard of the sofa and put it on the side of his head, tilting it a bit to watch Erina’s expression with a hint of amusement.

“Is that how you always deal with your problem? In a ferocious way?”

“It depends…” he drawled lazily.

Erina’s eyes were glued to him. She can’t change the fact that he radiates menace, brooding, and evil in some ways, but he’s so handsome as hell that even darkness looks good on him.

“Violence is not always the answer,” her voice thickened.

“Have you dealt with losing a loved one, Erina?” he asked.

Erina was put to a halt. The truth is, she couldn’t remember the pain she felt when her mother told her that her father was already dead and that they were the only survivors of their entire kind who’d been wiped out by the cruel king in front of her. She couldn’t remember the pain, but the hatred automatically mingled, and she wanted to avenge them. She wanted to create a peaceful place where no one could live in fear and they could live freely.

“I lost my mother,” she said when she remembered her fake identity as Erina Riverdale.

“Then, would you remain friends with the murderer of your mother? Would you rather forgive them? After what they have done to your mother?”

Erina understood what he was talking about. But she knew his ways.

“I will come after the only man who’s behind my mother’s death. I won’t blame those innocent people who have nothing to do with it,” she explained carefully.

Arden only raised his brow. He can sense her strong demeanor and how she looked against the war Arden was trying to pull out, which calmed him down at least.

“Then I will come for the Rockwell’s head. I see,” he nodded tauntingly.

Erina gritted her teeth. To hear about violence is just too much for her. But knowing that she must have died if Arden didn’t show up to save her, she’s torn about whether to show sympathy with the Rockwell or to let him suffer the consequences of his action.

“You know what I’ve learned in this world: people like you who are kind and forgiving will only get abused. You won’t have survived at all. These monsters will swallow you whole, tormenting you because they know you are weak.”

Yes, I know that. That’s the reason I am here, Arden. I refuse to be devoured by a monster like you. I’d rather devour you first than get swallowed by you.

A monster like you deserves to be punished, so you could feel what we felt too.

“That’s why, in order for you to survive, you need to let me have it my way if you’re not strong enough to stand on your own. Cause I won’t forgive them at all if they have taken another life from me,” he held her chin, his eyes looking at her intensely.

Cosette froze a bit.

“You think I am weak and need to be protected?” she asked.

“I don’t think you’re weak. But I still want to protect you,” he interjected, his eyes burning with desire and other emotions Cosette can’t even begin to name.

He caressed her chin as his eyes drifted to her lips. She can sense how he wanted it, but he took his time to torment her through his blazing eyes, which made her body heat uncontrollably.

Cosette knows exactly why her mother sent her to the mansion. to bear his child, and might as well get his trust and break his heart.

Getting impatient by his movement, Cosette leaned closer, letting her lips crash against his as she lets her body rule over her for her plans and also to submit what was on her mind.

Cosette pulled away enough that she felt his lips on her, but before she could entirely get away, Arden chased after her lips, crashing his lips back to her as his hand went to her cheek, cupping it and coaxing her for another kiss.

Cosette’s inhibitions flew out of the window as soon as she felt how his lips moved and how his fingers traced her jaw as he kissed her thoroughly, sending chills throughout her body that was so foreign to her.

She parted her lips to breathe, but then, Arden took that opportunity to slither his tongue, making his way to her mouth, claiming her as his.