Bounded

11

Chapter Eleven

Trusting the right person is always the right decision.

-

Fate Pierce’s Point of View

“Please get inside the car.”

My eyes focused on the knight presented before me, and I could see how they wanted me to get comfortable by sending him as the one to fetch us. The person standing before me is Thiago Formen. A man who has a kind smile, and a handsome exterior. It would have worked—if I was not aware that this man is a top-tier assassin.

Especially sent on missions that would usually wipe out a pack. I had only seen him by a glimpse, as he was sent to assist us when another pack attacked us. The whole thing was large enough that father needed some help from the palace—and Thiago was sent. I had seen him in combat and was aware that he could simply raise his hand for me to die.

“I’m sorry. You’re not afraid of Johnny, but you’re inching away from Thiago?” Somi laughed, her hands covered her mouth as she badly wanted to let out a louder octave of her laughter.

But if I was being fair, yes I was scared.

Because assassins typically don’t need a command to kill anyone. Johnny needed to face a jury when he killed anyone—but assassins, especially someone of Thiago’s rank don’t need any reasons, what-so-ever.

With his eyes not visible as he smile, Thiago replied. “I am sure to share this with Johnny. I am sure he would find this hilarious.”

I am sure he f*****g will.

“You don’t have to worry about Thiago, he’s harmless.”

I beg to f*****g differ. I have seen this man personally decapitate a werewolf with a rough pull. All through the night, not once did he flinch or even seemed bothered when he was injured. How is that f*****g harmless?

Maybe Somi wasn’t aware of just how dangerous this man was. I could guess that she is aware that he is a knight or even an assassin—but how could she say that someone like Thiago is harmless? Does she easily fall for looks?

Is she not aware that the more adorable the man was, the more dangerous they are?

“Come on, get in!” Somi urged me, patting the seat next to her’s.

As if being compelled to do so, I followed like a small puppy. Thiago offered me another smile before carefully shutting the door beside me. Slowly realizing that I was in a vehicle driving to the Alpha King's home slowly made things terrifying to my mind. My body was doing everything it could not physically shake inside the car. My nerves felt like they were going to explode every second that passed and I was not entirely sure what I was going to expect from that household.

Why do I always feel like someone is out to get me?

Why am I living like this?

“Maverick was annoying last night. He practically stayed inside my room, asking me questions I do not understand. Please, for the love of heavens, play with him tonight.” Somi continued on talking. She was jumping with nerves, having to finally let me visit her home. I do appreciate that at least one of us was having fun.

Thiago seemed to be the only person who did realize that I was getting worried—or maybe he was just used to seeing fear from people’s eyes. The man would often offer us some look, probably making sure that we were doing alright.

“I am afraid that your friend is worried, my lady.” Thiago informed Somi.

Somi looked in my direction with a soft smile, assuring me from what she thought the root of my fears were. “Don’t worry, Fate. Despite what you hear in school, my family is just normal. Everyone might seem intimidating—but that’s just how they look. Mother said that it is embedded in their genes.”

With the mention of the Queen Mother, my mouth released a relieved sigh. Remembering that she’s a human seemed to calm me down. It did only last a second, retaining the memories that humans had also experimented with our kind. Humans had also hunted our kind, and skinned our animal forms alive. Werewolves are the reason we are close to extinction, but they do not hold the title alone.

My mind seemed to spiral with my anxiety.

Why do I feel like something bad is going on?

“Besides, I am here for you.” Somi smiled, holding my hand. To my surprise, having her say this and the action before it made things somewhat comforting to hear. I never knew why I saw her as a comforting figure, despite being one of the royal family. “Even if I look like a fragile woman, everyone in the house is under my command. I am the only female, anyways.”

Maybe that’s why.

As a possible future beta female, she will have these pheromones that could calm anyone around her. Since most in her position would be handling pups, especially those who would bne close to their shifting years—she would have that reassuring persona from such a young age.

Somi seemed like a dependable friend people would like to have in their household. She’s like a long-lost sister that I would like to have. That seemed to be enough to calm me down.

“Thanks, Somi. That did soothe me a lot,” I whispered, softly patting on her hands. “I am just worried that they will claim that we can’t be friends or I harbor different opinions on you.”

She frowned at the words as if they were preposterous, to begin with. “I do not know what you heard about them in school, but I assure you that my family is tender and sweet.”

Unlike her knowledge, my basis on her family did not come from the school. My viewpoint in her family comes from the news and the passing tongue from the people. Old Mason had told us stories about the castle. However, that story was even before Somi’s grandfather could claim the throne, so I was not sure if it still holds the same situation.

There are horrors in every castle, but I am not sure of the story regarding the Hawthrones. Even if they were the only family who reigned the most prolonged, there are hardly a*********s gathering from them. No one was willing to talk s**t about the family.

“However, I am interested to know why you are afraid of Thiago.”

I know that Somi isn’t the one to blame for this. She probably thought that talking about Thiago would drift my mind away from the palace—but it was actually doing everything but that. Every mention of the man driving us reminded me of how dangerous the palace is.

When they deployed one assassin for our aid—I thought badly of the palace. Unaware just how powerful the man was in question. Standing close to him already seemed like a threat to my fox. Sure, he looks like a man who would be a golden retriever to most humans—but I have seen what he can do.

“I am curious myself,” Thiago smiled, making me shiver internally. While I know that he was joking around, I feel a thin thread of worry crept in my body. “You are the first one who flinched before me, and seemed nonchalant facing Johnny.”

Gulping through the worries, I gave them a probability for a human to sense. “Well, I don’t know. For some reason my body just flinched back. That’s new for me, too.”

I could see a sense of realization from the both of them, and of course, Thiago was the first to save them from the conversation. “Maybe I needed to fix my expression. People did mention that I smile a lot.”

Having to see that same smile in battlefield does gives it a tad shiver in anyone’s spine.

“I’m sorry, I must have offended you.” My words were quick to say, not wanting to stab through his efforts in trying to appear harmless. While I doubt that he even cared about my input, I am subjected to make sure that no errors were made today.

Thiago shakes his head, face serious as he continued to drive. “I am simply flattered, my lady. You did not offend me in the slightest.”

“In contrast, I am sure he’ll use this excuse to terrorize Johnny,” Somi informed me.

“I would never, my lady.”

Judging by his tone, I was sure that he would. Seeing how easily Johnny succumbed to a few pressure, I am one to confirm that he was fun to poke around with. Knowing how important it is to a werewolf to become dominant—I could already see how many would tease Johnny in how he looks soft when he’s near Somi.

When the palace was dawning near, I knew I needed to act.

However, I feel nothing but the urge to puke.

“That’s your house?” I questioned, playing my role as I looked back at her.

“Yeah… I did not realize how big it really is in this perspective.” Somi chuckled, panicked as she saw some knights in uniform running to hide from the passing car. I see how her body visibly flinched, and how Thiago quickly set his eyes on me.

There was no need to react differently. Many would think that the place is a palace that has knights lingering around—as that is what is was. I don’t know how they are going to play it off how this is their humble abode, when the whole thing is a passed on home from an Alpha King to another.

It is a palace, of course, it was big.

We could see the palace dawning near, and the fox inside of me needed to run away from all of them. As we had reached the gate, it had opened ever so gracefully. Behind the tall gate hides a majestic view before us. My human fought hard to control our eyes from reflecting, as if my fox needed to see if it was safe to enter the space inside. I had never seen a picture of the palace—but it was much more than what I was expecting. A bigger part of me wanted to sprint out and run, but I had gathered my thoughts and pulled myself together.

Instead of the bad thing, I could very much see that the place is a beautiful sight to see. As I am sure that it is—since it is one of the history of werewolves that continued to flourish by the passing Kings. Not a single person would think that someone was ruling werewolves behind the scenes of this place.

The castle was covered with a massive forest surrounding it, serving as its primary defense to those who dare lay their foot in their land. I was aware that these fortress that gathering around it is not what it seems; fae and werewolves are watching the place with nothing but their best.

I wonder how many people had died in there for thinking of trespassing in the land.

“You have a large piece of land. Maybe we should venture on it once in a while,” I muttered, looking at her.

“Unfortunately, I am terrified of the forest. My brother would come with us once in a while, so my brothers and I rarely venture the lot on our own.” Somi informed me carefully. Even without my fox eyes, I could see just how terrified she was at my words, proving that someone does linger in the forest. If she should shatter her role by not stating their positions in the world, I could see how many had suffered in this land.

“That’s okay.” I smiled, assuring her that it was not necessary.

“We can always bring Ten with us.” She smiled, eyes growing by the thought.

Ten? I was not aware of that name.

A soft determination lingered in her eyes as if excited by the idea that she had passed on me. “Yes, he would know the way around and give us a perfect spot to lounge around!”

As the car stopped, so did my heart. “We have arrived, Young Miss.”

Looking at the entrance to our side, I was surprised by the several knights surrounding the pack. I could not help myself but blink, managing to hide my fox eyes as I did. I wanted to make sure what I am dealing with. All have a neutral aura, but some were exporting some murderous intent. Thankfully enough, it was not targeted in my direction.

My door opened, nerves flying around the beautiful place. Striking a soft tease, I looked at Somi with a smile. “Why do I feel like you’re a Princess in disguise?”

Light green.

She was worried by the words. Anxious to get away from the topic, Somi had entered the hall. Every piece of history greeted my eyes that the palace could offer. The palace is indeed beautiful, and the interior matches the current trends.

“You have a beautiful home,” I complimented her, one thing that I really did mean.

She grinned, jumping around as she appreciated the compliment. “We should start with my brothers. It seemed like my parents and my brother is off on a business today.”

My heart soared in her words, nodding animately as we had gathered in the game room. Every fear that once touched my body vanished. Knowing that the three wouldn’t be present made things easier for me. Maybe that was the only fear that I have so far. It was not like Somi and her siblings were easier to fool, but I would be too terrified to act in front of such dangerous people.

Somi walked through the path as she openly explained some designs. I could see some shades of aura from afar, informing me how she used to have an entourage when she walked. My eyes would catch staff still dressed in what the palace requires them to.

“Woah, she is so pretty!”

Our conversation was cut by the voice, having me look to its source. I cooed, seeing the door partly open and a small head peeking through the hallway. It was a face I have not seen before—which makes him Prince Matthew, the youngest of the siblings. His cheeks were flushed, looking at me with those adorable brown eyes.

A small smile escaped my lips, kneeling on his range. “Thank you. You look adorable yourself,” slowly offering my hand to him, I greeted. “How are you? My name is Fate.”

The Prince did not bother to accept my hand. Instead of following through with proper manners, he had leaped to my hold, hugging me tightly. “My name is Matthew, and you’re so warm!”

My lips pulled a smile. Maybe I do want a younger brother, after all.

“Hey, that’s not fair!” Prince Maverick walked out the room, seeing Matthew was already hugging me. In his hands were drumsticks, and it seemed like he was doing his best to practice while waiting for me. “I wanted to hug her first!”

Another head peep through the door, giving me a better view of Prince Maxwell. He looked much more refined in real life. If I had not seem him look so elated by a game, never would I have guessed that we would have the opportunity to be close.

“Welcome to our home,” Prince Maxwell greeted me, his hands showing me his controller. “Do you want to duel?”

I grinned, hands carefully letting Prince Matthew down. “I’ll be glad to defeat you.”

“It would be my honor to get defeated by you,” he acknowledged, finally showing a smile.

The evidence of their genes were shown to me in full light. I have always seen Somi as a beautiful woman, one that completely mirrored her mother. Seeing her brothers in real life made me see just how most people would often see us. From different situations, I have heard countless compliments about my brothers.

While I could not lie that my brothers have their own charms, I doubt that they had anything to compare when it comes to the Hawthrones. Seeing them almost make me question what the Alpha King looked like—f**k.

Did I just said that?

“But I want her to read me a book,” the sweet voice of Prince Matthew jolted me away from my mind. With a soft tug, he whispered. “Can you please read me one?”

Maverick groaned. “That’s not fair, Matthew! Nobody can say no to you! I wanted a playmate!”

“And I need someone to defeat me in the arena,” Maxwell added.

I offered a small look to Somi, who looked equally annoyed. While I could very much see how stressful this day would be, I did see myself enjoying every second that pass. After all, younger brothers are much fun to deal with rather than older ones.

“How about we all play together?” I asked, smiling at them. Before they could press more on their own interst, I added. “Since I visited because I wanted to play with everyone.”

Matthew nodded. “W…well, because you asked to.”

“Yeah, we can do that.” Maverick agreed.

“Of course.” Maxwell chimed in.

As the three went inside the room, Somi only leaned closer to me to whisper. “Are you a witch? How did you do that?”

With a wink, I let out a laugh as we went inside the room. Somi followed suit, joining the games with us. It is always easier to deal with cute younger brothers, and since everyone seemed to have their own interest—playing together would fix a probable fight that could ensue if one person received more attention than the other.

They are werewolves, after all.