Why are you in heat?

"I'll be forever grateful that I met you back there. Coming with you is one of the worst yet the best decision I made, Hugo."

I looked at Hugo and raised my brows at his lack of reaction. He was just looking down at me, blinking before looking away.

"Are you alright?" I inquired, tilting my upper body to the side to see his face. "You're all red. Are you perhaps cold?"

"Gosh, you're so slow," he grumbled while covering his lips with the back of his fist. "And it's so annoying."

A frown dominated my face as I straightened my back. He kept saying I was slow, but honestly, I disagree. How could I be slow when he didn't even answer me properly? He just kept spouting nonsense.

"Are you angry at me?" I asked, only to jump back when he answered, "I'm not!" in irritation while clicking his tongue and glaring at me. What was wrong with this guy? Just what did I say to get him all riled up?

"What did I do? Why are you so mad? I just said it's the worst decision because I didn't know you, but it's actually the best," I tried to explain to calm him down, but it seemed he was just getting annoyed. In the end, I just sighed heavily and snapped my tongue.

"I guess you're right. I'm a little slow. But that is because I'm like an outsider in this world. I was raised within the palace and the people I interacted with are the ones who are allowed in the palace I lived in," I conceded, fidgeting with my hand nervously. "So, I might aggravate someone who is as smart, as handsome, and as remarkable as you. But that is not my intention, so please bear with me."

Hugo looked at me in dismay, but I pressed my lips into a thin line. I purposely flattered him to make him feel better, and it seemed it was effective. See? I wasn't that slow. I knew he liked flattery, and I somehow calmed him down because of it.

I clasped my hand together as if I was praying, looking up at him innocently. "Don't get angry anymore."

"God..." he hissed through his gritted teeth, ruffling his dark ash hair as he paced back and forth. "You're so damn cute."

I froze and looked at him in aghast, taking a step back. Did I hear him wrong?

When he set his eyes back to me, I flinched. He let out a deep breath, planting one hand on his hip while the other was clasping his hair. As I looked at him, Hugo truly looked arrogant. It was as if he was born to be one.

"Say it again," he said, more like he was threatening me. My hands and feet instantly went cold as his eyes lit up.

"Uhm... you are handsome, smart, and remarkable?"

"Not that. I mean before that."

My brows rose as I pondered on what I said before that. "That you're the worst and the best?"

To my dismay, Hugo clicked his tongue in annoyance, and his mood kept swinging back and forth. The more I talked to him, I was starting to think this man needed help. His moods were so unpredictable.

"What I mean is what you called me," he clarified. I shuddered under his gaze. He looked like he would kill me, and I was not even exaggerating.

"Hu — Hu — go" I ended up stuttering out of fear, praying he wouldn't kill me on a whim. Although I was confident he wouldn't, his eyes right now were making me feel otherwise.

His lips parted, closing his eyes as he sighed. I observed his every movement, scared out of my wits. Just moments ago, we were dancing and the atmosphere between us was light. But now, I felt like I would soon see the invisible dark shroud exuding from his back.

"Gosh..." he uttered while stretching his neck, pounding his fist against his shoulder. "How can I..."

"Alpha Hugo!"

Suddenly, a voice came from our side, and I turned my head to see who it was. A towering man with curly hair and a youthful appearance leaped his way towards us. If I was correct, this man's name was Ivo.

Ivo stopped an arm's length away from us, darting his eyes from me and then to Hugo. When his eyes settled on the latter, Ivo sniffed before scrunching his nose up.

"Alpha Hugo, why are you suddenly in heat? Have you become an animal who gets aroused in public no — ack!" Ivo couldn't finish his sentence as Hugo suddenly smacked him in the head.

"Shut up if you don't want me skinning you and use your furs as my coat," Hugo grumbled through his gritted teeth with his fist up. The veins in his fist protruded, making me gulp.

I looked at Ivo with worry. Hugo's assault seemed painful as I saw Ivo's forehead swell instantly. The latter was rubbing it while pouting at the person who hurt him.

"I was just concerned cause this place reek with your..." Ivo trailed off when Hugo gazed down at him coldly. "... please don't kill me, Alpha Hugo. I'll shut my mouth now."

Just as Ivo zipped his mouth, another voice rang from the other side.

"Ah! Alpha Hugo, why are you suddenly in heat?! We all came in here just in case you pin down an innocent maiden to quench your lust!"

I froze as I instinctively exchanged looks with Ivo before shifting my eyes towards the voice's direction. As soon as my eyes landed on them, they had already turned pale, taking a careful step back.

In a beat, the five of them: the twins Kieran and Cyran, Reks the lovesick, Edge the depressed wolf, and Mitch dispersed in the crowd. The next thing I knew was a gust of wind that suddenly blew past me and Hugo vanished from his spot.

"..."