Chapter 19: Mated for Life

Swan laid on the bed after the sheet had been changed. She tried to close her eyes and fall asleep but couldn't. 

She kept thinking about Gale, who seemed upset by her offer to sacrifice her if it was necessary to cure the curse. 

'Is he mad at me? But why? Aria and Queen Mother didn't think twice about sacrificing me, and I'm sure everyone in Holy Achate's palace would be more than willing to save their lives in exchange for just one unworthy life.' Swan refused to believe that Gale—or anyone in this beastmen kingdom thought of her as a human being. She was naive, but not naive enough to think someone would be kind to her for no reason.

She was in a daze as she kept thinking about Gale until the real one jumped into the room from the window. 

Swan darted her eyes and saw Gale, whose hair was slightly damp, proof that he had gone to the lake just now. 

"Why haven't you slept yet?" Gale asked as he walked to the bed. He lay right next to her, and Swan quickly turned to the other side so she wouldn't need to face him. 

Gale paused for a second and then tried to hug her from behind when he realized her body was stiff. 

Gale was just as stiff as she was. He kept hesitating because Jade's words poisoned his mind, making him unsure if he should keep this close contact with Swan even though his curse would force him to mark and marry many more women in the future. 

However, the moment he inhaled the scent on her nape—at the place where he marked her yesterday—he felt at ease.

Thus, he buried his face there, sniffing her scent that had been harmoniously mixed with his. 

Gale naturally hugged her closer until there was no gap between them except her dress and muttered, "Don't think too much about it. You will be safe with me."

…

"And ignore Jade's words. Only I know the true nature of my curse."

"Including the fact that you will have more wives after me?" Swan asked with a low voice. She had been keeping it for a while, and if she was smart enough, she would just shut her lips and nod to everything he said.

But then, she realized this would be the perfect time to propose her sacrifice. Gale would have more wives, which would be far more beautiful and dignified. 

On top of that, his new wives wouldn't be crippled like her. 

Gale went quiet after that, so Swan continued, "I heard from Lady Jade that you are obliged to marry many women from other parts of your conquered lands. So, uhm… I'm sure they are much more beautiful than me. So I—"

Gale suddenly hugged her tightly and kissed her nape. There was a strange sensation that ran through her body as he kissed the place where he marked her yesterday. 

Swan began to tremble, but she managed to control herself and continued her speech, "S-so, I think it's fine if you… sacrifice me—Ah!" 

Swan moaned when Gale suddenly nibbled on that same area on her nape, like a hungry wolf tasting his prey. 

His hug continued to tighten until Swan felt a little stuffy. He didn't respond—or perhaps he simply didn't want to listen. 

Swan wanted her message to go through, so she endured the stimulation coming from his nibbles and continued, "I-I think I have no use other than being a s-sacrifice. You don't need to worry about me. I will—AH!" 

Swan finally couldn't endure it anymore when Gale bit her nape. His hands also began to go up, and he pulled her dress down. Then, he fiddled with her nipples, effectively shutting her up by making her sensitive body feel all kinds of pleasure. 

Swan almost gave up as it was too much for her, but she still delivered her last sentence despite the difficulty, "I—unh! I-I don't mind if you—sacrifice me—ahh!" 

Gale punished her by pinching her nipple, making her scream in response.

Swan thought that Gale would finally respond to her, but he talked about a different topic instead, "Princess, do you know what would happen after I mark you?"

Swan shook her head, hoping that Gale would stop teasing her body so they could have a proper conversation about her sacrifice. 

"In my culture, that means we are meant to be mates for life. You will respond when I'm in my rut, and so do I will respond when you're in heat. It also allows you to bear our cubs," Gale explained. "That also means our bodies will reject any other werewolves, or even anyone from your human species, as a human mate is not as uncommon as you thought."

Swan found that to be quite romantic because in Holy Achate, despite being a kingdom that upholds monogamy, she knew there were so many infidelities between married couples.

The prime example was the late king, who cheated on Queen Anastasia with a prostitute, and Swan was born because of that. 

It was also the reason why Swan never blamed the queen and Aria for tormenting her, even after they crippled her. 

She wasn't supposed to be born. That was the principle embedded in her head since she was young. 

The idea of being mated for life was very tempting for her, but after being told by Jade that Gale had to marry many women because of his curse, she didn't find the idea of being mated to Gale attractive anymore. She felt like she would always lose to the many beautiful women he would have in the future. 

"It's okay if you have to marry other women and sacrifice me—I-Hnnnh!"

Gale shut her up again by pinching her nipples, "Why do you keep talking about sacrifice? Do you want to leave me that badly?"

Swan's body trembled again as Gale nibbled on her nape again. She tried to form a sentence but kept on getting interrupted by the constant pleasure. 

It was as if Gale didn't want to hear her answer. 

Gale nibbled on her earlobe and said in a low yet commanding voice, "You can't leave me, Swan. We are mated for life."