CHAPTER 9

　　DACIANA'S POV

　　Completely ignoring my father's presence, I stared at Ava, amusement dancing in my eyes.

　　“Of course. That's if you have any business with going to the other side of the world. I haven't been in these parts longer than two months, and I'm sure I would remember meeting someone like you.”

　　“Of course, forgive me for my quick suspicion about you. I promise that it was done from the goodness of my heart.” Ava gave a slight gesture that couldn't be passed as a bow, but it could be seen as a sign of respect.

　　“Ava, why don't you escort the couple to their newly made bedroom? I'm sure they must be exhausted from the long journey.” Howard said without glancing at Ava. His eyes were on me the whole time.

　　Gross.

　　He wasn't even trying to hide it, and it almost felt like he was silently challenging Corni for my hand. Only if he knew who I really was. He would probably be racing in the opposite direction, screaming bloody murder.

　　“Alpha, I'm very grateful for your kind thoughts, but I'd like to know that my men will be well taken care of before I leave. And that they should be granted access to attend the feast tonight as well. This victory that we have wouldn't have been possible if it had not been for them.” Corni said with so much respect that I wondered if he actually betrayed the Alpha for me.

　　“Of course. They are my soldiers, and it's only fair for me to treat them properly.” Howard's tight lips and hardened eyes were enough hints to show that he didn't like Corni addressing the soldiers as his men.

　　He even went as far as calling them his soldiers, showing Corni that he alone held the command. It felt like the men were fighting an unbeatable battle with each other, only that Corni didn't seem to partake in it.

　　All he did was stare at Howard with a calm gaze.

　　“I'll take my leave now. Beta female Ava, please lead the way.”

　　His hand interlocked with mine, and he pulled me away gently.

　　“Are you okay?” He asked, his voice laced with worry.

　　I grinned. “A bit tired, but that's about it.”

　　“I'm sorry that Alpha Howard tried to touch you. It's how he is naturally. I hope you understand that he means no harm.” He was looking at Ava occasionally as he spoke, and I realized that this conversation had been made for her ears.

　　Of course, it'd be weird for us not to talk or flirt with each other if we were real mates, and the emotions had to sound real, too.

　　“I understand, but I hope he respects my personal space. I won't let him cross it just because he's your Alpha.” I had to portray my anger in what I said.

　　I was Corni's mate in their eyes and not yet an official member of the pack.

　　If the Alpha did anything to make me uncomfortable, I was bound to voice it out.

　　“Of course, I'll explain it to him,” Corni said with a smile, and we went silent after that.

　　Ava stopped before a brown-tiled house with a polished wooden door, carved with a beautiful design.

　　“Please, feel at home. I'll send someone to bring in your food.” And with that fake smile she'd been directing at me from the moment we arrived, she turned around and left the way we came.

　　Corni pushed the door open, and the whole apartment screamed luxury. It was beautiful.

　　The outside appearance didn't give away the inner beauty, and it looked even wider on the inside.

　　“If there's anything I hate more in this world, it's the fake smiles everyone wears. It makes them look more like monsters than humans.” Corni's expression had turned cold as soon as the door closed shut, hiding us from the outside world.

　　“But you smile at me.” He stared at me like he was supposed to get the hidden message. “Aren't they fake too?”

　　I remembered he had smiled when introducing me to Howard and also whenever he glanced at me.

　　“What gave you the impression that I pretend when I'm with you?” He turned to face me.

　　“It's not like I'm actually your mate. Besides, we're only together for our selfish desires.” I pointed out the plain, obvious fact, and his eyebrows furrowed into a frown.

　　“Are you saying you're just using me for your revenge plot?” He sounded like he wanted me to say something different, but his body language was saying something different.

　　Corni was like a mysterious puzzle with no answer, and you could wrack your brain around and still end up with nothing. I could never know what he truly wanted if he wasn't opening up to me.

　　He knew my goals, he knew my plans, but I was completely in the dark about his.

　　“Just as much as you're using me,” I said, throwing it back to him.

　　He wasn't going to make me feel guilty for something he had suggested in the beginning, and I won't allow it.

　　“Very well. It's only fair that way.” His gaze stared at the door behind me before he moved away, and I released a breath that I had no idea I was holding.

　　“Are we going to live alone here? I didn't know the General has a different building.” I said, admiring the interior decoration.

　　“They don't. I fought for mine. I do more for the pack to be squashed in that tiny packhouse. In case you haven't noticed, your Alpha is a penny pincher. I'm shocked he went this far to make my house more…liveable.” Corni sounded like he was truly surprised.

　　“I think you missed the memo that I'm no longer a part of this pack. He is your Alpha, not mine.”

　　“Trust, but you've never heard me address him as such, have you?” He glanced at me over his shoulder before continuing, “We can live alone if you want. If it makes you feel better, you can hire a maid or a cook to take care of the house on your behalf.”

　　“If I'm going to be your mate, I'd prefer not to be treated like a porcelain glass. I don't mind taking care of our home myself.”

　　This time, the surprised expression was evident on his face. “I thought daughters born into authoritative rich families are raised to not lift a finger in their entire life.”

　　“And yet, I left the pack to train for two years. You should be so stereotypical. My mother wasn't a prim and proper princess either, and she loved to get her hands dirty once in a while.” A smile graced my lips as my mind was filled with beautiful images of my mother.

　　“I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. But I'd like for you to get assistance. They don't need to live here. Just come on a regular basis or at intervals. Whichever works for you.”

　　I smiled at his attempt to relieve me of so many household duties; it was almost sweet, but that word and Corni should never be used in the same sentence, even though his lips are a different matter on another level.

　　I blushed as I remembered how he had kissed me like I was his long-lost lover or like he'd been waiting to do it. “I'll like that. Thank you very much.”

　　He stretched his hand out to me. “Come on, let me show you the bedroom.”

　　Something about his words made my wolf awaken with desire.

　　Why the bedroom? Why not say the whole house?

　　I placed my hand in his, and he pulled me into the hallway.

　　Our bedroom was at the far end of the hallway, and it was designed very manly.

　　“They weren't expecting me to arrive with my mate, and I wasn't either,” Corni said, taking in the masculine decoration of the bedroom.

　　Black bedding, black tiles, a black and golden wardrobe, and chocolate light curtains.

　　“You can change it if it isn't to your liking. Just tell me what you want, and I'll get it for you.”

　　“You know you don't have to put up an act of it's just us. I'm okay with sleeping in another bedroom. I don't need to change anything in your house.” I said, worried he was taking our pretense too far.

　　“I'm not putting up an act, and I have a problem with you sleeping somewhere else when I have a bed that's big enough to fit us both. You're my mate, and I intend to treat you as such both in and out of our bedroom.”

　　Again, with the word bedroom.

　　“Are we going to have…?” I trailed off.

　　“Sex?” He asked.