His heart skipped a beat after watching her

It was the old woman to whom Ethan had helped with carrying her sack of grain, making him to stare at her, then at his Alphas and then he let go of the reins of Darius [ Ethan's horse] and walk in the direction of the old woman , as he didn't want the old woman to walk that much.

He remembered the woman mentioned she had arthritis and can hardly walk with pain.

" Grandma, how may I help you, again!" Ethan asked, making Alphas stare at him and the old woman, but none uttered a word.

Not because they weren't curious, but because they didn't want to disturb the duo or create any kind of interference in their interaction.

"Oh no, young man. I am good. I saw you all did a great job and brought hope and happiness back to Hilch Town. Although you did it under the command of our King. But still you give it your all. You don't know how much this little gesture of The King and that tremendous hard work of yours meant to us." The old lady said.

" Oh that! That's just our duty." Ethan uttered courteously while brushing the back of his head in embarrassment. He definitely wasn't a good candidate to deal with the praises and flattery. He would always get flustered.

" Still! Thank you. Did you all eat something? You all were working tirelessly." The granny asked, making Ethan exchange a quick glance with Ermaan and then stare back at granny.

"Well, we didn't get the time. But we surely will, on our way. That's what one of our comrades promised to us. It's so sweet of you that you came all the way here to check on us. We are fine. Thank you." Ethan tried to be courteous while trying to dismiss the old lady. After all, she had arthritis and it wouldn't be a good thing for her to stay longer.

" Oh ho ho. These old bones are much stronger than you think, young man. You came like the messengers of gods with food and filled us with hope and happiness. How could I let you all go with empty stomachs?

My home is nearby. Come to my place and I will prepare a hearty meal for you all. Though it won't be as good as your daily feasts in the army. But I will prepare it with love. You all will love it.

Come." The old woman named Nazia said, making Ethan and Alpha Team to stare at Ermaan.

"So, you guys finally realised that I am your leader, huh! Not bad." Ermaan said, when suddenly the spotlight was thrown in his direction. Even Nazia was staring at him.

" Well, we would love to. But as you can see we are quite a big number. Not to mention these fellas aren't even civilised and still need babysitting intensively. We would end up giving you a greater headache than the one you can actually manage.

Though, we are beyond happy and highly appreciate your kind gesture. I am sure our King would be beyond glad to hear about the presence of such a humble citizen in our kingdom. Thank you so much, but now we have to take our leave." Ermaan said leaving everyone speechless.

That speech was courteous, polite and although it did poke Alpha Team, it surely was an elegant declination of the proposal.

So, this guy can talk like other people too.

"Oh! That's so sad.As I had already made the appropriate arrangement. However, I would respect your wish soldier." Nazia said making Alphas to bore holes in Ermaan's body, who himself was having a second thought regarding this matter.

After all, what harm could his fourteen cubs do? He can handle it, right! If things get worse, then he will just drag them back to barracks and starve them for a week as a punishment. Besides, the old lady had already made the preparations. So, it would all go to waste, if these hungry swines didn't devour her hard work.

He was busy contemplating the pros and cons, when he saw the lady turning her back and started to walk in the opposite direction, most probably towards her house.

"Come on, Man. You can't do that to us, to her. She had already prepared the food." Sam was quick to add.

" Man, we did all you said. Can't you just let us eat heartily in return?" Alex asked.

"I promise I will behave." Arnav was quick to give his approval on being a sensible maknae. Making Ermaan to stare at fourteen and then at the old lady who was walking a bit too fast for her age and he made a decision.

"Granny! Wait." Ermaan called her out, making Nazia to stop and turn back, but she didn't come forward this time, letting Ermaan to run in her direction, to catch up with her.

"What is it, son?" Nazia asked sweetly.

"Well! Is your offer still up?" Ermaan asked, making Nazia gasp in shock. Offer! What offer?

"Oh! You mean the proposal of having dinner at my place. Yes, it is. But what about it?" Nazia asked with a sweet smile, knowing what was about to come.

"Well, I am sorry for my lack of proper speech. But Imma took that offer up. As you see, we are hella hungry, to refuse." Ermaan said, feeling his ears turning red due to the gush of blood. Why was it suddenly all hot?

Now, who would tell him that he was embarrassed! Nevermind.

Nazia just smiled and nodded, while watching the young soldier all flushed in front of her.

" Then, follow my lead." Nazia said and Ermaan nodded, he turned towards Alpha Team and gave them a firm nod as if he had secured the most sensitive deal of the history, making them give him wide smiles. They brought Ethros and their horses and reached where Ermaan and Nazia were.

Then, they all followed the old lady to her house. It was nothing like what they imagined. The house ended before it even began properly. There was just one room in the house, which was partitioned into two. Half of the room gave the impression of a bed room, with a bed and almirah in it and the rest half of the room looked like a kitchen with all the utensils, hearth and cupboard.

But that wasn't the only shocking thing, in the house, as someone was actually sleeping in the bed, scaring the shit out of the soldiers, who didn't expect anyone else except granny to live in that teeny tiny house.

Well, it was Sebastian who first noticed the sleeping figure as he noticed the movement on the bed from the side of his eyes. However, the person sleeping had covered himself or herself from head to toe making it impossible for the soldiers to figure out whether it's a man or woman. He let everyone know about the other presence in the room, making guys make bets on whether it's a man or woman. Though they were curious, none of them crossed the partition or looked again in the direction of bed, to satiate their curiosity as they could feel Ermaan's deadly dangerous gaze fixed on them.

Ermaan motion everyone to sit in such a way that their backs were facing the bed and except for Ermaan and Nazia no one could see the bedroom side, no matter how much they were dying out of curiosity. Ermaan was curious too. But he was more enthralled with the thing the granny was doing to take a glimpse of the sleeping person.

Well, he didn't have much to say about his childhood. But his mother died the moment he was born and his father kicked him out of the house when he was just eight years old, making him resent the old man from the bottom of his heart.

He had never seen what Nazia was doing before. Maybe because he was trained to kill in the blink of an eye, instead of cooking. So, everything Nazia was doing,had Ermaan's undivided attention. Even if it's just blowing in the fire to brazzen it up. He had seen and attended many bonfires, yet had never been in a situation where he had to create one on his own.

Well that's what his Alphas exist for. Their deal is simple. Very simple. He will bring them to the dangerous place and bring them alive out of it, with least harm under his leadership, in return they would take care of everything, from hunting to cooking to washing to cleaning to the arrangement of tents and supplies.

These dummies actually trusted him and would happily do the work for him. However they surely know how to be a pain in the ass. As the troubles that these fourteen brought had never been seen or heard of, yet Ermaan had dealt with them.

So, it's a fifty-fifty contribution from both the parties.

~~

Ermaan was busy staring at the food, when the person covered with a blanket stirred, catching Kingsman's attention. As being extremely alert out of barracks had been instilled in their subconscious brains.

Ermaan took his eyes back to the culinary art which was represented by Nazia but it stirred again and again and again. The next moment the blanket was half thrown and Ermaan caught a glimpse of the person.

It was a beauty. She was a beauty.