Chapter Six:
3rd Person POV
Ronald stared into her eyes for a while, probably trying to make sure everything was okay but Erica swung her head away. She steadied her breath, trying to bury the rage, she could feel the wolf inside her wanting to be let out. Even though Lena was a very thoughtful voice in her head, there were times her predatory instincts just wanted to barge through everything with force.
Calm down Lena, she voiced in her head, her inner voice firm and assertive, catching the wolf unawares. She felt it shrink back instinctively.
"Are you okay, Erica?" Ronald asked.
Erica turned back with an almost perfect smile, before catching herself, twisting her face into an expression that made her appear bittersweet, observing Catherine all this while had given her enough acting tutoring.
"I am fine," she replied. "A little shaken, but fine," then she wagged her fingers around. "What are you two doing here?" her gaze was exactly poised at Catherine, she unleashed all the hateful look she'd been wanting to hide towards her. A perfect disguise as to her earlier outrage.
The two of them turned to look at each other and then Ronald smiled. "Catherine has just been a little shaken from the deaths, and I just offered a little word of solace."
"While your mate can gather her thoughts all by herself?" she replied, her entire plan was to focus her entire anger solely on Catherine. She would appear to Ronald as much as a puppet as she was in her past life. She knew she couldn't yank all they did to her all over the years away with just a flick of her fingers, hell, she didn't even want to.
"I am sorry babe, I just got a little carried away for a second is all." he replied, running his fingers across her face, his expression so real and warm that she wanted to let go of her hatred and just curl back into the fluffy ball that she was.
"This was my fault, I just needed someone to talk to… I promise, he…" she wanted to start up with the lies, but Erica wasn't interested in listening to any of their fake words anymore.
"Yes, I understand," she cut her short. "And when speaking to me next time, Tasha, remember to use honorifics, I am your Luna!"
"I apologize, my liege," Catharine bowed.
"I will like to see you later in the day," she glanced at her like she was a pest, then she turned around and started to walk off.
"Do you need any help?" he started. "I know how you must be feeling now, and I am here, beside you, as I will forever be." he rushed up to her, taking hold of her hand, staring into her eyes while he spoke. Erica sincerely, didn't understand what acting classes he'd been taking but he was good.
Bastard! Lena's voice rang through her subconscious and Erica smiled to that but for some reason Ronald took it as an invitation, he ran his hand through her hair, pulling the black locks away from her face and was starting to bend towards her to give her a kiss.
Erica tensed, she never wanted her lips to touch this bastard ever again. She didn't even like that he was holding her. His hand felt like she was being squeezed tight by a constrictor. She wanted to introduce her fist to his face and smash it in, but she didn't. Instead, she raised her index finger and placed it on his venomous lips. "Don't," she said quickly.
He reverted, "did I do something wrong?" he asked.
"No, in fact you are the only thing right," she replied, her brain going through a series of mental calculations on what her excuse would be. She could feel the gears in her brain running on overdrive.
"Then why can't I kiss my mate?" he asked, softly. His voice is like the gentle sprinkle of summer rain.
"My parents just died," she replied. "I don't deserve a kiss currently, I am mourning their deaths." she replied, her face really turning moody. She didn't really deserve a kiss or comfort, after everything she'd done, everything she'd caused. "Oh, that reminds me. How come my mate wasn't at my parents' funeral?"
Ronald paused a bit, "I am sorry about that, but I am not really good at funerals. I didn't want to be more of a burden than their deaths already was. That and I was getting the tax funds together. Mistress Alina handed me the files after I told her about my predicament, she said the best way to make it up to you is to start by easing up your rule," Erica was shocked at the way the lies rolled out of his forked tongue and conformed into an almost realistic mimicry of the truth. "My only goal is to make sure you are happy, Erica."
"I understand."she smiled back, placing her palm on his sturdy, but smooth face. It was like that face was made of porcelain. "I really do," her tone this time was more assertive than she wanted, she really needed to start getting her emotions together.
"My angel,"he said, pulling her into a hug once more.
She grunted. "Stop," sbe wheezed. "Mourning, remember?" she told him as he let her go.
"Yeah, sorry!" he replied, letting her go completely.
She nodded and smiled. "I will go in now. I am tired."she said, turning away, walking off.
She glanced with the corner of her eyes, looking at him once more. The thought of all he had said to her all those times she was under their control brought tears to her eyes. If only he'd been a good person. She knew genuinely that she liked him, but love was a two way thing. She shook her head off and walked back to her room.
Upon reaching the room, she met three people there. Catherine, she'd left them earlier, Beatrice and a random maid who was making her bed. Erica didn't like this, her room was way too accessible to strangers and everyone thought they could just waltz in and intrude her privacy. How much of an idiot did they think she was?
"What are you all doing here?" she asked assertively, her gaze stricken like she wanted to cut a steel pipe with it.
"I came to see you regarding the last council meeting," Beatrice answered first, displaying a handful of files in her hands.
She didn't have any problem with Beatrice sincerely, but still she couldn't condone any sign of disrespect anymore. She had a lifetime of those to enjoy. "And you told me you wanted to see me." Catherine said.
"I'm making the bed." the maid said.
Erica looked at the three of them, her stern gaze boring a hole into their subconscious. "Don't ever enter my room without permission again!" she declared. "Get out!" she commanded. "All of you!"
The maid was the first to dash out and Catherine followed and as she'd expected, Beatrice just walked out slowly, just as she reached her side, she stopped. She handed the files to her and gave her that same expressionless look that Erica had subtly defined as approval. "So you have at last decided to grow some balls."
Erica snatched the files from her. "Don't make me repeat myself." She turned and walked out slowly.
Erica locked her door, at last she was alone with her thoughts.