Sharx pulled his chin up. He smiled gruesomely as he shifted his cold gaze to look at the back of Hazel's head.
"Just what else is this cunning woman planning? Does she really think I'll waver again if she seduces me this way?" He smirked contentedly, but then his expression changed dry.
He cast his gaze outside as his finger tapped on the black-tinted window.
He clenched his jaw as his regular breathing suddenly became a little rougher.
His throat felt so dry, as if he hadn't quenched his thirst for years. He smacked his dry lips, then bit the bottom of his lip as he stared down at Hazel, who didn't move.
He took a breath slowly. 'What the hell did she do to me this time? It used to be my lower abdomen that went wild every time she came near me, but now it's my chest!'
He clicked his tongue, then lowered the black-tinted window.
Sam's face popped up as soon as the window rolled down.
"I apologize, Alpha. I just arrived, and they— gasps, whoa! I-I'm sorry, I didn't see anything. I swear!" He coughs badly as he takes an awkward backwards step.
His face was painted bright red, and his pupils shook.
Sharx sucked in a breath through his gritted teeth and spoke. "This is not what you think, Sam."
"Her face on your crotch, though."
"Sam?"
"Ah, right. Ahem, you're right. This is not what I think, at all." A hint of sarcasm come ou of Sam's daring mouth.
Sam gulped down before taking a step to get closer to the window again.
Sharx told him. "She fainted."
"Again?"
"That's what I'm saying." Sharx glanced down at Hazel's head, which still hadn't moved an inch.
His tongue pushed against his inner cheek as he tapped his finger at the door handle. He had watched the scene in which Hazel fainted out of nowhere several times since last night. Every time that happened, it was as if an invincible force hit Hazel in the back of the head.
That was very strange, he thought. So far, he has never witnessed Hazel faint, even though she got bullied by others.
But since last night, she has fainted three times.
Yes, since last night
**
***
Sharx ruffled his still-dripping wet hair as he leaned back on the backrest. He was wearing a relatively small bathrobe for his large size, as if he deliberately flaunted his body muscles, especially on his thighs. He gulped down a glass of cold water set out on the table, even chewing on the ice cube.
However, it was still not enough to quench the thirst gnawing at his dry throat.
He gripped the empty glass, exerting his little strength until it shattered into pieces. Fresh red blood began to pour out as the glass shards fell from his hand. He looked at the wound on his hand with an indifferent gaze.
The wound healed in no time.
He snorted. "I can't believe I let my guard down."
He rolled his eyes in amusement.
He raised the hand to cover his eyes. "Of course, from the start, it was already strange how my eyes were distracted by that insignificant woman. All of this is because of that darn witchcraft."
Everything has been wrong since that night.
A woman with long, wavy black hair and large eyes the color of jet black like obsidian caught his attention even though she was not doing anything special. She was wearing the same fancy dress as the other women at the party. She was also enjoying her time there and stealing glances at him like the other women did.
However, her little movement stirred something inside him.
He took a few steps forward, trying to give a name to the emotion that had just been unlocked within him. With every step he took towards her, from his waist to down, his lower part felt like it was beating, following the rhythm of his racing heart. It swells like it has its own pumper.
It did not take long for him to realize that the woman was his fated mate.
Of course, until discovering that it was all the doing of witchcraft.
A knock was heard, shattering his thoughts.
"Come in."
As the majestic wooden door opened, Sam appeared from behind it. "Alpha Sharx, I have done as you ordered." He came closer until he stopped his steps right in front of Sharx's desk.
"How is she?"
"According to the doctor, her heart is beating alarmingly slowly. He said it was caused by stress or something. But now, everything is back to normal. We just need to wait for her to regain consciousness."
Sharx lowered his hands from his face, then tapped his nails on the armrest.
"To be honest, I'm glad that you discovered her sin sooner before it was too late," Sam said.
"Do you think two months is considered soon, Sam?"
Sam flinched, then cleared his throat softly. "Well, if you follow the data from the past, the other werewolves wouldn't even realize they were under the spell until their last breath. So, your case is fairly quick, Alpha."
"Ha, that must be true if you brought it up using data. Still, I think this all happened because I found everything so boring."
Because everything was so boring to him, he immediately grabbed anything that offered him entertainment, even though it was poisonous.
"To be honest, I believe you were already aware of her intentions but dragged it on for the fun part."
"Whoa, you know me so well. It's worth the price to have you as my Beta all these years."
"I'd like a week off rather than compliments, Alpha."
"To do what?"
"To sleep."
"You can be content to sleep when you die, Beta."
"And I knew you would say that." Sam scoffed, and then asked. "What are you going to do to her now? Are you really going to kill her?"
Sharx grimaced, then responded. "She dares to bewitch me, making me think that she is my fated mate by using witchcraft for two months. Wouldn't a long and torturous punishment suit her better than killing her outright?"
Sam nodded. "That's so you."
Sharx turned to Sam, then grinned. "The past two months were fun, indeed. But the real fun begins now as I will hunt down every single wolf associated with her and witchcraft."
"Thanks to you, I have never led a boring life, Alpha Sharx."
"Be more grateful, then."
"That was sarcasm, Alpha." Sam's lips twitched as he put on a fake smile, then he sighed heavily.
Sharx smirk. "What is it now?"
"Still, she used witchcraft that can even bewitch an Alpha into believing she is your fated mate, meaning that it was such a powerful sorcery."
"So?"
"At this crucial time, It would be so bothersome if the elder learned that your Luna is practising witchcraft. And it would be equally bothersome if those rats whiff that you already cracked open her true identity."
"Come on, that's gonna be fun. Because we'll be playing hide and seek, using her as the bait."
Sharx's eyes flashed with anticipation.
"Hey, when did the doctor say she would wake up?"
***
**
Back in the car.
Sharx raised one eyebrow as he tried to think of the reason.
"How could this happen again? First, wouldn't it be better to move her back to the room? There are a lot of eyes watching around here, Alpha."
"Right." Sharx tasted his dry lips, then lifted one thigh. "She's so tiresome."
With a slight push on her arm, Hazel rolled down. A loud thud followed as her head hit the back of the front passenger seat.
Sharx grin. "Even with that kind of shock, she still hasn't regained consciousness."
The side door opened carefully. "Excuse me, Alpha. I take her out immediately."
Sharx shifted his gaze to the watch on his wrist, feeling he's already waste his time. "Alright."
He watch Sam struggling to get Hazel out of the car. Her head kept bumping into things, but she still didn't wake up.
"Hey, is she dead?" He asked when Sam finally got Hazel out of the car and carried her.
"I don't think so. She's still breathing." Sam tilted his head and then asked. "Isn't this exactly like last night?"
"I can see that."
"Does she have some kind of chronic illness?" Sam mumbled, then returned his gaze to Sharx.
"Anyway, I will monitor her closely after this according to your orders. I will also reprimand those useless guards to do their jobs properly."
"Alright."
"Do you have another orders, Alpha?"
Strangely, at that moment, Sharx's gaze shifted to Sam's arm, which was hugging Hazel. Sam's fingers, which gripped Hazel's skin, caused a red mark around her arm and thigh.
Sharx frowned. He doesn't know since when, but Hazel's way of dressing— wearing only her underwear and then covering it with a transparent pyjama robe, ticked him off greatly.
"Did she think she had a body worth showing off?"
"Pardon? What did you just say, Alpha?"
"Nothing. And for now, I want you to monitor her movements closely and then interrogate her again when she wakes up."
"I understand."
"Make sure no one knows about this, and cut off everyone who babbling about this situation."
"I understand. Your command shall be done."
Sam gave Sharx a respectful bow before finally taking Hazel away.
Sharx kept tapping his finger on the armrest, then glanced outside. He clicked his tongue as he watched Sam climb the stairs and saw Hazel's white feet dangling.
"Sam." He called out again, startling Sam.
He quickly turned his body around to face Sharx, who had gotten out of the car. He asked with a knitted brow, concern laced in his voice. "Is there anything else you haven't said, Alpha?"
"No, but hand her over." Sharx stretched out his hand with a smile.
"Yes? Ah, yes, yes. Here she is." Sam nodded.
Sam thought this was some kind of detail in Sharx's plan to prevent anyone from realizing the oddity of the couple's sudden distant relationship. So he handed Hazel over to Sharx—who, with a straight posture and looking relaxed, carried her inside.
Upon feeling the skin of Hazel's arms and legs, his chest felt tight again.
'I knew it. She must have done something to me again.' He smiles, and yet his eyes glint dangerously.
When the elevator opened on the third floor, Pamela was in front of him.
She looked at her son's face, then glanced down at what his son was carrying; Hazel.
"Sharx, I can explain."
Sharx painted a warm smile on his face, then greeted her with a gentle voice. "Good morning, mother. I hope you slept well last night. But please excuse us."
After showing his eye smile toward his mother, Sharx brushed passed Pamela without glancing back at her.
Pamela, who could only see her son's back, felt a bitter taste at the scene. "That wench…"